2013 Mazda CX-5 Problems & Owner Complaints
Age-normalised, this year draws ~13.9 complaints per year on the road — ranking 8 of 12 Mazda CX-5 years we track (1 = most complaints per year).
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What owners report
Electrical System is the most-reported problem area on the 2013 Mazda CX-5, cited in 58 of 194 filed complaints (30%).
Engine is next (42 complaints, 22%), followed by Power Train (38), Service Brakes (26), Vehicle Speed Control (22).
Across all complaints, 6 report a crash, 1 report a fire, 8 report injuries.
The most safety-critical cluster is Unknown Or Other: 5 injury report(s).
Complaints by vehicle system
Owner complaints filed with the U.S. NHTSA for the 2013 Mazda CX-5, grouped by the vehicle system each cites. A single complaint can name more than one system, so the group totals can add up to more than 194.
Electrical System 58 1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ELECTRICAL FUSE PANEL THAT WAS UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE FIRE MELTED THE DASHBOARD AS THE INTERIOR BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED TO THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT A REGIONAL MANAGER WOULD BE SENT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.…”
NHTSA complaint #10494438, 2013 · fire
“When you shut the car off the radio and other components do not shut down. You have to start the car back up and put in gear then back in park and shut the car off (sometimes two or three times) to get everything to shut down. This is getting worse over time.”
NHTSA complaint #11461904, 2022
“The car does not turn off when I put it in park and push the ON/OFF button. I have to start and turn off multiple times and jiggle the gear shift multiple times before it turns off. Sometimes even that doesn't work. Because the car doesn't completely turn off, it runs the battery down which leaves me dangerously stranded. The car is available for inspection. My safety is put at risk because it drains the battery and leaves me stranded, sometimes in dangerous situations unable to get assistance. I have not taken it to a dealer or service center but have seen MULTIPLE reports of other owners of…”
NHTSA complaint #11515272, 2021
Engine 42 1 crash
“THE CAR RANDOMLY ACCELERATES AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. IT BUCKS, REVS, LURKS THEN STOPS. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 4 TIME TO-DATE. TODAY, 6/20, I TAPPED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NO DAMAGED BUT IT IS THE CLOSES TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT SINCE I NOTICED THIS ISSUE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PACIFICO FORD IN PA TO HAVE THE ISSUE CHECKED OUT AND THEY FOUND NOTHING. THAT WAS ON 5/23. PLAN TO TAKE IT BACK THERE AGAIN.”
NHTSA complaint #11000138, 2017 · crash
“The car battery will not turn off when I turn off the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11480876, 2022
“My car won't shut off! I put it in park and turn it off and the accessories stay on. It is getting worse and worse and has taken up to 7 times of turning it off and on, backing it up and forward before it will just turn off for me. I get scared that it won't turn off. I found this forum online and it seems this is a very common problem that is not being addressed by Mazda. https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-t49115_ds799849 Not being able to turn my car off is a very big safety risk for me and my 2 year old son.”
NHTSA complaint #11456579, 2021
Power Train 38
“My vehicle does not want to turn off when placed in park. The car is fully in the park position, but the start push button is illuminated with a red light. The power is still on, and the car beeps when door is open. I can only get the power to turn off, after repeatedly tapping the gear shift left, towards the P symbol. It is already fully seated in the park position, but this finally causes the light to go off and the car turns off. Always hoping the power did not turn back on while away from the car. Is this a fire hazard? I will not park my car in the garage as I am concerned it may overhea…”
NHTSA complaint #11430076, 2021
“The contact owns a 2013 MAZDA CX5. The contact stated while attempting to shut off the vehicle, the vehicle failed to turn off due to the transmission not being fully in PARK. The contact stated that there was an unknown flashing red warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the contact was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11418634, 2021
“BOUGHT MY CAR WITH 40K MILES ON IT FROM A MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN AURORA COLORADO IN 2017. I'M AT 106K NOW AND I THOUGHT I NEEDED WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. TURNS OUT IT'S THE DRIVE TRAIN AND A TRANSMISSION FAILING. MY VEHICLE HUMS ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEN I ACCELERATE. THIS ISSUE BEGAN JUST OVER 100K MILES.”
NHTSA complaint #11361260, 2020
Unknown Or Other 28 5 injury
“FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S FEET HAVE BEEN BURNED WHEN THEY ARE LIFTED OFF THE FLOOR AND TOUCH SOMETHING UNDER GLOVEBOX AREA. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME, WHEN I HAVE SAT IN THE PASSANGER SEAT AND OTHER PASSANGERS. THIS HAPPENS TO ONE PERSON AT A TIME, BUT HAPPENS OFTEN. I HAD THE DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOT YET A FIX FOR IT. THIS AREA HEATS UP AFTER THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING A WHILE.”
NHTSA complaint #11001684, 2016 · 5 injury(ies)
“Shifter switch has gone out and no longer recognizes the car is in park, causes battery drainage because car cannot fully turn off. Car not recognizing gears can cause car accidents and possible loss of life. This issue can be found online as a known defect in mazda cx-5 that has not been recalled. Vehicle has been inspected and issue has been verified.There were no warning lights, sounds or symptoms of potential failure before failure.”
NHTSA complaint #11707155, 2025
“Shifter switch has gone out and no longer recognizes the car is in park, causes battery drainage because car cannot fully turn off. Car not recognizing gears can cause car accidents and possible loss of life. This issue can be found online as a known defect in mazda cx-5 that has not been recalled. Vehicle has been inspected and issue has been verified.There were no warning lights, sounds or symptoms of potential failure before failure. Mazda has had recalls and service bulletins related to shifter/ignition switches, particularly for models like the CX-5 and MX-5 (Miata) in years like 2013-2…”
NHTSA complaint #11707158, 2025
Service Brakes 26 3 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN TRAFFIC, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10917857, 2016 · crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING FOR AN APPROACHING INTERSECTION, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10577483, 2014 · crash
“PULLING IN TO PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMP CURB AND RAN INTO SIDE OF BUILDING. BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD TO PRESS AND EVEN TRIED PUMPING BRAKE, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. ENGINE SPEED DID NOT CHANGE WHEN PUMPING BRAKE. VEHICLE WAS ONLY THREE WEEKS OLD AND HAD A MAJOR MALFUNTION WITH BRAKING AND STEERING. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10480805, 2012 · crash
Vehicle Speed Control 22 3 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. WHILE AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE FENDER ON THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11195251, 2019 · crash
“5 SECONDS AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY WENT INTO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FROM 5MPH TO ABOUT 40 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. I THEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WHICH DID NOTHING, THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK, WHICH DID NOTHING. STILL APPLYING THE BRAKES I TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO SHUT (PUSH BOTTON) IGNITION OFF BUT THAT WAS UNRESPONSIVE. I HIT A STREET SIGN WHICH SLOWED ME DOWN AND THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL REVING LOUDLY FOR ANOTHER SOLID MINUTE. I AGAIN WAS PUSHING THE IGNITION BUTTON AND THE CAR THEN SUDDENLY TURNED O…”
NHTSA complaint #10750080, 2015 · crash
“PULLING IN TO PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMP CURB AND RAN INTO SIDE OF BUILDING. BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD TO PRESS AND EVEN TRIED PUMPING BRAKE, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. ENGINE SPEED DID NOT CHANGE WHEN PUMPING BRAKE. VEHICLE WAS ONLY THREE WEEKS OLD AND HAD A MAJOR MALFUNTION WITH BRAKING AND STEERING. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10480805, 2012 · crash
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 15
“THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK (THEREFORE BEING STATIONARY), PRESS THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND THE CAR DOES NOT FULLY SHUT DOWN. IT APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE STEERING SENSOR NOT FULL RECOGNIZING THAT THE CAR IS IN PARK AND THEREFORE NOT SHUTTING OFF THE CAR COMPLETELY. IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR TO COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, THE CAR HAS TO BE SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK/ACTIVELY TURNING ON AND OFF THE CAR SOMETIMES AS MANY AS 5-6 TIMES IN ORDER FOR IT TO FULLY SHUT DOWN. I HAVE READ DOZENS OF REPORTS OF OTHER MAZDA OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROB…”
NHTSA complaint #11339190, 2020
“WAS DRIVING WHEN CAR SHUT DOWN FOR A SECOND AND TRACTION CONTROL, TIRE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD NO POWER AND THE REAR TIRES WERE NOT SPINNING. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND ONLY THE TIRE LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT WERE ON AND I HAD POWER. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ANOTHER 30 MILES BEFORE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.”
NHTSA complaint #11337229, 2020
“WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO DROP OUR CHILDREN OFF TO GO TO WORK ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE, LOW TIRE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN ALL LIGHTS CAME ON THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND COULD NOT GO ABOVE 20 MPH.”
NHTSA complaint #11057879, 2017
Structure 15
“THE REAR HATCH FAILS TO OPEN IN COLD WEATHER. I HAD TO CLIMB IN THROUGH THE CAR AND OPEN A SMALL HATCH TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE MANUALLY. AFTER I OPENED IT MANUALLY IT WORKED PROPERLY THE REST OF THE DAY. . CONTINUES TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED OVER NIGHT IN COLD WEATHER.”
NHTSA complaint #11375205, 2020
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V644000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TUSTIN MAZDA (LOCATED AT 28 AUTO CENTER DR, TUSTIN, CA 92782) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
NHTSA complaint #11002485, 2017
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V644000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.”
NHTSA complaint #10972267, 2017
Seats 13 3 injury
“THE CX-5 COMES EQUIPPED WITH A POWERED DRIVER SEAT ADJUSTMENT CONTROLS. AT 20,000 MILES, THE CAR STARTED SPONTANEOUSLY RECLINING, AFTER YOU TURN OFF THE ENGINE, STEP OUTSIDE, AND CLOSE THE DRIVER DOOR. WARNING: IT IS VERY POWERFUL MOTOR IN TERMS OF TORQUE, AND A HUMAN CANNOT PREVENT ITS DESCENT BY PUSHING BACK ON IT. THE SEAT CONTINUES TO RECLINE, AS THOUGH THE BUTTON IS DEPRESSED -- EVEN WHEN IT MAKES CONTACT WITH A SOLID OBJECT -- OR A PERSON. SMALL CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DOOR WERE BRUISED AND TERRIFIED FOR DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT (HAPPENED 2-3 TIMES BEFORE WE STOPPE…”
NHTSA complaint #10824413, 2016 · 2 injury(ies)
“I recently purchased this used vehicle. Right away, I noticed that when I used the recline lever, it didn't stop when removing my hand from it. I had to push the lever back to the middle position to stop it. I thought this was annoying, but didn't think much of it. On Thursday [XXX] I stopped at a gas station, went inside, and when I came back out the seat was fully reclined. It was so far back that it was lodged in the car seat behind the drivers seat. I tried to move the back up but it wouldn't come back up. The seat would move forward and back, but the recline level didn't work. I drove t…”
NHTSA complaint #11569670, 2024 · 1 injury(ies)
“SEVERAL MONTHS NOW, I'M HAVING TO TURN MY CAR BACK ON TO TURN THE RADIO OFF AND COMPLETELY SHUT THE CAR DOWN. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE SUMMER OF THIS YEAR. I HAVE TO CRANK IT UP, PUT IT OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE, AND PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE. AFTER THAT, IT TURNS OFF. I HAVE PUSH TO START AND HAD THE CAR FOR FOUR YEARS PRE-OWNED. YESTERDAY, MY SISTER AND I WERE STRANDED BECAUSE MY CAR DIDN'T START. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE AIR INTAKE OXYGEN SENSOR. THEY REPLACED IT PLUS THEY PUT IN A NEW CAR BATTERY. MY HUSBAND AND I THOUGHT IT WAS WEIRD, BUT NOW I'M WONDERING IF THE CAR ITSELF IS CO…”
NHTSA complaint #11375764, 2020
Fuel/Propulsion System 9
“AFTER FIXING THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR NOT FULLY TURNING OFF, THE CAR SUDDENLY DIED IN TRAFFIC AND WOULDN'T RESTART. REPLACING MASS AIR SENSOR, O2 SENSOR, AND PLUGS, THE CAR WILL DIE IN TRAFFIC WHEN COMING TO A STOP, BUT RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY. THE CODE SAYS THIS IS A PCM PROBLEM. INTERNET RESEARCH SAYS THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON RESULTING IN SAFETY RECALLS IN OTHER YEAR MODELS. 2013 SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED.”
NHTSA complaint #11416480, 2021
“WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE THE CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT BUT I CANNOT TAKE THE VEHICLE OVER 30 MPH NOW WITHOUT IT SHUTTERING AND HAVING ACCELERATION ISSUES. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND LIFE THREATENING ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. I HAVE FOUND OTHER REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING BUT I SEE NO RECALL INFORMATION. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE MAZDA HAS LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST THEM. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ERROR AND NOT A USAGE ER…”
NHTSA complaint #11413591, 2021
“I WAS DRIVING MY MAZDA 2013 CX-5 ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN IT SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PRESSED THE THE ACCELERATED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE LIGHT, LOW TIRE, AND TRACTION SYMBOLS ALL WERE LID UP ON THE DASHBOARD. I DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME AT 20 MPH AS THIS IS THE MAXIMUM TOP SPEED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. I WILL CHECK TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE THAT CAN BE LIFE THREATENING.”
NHTSA complaint #11258913, 2019
Visibility 6
“2013 MAZDA CX-5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT ISSUES. *LD UPDATED 06/20/2017*JS”
NHTSA complaint #10994809, 2017
“I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HEARD A SUDDEN SNAP LIKE SOUND ON THE WINDSCREEN, THEN I SAW A STAR SHAPED STONE CHIP APPEAR ON THE WINDSCREEN, ON THE RIGHT SIDE ABOUT AN 1 INCH FROM THE SIDE AND ABOUT 7 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSCREEN. I HAD DRIVEN NO MORE THAN ABOUT 100 FEET, WHEN A CRACK ABOUT 12 INCHES WAS ALREADY THERE. MY WARRANTY COVERS STONE CHIPS AND CRACKS LESS THAN 6 INCHES. THERE SEEM TO BE A DEFECT WITH THE CX 5 WINDSCREENS, BECAUSE I HAVE SEEM SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS IN FORUMS. OTHER VEHICLES YOU GET A STONE CHIP AND IT DOES NOT SPREAD THAT QUICKLY, AT LEAS…”
NHTSA complaint #10662052, 2014
“I WAS TRAVELING AT 70MPH ON FREEWAY WITH NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME WHEN SUNROOF IMPLODED/EXPLODED. GLASS FLEW ALL AROUND INSIDE THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS OUTSIDE ONTO THE ROADWAY. CLEAR DAY AND 60 DEGREES OUTSIDE. MOST PEOPLE WOULD JUST CONTINUE TO DRIVE AS I DID, BUT I COULD SEE HOW A PERSON COULD EASILY LOST CONTROL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10618857, 2014
Visibility/Wiper 5
“AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY, RENDERING IT VIRTUALLY USELESS. CARS ARE ALL BUT A BLUR AT AND ABOVE 55 MPH. THE DEALER SAID IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE (AND SAID HE SUBMITTED A TSB) AND DID NOTHING TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. WHEN PRESENTED WITH THE "REPAIR GUIDANCE" REFERENCE # R042/13A, THEY SAID IT WAS A FIX FOR THE "EUROPEAN CX-5, NOT THE US VERSION" AND WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10660200, 2013
“DRIVING ON FREEWAY A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE FAR RIGHT, MID LEVEL OF WINDSHIELD ABOUT 3 INCHES FROM EDGE. I HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND AND THEN A SMALL STAR-SHAPE DING APPEARED. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE CRACK GREW TO ABOUT 2.5 FEET LONG. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10659355, 2013
“WALKED OUT TO CRACKED WINDSHIELD (1/4 WAY ACROSS VEHICLE) 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASED. WAS TOLD BY DEALER WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF SMALL NICK AT END OF CRACK WAS THICKER THAN DOLLAR BILL. 4 MONTHS LATER, DISCOVERED CHIP IN WINDSHIELD. DURING FIX, CRACK PROTRUDED FROM CHIP AND WHOLE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10551554, 2013
Steering 4 1 crash
“PULLING IN TO PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMP CURB AND RAN INTO SIDE OF BUILDING. BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD TO PRESS AND EVEN TRIED PUMPING BRAKE, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. ENGINE SPEED DID NOT CHANGE WHEN PUMPING BRAKE. VEHICLE WAS ONLY THREE WEEKS OLD AND HAD A MAJOR MALFUNTION WITH BRAKING AND STEERING. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10480805, 2012 · crash
“WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE APPEARS TO STALL AND THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CAR FEELS AS THOUGH IT HAS SHUT OFF, AND NO ACCELERATION IS POSSIBLE. I AM FORCED TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER, AT WHICH POINT I MUST TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO BE DRIVABLE. WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING, SEVERAL INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED, INCLUDING THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR, CHECK ENGINE, AT, AND TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS. UPON RESTART, THE CHECK ENGINE REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THIS SAME INCIDENT HAS RECURRED 3X SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN APRIL 2012, INCLUDING MAY 2013, MAY 2014 AND AUGUST…”
NHTSA complaint #10621497, 2013
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TPMS WAS RESET AND NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE OF THE FAILURE WAS 100.”
NHTSA complaint #10584707, 2012
Suspension 3
“On Saturday afternoon 7/24 I was leaving a parking lot when my drivers side wheel detached from my front axle rod. I have around 90k miles on the vehicle. There was no indication of a part coming loose. Never noticed vibration of wheel or any resistance during movements. This should be a recall on the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11426479, 2021
“PUT MY TRUCK IN GEAR D FOR DRIVE START DRIVING AND AT 5MPH ITS MAKING A NOISE LIKE A STANDARD TRANSMISSION DO WHEN YOU ARE IN THE WRONG GEAR SUCH AS TOO LOW. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS MY RADIO BECAUSE IT WAS SIZZLING AND THE READ OUT THAT THE STATION SHOW WAS NO LONGER SHOWING THE SONG OR ARTIST. SO I SWITCH TO ANOTHER STATION AND IS STILL MADE THE SOUND SO I PUT IN A CD AND LISTEN TO IT AND I HAD TO TURN VOLUME UP IN ORDER NOT TO HEAR THE SOUND. THE FASTER I DROVE THE LOUDER IT GOT. I ONLY HAVE 28,000 MILES SO TRANSMISSION SHOULDN'T BE BAD. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO WITH TIRE ROT…”
NHTSA complaint #10712436, 2015
“FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES COMPLETELY WORN AND NEEDING REPLACEMENT AT 16,700 MILES. VEHICLE IS DRIVEN EXCLUSIVELY BY MY 55 YEAR OLD WIFE. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10512055, 2013
Wheels 3
“BOUGHT MY CAR WITH 40K MILES ON IT FROM A MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN AURORA COLORADO IN 2017. I'M AT 106K NOW AND I THOUGHT I NEEDED WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. TURNS OUT IT'S THE DRIVE TRAIN AND A TRANSMISSION FAILING. MY VEHICLE HUMS ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEN I ACCELERATE. THIS ISSUE BEGAN JUST OVER 100K MILES.”
NHTSA complaint #11361260, 2020
“I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS ISSUES WITH ALL FOUR OF MY WHEEL BEARINGS. AFTER ONE WENT BAD, I HAD TO REPLACE IT. TWO WEEKS LATER, I HAD TO REPLACE A SECOND ONE, AND THEN THE FINAL TWO WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACE ONLY A WEEK AFTER THAT. UPON TAKING IT TO ONE MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THE MAZDA CX-5, AND THEY GET A LOT OF OWNERS THAT COME IN TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON MY OWN, AND REALIZED THAT WHAT THE MECHANIC HAD TOLD ME WAS TRUE. APPARENTLY, A LOT OF MAZDA OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. I CALLED UP AN OFFICIAL MAZDA SERVICE CENTER TO INQUIRE…”
NHTSA complaint #11006297, 2017
“I FIRST STARTED HEARING THIS SCREECHING NOISE BACK IN MAY 2015, AFTER WHICH I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THINKING WHATEVER IT WAS COULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY CAME BACK SAYING THAT IT WAS DUE TO NOT HAVING ANY REAR BRAKE PADS LEFT AND MY ROTORS WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER FIXING THIS, IN AUGUST 2015, I STARTED TO HEAR THE NOISE AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME NOISE. THIS TIME, THEY STATED THAT IT WAS MY FRONT BRAKE PADS. GOT THIS FIXED AS WELL. NOW IT IS SEP…”
NHTSA complaint #10765364, 2015
Air Bags 1
“THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND IT COST ME 1,000.00 TO REPAIR ,REPLACE SENSOR CAR IS LESS THAN 5YEARS OLD. ALSO THE PAINT CLEAR COAT HAS DETERIORATED BADLY DEALER SAYS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT THE PAINT”
NHTSA complaint #11202686, 2018
Engine And Engine Cooling 1
“CX-5 VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DANGEROUS LOSS OF ENGINE/TRANSMISSION POWER SHORTLY AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP AT A STOPLIGHT. SEVERAL CONSOLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INCLUDING AT, TPMS, CEL, & TCS. ANOTHER ACCELERATING VEHICLE DIRECTLY BEHIND CX-5 NARROWLY AVOIDED REAR ENDING THE CX-5. CX-5 SLOWED DOWN TO LOW GEARS/RPMS AND CAME TO A FULL STOP. DRIVER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, AND THEN RE-STARTED IT. ONLY WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WAS THE CEL. VEHICLE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST LOW SPEED GEARS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE CEL CODES INDICATED SHIFT M…”
NHTSA complaint #10562519, 2014
Fuel System 1
“[XXX] THE ENGINE DOES NOT IDLE. WHEN I WOULD SLOW TO STOP FOR A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, TH ENGINE WOULD QUIT AND REQUIRE RESTARTING THE ENGINE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY, AND, THE RED BATTERY LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. A SERVICE STATION DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS EITHER AN OLD BATTERY, AND/OR, AN ALTERNATOR. OURISMAN MAZDA, 801 ROCKVILLE PIKE, ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20852 [301-424-7800] ADVISED ME THIS MORNING, SATURDAY, 01/13/2018, THAT: 1.)THE PROBLEM IS THE MASS AIR FLOW FILTER THAT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. 2.)THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR MAZDA MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR…”
NHTSA complaint #11062544, 2018
How we read this (methodology)
How to read this: raw complaint totals are not a clean reliability score — a model year with more cars sold, or simply more years on the road, accumulates more complaints regardless of how good it is. So this page leans on two signals that are not distorted by sales volume: the share of complaints falling on each vehicle system (the breakdown above) and NHTSA's own crash / fire / injury / death flags. When we compare model years of the same model, we normalise by years on the road (complaints ÷ vehicle age) rather than comparing raw totals. Age-normalised, the 2013 Mazda CX-5 draws about 13.9 complaints per year on the road, ranking 8 of 12 among the Mazda CX-5 model years we have ingested (1 = most complaints per year on road).
Before you buy this Mazda CX-5
Don't buy on the strength of a problems page alone. Check the exact VIN of the car you're looking at. The open recalls are free, and the full $19 safety report pulls every complaint, safety rating and a downloadable PDF for that one vehicle.
Related
Data source: U.S. NHTSA (nhtsa.gov). SaveVIN surfaces public recall data and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA.