2013 Mazda CX-5 Problems
Compared with other Mazda CX-5 years
Fewer complaints than typical for this model
34/100 0.7× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 0.7× that of a typical Mazda CX-5 year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 67 of its 194 complaints were filed by the end of 2015.
- Most reported problem: Push-button start will not fully shut the car off (63 complaints, median 80,000 mi).
- 1 recall campaign on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 194filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 39,000miles, 141 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
- EPA fuel economy
- 29 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 26 city / 34 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2013 Mazda CX-5 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often describe two patterns: the engine shutting down or losing power while driving, which comes with a cluster of warning lights, and the push-button ignition failing to fully turn the vehicle off after it is placed in park. Complaints also cite rear brakes wearing out early, often well under 30,000 miles, and some report drivetrain noise at higher mileage.
- Electrical system
Push-button start will not fully shut the car off
- 63 complaints (32%)
- median 80,000 mi at 5.7 yrs old (43 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2012–2025
After shifting into park and pressing the start/stop button, owners say the engine stops but accessories stay live — radio, dash lights, headlights and interior electronics remain on. Many describe having to restart, move the shifter out of park and back, then press the button again, sometimes several times, before everything powers down. Complaints attribute it to the shifter position switch; owners report being told by dealers or parts staff that it is a worn switch, and some say the vehicle will not lock or that the battery drains if left in that state. Reported across a wide mileage range from about 60,000 to over 150,000 miles, typically on vehicles several years old.
What to check: With the car in park, press the start/stop button and confirm the radio and all accessories go dead and the doors will lock. Ask whether the shifter position switch has been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The engine is refusing to turn off when I hit the off button and it is in the park position. It takes up to 5-6 times to get the engine to shut down by restarting it, playing with the gears and finally shutting down. This could be a sensor problem. I just had the check engine light fixed as it wouldn't turn off either.”
NHTSA complaint #11073818, filed 2018-02, 77,000 miles“When I press the button to turn off the car, the accessories do not turn off. The radio continues to play, etc. I have to restart the car and turn it off again. I repeat until the car finally turns off. I leave the radio on in case I forget and my battery runs down. From researching I have found it is a bad shifter position switch and everyone is having the same problem. Scarey my car was parked at the time.”
NHTSA complaint #11092589, filed 2018-05, 92,000 miles - Engine
Sudden power loss and stalling with warning lights
Mentioned in 18 of 60 sampled complaints
Owners describe the engine cutting out or dropping power without warning, sometimes on the highway at speed and sometimes while slowing for a light or stop sign. A cluster of lights comes on together — check engine, traction control, tire pressure and sometimes the AT light — and after a restart the car often drives normally with only the check engine light left on. Complaints mention PCM reflashes, mass air flow and oxygen sensor replacements, and diagnostics that found nothing; several report the pattern returning after repairs. Appears from very low mileage (under 10,000 miles) through roughly 140,000 miles, occurring at highway speed, in stop-and-go traffic and at idle.
What to check: Ask for any stored or pending diagnostic codes and whether the PCM has been reflashed. A scan tool check for transmission and sensor codes before purchase is worthwhile.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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, filed 2020-07, 103,000 miles“The traction light automatically kicks on even if there is no bad weather. The lights flash on and the car becomes sluggish as if the traction is on. I have to pull over to turn the car off and restart. The engine light stays on for a least 24 hours. This has happened at least 5 times. Last time it happened 12/14/2017 and happened on highway and I couldn't do anything until I got off the highway.”
NHTSA complaint #11054860, filed 2017-12, 85,000 miles - Brakes
Rear brakes wearing out early
- 23 complaints (12%)
- median 31,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (19 state mileage)
- 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2014–2019
Owners report rear pads and rotors worn out far sooner than expected, in some cases within 18 to 24 months of ownership. Descriptions include metal grinding from a rear wheel, pads worn through, and rotors damaged enough to need replacement. Several say the wear was not caught at inspection, and a few report that parts were on back order or that the wear was characterized as normal and not covered. Mostly reported between roughly 22,000 and 32,000 miles, on vehicles one to two years old.
What to check: Have the rear pads and rotors measured rather than just visually checked, and ask for service records showing when they were last replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I started hearing a metal grinding sound on the read driver side of my Mazda cx5. I was told the rotors and pad were gone and needed replaced. The parts were not available and I was driving on used pads for about 1 month and they started to make the same grinding sound. I did not feel safe driving this car with the brakes in the condition.”
NHTSA complaint #10626877, filed 2014-08, 28,000 miles“Our company owns two Mazda cx5s, model years 2013 with 22,500 miles and 2014 with 13,000 miles. On both cars the rear brakes and rotors have completely worn down. When we had the 2013 serviced, only the brakes could be replaced because the rotors were on national back order.”
NHTSA complaint #10617554, filed 2014-07, 22,500 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Drivetrain noise and hard shifts
- 9 complaints (5%)
- median 23,100 mi at 2.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
- filed 2013–2020
Complaints describe a winding, grinding or humming noise from the drivetrain, often noticed while accelerating or decelerating, with independent shops pointing to trans axle bearings or a failing transmission. Others report a single violent jerk at low speed, or the transmission dropping out of gear entirely. In the noise cases, owners say no warning lights were present and diagnosis required a transmission specialist. Noise reports generally start around 80,000 to 105,000 miles; the harsh-shift and gear-drop complaints appear much earlier, under 25,000 miles.
What to check: Listen for whine or hum on a test drive at varying speeds and on deceleration, and confirm the automatic transmission fluid is the specified type and at the correct level.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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, filed 2020-09, 104,000 miles“Driving on a side street, I felt a clunk through the gas pedal and the RPM's nosed dived to around 1500. Snailed it over to the shoulder, put in park, stepping on the gas would rev up to 2000 then drop to 1500 on it's own regardless of gas peddle position. In park, shut off, restarted, lots of pretty lights on the dash (at, tire pressure, engine, traction control, plus others), no change, RPM to 2000 then drop to 1500. …”
NHTSA complaint #10551811, filed 2013-11, 17,111 miles
Buying note. Check the ignition shut-off behavior and rear brake condition carefully on any example, and ask for stored codes given how often owners describe intermittent power loss. A pre-purchase scan and a highway test drive at varying speeds can surface several of the reported symptoms.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 194 consumer complaints for the 2013 Mazda CX-5. 141 of the complaints include a mileage, and 57% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 39,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 8 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 824 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 10 Mazda CX-5 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 34 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system58 30%
- Engine42 22%
- Other or unknown28 14%
- Brakes26 13%
- Vehicle speed control22 11%
- Electronic stability control15 7.7%
- Body and structure15 7.7%
- Seats13 6.7%
Also reported: Fuel system (10), Steering (4), Suspension (3), Wheels (3), Air bags (1), Engine cooling (1).
Example complaints
Electrical system: “My car does not turn off when you push the ignition button. I spoke to Mazda's parts manager about this, and his wife had the same issue and the same model and year as my car. He told me that it is the Parking Lever switch. I feel that not being able to turn your car off is a safety issue. I filed a safety issue with my 2013 Mazda CX-5 on May 26, 2022.”
NHTSA complaint #11466253, filed 2022-05, 123,000 milesEngine: “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, filed 2017-06, 46,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “This has been happening for the last 2 years. I've taken it to 2 different Mazda dealerships for a total of 5 times and they cannot duplicate the issue or find any problems running diagnostics. My car has 50,000 miles on it and is a 2013 Mazda CX-5. When I bought it had 20,000 miles on it and I started noticing a few months after I bought it. …”
NHTSA complaint #11018673, filed 2017-08, 20,000 milesOther or unknown: “August 23, 2017: while driving my 2013 Mazda CX-5 on the expressway at approximately 70mps (speed limit 75) the moon roof suddenly shattered while passing through an underpass. It was roughly 98f with clear skies and there was minimal traffic. When I pulled over to inspect the car for any damage I saw the moon roof shattered, like it had been blown out in the middle.”
NHTSA complaint #11019248, filed 2017-08, 140,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
57% of the 141 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 17,111 and 80,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2013 Mazda CX-5. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CX-5 · SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | 5 / 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 16.9% risk |
| CX-5 · SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | 5 / 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 17.4% risk |
Neighbouring years: 2014: 5 stars overall. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2013 Mazda CX-5 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CX-5 2WD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | 26 | 34 | 29 | $2,300 |
| CX-5 2WD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 26 | 32 | 28 | $2,400 |
| CX-5 4WD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 25 | 30 | 27 | $2,500 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 16V644000Sep 6, 2016Structure › Body › Hatchback/liftgateCovers: Mazda CX-5 2013–2016, MAZDA3 2010–2013, MAZDA5 2012–2015 +2 more
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles…
Recall details for the 2013 Mazda CX-5 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 824 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11037899Sep 11, 2026Electrical system. DESCRIPTION If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if…
- 11034447Jun 19, 2026Electrical system, Engine. This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-061/25 12/17/25 DESCRIPTION If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine…
- 11032003May 1, 2026Transmission and drivetrain. This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. 01-008/23 06/05/23 Some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and…
- 11032104Apr 30, 2026Body and structure, Other or unknown. DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged VIN plate or vehicle certification label. To obtain a replacement VIN plate (bulkhead-mounted and visible through the lower-left…
- 11032103Apr 21, 2026Engine, Brakes, Other or unknown, Transmission and…. This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 DESCRIPTION Mazda has developed factory recommended…
- 11032019Apr 11, 2026Fuel system. This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued M-Tip(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. MT-003/22 03/02/22 DESCRIPTION Some customers may complain about a tapping or knocking…
- 11032100Apr 4, 2026Body and structure, Electrical system. This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SAs and bulletin(s) listed below: The changes are noted below in red. SA-010/23 02/09/23 DESCRIPTION Some customers may experience one or more…
- 11028133Jan 26, 2026Other or unknown. There are currently 2 methods for cutting a new auxiliary key blank. A. Auxiliary Key Trace Cut Method • B. Auxiliary Key Code Cut Method 2019 and newer models require a 10-digit key code to…
- 11028127Jan 5, 2026Other or unknown. Some customers may report an odor or water in the HVAC system and upon inspection, the cabin air filter may be found to be wet.
- 11026917Dec 17, 2025Electrical system. If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any…
Other model years of the Mazda CX-5
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17 | 615 | 0 | — | 26 | — | Too new |
| 2025 | 29 | 3,518 | 0 | 5 | 25 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 46 | 20,828 | 0 | 5 | 25 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 67 | 10,064 | 0 | 5 | 26 | 22 · Fewer | Too new |
| 2022 | 65 | 20,482 | 0 | 5 | 26 | 12 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2021 | 148 | 26,450 | 0 | 5 | 28 | 50 · Typical | Stable |
| 2020 | 108 | 3,200 | 0 | 5 | 28 | 30 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2019 | 272 | 17,000 | 2 | 5 | 28 | 57 · Typical | Rising |
| 2018 | 352 | 14,700 | 3 | 4–5 | 28 | 77 · More | Rising |
| 2017 | 150 | 19,000 | 1 | 4 | 27 | 26 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2016 | 511 | 30,939 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2015 | 133 | 27,000 | 3 | 5 | 28 | 60 · Typical | Falling |
| 2014 | 377 | 42,200 | 3 | 5 | 28 | 78 · More | Falling |
| 2013 | 194 | 39,000 | 1 | 4 | 29 | 34 · Fewer | Falling |
All Mazda CX-5 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mazda CX-5?
Owners of this model year most often describe two patterns: the engine shutting down or losing power while driving, which comes with a cluster of warning lights, and the push-button ignition failing to fully turn the vehicle off after it is placed in park. The issues reported most often: Push-button start will not fully shut the car off; Sudden power loss and stalling with warning lights; Rear brakes wearing out early.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2013 Mazda CX-5 have?
NHTSA recorded 194 consumer complaints for the 2013 Mazda CX-5 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2013 Mazda CX-5 is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 58 complaints (30% of the total), followed by engine with 42.
Has the 2013 Mazda CX-5 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2013 Mazda CX-5 do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2013 Mazda CX-5 4 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Mazda CX-5 get?
The EPA rates the 2013 Mazda CX-5 (CX-5 2WD, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 29 mpg combined, 26 city and 34 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2013 Mazda CX-5 reported?
Among the 141 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 39,000 miles and the middle half falls between 17,111 and 80,000 miles; 57% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.