2013 Mazda CX-5
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 194 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 14 CX-5 model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 6 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 8 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Structure, body, hatchback/liftgateSep 6, 2016
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 manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.
If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.
Campaign 16V644000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
38 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Mar 20, 2014
WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN TO 5MPH. LUCKILY FOR ME NO CARS WERE BEHIND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE I WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED. SOON AFTER THIS HAPPENED I LOOKED AT MY DASH BOARD TO SEE IF ANY WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON BUT THERE WAS NOTHING. SO THEN I CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO A SIDE STREET ALL WHILST PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR WITH NO RESPONSE. ONCE I TURNED ON TO A SIDE STREET AN ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, WHICH I WAS NOT EXPECTING TO HAPPEN. AT THIS POINT I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES AND PLACED IT ON PARK. AFTER GETTING OVER THE FEAR OF DRIVING MY VEHICLE I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME, BUT NOT WITHOUT HAVING MY VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY SLOW DOWN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING UP MY DRIVEWAY. *TR
Power train, Mar 17, 2014
DRIVING WITH CRUISE ON AT APPROX 68MPH, CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS SOLID AMBER, THE TPMS WAS FLASHING AMBER. PULLED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY, SHUT OFF VEHICLE, RESTARTED AND TCS, TPMS, CEL, AND AT LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. CALLED MAZDA CUST SERV AND DUE TO MILEAGE UNABLE TO TOW - SPENT 2 HRS AT TOP OF HILL ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY ROAD WAITING ON TOW (PAID OUT OF PERSONAL POCKET). COMPLEMENTARY TOW FROM HOUSE TO DEALERSHIP - TOLD TODAY (3/17) THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND NEEDED REPLACED. DUE TO MILEAGE, WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT MAZDA WOULD HELP COVER COST OF TRANS IF I PAID INSTALL. LOOKING TO BE OUT $1,100+ OF MY OWN MONEY TO GET VEHICLE BACK. THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED 16 MONTHS PRIOR IN NOV, 2012 WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 27,000-ISH MILES ON IT AND NO ISSUES WERE "FOUND" AT THAT TIME. HAVE HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT THE TWO ARE NOT RELATED GIVEN THE FAILURE MODE IN BOTH INSTANCES WAS THE SAME. BASICALLY WISHING I HAD GONE WITH A DIFFERENT MODEL NOW THAT I HAVE READ THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHERS. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT FOR A RECALL - BLOG INDICATES THAT SOME BEING TOLD IT IS A TRANSMISSION VALVE NEEDING REPLACED, SOME NOT HAVING ISSUE FOUND, TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED, ETC. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FAULTY DESIGN AND PUTS CONSUMERS AT RISK IF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATES ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, OR AS ANOTHER HAS REPORTED WHEN THEY WERE IN A TUNNEL. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY BOTH TIMES FOR ME HAVE BEEN ON A LESS-THAN-BUSY HIGHWAY. PLEASE RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION!!! *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Feb 1, 2014
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 MALFUNCTION AND SHIFT TIME ERRORS. MAZDA AUTHORIZED REPAIR PROCEDURE INCLUDED REPLACING VALVE BODY AND RESETTING ADAPTIVE DRIVING SYSTEM COMPUTER. *TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 16, 2014
THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. IT FELT LIKE CAR HAD DOWNSHIFTED A COUPLE OF GEARS. I LOST FORWARD POWER IN ALL GEARS (ENGINE REVVED, BUT NO POWER TO WHEELS THROUGH TRANSMISSION). FORTUNATELY WE WERE JUST TURNING INTO AN ALLEY, SO WAS ABLE TO PARK CAR OFF A MAIN STREET. FINALLY WERE ABLE TO GET IT TO GO INTO REVERSE TO PARK IT BRIEFLY. TURNED CAR OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN AND ALL LIGHTS ON DASH WERE NORMAL AND TRANSMISSION WOULD ENGAGE IN FORWARD GEARS AGAIN. DROVE THE 7 MILES TO MY HOUSE WITH NO PROBLEMS. CALLED DEALER AND THE SHOP SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. COULD HAVE BEEN BAD IF THIS HAPPENED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. *TR
Power train, Engine, Nov 29, 2013
OUT OF THE BLUE, I STARTED MY VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I READ IN THE MANUAL THE GAS LID COULD BE LOOSE, BUT I CHECKED IT AND IT WAS FINE. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HOOKED IT UP TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A MISS IN THE ENGINE, AND HE'D HAVE TO LEAVE IT WITH THEM SO THEIR TECH TEAM TO TRY AND GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. I HAD FELT HESITATIONS BEFORE WHILE COMING UP OUR DRIVEWAY, WHICH IS PRETTY STEEP. IT'S LIKE IT WOULD ALMOST STOP THEN LUNGE FORWARD PRETTY QUICK. IT ALSO HAS FELT LIKE IT WASN'T CHANGING GEARS AT TIMES, LIKE IT NORMALLY WOULD. THIS JUST HAPPENED RANDOMLY. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 13, 2013
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE VERY SUDDENLY DECELERATED (FROM ABOUT 55 TO 40), ALMOST AS IF IT SLIPPED BACK A COUPLE OF GEARS- IT WAS A JARRING AND IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER, AND I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE STRAIN AS IF IT WAS FORCED INTO A LOWER GEAR. THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. I LOST ABILITY TO ACCELERATE ABOVE MAYBE 1K OR 1.5K RPMS. WHEN I SLOWED THE CAR DOWN AND DROVE TO A PLACE I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER, THE CAR WAS SPUTTERING AND TREMBLING AGGRESSIVELY WITH EACH PUSH OF THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN I FINALLY DID STOP, I POWERED OFF THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED THE TIRES - ALL OF WHICH WERE FINE. I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND IT BEHAVED NORMALLY, ALL THE ERROR LIGHTS WERE CLEARED. I EVEN DROVE IT QUITE SOME DISTANCE TO THE DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE. THE SERVICE CENTER SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT. A QUICK WEB SEARCH, HOWEVER, INDICATES THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A NEW (6 MONTHS) 2013 MAZDA CX-5 WITH AROUND 6000 MILES. *TR
Power train, Engine, Nov 11, 2013
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. STILL IN PARK, SHUT DOWN, RESTARTED AGAIN, RPM'S WERE NORMAL BUT NO FORWARD GEARS IN AUTO OR AUTO-MANUAL (COULD SHIFT TO 'D' OR +/- BUT WOULDN'T ENGAGE). WHILE IN 'D' WAS ABLE TO REV ENGINE BUT TRANSMISSION OBVIOUSLY NOT ENGAGED AT ALL. REVERSE WORKED FINE, SHIFTED BACK TO 'D' BUT STILL NO RESPONSE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. SHUT DOWN A 3RD TIME AND RESTARTED. CHECK ENGINE ON BUT RPM AND TRANSMISSION NORMAL. DROVE TO DEALER AND DROPPED IT OFF. SERVICE DEPT. CALLED LATER TO SAY ORDERING A VALVE BODY FOR TRANSMISSION. *TR
Power train, Nov 5, 2013
2013 MAZDA CX-5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DECELERATED WHILE DRIVING AND TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR WARNING LIGHT,TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. *SMD THE DEALER ONLY ON REPLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY REPLACED, AS FLUSHING THE FLUID, WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jul 3, 2013
I HAD JUST EXITED THE FREEWAY AFTER DRIVING 25 MILES AND WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE ENGINE REVVED HIGH AND DID NOT SHIFT GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF FIRST GEAR OR OVER 20 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION AND ONCE IT HAD COOLED OVERNIGHT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED NORMALLY. I DID NOT DRIVE IT MORE THAN A BLOCK FOR FEAR IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. *TR
Power train, Jan 4, 2013
DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON THE NJ TURNPIKE, MY CX-5 WAS CRUISING WITH AT 65MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRACTION CONTROL, LOW TIRE PRESSURE, CHECK ENGINE AT LIGHTS WENT OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED AS IF ALL POWER WAS LOST DOWN TO 30 MPH. WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE. I ASSUMED IT MIGHT BE A TIRE ISSUE BUT ALL TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED. ENGINE AND FLUIDS WERE NOT LEAKING. RESTARTED THE CAR TWICE BUT LIGHTS CONTINUED TO STAY ON. HAD TO CRAWL TO SERVICE EXIT AND CALLED MAZDA. WAITED 45 MINS FOR A TOW TRUCK, WHEN DRIVER CAME I RESTATED THE CAR AND ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. *TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 6, 2012
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON FRWY, STARTED LOSING POWER FAST. AS IF THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. AT LIGHT, TRACTION LIGHT, STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED TO SIDE OF FRWY TURNED CAR OFF, SAT THERE IN DISBELIEF. I THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON - ONLY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. HAD POWER AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPEN DIAG FOUND CODE P1738, P0847. GALPIN MAZDA CALLED TECH LINE AND THEY WERE TOLD TO PERFORM A REFLASH TO THE PCM. THIS HAPPEN AGAIN ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER. BUT THIS TIME ALL WARNING LIGHTS TURNED OFF AFTER RESTARTING. I WILL MENTION IT ON MY NEXT SERVICE VISIT. *TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 18, 2012
DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON, AND CAR SLOWED DOWN AND IT WAS LIKE IT WASN'T IN GEAR. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT FOUR TIME BEFORE ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND I COULD DRIVE IT AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON, BUT IN RAN FINE.THIS ALSO HAPPEN ABOUT A MONTH AGO IN TOWN, I ONLY HAD TO SHUT OFF AND RESTART ONCE, AND ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND ITS BEEN RUNNING FINE SINCE UNTIL YESTERDAY. I'M TAKING IT TO THE DEALER IN THE MORNING. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 9, 2012
I WAS DRIVING AT THE LISTED SPEED ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE. WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WENT FROM SIXTH GEAR TO FOURTH, RAPIDLY LOSING SPEED IN THE FAR LEFT LANE. THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON FLASHING, AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON SOLID YELLOW. I PULLED THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SHOULDER TO CHECK THE TIRES, PER THE INDICATOR, AND NOTICED NONE OF THE TIRES WAS DEFLATED. WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE TIRE PRESSURE AND TRACTION LIGHTS WERE SOLID YELLOW, ALONG WITH THE ENGINE AND "AT" TRANSMISSION LIGHT. WHILE THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE EFFECT ON VEHICLE OPERATION ONCE RESTARTED, I COULD NOT USE THE SELECT-A-GEAR FEATURE OF MY TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE THAT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, AND THAT SOFTWARE UPDATES WERE REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED SEVERAL DAYS LATER, WITH THE WARNING LIGHTS RESOLVED, BUT TOLD THAT THEY WERE UNCERTAIN AS TO WHETHER IT WAS A DEFINITIVE FIX. THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECURRENCES SINCE THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT. *TR