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
194 reports, newest first.
Seats, Oct 14, 2013
THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WHERE IT JOSTLES AND CLICKS. MY LOCAL SERVICE CENTER CLAIMS THAT A LOT OF CX-5 MODELS HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS ISSUE AND IT MAY BE NORMAL. TO ME, THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT A NORMAL ISSUE AND HAD ONLY STARTED HAPPENING, RECENTLY. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE SEAT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE SAME SEAT. THE DAY AFTER I PURCHASED MY CX-5, I REALIZED THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT CUSHION WAS COMING COMPLETELY OFF OF THE FRAME. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK INTO WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY DID SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THE CUSHION STAYED IN PLACE. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY AND NOW THE SAME EXACT SEAT IS JOSTLING AND CLICKING. THERE IS APPARENTLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS SEAT AND IT COULD POSSIBLY BE A REAL SAFETY ISSUE IF MAZDA DOESN'T ADDRESS IT SOON. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT ALMOST A MONTH AFTER MY INITIAL COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO MY LOCAL SERVICE CENTER, THEY HAVE YET TO EVEN LOOK AT IT OR REPAIR IT. APPARENTLY, MAZDA IS NOT TAKING THE ISSUE SERIOUSLY. *TR
Visibility, Aug 8, 2013
WHILE ACCELERATING TO 70 MPH ON AN ON-RAMP TO I-40, I HEARD A VERY LOUD POP. I HAD MY SUNROOF COMPLETELY OPEN (WITHDRAWN INTO VEHICLE ROOF) AND WINDOWS DOWN AT THE TIME. AFTER HEARING THE LOUD POP, I CHECKED TO SEE IF A ROCK HAD STRUCK MY WINDSHIELD, AND COULD FIND NO EVIDENCE OF SUCH. WHEN I WENT TO CLOSE MY SUNROOF, I LOOKED UP TO SEE THAT THE GLASS HAD COMPLETELY SHATTERED IN-PLACE. I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETELY CLOSE THE SUNROOF AND PULL THE INTERNAL COVER CLOSED, AND PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TOWED TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP, WHO IS CONTACTING MAZDA TO WORK ON THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Aug 6, 2013
WHILE ON A VERY BUSY ROAD, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING AND MY SPEED BEGAN TO DROP RAPIDLY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT AND TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS AS IF THE CAR HAD COMPLETELY LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF. I GOT OUT AND CHECKED ALL OF THE TIRES AND THEY WERE FINE. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, THE WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT COME BACK ON AND THE CAR RAN NORMALLY. *TR
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
Vehicle speed control, Jun 13, 2013
WHILE CHANGING LANES ON HIGHWAY FROM A STOP, IT FELT AS THOUGH THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL INSTEAD OF DRIVE. THE RPM INCREASED BUT THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED UPON SUDDEN ACCELERATION FROM AROUND 30 THAT I GET A SIMILAR RESPONSE. MAZDA STATES VEHICLE PERFORMING AS BY DESIGN. CAR DOES NOT SEEM TO DOWN SHIFT QUICK ENOUGH ON ACCELERATION. *TR
Suspension, May 15, 2013
FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES COMPLETELY WORN AND NEEDING REPLACEMENT AT 16,700 MILES. VEHICLE IS DRIVEN EXCLUSIVELY BY MY 55 YEAR OLD WIFE. *TR
Seats, Apr 14, 2013
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HEAD RESTRAINTS PUSH MY HEAD FAR TOO FORWARD AND DOWNWARD. BEING ONLY 5', I ADDED A SEAT PAD AND A LUMBAR PAD, STILL NO HELP. I HAVE HAD TO TURN THE HEAD RESTRAINT BACKWARDS RESULTING IN RELIEVE BUT WON'T PROTECT ME IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Feb 22, 2013
WHILE THE BRAKE IS HELD DOWN WITH THE LEFT FOOT AND A SLIGHT PRESSURE IS PUT ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. IT CAN MOVE ABOUT TWO FEET BEFORE I GET THE BRAKE ON HARD ENOUGH TO STOP THE CAR. IT FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK HARD FROM BEHIND. THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT TWICE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE BOG FOR "BREAK OVER GAS" LOGIC SYSTEM IS BEING FOOLED BY THE COMBINED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE AND GAS AT THE SAME TIME, I.E., IF, WHILE BOTH PEDALS ARE PRESSED, IF THE BRAKE PRESSURE IS SLIGHTLY RELEASED WHILE THE GAS PEDAL IS STILL SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED THE COMPUTER THINKS THE IT HAS TO "CATCH-UP WITH THE GAS PEDAL AND IT SURGES FORWARD. IT HAS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES. IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED WITHOUT BOTH THE BRAKE AND GAS BEING SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLIED. IT BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IT HAPPENS AT A BUSY STOP SIGNED INTERSECTION WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC, I.E., A PEDESTRIAN COULD BE STRUCK. I TRY TO AVOID THIS USING THIS TECHNIQUE BUT IT IS A HABIT THAT I'M SURE MANY DRIVERS HAVE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Feb 18, 2013
WHILE DRIVING ON THE LEFT LANE OF A BUSY LOS ANGELES HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED RESPONDING AND MY SPEED DROPPED RAPIDLY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHTS TURNED ON. IMMEDIATELY, I TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED INTO THE RIGHT LANE. UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS IN A TUNNEL WITH NO SHOULDER. WHEN THE VEHICLE'S FORWARD MOMENTUM RAN OUT, I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER CRUISING FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET. AFTER MY VEHICLE STOPPED, I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE AGAIN AND PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, CHECKED ALL TIRES (ALL LOOKED NORMAL), AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ALL OFF AT THIS POINT, AND THE VEHICLE RESPONDED NORMALLY. THIS WAS A DISTURBING AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WILL DESCRIBE IT AT MY 10,000-MILE SERVICE, BUT IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SOLICIT AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE FROM MAZDA. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 23, 2013, 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. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
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
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 12, 2012
THIS EVENING I WAS RUNNING 2 ERRANDS LESS THAN 3 MILES FROM HOUSE. AS I DROVE FROM THE FIRST ERRAND AND ARRIVED AT THE SECOND, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATORS ILLUMINATED: HTTP://1.BP.BLOGSPOT.COM/-0A4BJZANA9E/UMF10EMOZJI/AAAAAAAAAHK/AKLXHAHWFSW/S1600/2012-12-11_CX-5.JPG I PARKED AT MY SECOND ERRAND, TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND DECIDED TO LET IT SIT. WHEN I CAME BACK AND STARTED IT, ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. WITH THE VEHICLE FULL OF PURCHASES, TEMPERATURE NEAR 30 DEGREES, I OPTED TO TRY AND MAKE IT THE 2.3 MILES HOME. I GOT 2 TRAFFIC LIGHTS WHEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIT UP AGAIN. THE CX-5 SEEMED TO DRIVE OK, SO I CONTINUED HOME. AS I MADE THE SECOND TO LAST TURN -- ABOUT 1 MILE OUT -- THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INDICATOR BLINKED OUT (NO LONGER SAID 'D'), THEN THE SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER/ODOMETER STOPPED REPORTING (ALL READ 0). I MADE IT TO MY DRIVEWAY, BUT WAS UNABLE TO TURN IT OF UNTIL I HELD THE START/STOP BUTTON ABOUT 20 SECONDS UNTIL IT TURNED OFF (THIS WAS THE SOLUTION WHEN I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SMART KEY IN MY PREVIOUS MAZDA). MAZDA INSTALLED A DATA RECORDED IN MY VEHICLE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, AS THEY CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEMS WITH THE SKYACTIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION I REPORTED DAYS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY IN MAY: HTTP://4.BP.BLOGSPOT.COM/-OOHCDCYEKLY/UMGIMOOUN5I/AAAAAAAAAKO/O_AXHYSUZ74/S1600/IMG_1293.JPG THAT DEVICE SHOULD HOPEFULLY PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION TO THEM. IT WAS TOWED TO MY NEAREST DEALERSHIP, WHOSE SERVICE BAYS IT IS NO STRANGER TO. *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
Visibility, Structure, Nov 15, 2012
WHEN DRIVING OVER 40MPH, THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY MAKING ME EXTREMELY DIZZY AND FEELING DISORIENTED. I CAN'T USE THEM AT ALL AND MAKES DRIVING AT THAT SPEED UNSAFE. I BROUGHT IT TO MAZDA TO BE FIXED TWICE ALREADY. THE FIRST TIME, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED AN ISSUE BUT I HAD TO COME BACK BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO SEND THE DEALERSHIP THE PARTS. WHEN THE PARTS WERE IN, THEY TRIED THE FIX AND THEN I WAS TOLD IT DIDN'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE FIX WAS TO THE HOOD TO STOP THE HOOD AND MIRRORS FROM SHAKING. APPARENTLY, MAZDA ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND COMING OUT WITH A NEW FIX IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR. ALL MILEAGE SO FAR HAS BEEN ME GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS ISSUE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY THE CAR AT ALL AND DEEM IT UNSAFE FOR MYSELF AND MY BABY. I WROTE TO MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RECEIVED A DISGUSTING RESPONSE WHO BEGAN EVERY SENTENCE WITH "UNFORTUNATELY"! "[XXX]"OFFERED $100 IN SERVICE COUPONS FOR THE INCONVENIENCE WITHOUT EXPLAINING WHAT THE ISSUE IS AND HOW THEY ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN MAZDA FOR MANY REASONS...NUMBER ONE BEING ADVERTISING THE CAR FOR SAFETY FEATURES WHEN CLEARLY IT ISN'T. THEY NEED TO LOOK AT THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND COME UP WITH A FIX TRIED AND TESTED FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL PASSENGERS. IF I HAD TO GO THROUGH A PURCHASING EXERCISE AGAIN, I SURELY WILL NOT BE BUYING MAZDA PRODUCTS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Oct 17, 2012, 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
Structure, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Sep 26, 2012
THE PROXIMITY OF THE PEDALS SEEM TO BE TOO CLOSE. SOME FOOTWEAR MAY SNAG WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE HAVE NOTICED TWICE SINCE PURCHASING CAR ON 9/22. *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
Visibility/wiper, Jul 24, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX- 5. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE EXTERNAL MIRROR VIBRATED.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1500.