2013 Mazda CX-5

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Mazda CX-5 has 292 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: 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, . ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 7 crash reports 5 injuries

292

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

58 complaints

20%

• 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,
• 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 TH
• 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 PRES

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“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, ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

43 complaints

15%

• 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 O
• 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,
• 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 T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 O”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

38 complaints

13%

• 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
• 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.
• 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 O

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

28 complaints

10%

• 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 WA
• ENGINE LIGHT, DIAGNOSTIC CODE INDICATES HEATER CORE PROBLEM. SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED AT LEAST 2 TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURS WITHIN A WEEK. IT HAS BEEN A COMMUTING INCONVENIENCE AND MY WIFE IS FEARFUL OF DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON.
• THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LIFT GATE STAY DAMPER. RECALL WAS RECEIVED OCT. 2016 &HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. TUPELO MAZDA SAYS THERE'S NO PARTS FOR IT. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED ASAP. THE RECALL SAYS THE LIFT GATE CAN FALL POTENTIALLY CAUSING INJURY, THE STAY DAMPERS ARE FAULTY.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 WA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

26 complaints

• 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
• 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
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 292 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: 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,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 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 O
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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 WA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)