Problems · NHTSA complaints

2013 Mazda CX-5 problems

Owners filed 194 complaints about the 2013 Mazda CX-5 with NHTSA between Jul 2012 and Dec 2025. The most-cited component is electrical system (58).

Complaints
194
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system58
  2. Engine42
  3. Power train38
  4. Service brakes24
  5. Vehicle speed control22
  6. Structure15
  7. Electronic stability control (esc)15
  8. Seats13
  9. Fuel/propulsion system9
  10. Visibility6
  11. Visibility/wiper5
  12. Steering4
  13. Suspension3
  14. Wheels3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20128
201318
201429
201512
201610
201731
201827
201919
202011
202111
20225
20234
20241
20258

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

58 reports1 fire
“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 this same vehicle having the same problem. The problem has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms before the problems started. It started a while ago but I'm not certain of the date. The messages I've read online of it happening to others are from several years ago, so this seems to be a problem that has been ongoing for several years that Mazda has failed to address.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2023Electrical systemODI 11515272

Engine

42 reports1 crash
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 14, 2022Electrical system, EngineODI 11456579

Power train

38 reports
“The contact owns a 2013 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while shifting into the park the electronics failed to turn off. The contact vigorously shifted the gear shifter in several positions for approximately 10 to 15 minutes to turn off electronics. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The contact was concerned about the battery being drained. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 19, 2021Power trainODI 11437327

Service brakes

24 reports3 crashes
“PURCHASED USED 2013 MAZDA CX-5 IN DECEMBER 2015. APRIL 2017 HAD REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED DUE TO RUST. SCREECHING BEGAN, AGAIN, END OF JUNE 2019 WHILE DRIVING NORMAL SPEEDS. CONTINUED TO GET WORSE, BRAKING AND NOT BRAKING AT ANY SPEED. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST, WITH THE LEFT-SIDE BEING EXTREMELY WORSE THAN THE RIGHT. SAID THE CALIPER MIGHT HAVE GONE BAD. COULDN'T EXPLAIN HOW THIS WOULD HAPPEN IN 2 YEARS. DID NOT MENTION ANY NOTICES FOR THIS FROM MAZDA OR HOW TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 11, 2019Service brakesODI 11230933

Vehicle speed control

22 reports3 crashes
“When in the highway and changing lanes and you try to excelerate it doesnt take off ..instead just acts as if i had over excelerated but not speeding up.. i have almost been ran over because i could not get enough speed to switch lanes.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2025Vehicle speed controlODI 11667554

Structure

15 reports1 related recall
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 18, 2020StructureODI 11375205
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.