2013 Mazda CX-5 problems
The 2013 Mazda CX-5 has 292 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (20%) concerns electrical system. Next are engine (15%) and drivetrain & axles (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 292 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 20% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 8 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 8 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 38,000 miles 231 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 67 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 50 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 24 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 32 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 27 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 17 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 7 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 231 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 38,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 75,000 miles (46 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 8 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 8 injuries reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 87% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2013 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 14 model years of the Mazda CX-5 with enough data (221 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Front seat passenger's feet have been burned when they are lifted off the floor and touch something under glovebox area. This has happened to me, when I have sat in the passanger seat and other passangers. This happens to one person at a time, but happens often. I had the dealership look at it to see if there was something wrong and they said there is not yet a fix for it. This area heats up after the vehicle is running a while.
The cx-5 comes equipped with a powered driver seat adjustment controls. At 20,000 miles, the car started spontaneously reclining, after you turn off the engine, step outside, and close the driver door. Warning: it is very powerful motor in terms of torque, and a human cannot prevent its descent by pushing back on it. The seat continues to recline, as though the button is depressed -- even when it makes contact with a solid object -- or a person.
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.
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.
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.