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Mazda · NHTSA safety record

2013 Mazda CX-5

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

194

Complaints

6

Crashes

1

Fires

8

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2013 Mazda CX-5 have filed 194 safety complaints with NHTSA between July 2012 and December 2025. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 58 of them (30%). The typical failure was reported at 39,000 miles, the median across the 141 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 1 recall covering this vehicle.

Recalls (1)

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

16V644000 · September 6, 2016

The defect
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.
The risk
If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
The remedy
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.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 580,455 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 194.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 58 30%
ENGINE 42 22%
POWER TRAIN 38 20%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 28 14%
SERVICE BRAKES 24 12%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 22 11%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 15 8%
STRUCTURE 15 8%
SEATS 13 7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 9 5%
VISIBILITY 6 3%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 5 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2017 at 31.

2012 2017 2025
2012 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

5 injured

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.

NHTSA complaint 11001684. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS

2 injured · 20,000 miles

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. SMALL CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DOOR WERE BRUISED AND TERRIFIED FOR DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT (HAPPENED 2-3 TIMES BEFORE WE STOPPED USING IT). IT HAPPENS AFTER YOU TURN OFF ENGINE AND LEAVE THE CAR. NORMALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS, QUICKLY

NHTSA complaint 10824413, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS

1 injured

I recently purchased this used vehicle. Right away, I noticed that when I used the recline lever, it didn't stop when removing my hand from it. I had to push the lever back to the middle position to stop it. I thought this was annoying, but didn't think much of it. On Thursday [XXX] I stopped at a gas station, went inside, and when I came back out the seat was fully reclined. It was so far back that it was lodged in the car seat behind the drivers seat. I tried to move the back up but it wouldn't come back up. The seat would move forward and back, but the recline level didn't work. I drove to my next destination with the seat all the way back. Then I turned the car off and on several times

NHTSA complaint 11569670, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 10,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 10494438. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Shifter switch has gone out and no longer recognizes the car is in park, causes battery drainage because car cannot fully turn off. Car not recognizing gears can cause car accidents and possible loss of life. This issue can be found online as a known defect in mazda cx-5 that has not been recalled. Vehicle has been inspected and issue has been verified.There were no warning lights, sounds or symptoms of potential failure before failure.

NHTSA complaint 11707155. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Shifter switch has gone out and no longer recognizes the car is in park, causes battery drainage because car cannot fully turn off. Car not recognizing gears can cause car accidents and possible loss of life. This issue can be found online as a known defect in mazda cx-5 that has not been recalled. Vehicle has been inspected and issue has been verified.There were no warning lights, sounds or symptoms of potential failure before failure. Mazda has had recalls and service bulletins related to shifter/ignition switches, particularly for models like the CX-5 and MX-5 (Miata) in years like 2013-2019, concerning worn shifter switch units (Part #KDY0-46-040) that can prevent the ignition from

NHTSA complaint 11707158, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Shifter switch has gone out and no longer recognizes the car is in park, causes battery drainage because car cannot fully turn off. Car not recognizing gears can cause car accidents and possible loss of life. This issue can be found online as a known defect in mazda cx-5 that has not been recalled. Vehicle has been inspected and issue has been verified.There were no warning lights, sounds or symptoms of potential failure before failure. Mazda has had recalls and service bulletins related to shifter/ignition switches, particularly for models like the CX-5 and MX-5 (Miata) in years like 2013-2019, concerning worn shifter switch units (Part #KDY0-46-040) that can prevent the ignition from

NHTSA complaint 11707160, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Shifter switch has gone out and no longer recognizes the car is in park, causes battery drainage because car cannot fully turn off. Car not recognizing gears can cause car accidents and possible loss of life. This issue can be found online as a known defect in mazda cx-5 that has not been recalled. Vehicle has been inspected and issue has been verified.There were no warning lights, sounds or symptoms of potential failure before failure. Mazda has had recalls and service bulletins related to shifter/ignition switches, particularly for models like the CX-5 and MX-5 (Miata) in years like 2013-2019, concerning worn shifter switch units (Part #KDY0-46-040) that can prevent the ignition from

NHTSA complaint 11707161, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Shifter switch has gone out and no longer recognizes the car is in park, causes battery drainage because car cannot fully turn off. Car not recognizing gears can cause car accidents and possible loss of life. This issue can be found online as a known defect in mazda cx-5 that has not been recalled. Vehicle has been inspected and issue has been verified.There were no warning lights, sounds or symptoms of potential failure before failure. Mazda has had recalls and service bulletins related to shifter/ignition switches, particularly for models like the CX-5 and MX-5 (Miata) in years like 2013-2019, concerning worn shifter switch units (Part #KDY0-46-040) that can prevent the ignition from

NHTSA complaint 11707165, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The lower control arm or axel on the front passenger side broke as I was backing out of a parking spot. It is still at the mechanic however that is what is required to put the wheel back on the vehicle. My understanding is that this is the second time I have had this problem with the lower control arm on this vehicle. That could be very dangerous if that happens while on the highway and I’m concerned there is a fundamental problem with this car if it has happened twice. The first time the car was only a few years old. It was around 2016 if I recall correctly and Mazda fixed it.

NHTSA complaint 11702896. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Mazda CX-5

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 41 0 —
2023 59 0 —
2022 62 0 —
2021 143 0 —
2020 106 0 —
2019 265 2 —
2018 347 3 —
2017 148 1 —
2016 510 4 —
2015 133 3 —
2014 377 3 —

Other 2013 Mazda models

MAZDA3 117 CX-9 68 MAZDA5 24 MAZDA6 22 MAZDA2 13

Every Mazda on this site — 81 vehicles, 161 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst