2013 Mazda CX-5 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2013 Mazda CX-5 has a Complaint Index of 38, ranking 9th out of 14 model years, and earns a Good verdict. It shows 194 complaints, one recall, and its biggest problem area is the Electrical System at 30% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 38/100
- #9 of 14 CX-5 years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 194
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 6
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 8
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 28
- 26 city / 32 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 0
Top 2013 Mazda CX-5 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System58 (30%)
- Engine56 (29%)
- Brakes40 (21%)
- Transmission & Powertrain38 (20%)
- Other28 (14%)
- Structure & Body28 (14%)
- Fuel System10 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers10 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (3%)
- Steering4 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners report the brake pedal suddenly failing to respond, leading to rear-end collisions even at low speeds.
- One owner described smoke and flames coming from the electrical fuse panel under the dashboard while driving at low speed.
- Several owners report the engine suddenly surging or lurching forward without warning, sometimes causing minor collisions.
- One owner reported the transmission dropping gears unexpectedly at highway speed along with tire pressure and traction control warnings.
- A driver noted the pedals sat too close together, causing footwear to snag while braking.
2013 Mazda CX-5 recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V644000Sep 6, 2016Structure & Body580,455 vehicles
Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate
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.
Risk: If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
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.
2013 Mazda CX-5 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26 MPG
- Highway
- 32 MPG
- Combined
- 28 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,300
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2013 compared with other CX-5 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 CX-5 rates Good, with a Complaint Index of 38 and rank 9 out of 14 model years — better than most CX-5 years but not the lowest complaint count overall.
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mazda CX-5?
- NHTSA complaints point to the Electrical System (30% of complaints), Engine (29%), and Brakes (21%) as the top problem areas, with a median mileage at failure of 39,000 for the model year overall.
- Does the 2013 Mazda CX-5 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists one recall for the 2013 CX-5, campaign 16V644000, covering a lift gate support replacement on the Structure & Body; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
- Are brake problems common in the 2013 CX-5?
- Brakes account for 21% of complaints (40 complaints) with a median mileage at failure of 29,750, and some reports describe crashes after the brakes reportedly failed to respond.
- How does the 2013 CX-5 compare to other CX-5 years?
- The 2013 model's Complaint Index of 38 is well below the worst years, such as 2016 (100) and 2014 (77), both rated Avoid, though it trails top years like 2017 and 2022, which rate Best.