YearToAvoid

2013 Mazda CX-5 Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 38 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Mazda CX-5, 20% of that year's 194 total complaints — the highest share of any model year. Median mileage at failure was 34,000 miles, with no related recalls, crashes, fires, or injuries reported.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
38
20% of 194
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
34,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle suddenly loses power and drops several gears while driving on the highway, often at speeds around 55 to 65 mph.
  • Dashboard warning lights cluster together during the event, including the automatic transaxle, traction control, check engine, and tire pressure lights.
  • Some owners report the vehicle gets stuck in a low gear and cannot accelerate past 20 to 30 mph until restarted, sometimes requiring several restart attempts.
  • At a stop, pressing the accelerator causes the engine to rev high without the transmission shifting out of first gear.
  • A few owners describe a clunk felt through the gas pedal followed by RPMs dropping and surging on their own regardless of pedal position.
  • One owner reported the dealer only flushed the transmission fluid rather than replacing the transmission valve body that was requested.

When 2013 Mazda CX-5 transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 9, 2012, latest Oct 19, 2021.

2013 Mazda CX-5 transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month4Sep 2012Jul 2013Mar 2014Jan 2016Apr 2017Nov 2017Sep 2018Sep 2020
38 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2012 to Oct 2021; peak Nov 2013 (4).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2013 Mazda CX-5

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by CX-5 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20120 (0%)
  2. 201338 (20%)
  3. 201450 (13%)
  4. 201519 (14%)
  5. 201651 (10%)
  6. 201711 (7%)
  7. 201841 (12%)
  8. 201932 (12%)
  9. 20208 (8%)
  10. 202117 (12%)
  11. 20225 (8%)
  12. 20233 (5%)
  13. 20243 (7%)
  14. 20253 (11%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2013 Mazda CX-5 have?
NHTSA lists 38 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 CX-5, which is 20% of the 194 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Mazda CX-5 transmission?
No. The data shows no related recalls tied to this Transmission & Powertrain complaint category for the 2013 CX-5.
At what mileage do 2013 CX-5 transmission problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 34,000 miles.
Did the 2013 CX-5 transmission issues cause crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data for this complaint category shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries reported.
How does 2013 compare to other CX-5 model years for this issue?
The 2013 CX-5's 20% share of complaints tied to Transmission & Powertrain is the highest of any model year listed, ahead of 2014's 13% and 2016's 10%.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.