NHTSA — Power Train Problems

2013 Mazda CX-5 (Page 1 of 2)

3.2

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,621 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Mazda CX-5 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Mazda CX-5:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2013 Mazda CX-5 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #36

Aug 202021

CX-5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My vehicle does not want to turn off when placed in park. The car is fully in the park position, but the start push button is illuminated with a red light. The power is still on, and the car beeps when door is open. I can only get the power to turn off, after repeatedly tapping the gear shift left, towards the P symbol. It is already fully seated in the park position, but this finally causes the light to go off and the car turns off. Always hoping the power did not turn back on while away from the car. Is this a fire hazard" I will not park my car in the garage as I am concerned it may overheat the wiring, electrical components, etc...??" I have noticed similar complaints for this vehicle on this website also.

- Rochester Hills, MI, USA

problem #35

Apr 032021

CX-5

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 MAZDA CX5. The contact stated while attempting to shut off the vehicle, the vehicle failed to turn off due to the transmission not being fully in PARK. The contact stated that there was an unknown flashing red warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the contact was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

- Saratoga Springs, NY, USA

problem #34

Jul 012020

CX-5

  • 104,000 miles
Bought my car with 40K miles on it from a Mazda dealership in Aurora Colorado in 2017. I'm at 106K now and I thought I needed wheel bearings on the front driver side tire. Turns out it's the drive train and a transmission failing. My vehicle hums on the front driver side when I accelerate. This issue began just over 100K miles.

- Aurora, CO, USA

problem #33

Jul 012020

CX-5

  • 84,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Mazda Cx-5. the contact stated while driving at various speeds and decelerating, there was an abnormal winding and grinding noise detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for routine repairs on the axle and the mechanic was informed that the transmission was making an abnormal winding noise. The vehicle was taken to an independent transmission specialist where he was informed that the trans axle bearings needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed that the repairs were not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was 84,000.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #32

May 152016

CX-5

  • 40,000 miles
Vehicle does not shut off when pressing the start/stop button due to known gate at shifter issue in sb 05-007/15. My vehicle warranty expired due to milage before the sb was even released.

- Helotes, TX, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #31

Oct 092015

CX-5

  • 27,000 miles
I bought the car certified pre-owned with 20K miles. After a few months I was at an intersection, once the cross traffic cleared I took my foot off the brake and pressed the accelerator. The car just glided, it had no power for 5 seconds. I repeatedly pressed the the gas pedal but nothing happened until after 5 seconds when the revolutions instantly increased to around 5000 RPM. This was the first time this happened at around 27,000 miles. I figured it was a small glitch. Through my 3 years of ownership (putting on 57,000 miles) this has been occurring more and more frequently. I am very hesitant when crossing intersections and attempting lane changes. This now occurs at least twice a month while in traffic. The other issue occurs when I shift from park/reverse to drive, while on level ground, the car suddenly jerks forward and revolutions increase suddenly, with my food either on the brake or as soon as I remove it but before I press the gas pedal. Another issue is while I'm accelerating, at 20-25 mph as the automatic transmission is shifting from either 2 to 3rd or 3rd to 4th (I haven't been able to determine yet). When transmission misses the gear change it causes the revolutions to suddenly increase for a fraction of a second. When the gear is engaged it is accompanied by a clunky slamming sound. This happens pretty quickly and has not yet made the car lose speed or handling. After 3 years of ownership with recorded routine scheduled maintenance completed and standard commuter use of 60% highway and 40% city style driving I don't feel the transmission and/or engine are safe or reliable. I have taken it to the dealer since it is still under limited power-train warranty but they just tell me that is normal for economy style cars. I can not let my parents borrow the car because I feel these issues might surprise them while in traffic and lead to a collision.

- Lombard, IL, USA

problem #30

Sep 042018

CX-5

  • 75,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When stopped and with the engine and all lights turned off, the car will drain the battery and not be able to be started. This has resulted in being stranded in many places. In fact, I now carry a rechargable battery pack to keep from being stranded once a month.

- Landisville, PA, USA

problem #29

Jun 102018

CX-5

  • 120,000 miles
The car will not turn off when I put it in park. The accessories ie radio won't turn off and I am unable to lock my car as the alarm keeps beeping this morning I have a dead battery and see that this is a common recurrent problem Mazda has. This has been happening intermittently for about a week.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

problem #28

May 022018

CX-5

  • 92,000 miles
When I press the button to turn off the car, the accessories do not turn off. The radio continues to play, etc. I have to restart the car and turn it off again. I repeat until the car finally turns off. I leave the radio on in case I forget and my battery runs down. From researching I have found it is a bad shifter position switch and everyone is having the same problem. Scarey my car was parked at the time.

- Lake Charles, LA, USA

problem #27

Jan 122018

CX-5 4-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
[xxx] the engine does not idle. When I would slow to stop for a stop light or stop sign, the ngine would quit and require restarting the engine. The check engine light remained illuminated continuously, and, the red battery light would illuminate. A service station diagnosed the problem as either an old battery, and/or, an alternator. Ourisman Mazda, 801 rockville pike, rockville, Maryland 20852 [301-424-7800] advised me this morning, Saturday, 01/13/2018, that: 1.)the problem is the mass air flow filter that required replacement. 2.)there are no recalls for Mazda mass air flow sensor failures. 3.) total parts and labor are approximately, $575. 4.)the dealership said that the 5 years / 100,000 warranty did not apply to the mass air flow filter. 5.)when I brought the car to ourisman Mazda, on 01/12/2018, to have the problem diagnosed. I was asked when and where I last filled the gas tank, (as if a mass air flow failure mimics contaminated fuel. The car was purchased, new, in December 2012, , and has approx.., 75,000 miles of urban / Suburban driving, not under dusty conditions. The risk is that the car could unexpectedly stall and with no way to recover quickly. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Potomac, MD, USA

problem #26

Dec 282017

CX-5

  • 66,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While my wife was driving to drop our children off to go to work all of a sudden the check engine, low tire and traction control light came on. When all lights came on the engine lost power and could not go above 20 mph.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #25

Nov 102017

CX-5

  • 57,500 miles
After a lube, oil filter service Friday morning at the Mazda dealership, in the evening while driving at sixty mph on a major highway, we experienced an engine loss of power. Reduced down to twenty mph, we safely steered to the breakdown lane and avoided a serious injury or worse. We continued home on city streets going ten mph up hills and maybe thirty downhill. Steering and brakes were normal. I am reporting this incident because of seriousness of the possible accident and am asking for your diagnosis of the possible causes of this engine failure. Thank you for any assistance.

- Chestnut Hill, MA, USA

problem #24

Oct 302017

CX-5

  • miles
I have complain about 2013 Mazda Cx-5 grand touring I bought. The vehicle is driven just 49000 miles in 5 years and just after it completed 5 years started having issues. After the dealer check they found the transmission has to be replaced costing $4000+. the dealer mentioned as its more than 5 years its not covered under warranty. This is very disgusting and the stressful when you trust a brand and it fails and then you have additional expenses.

- Carol Stream, IL, USA

problem #23

Aug 032015

CX-5

  • 20,000 miles
This has been happening for the last 2 years. I've taken it to 2 different Mazda dealerships for a total of 5 times and they cannot duplicate the issue or find any problems running diagnostics. My car has 50,000 miles on it and is a 2013 Mazda Cx-5. when I bought it had 20,000 miles on it and I started noticing a few months after I bought it. This issue happens mostly when: 'I'm turning left from a complete stop 'turning left while coasting toward a stop sign and then speeding up once it turns green 'merging into traffic going left or right 'turning right from a complete stop or while coasting to the red light and speeding up once it turns green car stalls/hesitates/lingers as if I'm not accelerating. As though the car was in neutral instead of drive. The RPM increases but the car does not move (unless it was already coasting and continues to move from momentum). It feels as though the transmission is not shifting quick enough into the right gear and I notice this while I'm usually at a lower speed trying to accelerate into traffic. I am often scared that a car will hit me from behind (or the side if I'm turning left) as I turn into traffic. It's the equivalent of someone turning into heavy traffic and then stopping. This will cause an accident and I'm hoping it doesn't take a fatal or near fatal accident before Mazda realizes there is a definite problem with this car.

- Mount Prospect, IL, USA

problem #22

May 272017

CX-5

  • 45,000 miles
On 2 separate occasions (5/27/2017 and 6/15/2017) while on the freeway while in stop & go traffic, my vehicle suddenly seemed to lose power, and unable to go more than 20 mph. The tire pressure, traction control, emergency light comes on. Both times I have safely been able to make it to the shoulder. The first time, I had my car towed to auto repair shop. Their $300 diagnosis reported nothing wrong with the car. The second time, I turned my car off & on again on the shoulder. The check engine light stayed on and I and was able to drive to my destination. The check engine is now back off, but I have dropped it off at the same auto repair shop, and they are replacing an air flow sensor in hopes that this resolves the problem. This will cost us another $300. Both times I had my 18 month old in my car. I am deeply concerned.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #21

Mar 112017

CX-5

  • 72,500 miles
Check engine, tps, and tcs lights come on and vehicle starts bucking and decelerating. Pulled over, disconnected the battery. Dashboard lights and bucking are gone at restart. Issue occurred two more times in a span of a couple days, so I took it to a shop. P0101 and P061B problems present. Maf sensor seems fine. Continues malfunctioning after oil change and inspection. Taking to the dealership for reflashing.

- Atlantic Beach, NC, USA

problem #20

Nov 122016

CX-5

  • 69,000 miles
Since last recall repair my Cx-5 is experiencing major problems. It will randomly not start. I get in and depress brake pedal, but start button will not light green and car won't start, even after changing battery in key fob. The dashboard lights (all of them) will come on and flash, then go away. The other issue is that the transmission will not engage after car has started. Car is started and in park. I depress the brake and try to put the car into gear (drive) but the shifter refuses to move at all. Pumping the brake does not work, depressing the brake all the way to the floor does not work. There is not a particular sequence of actions that will get the car to go into gear. The only remedy I have found is to turn the car off and let it sit for an extended period of time. When driving the car after this has happened, if I use reverse and then put it into drive, the car jumps forward without my foot being on the gas pedal and then the lights on the dashboard for tire and tcs come on.

- Westminster, MA, USA

problem #19

Oct 032016

CX-5

  • 81,000 miles
Mazda cx 5 2013, has intermittent loss of power. Most noticeable when trying to cross the highway &/or merge into traffic.(scary) took it in for Mazda recall 8915K PCM, this did not fix the issue. Mazda service tech had same issue. (note I took it to a local ase certified shop where it did the same thing prior to taking to Mazda--which is why I took it to the dealer). So no solution and not safe to drive.

- Etna Green, IN, USA

problem #18

Aug 222016

CX-5

  • 38,000 miles
I was on the highway and had to slow down due to traffic. When car slowed down to 15km/hr, it suddenly/violently stopped as if someone hit me from behind. After stopping, I applied gas again, but car was very sluggish and never changed gears (felt like I was trying to accelerate starting with the 6th gear - I was in "D"). every time I let go of gas peddle, it would instantly jerk the car to a stop. Feels exactly like a manual transmission when you are in first gear and don't give enough gas and suddenly let go of your clutch - the engine slams shut. No engine or transmission light was indicated on the dash. The car can turn on/off without problems. I had the car towed to Mazda. Took them 1 week to determine and fix the car: They replaced the whole transmission (under warranty). I only have 38000 miles on the car. The invoice says: K0101xrx transmission complete, R&R (0000-23-atf-fz 6sp.A/T fl, fw7A-03-000R-V0 T/mission). Mazda told me that there is no current recall for this. This was extremely dangerous on the highway!! thankfully I was already on the slow lane due to the traffic... this was on a 5 lane highway! if I was on the fast lane, it would be a fatal accident!!!

- Redmond, WA, USA

problem #17

Dec 232015

CX-5

  • 52,700 miles
During a long holiday trip, while driving down us 19 at 65 mph over the new river gorge bridge the engine started revving / surging, with rpms going up and down, when the car suddenly lost power and decelerated rapidly. The traction control system (tcs) light was on solid and the tire pressure system (tps) light was flashing. We had just left a rest area and were less than a mile down the road from where we pulled onto the highway, just getting up to speed. I may have just turned on the cruise control, but I cannot remember. The weather was warm and dry. The car had about 52,700 miles on it. I put on the flashers and prayed that momentum would carry me over the bridge to where I could pull off, that the semi-tractor-trailer truck barreling down on me would get in the other lane soon, and that no one would rear end me. My mom and my husband were in the car with me. We turned off the car, walked around the outside to look at the tires, looked through the manual, and tried to decide what to do. After about 15 minutes, I started it up again, there were no indicators lit up on the dash, and the car seemed to be back to normal, so we continued our trip. Since then we have driven about 800 miles and it has not happened again. I haven't had a chance to contact the dealer yet.

- Morgantown, WV, USA

Read the next 16 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?