Owners filed 194 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 1 time.
When it fails
03900039,000 milesMedian miles at failure
141 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 0–10,000 miles.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical System
47
0
1
0
Service Brakes
22
3
0
0
Power Train
22
0
0
0
Unknown or Other
20
0
0
5
Engine
20
1
0
0
Structure › Body
10
0
0
0
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
10
0
0
0
Vehicle Speed Control
9
2
0
0
Seats
8
0
0
3
Visibility/Wiper
5
0
0
0
1 safety recall
Part 573 reports
Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate16V644000
Filed Sep 6, 2016580,455 vehiclesMazda North American Operations
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.
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.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 26, 2025TX
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.
Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 26, 2025TX
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 fully turning off in Park, potentially draining the battery or causing accidental activation. While some were major recalls (like the 1.4 million vehicle ignition switch issue in 2015), many were Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) for the shifter switch issue where owners sometimes got repairs free even outside warranty due to the commonality.
Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 26, 2025TX
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 fully turning off in Park, potentially draining the battery or causing accidental activation. While some were major recalls (like the 1.4 million vehicle ignition switch issue in 2015), many were Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) for the shifter switch issue where owners sometimes got repairs free even outside warranty due to the commonality.
Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 26, 2025TX
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 fully turning off in Park, potentially draining the battery or causing accidental activation. While some were major recalls (like the 1.4 million vehicle ignition switch issue in 2015), many were Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) for the shifter switch issue where owners sometimes got repairs free even outside warranty due to the commonality.
Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 26, 2025TX
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 fully turning off in Park, potentially draining the battery or causing accidental activation. While some were major recalls (like the 1.4 million vehicle ignition switch issue in 2015), many were Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) for the shifter switch issue where owners sometimes got repairs free even outside warranty due to the commonality.
Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 4, 2025PA
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.
Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 5, 2025GA
The display on my rearview camera is extremely foggy. It appears to have had a breach where water has leaked into the camera itself. I have cleaned the lens but yo no avail. I never had a clear screen, and at times it is so bad that I can’t see anything at all. In fact, I have already backed into the corner of a building in a parking lot due to lack of visibility. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve attempted to back out and almost hit a pedestrian or another car driving behind me that I couldn’t see well. It’s a good thing I use my mirrors and rear window, or that could have easily happened. I wonder if the work that was done on my rear hatch from a previous recall may have caused the seal protecting the camera unit to be compromised. There have been a number of recalls recently from other manufacturer’s, so I believe this is a common issue that should be addressed in my case as well.
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 17, 2025TX
When in the highway and changing lanes and you try to excelerate it doesnt take off ..instead just acts as if i had over excelerated but not speeding up.. i have almost been ran over because i could not get enough speed to switch lanes.
Seats1 injured
Filed Feb 3, 2024IA
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 before it would go back up. I then picked up my kids, went to the grocery store and came back home. I turned the car off and went to the way back to get my groceries out, while my kids were still unbuckling. As I was in the back I heard them both start screaming. I ran back around and the drivers side seat was leaned at the way back, with my 6 year old trapped and the headrest part crushing her throat and chest. Thankfully, I was able to move it back up. If it hadn't worked to move up, like just a few hours previously, I don't know what I would have done but it would have been horrible. My daughter was screaming and crying and in a lot of pain. Her throat and chest were red and scratched. It appears that when I get out of the car my leg may slightly touch the recline button, and then it doe
Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 31, 2023TX
Turn the car off--but it does not turn off. I've had my battery run down so many times. The problem is a sensor in the gear shifter that is not telling the vehicle it’s in park. This is a huge reoccurring safety issue.
Electrical System
Filed Apr 3, 2023TN
The car does not turn off when I put it in park and push the ON/OFF button. I have to start and turn off multiple times and jiggle the gear shift multiple times before it turns off. Sometimes even that doesn't work. Because the car doesn't completely turn off, it runs the battery down which leaves me dangerously stranded. The car is available for inspection. My safety is put at risk because it drains the battery and leaves me stranded, sometimes in dangerous situations unable to get assistance. I have not taken it to a dealer or service center but have seen MULTIPLE reports of other owners of this same vehicle having the same problem. The problem has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms before the problems started. It started a while ago but I'm not certain of the date. The messages I've read online of it happening to others are from several years ago, so this seems to be a problem that has been ongoing for several years that Mazda has failed to address.
Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 28, 2023IL
While driving, 30 mph on Dempster Street in Niles, Illinois, the sunroof spontaneously exploded and shattered.
Steering
Filed Feb 18, 2023NJ
Ball joint broke gave out while turning
Engine
Filed Aug 23, 2022ID
The car battery will not turn off when I turn off the vehicle.
Electrical System
Filed May 26, 2022123,000 milesCA
My car does not turn off when you push the ignition button. I spoke to Mazda's parts manager about this, and his wife had the same issue and the same model and year as my car. He told me that it is the Parking Lever switch. I feel that not being able to turn your car off is a safety issue. I filed a safety issue with my 2013 Mazda CX-5 on May 26, 2022.
Electrical System
Filed Apr 23, 2022FL
When you shut the car off the radio and other components do not shut down. You have to start the car back up and put in gear then back in park and shut the car off (sometimes two or three times) to get everything to shut down. This is getting worse over time.
Electrical System
Filed Mar 14, 2022NY
My car won't shut off! I put it in park and turn it off and the accessories stay on. It is getting worse and worse and has taken up to 7 times of turning it off and on, backing it up and forward before it will just turn off for me. I get scared that it won't turn off. I found this forum online and it seems this is a very common problem that is not being addressed by Mazda. https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-t49115_ds799849 Not being able to turn my car off is a very big safety risk for me and my 2 year old son.
Electrical System
Filed Jan 19, 2022100,000 milesTX
The contact owns a 2013 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that the PUSH to START button was not able to turn off the vehicle until after several attempts were made, which caused the battery to drain quickly. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was waiting for a callback. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
Filed Oct 19, 2021ID
The contact owns a 2013 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while shifting into the park the electronics failed to turn off. The contact vigorously shifted the gear shifter in several positions for approximately 10 to 15 minutes to turn off electronics. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The contact was concerned about the battery being drained. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Power Train
Filed Aug 23, 2021MI
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.
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Sep 6, 2016. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.