Should I buy a 2013 Mazda CX-5 with documented body problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented body issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2013 Mazda CX-5 body problems

moderate Owners of the 2013 Mazda CX-5 have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the body at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →

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Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$1,500

body complaints on the Mazda CX-5, by model year
Model year	body complaints
2013 CX-5 (this page)	13
2014 CX-5	28
2015 CX-5	25
2016 CX-5	14
2017 CX-5	11

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 16V644000 September 6, 2016

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

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

Fix: 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.

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.

Service Bulletin SA-031-26 Apr 2026

DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged VIN plate or vehicle certification label. To obtain a replacement VIN plate (bulkhead-mounted and visible through the lower-left area of the windshield), contact DAG (Dealer Assistance Group) using VIN Plate Request Form available on One Mazda. To obtain a replacement vehicle certification label (located on the B􀀀pillar or front door), contact your assigned DSM (District Service Manager) to place the order. If DSM contact information is not available, refer to the Dealer & Field Contact Directory.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin SA-021-26 Apr 2026

This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SAs and bulletin(s) listed below: The changes are noted below in red. SA-010/23 02/09/23 DESCRIPTION Some customers may experience one or more electrical malfunctions after a vehicle body repair. A newly painted fender stay (2) may be causing a poor front harness (1) ground connection. The front fender stay (2) newly painted surface at ground point (3), where attachment bolt (4) is seated, may create a poor front harness ground connection. NOTE: DO NOT paint ground point (3) attachment bolt (4) is seated. NEWLY INSTALLED FRONT FENDER STAY NOTE: CAUTION: If the bolt (4) contact area (3) is painted when the front fender stay (2) is newly repl

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin SA-039/25 Aug 2025

Some vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.) when parked near a glass building or Low-E windows. This may be caused by the sun's reflection. If a structure's windows create enough of a curve, the concave glass can focus the sun's rays onto a small area and acting like magnifiying glass direct the sunbeams into a hot pinpoint of light. This magnifcation of the sun's rays can cause damage to vehicle trim (see examples). Additional information and exemplar images regarding this phenomenon can be found by performing a google search.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin SA-058-24 Aug 2024

Some vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.) when parked near a glass building or Low-E windows. This may be caused by the sun's reflection.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin SA-056-24 Aug 2024

Interior parts made of resin have antistatic coating to prevent dust from sticking on the surfaces, and depending on the conditions of use, the antistatic components may crystallize slightly, giving an appearance of white stains on the surface. To remove the stains, wipe the stained surface with a towel soaked with water mixed with a small portion of a neutral detergent. If the white stains reappear again, simply wipe them again in the same way.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

The failure pattern owners describe

The big issue here is recall 16V644000 for the liftgate stay damper. Eleven out of thirteen complaints center on this structural recall—specifically, owners getting notification but then hitting a wall: parts unavailable, dealers unable to give any repair timeline, Mazda claiming no ETA either. Some owners report their liftgates failing outright (won't open when parked or fail intermittently in cold weather), while others just can't get the recall work done. The parts distribution disconnect is real and documented across multiple dealerships.

Beyond the recall mess, one owner describes a windshield that cracked substantially within six months, then later chipped. The dealer refused warranty coverage on the first crack over a technicality, and when the chip was repaired, the crack spread, forcing full replacement.

Two additional functional complaints round out the batch: rear view mirrors that vibrate so hard at highway speeds they're nearly useless and can cause nausea, with the driver-side worse than passenger-side; and a brake pedal positioned so close to the accelerator that footwear snagging has occurred twice.

Same Mazda CX-5 body reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016

Failure modes owners describe

Liftgate damper recall parts shortage (Campaign 16V644000)

Mazda issued recall 16V644000 for a structural/liftgate stay damper concern, but replacement parts have remained unavailable for extended periods. Owners report waiting months from recall notification with no firm delivery date from the manufacturer or dealers.

When: After recall notification (October 2016 or later)

Symptoms owners cite: Liftgate fails to open when parked; Liftgate fails intermittently in cold weather

Repairs/costs cited: Recall parts unavailable; dealers unable to perform repair work

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V644000 (Structure); recall issued but parts distribution failure prevented timely remedy

Windshield cracking and chipping

Windshield cracked across significant length (1/4 way across vehicle) within 6 months of purchase. Dealer initially refused warranty coverage citing a small nick at the crack's end. Subsequently chipped; when repaired, the crack extended from the chip, requiring full windshield replacement.

When: 6 months after purchase; secondary chip 4 months later

Symptoms owners cite: Windshield cracked 1/4 across vehicle; Windshield chip discovered later; Crack extended when chip was being repaired

Repairs/costs cited: Initial repair denied; full windshield replacement required after second damage

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty denial; deemed not covered due to alleged nick thickness

Rear view mirror vibration at highway speeds

Both rear view mirrors vibrate excessively at speeds above 30 mph. Driver-side mirror vibrates more noticeably than passenger-side. Vibration is intense enough to cause nausea and significantly impair mirror usability on highways.

When: Not specified; reported as ongoing

Symptoms owners cite: Excessive mirror vibration at speeds over 30 mph; Driver-side vibration more severe than passenger-side; Nausea-inducing vibration intensity; Mirrors nearly unusable on highways

Pedal proximity issue

Brake pedal positioned too close to accelerator. Owner reports footwear snagging twice when attempting to brake since vehicle purchase on 9/22 (date not fully specified).

When: Twice since purchase (9/22, year not specified)

Symptoms owners cite: Footwear snagging between accelerator and brake pedal

Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 0 most recent

Had body trouble with your 2013 Mazda CX-5? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.

Common questions

How serious is the body problem on the 2013 Mazda CX-5?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the body typically fail?

Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.

Are there any recalls related to body?

Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover body issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Mazda/CX-5. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.