Started hearing a grinding noise coming from the back passenger side. I didn't realize it was my car the first few times it happened, thinking what could be wrong on a car less than 2 years old!?! A few days later, the noise became more regular when braking, and was grinding loudly at all stops! I took it to the service dept and they said it was the rotors/brake pads, which needed to be replaced.…
2013 Mazda CX-5 brakes problems
severe 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 21 brakes complaints filed for the 2013 Mazda CX-5, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 10 model years of Mazda CX-5 in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 CX-5 has a widespread rear brake defect causing premature wear and failure as early as 14,000 miles. While Mazda issued a TSB for rust-related caliper sticking, the company has not issued a recall, denied warranty coverage to many owners, and failed to proactively notify owners—expect to replace rear brakes multiple times and budget for out-of-pocket costs.
Owners of 2013 Mazda CX-5 vehicles report premature rear brake failure as the dominant complaint across 21 cases. Rear brake pads and rotors fail or wear severely between 14,000 and 40,000 miles—far sooner than normal service life. Some owners have replaced rear brakes two or three times over the vehicle's lifetime, while front brakes wear normally. Symptoms include metal grinding noise, screeching, and continued noise even off the brake pedal. Multiple owners describe one side—typically the driver side—wearing far worse than the other, pointing to caliper sticking caused by rust buildup on the rotor or inside the caliper assembly.
Mazda issued a Technical Service Bulletin addressing rust-induced caliper sticking, which mechanics cite when explaining the issue. However, dealers were notified of the TSB while owners were not, and warranty coverage has been routinely denied as "normal wear and tear." Several owners report nationwide parts shortages and back orders for replacement rotors. In two separate incidents, owners experienced total brake failure—brakes did not respond when applied during normal driving, resulting in rear-end collisions with other vehicles. One owner's brakes failed at 35,000 miles; another at 49,000 miles.
Owners maintain proper vehicle care and report primarily highway driving, ruling out aggressive use as a cause. The pattern of failure across multiple owners suggests a design or manufacturing defect rather than individual driving behavior.
Same Mazda CX-5 brakes reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Premature rear brake pad and rotor wear
Rear brake pads and rotors wear out or fail well before normal service intervals, forcing replacement at 14,000 to 40,000 miles. Owners report multiple rear brake replacements over the vehicle's lifetime; some state rear brakes replaced 3 times while fronts replaced 2 times. Owners with highway driving and light city use still experience accelerated wear, suggesting a manufacturing or design issue rather than driving behavior.
When: 14,000–40,000 miles; some owners report initial failure under 20,000 miles; recurrent replacements at 22,326-mile intervals
Symptoms owners cite: Metal grinding noise from rear brakes; Grinding sound during braking; Squealing or screeching from rear wheels; Brake pads worn down excessively; Rotors grooved, warped, or completely worn; Noise occurs at all stops and continues even when not braking
Repairs/costs cited: Rear brake pads and rotors replaced; some owners paid out-of-pocket when warranty denied as 'normal wear and tear'; parts on national back order in several cases; one owner cited rotor warping so severe the brake shop returned parts as evidence
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mazda issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for rust-related rear brake pad sticking; dealers notified via service bulletin but owners not directly notified; some owners denied warranty coverage; one owner reports TSB existed but was not offered until after coverage expired; Mazda declined to make repairs in at least one case despite TSB existence
Rear caliper sticking or malfunction
Rear calipers stick or fail, locking up brake pads against rotors. Owners and mechanics attribute excessive wear to rust buildup on the rotor or inside the caliper assembly, causing pads to seize. One owner explicitly reports 'calipers sticking,' another mechanic could not rule out caliper failure as a cause of accelerated wear.
When: 18 months to 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pads stick or lock up against rotors; Uneven wear: one side (often rear driver side) worse than the other; Rust buildup on rotors prevents normal brake pad release
Repairs/costs cited: Caliper replacement mentioned in one case; rust removal and inspection cited; one mechanic stated caliper 'might have gone bad'
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB references rust-induced caliper sticking; TSB suggests removal of rusted spots and application of grease; no proactive service recall issued
Brake pedal failure or loss of braking response
In two complaints, owners report brake pedal failed to respond when applied during normal driving, resulting in rear-end collisions with other vehicles. Failure occurred at 35,000 and 49,000 miles. One incident could not be replicated by mechanic; the other resulted in a police report.
When: 35,000–49,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal applied but vehicle does not stop; No warning indicators illuminated; Failure recurred several times before incident; Vehicle rear-ended another vehicle as a result
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed; one case could not be diagnosed or repaired because failure could not be replicated; the other awaiting repairs
Rotor warping and vibration
Rotors warp excessively, causing steering-wheel shimmying and vibration during braking. One owner reported strong shimmying in the steering wheel; a brake shop stated they had 'never seen rotors so warped' and returned them to the owner as evidence. Warping appears distinct from simple wear.
When: Early in vehicle ownership; exact mileage not always stated
Symptoms owners cite: Strong shimmying in steering wheel when braking; Vehicle undriveable due to warping and vibration; Abnormal amount of rotor deformation for mileage
Repairs/costs cited: Rotors replaced at independent brake shop; dealer initially refused to repair fronts, offering only rear brake service under warranty; brake shop provided warped rotors to owner
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mazda dealership agreed to repair rear brakes at no charge but refused to repair front brakes
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I started hearing a grinding noise coming from the back passenger side. I didn't realize it was my car the first few times it happened, thinking what could be wrong on a car less than 2 years old!?! A few days later, the noise became more regular when braking, and was grinding loudly at all stops! I took it to the service dept and they said it was the rotors/brake pads, which needed to be…
Rear brakes (rotors and brake pads) prematurely worn out at ~35k this looks like a design issues as there is a tsb for it, do to rust formation that makes the brake pads stick. Mazda should have been pro-active. All they needed to do was to remove rusted spots and apply some grease. Now I have a case open with Mazda customer service to see if they will cover it as warranty item.
Had brakes 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 brakes problem on the 2013 Mazda CX-5?
It's a meaningful issue. 21 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 28,000 and 36,000 miles, with the median around 31,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 28,000; a quarter make it past 36,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
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.