In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Mazda CX-5 cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Mazda CX-5 have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 32,600 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 CX-5 (this page) | 12 |
| 2014 CX-5 | 6 |
| 2015 CX-5 | 8 |
| 2016 CX-5 | 9 |
| 2017 CX-5 | 4 |
2crashes
What stands out
Of the 10 model years of Mazda CX-5 we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 12.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control 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.
In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the "Speedometer Replacem
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the "Speedometer Replacem
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT THE ATX FAIL-SAFE FUNCTION WORKING WITH THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS: THE VEHICLE SPEED DOES NOT INCREASE WITH ENGINE SPEED THE ATX DOES NOT SHIFT UP OR DOWN AS EXPECTED THE CONDITION MAY NOT ALWAYS BE ABLE TO BE REPRODUCED AND DTCS MAY NOT BE STORED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT IN. FOREIGN MATERIAL (IRON PARTICLES IN THE ATF) MAY ENTER THE ATX VALVE BODY AND CAUSE A TEMPORARY MALFUNCTION OF THE VALVE BODY AND/OR SENSOR (ATX FAIL-SAFE FUNCTION ACTIVATED). THE FAIL-SAFE FUNCTION IS CANCELED WITHOUT DTCS RECORDED IF THE MALFUNCTION GOES AWAY AND DOES NOT OCCUR AGAIN AT THE NEXT DRIVE CYCLE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND THE TRANSMISSION IS IN D RANGE: AN INTERMITTENT HIGH ENGINE IDLE SPEED. AN INTERMITTENT ENGAGEMENT SHOCK. AN INTERMITTENT FORWARD LURCH. THESE CONDITIONS MAY OCCUR WHEN THE CUSTOMER DEPRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MAKES CONTACT WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL SIMULTANEOUSLY.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe four distinct acceleration problems with this 2013 CX-5. Most alarming are sudden full-throttle surges—vehicle accelerating violently without driver input, engine racing, and brakes unable to slow it initially. One driver hit a street sign before stopping; another collided with the car ahead. A second pattern: when light brake and gas pressure are applied together, the vehicle surges forward two feet, which dealers attribute to the brake-over-gas logic system misinterpreting simultaneous pedal input.
Third: loss of acceleration at highway speeds. The accelerator stops responding, speed drops rapidly, and traction control plus tire pressure warning lights illuminate together—then everything clears after restart. One owner was limited to 20 mph afterward until the car cooled.
Fourth: sluggish or delayed acceleration when changing lanes or passing, with engine revving but minimal power delivery. Mazda's response has been inconsistent: one dealer blamed two-foot driving (owner disputes this); another installed a data box for future monitoring rather than diagnosing root cause. No recalls appear in owner narratives. Dealers often cannot replicate the faults or determine a cause.
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended full-throttle acceleration
Vehicle suddenly accelerates to full throttle without driver input, engine racing wildly and unresponsive to brake application or shift commands.
When: Various speeds; one case at 40 mph on residential street, another from 5 mph to 40 mph within seconds of startup
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal goes to floor without driver input; Engine races wildly; Brakes ineffective or fighting acceleration; Ignition button unresponsive initially; Vehicle continues accelerating despite neutral/park shift attempts
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports dealer installed new data box with no troubleshooting of root cause; another collision with preceding vehicle at 44,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer blamed two-foot driving technique in one case; manufacturer installed data box to collect data on repeat occurrence; no recalls identified by owners
Unintended surge when both brake and gas pedals pressed simultaneously
Vehicle surges forward suddenly when light pressure on both brake and gas pedal is applied, moving approximately two feet before driver regains control.
When: Occurs five times; consistent pattern when both pedals pressed
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle surges forward when brake pressure released slightly while gas remains depressed; Feels like vehicle struck hard from behind; Happens only when both brake and gas applied together
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer attributed to brake-over-gas (BOG) logic system being fooled by simultaneous pedal pressure
Loss of acceleration with warning lights
Vehicle loses ability to accelerate, speed drops rapidly, multiple warning lights illuminate simultaneously (traction control, tire pressure, engine), then clears after restart.
When: Highway speeds around 55 mph; one case prevented vehicle from exceeding 20 mph afterward until cool-down
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator stops responding; Speed drops rapidly; Traction control light illuminates; Tire pressure warning light illuminates; Engine light comes on; Vehicle feels powerless
Repairs/costs cited: One owner coasted 100 feet before stopping in tunnel; another reached only 20 mph maximum after event until vehicle cool-down
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No dealer response documented; owners note others have reported same issue with no adequate Mazda response
Delayed or insufficient acceleration response
Engine revs but vehicle does not accelerate properly, or acceleration delay occurs when changing lanes or accelerating from stop; vehicle does not downshift quickly enough.
When: Changing lanes, sudden acceleration from 30 mph, passing maneuvers
Symptoms owners cite: RPM increases but car does not move (feels like neutral); Sluggish acceleration when changing lanes; Insufficient speed gain for lane changes; Poor downshift response
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mazda states vehicle performing as designed
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had cruise control 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 cruise control problem on the 2013 Mazda CX-5?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 10,000 and 45,000 miles, with the median around 32,600. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,000; a quarter make it past 45,000. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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.