This evening I was running 2 errands less than 3 miles from house. As I drove from the first errand and arrived at the second, the malfunction indicators illuminated: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0a4bjzana9e/umf10emozji/aaaaaaaaahk/aklxhahwfsw/s1600/2012-12-11_cx-5.jpg I parked at my second errand, turned the car off, and decided to let it sit. When I came back and started it, only the check…
2013 Mazda CX-5 electrical problems
moderate 48 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
48
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 48 electrical complaints filed for the 2013 Mazda CX-5, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Owners have filed 48 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 11 model years of Mazda CX-5 in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
When parking and putting the car in 'park', the car doesn't recognize that it's in the park position, and although the car shuts off, the electrical system stays on. This allows the battery to run down with stereo, lights, and fans all running, and even worse, would allow someone to steal the car if they were to get into it. I've done research and found hundreds of complaints about this issue…
Several months now, I'm having to turn my car back on to turn the radio off and completely shut the car down. This has been going on since the summer of this year. I have to crank it up, put it out of park into drive, and put it back in drive. After that, it turns off. I have push to start and had the car for four years pre-owned. Yesterday, my sister and I were stranded because my car didn't…
Had electrical 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 electrical problem on the 2013 Mazda CX-5?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 48 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 36 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 60,500 and 103,000 miles, with the median around 80,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,500; a quarter make it past 103,000. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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.