This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-061/25 12/17/25 DESCRIPTION If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. Aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical concern. Below are a few examples of unusual electrical concerns caused by aftermarket devices. Examples: 1. Devices connected to the DLC-2 (battery discharge/DTC stored) 2. Devices plugged into the 12V outlet 3. GPS tracking device (engine no start/battery discharge) 4. Dash cam (DTC stored)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Mazda CX-5 engine problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Mazda CX-5 have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 77,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 CX-5 (this page) | 10 |
| 2014 CX-5 | 12 |
| 2015 CX-5 | 7 |
| 2016 CX-5 | 21 |
| 2017 CX-5 | 9 |
1crash
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 DESCRIPTION Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers. SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE Refer to the applicable Workshop Manual or Owner's Manual for vehicle -specific manufacturer scheduled maintenance.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle is parked. For this concern, inspect the vehicle for any trace of a fluid or oil leak and use the following examples as a guide to determine if it is severe enough to require a repair, or just to clean the area and monitor it at the next service. Examples of residue or seepage that may not be considered a leak and that may not require repair based on splash shield inspection.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. Aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical concern. Below are a few examples of unusual electrical concerns caused by aftermarket devices.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle is parked. For this concern, inspect the vehicle for any trace of a fluid or oil leak and use the following examples as a guide to determine if it is severe enough to require a repair, or just to clean the area and monitor it at the next service.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of this 2013 CX-5 cluster report a mix of serious drivability and electrical issues. The most critical: sudden loss of engine power during acceleration, with one driver nearly rear-ended when the vehicle dropped into limp mode at a stoplight. Another owner limped home at 20 mph after a mysterious battery drain. Engine stalling at complete stops—with brake applied—has sent at least one vehicle to the dealership out of safety concern.
Random unintended acceleration after braking has occurred multiple times for one owner and triggered a near-collision. At the other end, the engine refuses to shut off, requiring up to 10 restart attempts or gear-shifting to finally kill the engine. This leave-it-running problem drains the battery and prevents vehicle lock.
Sensor faults appear central: P0172 (running rich) and P013A (O2 sensor issues) correlate with stalling and CEL persistence. One owner faced a $1,768 heater core replacement quote tied to a coolant sensor code. Mazda dealers have attempted repairs in several cases with mixed results—valve body replacement and adaptive system reset helped one, while others report ongoing issues despite dealer visits.
Same Mazda CX-5 engine reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Loss of Power / Limp Mode / Drivability Loss
Engine power loss during operation, including complete inability to accelerate or only reaching very low speeds (20 mph max). Some instances involved transmission shift errors; vehicle enters low-gear limp mode or fails to move.
When: During acceleration from stop or shortly after; one case noted 32,000 miles as onset
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of engine/transmission power while accelerating; Vehicle slows to low gears/RPMs and comes to stop; Engine sounds different after battery discharge; Vehicle bucks and loses acceleration on city streets and highways; Transmission refuses to shift past low-speed gears
Codes mentioned: CEL (Check Engine Light), Shift malfunction codes, Shift time errors, P0172 (Running Rich), P013A (Downstream O2 Slow Switch)
Repairs/costs cited: Valve body replacement and adaptive driving system computer reset performed at Mazda dealership in one instance
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mazda authorized valve body replacement and adaptive system reset
Engine Stalling at Complete Stop
Engine stalls without warning when vehicle is stopped with brake applied. Represents safety concern as vehicle comes to unintended stop.
When: At complete stop with brake pedal applied; vehicle had 80K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls immediately after vehicle stops completely; Stalling occurs twice in short timeframe; Preceded by check engine light with P0172 and P013A codes
Codes mentioned: P0172 (Running Rich), P013A (Downstream O2 Slow Switch)
Random Unintended Acceleration After Braking
Vehicle accelerates involuntarily after brake is depressed. Engine bucks, revs, and lurches before stopping. Repeat occurrences, with at least one near-collision reported.
When: Intermittent; occurred at least 4 times to date as of complaint date
Symptoms owners cite: Car randomly accelerates after brake is pressed; Bucking and revving after braking; Lurching motion following brake application; Near-collision incident from unintended acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Independent shop (Pacifico Ford, PA) found nothing on diagnostic check
Engine Refuses to Shut Off
Engine does not turn off when shutdown button is pressed while vehicle is in Park. Requires multiple restart attempts, shifting gears, or extended wait time (up to 10 minutes) before engine finally shuts down. Appears to be sensor-related and contributes to battery drain.
When: At mileage unspecified; one instance mentioned after recent CEL repair
Symptoms owners cite: Engine will not shut off when power button pressed in Park; Requires 5-6 restart attempts to shut down; Requires shifting through gears to achieve shutdown; Takes 10 minutes of repeated attempts before engine stops; Auxiliary power stays on after pressing shutdown button; Cannot lock vehicle when auxiliary power remains on; Battery drains due to auxiliary power remaining active
Battery Discharge / Electrical System Failure
Battery goes dead without driver leaving vehicle on or having stereo on. No clear cause identified by owner. Contributes to inability to start vehicle.
When: Mileage unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: Battery dead without apparent cause; No accessories left on; Engine sounds different after battery jump-start
Check Engine Light / Sensor Malfunction
CEL illuminates and persists. In one case, diagnosed as coolant sensor (P011A) with heater core failure suspected. In another, CEL would not turn off after attempted repair. Multiple complaints note CEL and associated loss of drivability.
When: Various; one instance at 32,000 miles with persistent issue through 42,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine Light illuminates with no initial drivability concern; CEL remains on and resets intermittently after multiple trips; CEL persists even after dealer attempted repair; Dashboard lights up during bucking episodes
Codes mentioned: P011A (Coolant Sensor), P0172 (Running Rich), P013A (Downstream O2 Slow Switch)
Repairs/costs cited: Heater core replacement quoted at $1,768.00 for coolant sensor fault; no repair completed in most cases at time of complaint
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mazda dealer attempted fix with no resolution noted in one case
Oil Leak / Sensor-Related Leak
Vehicle leaks oil, independently diagnosed as caused by malfunctioning sensor. No warning lights present at time of discovery.
When: At 87,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leaking from vehicle; No warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed malfunctioning sensor as cause
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2013 Mazda CX-5?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 25,000 and 87,000 miles, with the median around 77,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 25,000; a quarter make it past 87,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.