The Lemon Index2013 Mazda CX-5.
The 2013 Mazda CX-5 is better than average by owner complaints: 77 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 50, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 1 recall, and it gets 27 to 29 mpg combined. The best Mazda CX-5 year is 2022.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 194 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Mazda CX-5 year. 2013 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 16K to 80K miles on the car (141 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- electrical complaints mostly came at 55K–100K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 20K–77K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 15K–73K miles
Recalls 1
- body structure 2016
On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Mazda told dealers about
Mazda sent dealers 824 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- On some vehicles, the rear mounted camera may be inoperative, possibly due to water entering…
- Inoperative rear mount camera
- Due to high pressure fuel pump not generating target fuel pressure, caused by manufacturing error
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda CX-5 SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Mazda CX-5 SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2200–2400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
The proximity of the pedals seem to be too close. Some footwear may snag when attempting to brake have noticed twice since purchasing car on 9/22.
2013 Mazda CX-5 owner · NHTSA complaint 10477224
Quick answers
Is the 2013 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 50; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Mazda CX-5 year by this measure is 2022.
What are the most common 2013 Mazda CX-5 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (27%), brakes (26%) and engine (22%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2013 Mazda CX-5 have?
1 safety recall (latest: body structure). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Mazda CX-5 get?
27 to 29 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2013 Mazda CX-5 safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2013 Mazda CX-5 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 16,900 and 80,000 miles. The middle report was at 39,000 miles, from 141 complaints.
Does the 2013 Mazda CX-5 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 27% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2013 Mazda CX-5 cost in fuel a year?
About $2200 to $2400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2013 Mazda CX-5 have?
2.0L 4-cyl.
What Mazda CX-5 year is better than the 2013?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2022, 2020 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works