NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
194 reports35,000 miles · Apr 4, 2014
Service BrakesCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING FOR AN APPROACHING INTERSECTION, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING FOR AN APPROACHING INTERSECTION, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
NHTSA ODI #10577483
10,848 miles · Mar 20, 2014
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN TO 5MPH. LUCKILY FOR ME NO CARS WERE BEHIND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE I WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED. SOON AFTER THIS HAPPENED I LOOKED AT MY DASH BOARD TO SEE IF ANY WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON BUT THERE WAS NOTHING. SO THEN I CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO A SIDE ST…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN TO 5MPH. LUCKILY FOR ME NO CARS WERE BEHIND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE I WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED. SOON AFTER THIS HAPPENED I LOOKED AT MY DASH BOARD TO SEE IF ANY WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON BUT THERE WAS NOTHING. SO THEN I CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO A SIDE STREET ALL WHILST PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR WITH NO RESPONSE. ONCE I TURNED ON TO A SIDE STREET AN ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, WHICH I WAS NOT EXPECTING TO HAPPEN. AT THIS POINT I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES AND PLACED IT ON PARK. AFTER GETTING OVER THE FEAR OF DRIVING MY VEHICLE I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME, BUT NOT WITHOUT HAVING MY VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY SLOW DOWN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING UP MY DRIVEWAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10573898
66,566 miles · Mar 17, 2014
Power Train
DRIVING WITH CRUISE ON AT APPROX 68MPH, CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS SOLID AMBER, THE TPMS WAS FLASHING AMBER. PULLED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY, SHUT OFF VEHICLE, RESTARTED AND TCS, TPMS, CEL, AND AT LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. CALLED MAZDA CUST SERV AND DUE TO MILEAGE UNABLE TO TOW - SPENT 2 HRS AT TOP OF HILL ON…
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DRIVING WITH CRUISE ON AT APPROX 68MPH, CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS SOLID AMBER, THE TPMS WAS FLASHING AMBER. PULLED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY, SHUT OFF VEHICLE, RESTARTED AND TCS, TPMS, CEL, AND AT LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. CALLED MAZDA CUST SERV AND DUE TO MILEAGE UNABLE TO TOW - SPENT 2 HRS AT TOP OF HILL ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY ROAD WAITING ON TOW (PAID OUT OF PERSONAL POCKET). COMPLEMENTARY TOW FROM HOUSE TO DEALERSHIP - TOLD TODAY (3/17) THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND NEEDED REPLACED. DUE TO MILEAGE, WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT MAZDA WOULD HELP COVER COST OF TRANS IF I PAID INSTALL. LOOKING TO BE OUT $1,100+ OF MY OWN MONEY TO GET VEHICLE BACK. THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED 16 MONTHS PRIOR IN NOV, 2012 WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 27,000-ISH MILES ON IT AND NO ISSUES WERE "FOUND" AT THAT TIME. HAVE HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT THE TWO ARE NOT RELATED GIVEN THE FAILURE MODE IN BOTH INSTANCES WAS THE SAME. BASICALLY WISHING I HAD GONE WITH A DIFFERENT MODEL NOW THAT I HAVE READ THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHERS. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT FOR A RECALL - BLOG INDICATES THAT SOME BEING TOLD IT IS A TRANSMISSION VALVE NEEDING REPLACED, SOME NOT HAVING ISSUE FOUND, TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED, ETC. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FAULTY DESIGN AND PUTS CONSUMERS AT RISK IF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATES ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, OR AS ANOTHER HAS REPORTED WHEN THEY WERE IN A TUNNEL. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY BOTH TIMES FOR ME HAVE BEEN ON A LESS-THAN-BUSY HIGHWAY. PLEASE RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10572949
31,800 miles · Mar 14, 2014
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,800 THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE COMPLAINT CANCELLED. THE REAR BRAKES WERE CHECKED AND THEY WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. UPDATED 05.13.14
NHTSA ODI #10569287
16,000 miles · Mar 8, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System
I ONCE REPORTED MY VEHICLE HESITATING GOING UP OUR DRIVEWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. AFTER A WEEK AT THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE SERVICE DEPT. MANAGER ASK WHAT TYPE OF GAS WE USED. MY HUSBAND ALWAYS USES ETHANOL FREE GAS, BUT A COUPLE OF TIMES WE WEREN'T CLOSE TO A STATION THAT SOLD ETHANOL FREE GAS, SO W…
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I ONCE REPORTED MY VEHICLE HESITATING GOING UP OUR DRIVEWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. AFTER A WEEK AT THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE SERVICE DEPT. MANAGER ASK WHAT TYPE OF GAS WE USED. MY HUSBAND ALWAYS USES ETHANOL FREE GAS, BUT A COUPLE OF TIMES WE WEREN'T CLOSE TO A STATION THAT SOLD ETHANOL FREE GAS, SO WE HAD TO BUY WHAT WE COULD FIND. WE WERE TOLD THAT USING GASOLINE WITH ETHANOL IS WHAT IS CAUSING ALL THE PROBLEMS. HE SAID TO NEVER USE GAS WITH ETHANOL IN IT. MY HUSBAND ALWAYS USES ETHANOL FREE GAS, BUT A COUPLE OF TIMES WE WEREN'T CLOSE TO A STATION THAT SOLD ETHANOL FREE GAS, SO WE HAD TO BUY WHAT WE COULD FIND. I WONDER IF ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT STALLS, LUNGES, ETC., ARE DUE TO THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THE ISSUES WERE USING GAS WITH ETHANOL IN IT? HAD I KNOWN THAT I WOULD ALWAYS HAVE TO USE THAT TYPE OF GAS IN MY VEHICLE, I WOULD HAVE NOT PURCHASED IT. I'M VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS AND IT IS INFORMATION THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY THE DEALERSHIP SELLING THE CAR. AND IF THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT AT THE TIME BECAUSE IT IS A NEW VEHICLE, THEY SHOULD GIVE YOU THE OPTION TO SELL THE VEHICLE BACK TO THEM. I'M AFRAID I WON'T ALWAYS BE NEAR A STATION THAT SELL THIS SPECIFIC TYPE OF GAS, AND I DON'T WANT TO KEEP GOING THRU THIS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WARRANTY IS OUT. IT DEFINITELY NEEDS LOOKING INTO! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10567984
10,000 miles · Feb 13, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control
WAS PASSING A SEMI-TRUCK FULL THROTTLE ON A HILLY 2 LANE ROADWAY.....ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND MULTIPLE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON....WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SAFE STOP AND TURNED OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTED VEHICLE. VERY SCARY!! TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10564173
18,540 miles · Feb 1, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
CX-5 VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DANGEROUS LOSS OF ENGINE/TRANSMISSION POWER SHORTLY AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP AT A STOPLIGHT. SEVERAL CONSOLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INCLUDING AT, TPMS, CEL, & TCS. ANOTHER ACCELERATING VEHICLE DIRECTLY BEHIND CX-5 NARROWLY AVOIDED REAR ENDING THE CX-5. CX-5 SLOWED DOWN TO LOW GEARS/RPMS …
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CX-5 VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DANGEROUS LOSS OF ENGINE/TRANSMISSION POWER SHORTLY AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP AT A STOPLIGHT. SEVERAL CONSOLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INCLUDING AT, TPMS, CEL, & TCS. ANOTHER ACCELERATING VEHICLE DIRECTLY BEHIND CX-5 NARROWLY AVOIDED REAR ENDING THE CX-5. CX-5 SLOWED DOWN TO LOW GEARS/RPMS AND CAME TO A FULL STOP. DRIVER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, AND THEN RE-STARTED IT. ONLY WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WAS THE CEL. VEHICLE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST LOW SPEED GEARS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE CEL CODES INDICATED SHIFT MALFUNCTION AND SHIFT TIME ERRORS. MAZDA AUTHORIZED REPAIR PROCEDURE INCLUDED REPLACING VALVE BODY AND RESETTING ADAPTIVE DRIVING SYSTEM COMPUTER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10562519
28,367 miles · Jan 16, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train
THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. IT FELT LIKE CAR HAD DOWNSHIFTED A COUPLE OF GEARS. I LOST FORWARD POWER IN ALL GEARS (ENGINE REVVED, BUT NO POWER TO WHEELS THROUGH TRANSMISSION). FORTUNATELY WE WERE JUST TURNING INTO AN ALLEY, SO WAS ABLE TO PARK CAR OFF A MAIN STREET. FINA…
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THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. IT FELT LIKE CAR HAD DOWNSHIFTED A COUPLE OF GEARS. I LOST FORWARD POWER IN ALL GEARS (ENGINE REVVED, BUT NO POWER TO WHEELS THROUGH TRANSMISSION). FORTUNATELY WE WERE JUST TURNING INTO AN ALLEY, SO WAS ABLE TO PARK CAR OFF A MAIN STREET. FINALLY WERE ABLE TO GET IT TO GO INTO REVERSE TO PARK IT BRIEFLY. TURNED CAR OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN AND ALL LIGHTS ON DASH WERE NORMAL AND TRANSMISSION WOULD ENGAGE IN FORWARD GEARS AGAIN. DROVE THE 7 MILES TO MY HOUSE WITH NO PROBLEMS. CALLED DEALER AND THE SHOP SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. COULD HAVE BEEN BAD IF THIS HAPPENED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10560258
20,100 miles · Nov 29, 2013
EnginePower Train
OUT OF THE BLUE, I STARTED MY VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I READ IN THE MANUAL THE GAS LID COULD BE LOOSE, BUT I CHECKED IT AND IT WAS FINE. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HOOKED IT UP TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A MISS IN THE ENGINE, AND HE'D HAVE TO LEAVE IT WIT…
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OUT OF THE BLUE, I STARTED MY VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I READ IN THE MANUAL THE GAS LID COULD BE LOOSE, BUT I CHECKED IT AND IT WAS FINE. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HOOKED IT UP TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A MISS IN THE ENGINE, AND HE'D HAVE TO LEAVE IT WITH THEM SO THEIR TECH TEAM TO TRY AND GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. I HAD FELT HESITATIONS BEFORE WHILE COMING UP OUR DRIVEWAY, WHICH IS PRETTY STEEP. IT'S LIKE IT WOULD ALMOST STOP THEN LUNGE FORWARD PRETTY QUICK. IT ALSO HAS FELT LIKE IT WASN'T CHANGING GEARS AT TIMES, LIKE IT NORMALLY WOULD. THIS JUST HAPPENED RANDOMLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10554166
6,000 miles · Nov 13, 2013
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE VERY SUDDENLY DECELERATED (FROM ABOUT 55 TO 40), ALMOST AS IF IT SLIPPED BACK A COUPLE OF GEARS- IT WAS A JARRING AND IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER, AND I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE STRAIN AS IF IT WAS FORCED INTO A LOWER GEAR. THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING DASHBOARD LIGH…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE VERY SUDDENLY DECELERATED (FROM ABOUT 55 TO 40), ALMOST AS IF IT SLIPPED BACK A COUPLE OF GEARS- IT WAS A JARRING AND IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER, AND I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE STRAIN AS IF IT WAS FORCED INTO A LOWER GEAR. THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. I LOST ABILITY TO ACCELERATE ABOVE MAYBE 1K OR 1.5K RPMS. WHEN I SLOWED THE CAR DOWN AND DROVE TO A PLACE I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER, THE CAR WAS SPUTTERING AND TREMBLING AGGRESSIVELY WITH EACH PUSH OF THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN I FINALLY DID STOP, I POWERED OFF THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED THE TIRES - ALL OF WHICH WERE FINE. I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND IT BEHAVED NORMALLY, ALL THE ERROR LIGHTS WERE CLEARED. I EVEN DROVE IT QUITE SOME DISTANCE TO THE DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE. THE SERVICE CENTER SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT. A QUICK WEB SEARCH, HOWEVER, INDICATES THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A NEW (6 MONTHS) 2013 MAZDA CX-5 WITH AROUND 6000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10552061