2013 Mazda MAZDA5: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
38,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 24 complaints (20.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 25.0% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 20.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 8.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
Service Brakes: 5; Engine: 4; Steering: 4; Structure:Body: 3; Power Train: 2; Seats: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Wheels: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2013: 1; 2014: 5; 2015: 1; 2016: 5; 2017: 5; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10510014 · 2013-04-30 (April 30, 2013)
MAZDA HEADRESTS TILT TOO FAR FORWARD. WE WERE READY TO BUY A MAZDA5 BUT WHEN MY WIFE GOT BEHIND THE WHEEL IN THE TEST DRIVE THE HEADREST PUSHED HER HEAD FORWARD; CANNOT ADJUST TILT. SHE GOT A HEADACHE AFTER THE TEST DRIVE. THIS IS NOT SAFE. SHOULD SUPPORT FROM BOTTOM OF HEAD AND AROUND BACK OF HEAD -- INSTEAD IT PUSHED FORWARD FROM TOP OF HEAD! WORST HEADREST I HAVE EVER SEEN -- NO REAL SUPPORT FOR HEAD. CUSTOMERS WILL (AND DO) TURN THESE AROUND, PROVIDING NO SUPPORT AND LITTLE PROTECTION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510014 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10564239 · 2014-02-13 (February 13, 2014)
I AM PRESSING CHARGES AGAINST THE MAZDA COMPANY FOR FAILING TO CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE MY CAR WHEN I SENT IT TO BE REPAIRED AND FOR CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE BY TELLING ME IT WAS READY TO BE DRIVEN AGAIN. I AM ALSO PRESSING CHARGES AGAINST MAZDA FOR PUTTING USED TIRES ON MY NEW CAR, MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MY STORY IS VERY LONG. I HAVE MANY DOCUMENTS I CAN SUBMIT TO BE USED AGAINST THEM. PLEASE GIVE ME THE CASE NUMBER AND A WAY I CAN SUBMIT MY DOCUMENTS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10564239 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10583023 · 2014-04-16 (April 16, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA MAZDA5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PARKING SENSORS FAILED TO OPERATE WHILE REVERSING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10583023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10606192 · 2014-06-26 (June 26, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA 5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ABRUPTLY, THE CONTACT'S SKULL HIT THE TOP OF THE HEAD RESTRAINT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD RESTRAINS FAILED TO ADJUST INTO A FORWARD OR BACKWARD MOTION. THE HEAD RESTRAINTS WERE ONLY ABLE TO BE ADJUSTED IN THE UP OR DOWN POSITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10606192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10643803 · 2014-10-10 (October 10, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA 5. WHILE PARKED WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. ..UPDATED 11/18/14 *BF
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10643803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10661587 · 2014-12-02 (December 2, 2014)
THE EMERGENCY BRAKES OF MAZDA 5 DO NOT WORK. MY CAR SLID OFF WHILE PARKED AND CRASHED AGAINST A MAILBOX. BOTH CAR AND MAILBOX WERE DAMAGED. MAZDA CLAIMS IT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE AS IT STATES IN ITS MANUAL THAT YOU NEED TO ALWAYS LEAVE THE CAR ON GEAR WHEN YOU PARK EVEN ON A FLAT LANDSCAPE. HOWEVER (1) SHOULDN'T THE EMERGENCY BRAKE STILL WORK AND (2) DOESN'T LEAVING THE CAR ON GEAR WHEN YOU PARK DAMAGE QUICKER THE GEAR BOX AND BRAKES? OTHER MAZDA 5 CAR OWNERS ALSO COMPLAIN THAT THEY REALLY HAVE TO PULL HARD TWICE OR THREE TIMES ON THE EMERGENCY BRA…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10661587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10773983 · 2015-09-23 (September 23, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 MAZDA 5. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHEST FROM THE SEAT BELT, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10773983 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10819470 · 2016-01-11 (January 11, 2016)
OUR 2013 MAZDA5 MINIVAN HAVE THE TOYO A20 ALL-SEASON RADIAL TIRE. TWO OF THE FOUR TIRES HAVE THE TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE SIDEWALL ALONG THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. THERE IS ACTUALLY A LINE AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE. WE HAD TO BE JUST A FEW MILES FROM COMPLETE AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF TWO TIRES. THE TIRES HAVE 38,000 MILES ON THEM. I HAVE HEARD A THUMP SOUND FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND HAVE CHECKED THE TIRES OFTEN BUT NEVER NOTICED ANYTHING. I WOULD HAVE TO WONDER IF THE SEPARATION WAS ONLY APPARENT WHILE THE TIRE …
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10819470 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V644000 · Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate
Reported: 2016-09-06 (September 6, 2016)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. 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.
Consequence: If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.
NHTSA campaign record ↗