While driving car turns on its own almost causing accident
2009 Mazda MAZDA5
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2009 Mazda MAZDA5 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 37.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all MAZDA5 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
49 reports with mileage · 15 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
17 reportsTHIS MODEL OF MAZDA STEERING WHEEL STOP ROTATING MOSTLY ON HIGHWAY. AT TIME IT BECOME TOO STIFF TO OVE FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES AND THEN IT COMES BACK ON IT IS WORRYING ME AS IT MAY CAUSE AN UNVOIDABLE CRASH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA 5. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXERT EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. WHEN THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA 5. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXERT EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
2009 MAZDA5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RECALL NOTICE/CAMPAIGN #6010 ISSUES. CONSUMER HAS PREVIOUS COMPLAINT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE LISTED IN ARTEMIS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR POWER STEERING (6010H). THE CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL AND MISSED THE DEADLINE BY ONE DAY. *JS
THE STEERING COLUMN WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE.. MAZDA HAS MADE 6 REPAIR ATTEMPTS. REPAIR DATES: 11/04/09, 4/14/10, 4/28/10, 6/10/10, 8/4/10, 10/25/10. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS TO DATE. *TR
AT ABOUT 0630HRS, 02-03-11, WHILE OPERATING A 2009 MAZDA, MAZDA5 TOURING. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND THE ROADWAY, OKEECHOBEE BLVD., ROYAL PALM BEACH, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, WAS DRY, STRAIGHT AND LEVEL AND OF MACADAM CONSTRUCTION. TRAFFIC CONDITIONS WERE LIGHT TO MODERATE. THE PORTION OF THE ROADWAY BEING DRIVEN UPON WAS OF F…
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AT ABOUT 0630HRS, 02-03-11, WHILE OPERATING A 2009 MAZDA, MAZDA5 TOURING. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND THE ROADWAY, OKEECHOBEE BLVD., ROYAL PALM BEACH, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, WAS DRY, STRAIGHT AND LEVEL AND OF MACADAM CONSTRUCTION. TRAFFIC CONDITIONS WERE LIGHT TO MODERATE. THE PORTION OF THE ROADWAY BEING DRIVEN UPON WAS OF FOUR (4) LANES WITH A CENTER MEDIAN OF CONCRETE CURBING AND SOIL/LANDSCAPING WITH GRASS AND SHRUBS AND TREES AND THERE ARE LEFT/RIGHT TURN LANES IN ADDITION TO THE THROUGH ROADWAY. OKEECHOBEE BLVD. RUNS EAST AND WEST AND THE AREA IN WHICH THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IS A RESIDENTIAL AREA. WHILE DRIVING EASTBOUND ON OKEECHOBEE BLVD. IN THE INSIDE LANE OF TRAFFIC AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 35 (THIRTYFIVE) MPH AND APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION OF CRESTWOOD BLVD., THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT, WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE DRIVER, AND BEGAN ENTERING INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE OF OKEECHOBEE BLVD, AND ALL ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE CAR WERE THWARTED BY THE SUDDEN AND APPARENT TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, AS THE EFFORT TO TURN OR EVEN MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSED NO CHANGE IN DIRECTION AND WAS BEYOND THE PHYSICAL STRENGTH OF THE DRIVER, A 54 YOA, WHITE FEMALE IN GOOD HEALTH AND STRENGTH. AS THE CAR CONTINUED TRAVELING FURTHER LEFT INTO THE INTERSECTION AND WITH THE APPLICATION OF BRAKING, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND RIGHT FRONT LOWER BUMPER AND CHASSIS STRUCK THE CURBING, TRAVELING ABOUT 5 (FIVE) FEET BEFORE THE CAR CAME TO A HALT IN THE WESTBOUND INSIDE LEFT TURN LANE OF OKEECHOBEE BLVD. AT THE CRESTWOOD BLVD. INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A SHATTERED OILPAN/LOWER CRANKCASE AND OTHER MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, SWINGARM AND WHEEL/TIRE ALONG WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FRONT PLASTIC BUMPER COVER AND LOWER PLASTIC PANS. THE DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR BUMPS/BRUISING AND MUSCULO/SKELETAL PAIN TO THE ARMS,SHOULDERS AND NECK. *LN
2009 MAZDA 5 POWER STEERING FAILURE - POWER STEERING FAILS COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. - HAS OCCURRED ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES - PROBLEM WILL USUALLY GO AWAY AFTER A RE-START BUT SOMETIMES RETURNS. VIN [XXX] - MAZDA INDICATES THIS UNIT IS NOT PART OF THEIR RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTE…
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2009 MAZDA 5 POWER STEERING FAILURE - POWER STEERING FAILS COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. - HAS OCCURRED ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES - PROBLEM WILL USUALLY GO AWAY AFTER A RE-START BUT SOMETIMES RETURNS. VIN [XXX] - MAZDA INDICATES THIS UNIT IS NOT PART OF THEIR RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON DURING OPERATION, UNABLE TO USE POWER STEERING UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF AND BACK ON. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE; HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE PARTS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY AND CANNOT BE FIXED UNTIL AT LEAST DECEMBER 2010. *TR
TODAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2010, LIT THE LIGHT OF A MALFUNCTION IN THE STEERING SYSTEM OF A MAZDA 5 2009, IN HEAVY SLOW TRAFFIC, FORTUNATELY THE CAR COULD DRIVE TO MY HOUSE. PARKED, WENT OUT AND RE-IGNITE THE ENGINE AND THE LIGHT DISAPPEARED. *TR
AFTER TEN MINUTE DRIVE TIME FROM HOME, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING DECK. STEERING FAILURE INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH WAS ACTIVATED. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, I EXITED THE DECK AND PARKED ON THE STREET. AFTER AN HOUR OF BEING PARKED AND SEVERAL ENGINE RESTARTS, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. WE TOOK THE 2009 …
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AFTER TEN MINUTE DRIVE TIME FROM HOME, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING DECK. STEERING FAILURE INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH WAS ACTIVATED. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, I EXITED THE DECK AND PARKED ON THE STREET. AFTER AN HOUR OF BEING PARKED AND SEVERAL ENGINE RESTARTS, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. WE TOOK THE 2009 MAZDA5 TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. *TR
Official recalls
210V600000 · Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump
Nov 24, 2010
MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 MAZDA5 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 29, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 28, 2010. WATER MAY NOT HAVE BEEN REMOVED COMPLETELY FROM THE HARNESS CONNECTOR OF THE FUEL PUMP DUE TO VARIATIONS IN THE FUEL TANK LEAK CHECK PROCESS PERFORMED BEFORE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. THE CONNECTOR PIN MAY CORRODE, POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE PIN TO BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP, ENGINE STALL AND THE INABILITY TO RESTART THE ENGINE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR AND IF NECESSARY IT WILL BE REPLACED AND THE HARNESS WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-222-5500.
10V374000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
Aug 12, 2010
MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 MAZDA3 AND MAZDA5 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2, 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2008. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: POWER STEERING ASSIST IS SUDDENLY LOST REDUCING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE AS TYPICALLY EXPECTED, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: MAZDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND LINES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-222-5500.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE10021 · Loss Of Electric Power Steering Assist
Opened Jun 28, 2010 · Closed Nov 29, 2010
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:electric Power Assist System; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:pump
The subject vehicles have electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS).The complaint counts shown above alleged a loss of power steering assist in the subject vehicles.Usually, but not always, the loss is accompanied by the simultaneous lighting of an indicator light on the dash.The complaints include 14 alleged crashes involving 6 injuries.On Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008, rust may have formed inside the EPAS high-pressure pipe during manufacture due to improper processing.If the rust is present it may damage the power steering pump bearings leading to an increased load on the electric motor; this results in an elevated operating temperature for the EPAS system.To prevent excessive overheating of the system, which could potentially cause permanent damage, afailsafe mode which de-powers the electric pump is implemented.This causes a loss of power assist making it more difficult to steer the vehicle, especially at lower vehicle speeds.Once the failsafe is implemented the EPAS system will remain disabled until the ignition is turned off.However EPAS will be re-enabled if the operating temperature is reduced (i.e., within an acceptable range) on a subsequent drive cycle.On August 8, 2010 Mazda submitted a Part 573 defect information report initiating Safety Recall 10V-374 to remedy the subject vehicles.The report, which contains additional details on the remedy repair, is available at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/.ODI notes that the affected population shown in that report includes approximately 8,000 vehicles Mazda repaired prior to initiating the recall.
Additional source detail variants (6)
Steering:electric Power Assist System
The subject vehicles have electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS).The complaint counts shown above alleged a loss of power steering assist in the subject vehicles.Usually, but not always, the loss is accompanied by the simultaneous lighting of an indicator light on the dash.The complaints include 14 alleged crashes involving 6 injuries.On Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008, rust may have formed inside the EPAS high-pressure pipe during manufacture due to improper processing.If the rust is present it may damage the power steering pump bearings leading to an increased load on the electric motor; this results in an elevated operating temperature for the EPAS system.To prevent excessive overheating of the system, which could potentially cause permanent damage, afailsafe mode which de-powers the electric pump is implemented.This causes a loss of power assist making it more difficult to steer the vehicle, especially at lower vehicle speeds.Once the failsafe is implemented the EPAS system will remain disabled until the ignition is turned off.However EPAS will be re-enabled if the operating temperature is reduced (i.e., within an acceptable range) on a subsequent drive cycle.On August 8, 2010 Mazda submitted a Part 573 defect information report initiating Safety Recall 10V-374 to remedy the subject vehicles.The report, which contains additional details on the remedy repair, is available at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/.ODI notes that the affected population shown in that report includes approximately 8,000 vehicles Mazda repaired prior to initiating the recall.
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections
The subject vehicles have electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS).The complaint counts shown above alleged a loss of power steering assist in the subject vehicles.Usually, but not always, the loss is accompanied by the simultaneous lighting of an indicator light on the dash.The complaints include 14 alleged crashes involving 6 injuries.On Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008, rust may have formed inside the EPAS high-pressure pipe during manufacture due to improper processing.If the rust is present it may damage the power steering pump bearings leading to an increased load on the electric motor; this results in an elevated operating temperature for the EPAS system.To prevent excessive overheating of the system, which could potentially cause permanent damage, afailsafe mode which de-powers the electric pump is implemented.This causes a loss of power assist making it more difficult to steer the vehicle, especially at lower vehicle speeds.Once the failsafe is implemented the EPAS system will remain disabled until the ignition is turned off.However EPAS will be re-enabled if the operating temperature is reduced (i.e., within an acceptable range) on a subsequent drive cycle.On August 8, 2010 Mazda submitted a Part 573 defect information report initiating Safety Recall 10V-374 to remedy the subject vehicles.The report, which contains additional details on the remedy repair, is available at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/.ODI notes that the affected population shown in that report includes approximately 8,000 vehicles Mazda repaired prior to initiating the recall.
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid
The subject vehicles have electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS).The complaint counts shown above alleged a loss of power steering assist in the subject vehicles.Usually, but not always, the loss is accompanied by the simultaneous lighting of an indicator light on the dash.The complaints include 14 alleged crashes involving 6 injuries.On Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008, rust may have formed inside the EPAS high-pressure pipe during manufacture due to improper processing.If the rust is present it may damage the power steering pump bearings leading to an increased load on the electric motor; this results in an elevated operating temperature for the EPAS system.To prevent excessive overheating of the system, which could potentially cause permanent damage, afailsafe mode which de-powers the electric pump is implemented.This causes a loss of power assist making it more difficult to steer the vehicle, especially at lower vehicle speeds.Once the failsafe is implemented the EPAS system will remain disabled until the ignition is turned off.However EPAS will be re-enabled if the operating temperature is reduced (i.e., within an acceptable range) on a subsequent drive cycle.On August 8, 2010 Mazda submitted a Part 573 defect information report initiating Safety Recall 10V-374 to remedy the subject vehicles.The report, which contains additional details on the remedy repair, is available at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/.ODI notes that the affected population shown in that report includes approximately 8,000 vehicles Mazda repaired prior to initiating the recall.
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:pump
The subject vehicles have electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS).The complaint counts shown above alleged a loss of power steering assist in the subject vehicles.Usually, but not always, the loss is accompanied by the simultaneous lighting of an indicator light on the dash.The complaints include 14 alleged crashes involving 6 injuries.On Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008, rust may have formed inside the EPAS high-pressure pipe during manufacture due to improper processing.If the rust is present it may damage the power steering pump bearings leading to an increased load on the electric motor; this results in an elevated operating temperature for the EPAS system.To prevent excessive overheating of the system, which could potentially cause permanent damage, afailsafe mode which de-powers the electric pump is implemented.This causes a loss of power assist making it more difficult to steer the vehicle, especially at lower vehicle speeds.Once the failsafe is implemented the EPAS system will remain disabled until the ignition is turned off.However EPAS will be re-enabled if the operating temperature is reduced (i.e., within an acceptable range) on a subsequent drive cycle.On August 8, 2010 Mazda submitted a Part 573 defect information report initiating Safety Recall 10V-374 to remedy the subject vehicles.The report, which contains additional details on the remedy repair, is available at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/.ODI notes that the affected population shown in that report includes approximately 8,000 vehicles Mazda repaired prior to initiating the recall.
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System
The subject vehicles have electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS).The complaint counts shown above alleged a loss of power steering assist in the subject vehicles.Usually, but not always, the loss is accompanied by the simultaneous lighting of an indicator light on the dash.The complaints include 14 alleged crashes involving 6 injuries.On Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008, rust may have formed inside the EPAS high-pressure pipe during manufacture due to improper processing.If the rust is present it may damage the power steering pump bearings leading to an increased load on the electric motor; this results in an elevated operating temperature for the EPAS system.To prevent excessive overheating of the system, which could potentially cause permanent damage, afailsafe mode which de-powers the electric pump is implemented.This causes a loss of power assist making it more difficult to steer the vehicle, especially at lower vehicle speeds.Once the failsafe is implemented the EPAS system will remain disabled until the ignition is turned off.However EPAS will be re-enabled if the operating temperature is reduced (i.e., within an acceptable range) on a subsequent drive cycle.On August 8, 2010 Mazda submitted a Part 573 defect information report initiating Safety Recall 10V-374 to remedy the subject vehicles.The report, which contains additional details on the remedy repair, is available at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/.ODI notes that the affected population shown in that report includes approximately 8,000 vehicles Mazda repaired prior to initiating the recall.
Steering
The subject vehicles have electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS).The complaint counts shown above alleged a loss of power steering assist in the subject vehicles.Usually, but not always, the loss is accompanied by the simultaneous lighting of an indicator light on the dash.The complaints include 14 alleged crashes involving 6 injuries.On Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008, rust may have formed inside the EPAS high-pressure pipe during manufacture due to improper processing.If the rust is present it may damage the power steering pump bearings leading to an increased load on the electric motor; this results in an elevated operating temperature for the EPAS system.To prevent excessive overheating of the system, which could potentially cause permanent damage, afailsafe mode which de-powers the electric pump is implemented.This causes a loss of power assist making it more difficult to steer the vehicle, especially at lower vehicle speeds.Once the failsafe is implemented the EPAS system will remain disabled until the ignition is turned off.However EPAS will be re-enabled if the operating temperature is reduced (i.e., within an acceptable range) on a subsequent drive cycle.On August 8, 2010 Mazda submitted a Part 573 defect information report initiating Safety Recall 10V-374 to remedy the subject vehicles.The report, which contains additional details on the remedy repair, is available at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/.ODI notes that the affected population shown in that report includes approximately 8,000 vehicles Mazda repaired prior to initiating the recall.
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