Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
100–25K
525–50K
650–75K
375–100K
3100–150K
2150K+
29 reports with mileage · 8 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.
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Tires. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
37 reports
3,150 miles · Aug 21, 2013
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringSuspension
I HAD 3,000 MILES ON MY 2012 MAZDA 5 WHEN I FIRST COMPLAINED TO A MAZDA DEALER THAT MY CAR WOULD WOBBLE WHEN GOING FORWARD INTO A RIGHT TURN AND IN REVERSE WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN.'SOMETHING' WOULD ALWAYS CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR A WHILE WHEN I COMPLAINED DURING MULTIPLE OIL CHANGES. RECENTLY AT 25,000 MILES A DEALER FINALLY TO…
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I HAD 3,000 MILES ON MY 2012 MAZDA 5 WHEN I FIRST COMPLAINED TO A MAZDA DEALER THAT MY CAR WOULD WOBBLE WHEN GOING FORWARD INTO A RIGHT TURN AND IN REVERSE WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN.'SOMETHING' WOULD ALWAYS CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR A WHILE WHEN I COMPLAINED DURING MULTIPLE OIL CHANGES. RECENTLY AT 25,000 MILES A DEALER FINALLY TOLD ME MY ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND SO THEY WERE GOING TO GROUND THEM DOWN TO MAKE THEM STRAIGHT. I REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT BUT THEY SAID NO. I WOULD NOT EXPECT NOR HAVE I EVER SEEN ROTORS WEAR DOWN BEFORE YEARS OF SERVICE. THERE IS NOW A PERCEPTION OF SKIDDING FOR A SECOND WHEN I GO AROUND A CORNER THAT I HAVE FELT TWICE SINCE THE ROTORS WERE SUPPOSEDLY MADE EVEN. THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM? IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE? I FEEL UNSAFE AS THE CAR HAS ALWAYS HAD A BALANCE PROBLEM. THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM SAID HE DOESN'T FEEL OR SEE A PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO REPLACE THE ROTORS EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. IS THERE ANYTHING I NEED TO WORRY ABOUT OR DO? UPDATED 09/05/13*LJ
NHTSA ODI #10536591
22,400 miles · Jul 22, 2013
Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA, MAZDA5 WITH TOYO PROXES ST II TIRES, LINE SIZE P205/50R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKED INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR NEW TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA, MAZDA5 WITH TOYO PROXES ST II TIRES, LINE SIZE P205/50R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKED INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR NEW TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE TIRES AND VEHICLE WAS 22,400. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10526152
34,800 miles · May 6, 2013
Structure
FINDING MULTIPLE YELLOW SPIDERS IN THE CAB OF THE OF OUR CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10510869
Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2012
SeatsCrashInjury
WE WERE REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT, AND THE FRONT SEATS FAILED AND RECLINED WHEN WE WERE REAR ENDED. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH US SINCE WE WERE FORCED TO RECLINE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10484074
18,000 miles · Sep 20, 2012
Steering
I HAD NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKING SLIGHTLY WHEN SLOWING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN MY MAZDA5 HAD 13000 MILES. I SERVICED MY CAR AT 18000 MILES FOR AN OUT OF STATE TRIP, AT THIS TIME MY BRAKES WERE AT .08MM AND IN GOOD CONDITION. DURING AND AFTER MY TRIP THE STEERING VIBRATION BECAME SO EXTREME WHEN BRAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS …
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I HAD NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKING SLIGHTLY WHEN SLOWING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN MY MAZDA5 HAD 13000 MILES. I SERVICED MY CAR AT 18000 MILES FOR AN OUT OF STATE TRIP, AT THIS TIME MY BRAKES WERE AT .08MM AND IN GOOD CONDITION. DURING AND AFTER MY TRIP THE STEERING VIBRATION BECAME SO EXTREME WHEN BRAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THAT I AVOIDED FURTHER DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR SAFETY. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND THEY CHECKED MY ROTORS. THEY INFORMED ME THAT "RUN OUT LIMIT" ON ROTORS IS .04MM AND MINE WERE AT .06MM AND WERE SO WARPED THAT THEY COULD NOT BE RESURFACED. THIS PART IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE SERVICE CENTER WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION IF THIS WAS "WEAR AND TEAR" OR A "PARTS DEFECT". I ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION AS TO HOW MY BRAKES HAVE NEVER BEEN CHANGED AND ARE STILL IN GOOD CONDITION; HOW IT COULD POSSIBLY BE "WEAR AND TEAR"? THEY DIRECTED ME TO MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO GET APPROVAL FOR THE SERVICE. AFTER A FEW DAYS MAZDA AGREED TO REPAIR MY MAZDA5 UNDER "GOODWILL, ONE TIME ONLY" AND NOT UNDER ANY SORT OF WARRANTY. I FEEL THIS IS A BREAKING SYSTEM DEFECT AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10476557
Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2012
Tires
CPSC: I1280026A. 2012 MAZDA 5. CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS CAR WOULD HYDROPLANE WHEN HE DROVE IN RAIN, DUE TO THE TYPE OF TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. *LN THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TIRES NEEDED A BETTER DESIGN TO CHANNEL THE RAIN OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THEM. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A NEW SET OF TIRES.
NHTSA ODI #10469861
9,000 miles · Aug 3, 2012
Service Brakes
STARTING A FEW MONTHS AGO, MY STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIED AS I WAS BRAKING. IT WAS INTERMITTENT. IN MAY, THE SHAKING DISAPPEARED BUT A SLIGHT GRINDING SENSATION(NO NOISE) COULD BE FELT WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL. I DIDN'T THINK IS WAS A BRAKE WEAR PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS RELATIVELY NEW AND I LIVE IN A FLAT AREA WITH NO UNUSUAL…
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STARTING A FEW MONTHS AGO, MY STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIED AS I WAS BRAKING. IT WAS INTERMITTENT. IN MAY, THE SHAKING DISAPPEARED BUT A SLIGHT GRINDING SENSATION(NO NOISE) COULD BE FELT WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL. I DIDN'T THINK IS WAS A BRAKE WEAR PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS RELATIVELY NEW AND I LIVE IN A FLAT AREA WITH NO UNUSUAL STRESS ON THE BRAKES. I WAS ON VACATION FOR A FEW MONTHS AND DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR. MY HUSBAND DROVE IT ONCE AND FELT IT WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF WEAK BRAKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHEN I RETURNED. MY BRAKING DISTANCE WAS DOUBLE OF WHAT IT USED TO BE. I FELT UNSAFE DRIVING THE CAR THE 5 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER SEEMED TO KNOW THAT MAZDA WOULD PROBABLY FIX THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH BRAKE ISSUES ARE USUALLY CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I WAS TOLD THAT MAZDA DID FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE AND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE 2012 MAZDA5'S ROTORS. I WAS TOLD THEY WERE TOO THIN IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN AND THUS WORE OUT QUICKLY. THEY ALSO INDICATED THEY HAD FIXED IT IN MORE RECENT MODELS. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FORMAL RECALL. THE CAR RAPIDLY WENT FROM A INTERMITTENT BOTHER TO A TRUE SAFETY ISSUE. I CONTINUALLY WORRIED THAT I MIGHT HAVE TO STOP QUICKLY AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO. *TR
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 & remedy
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2012 Mazda MAZDA5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year