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2012 Mazda Mazda5
Solid pick. The complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.
36 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 26, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#82 of 515Among the 2012 models with a matured record, the 2012 Mazda Mazda5 ranks #82, scoring higher than 81% of them. See the 2012 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2012 Mazda Mazda5, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Fuel system (8) · Body & structure (7)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Fuel system
22%8 complaints
“IT'S VERY COMMON IN THE MAZDA 5 CARS FOR THE EMISSION COMPONENTS TO FAIL OFTEN AND AFFECTS THE FUEL ECONOMY WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF FUEL, MONEY ETC. IT'S ALSO A SAFETY CO…”
Brakes
19%7 complaints · typically near 18k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2012 Mazda MZ5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The vehicle…”
Tires
19%7 complaints · typically near 12k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“TIRES: THE 2012 MAZDA 5 GT STANDARD TIRES HAVE DEVELOPED MAJOR SIDE WALL BUBBLE/BLISTERS ON THE TOYO PROXES A18 205/50/R17 ON TWO SEPARATE TIRES WITH ONLY 12,000 MILES…”
Body & structure
19%7 complaints
“LIFT GATE SUPPORTS - URGENT SAFETY RECALL RECEIVED- CARDINALE MAZDA PEORIA, AZ, REFUSES TO SCHEDULE REPAIRS-”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 2 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 36 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 4 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Structure · 16V644000
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.
Risk: If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Mazda before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 Mazda Mazda5. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report fuel system problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any fuel system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report brakes problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 18k miles). Has this car shown any brakes symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Verify the recall work was done
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2012 Mazda MAZDA5 beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every Mazda5 model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Mazda Mazda5 against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.