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What 36 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Mazda Mazda5

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (36)Crash / fire / injury (4)Fuel system (8)Body & structure (7)Brakes (7)Tires (7)Airbags (4)Steering (4)Seats (2)Transmission & drivetrain (2)Visibility & wipers (2)Electrical system (1)

7 of 36 complaints match · Body & structure · clear filters

May 15, 2021Body & structureSeatsCrash2 injuries

REAR-ENDED WHILE STOPPED BY TRUCK GOING UNDER 20 MPH. OUR HEADS STRUCK HEADRESTS AND DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS INSTANTLY RECLINED BACK ONTO FRONT OF CHILDREN'S CAR SEATS. THEY'RE LEGS WOULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED AT THE KNEES IF THEY WERE IN THE ACCIDENT. OUR NECKS WERE SORE FROM WHIPLASH.

NHTSA ODI 11416664

Jan 22, 2020Transmission & drivetrainBody & structureFuel system

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 CONCERN AS THE EVAP LEAKS COULD RELEASE FUEL VAPORS TO THE ATMOSPHERE AND POLLUTING IT. AS WELL AS FIRE HAZARDS DUE TO THE FUEL LEAKS. I'VE NOTICED MANY CUSTOMERS APPROACHING THE DEALER DUE TO THIS PROBLEM WHICH KIND OF GIVES US THE FEELING THAT THIS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MAZDA5 VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11301036

Feb 7, 2018AirbagsBody & structure

LIFT GATE SUPPORTS - URGENT SAFETY RECALL RECEIVED- CARDINALE MAZDA PEORIA, AZ, REFUSES TO SCHEDULE REPAIRS-

NHTSA ODI 11067384

Jan 6, 2018Body & structure

LIFTGATE STRUTS WHICH ACCORDING TO MAZDA WERE REPLACED PURSUANT TO RECALL FAILED CAUSING LIFTGATE TO FALL RESULTING IN MINOR INJURY TO MY HAND.

NHTSA ODI 11060932

Jun 2, 2017Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V644000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MAZDA DEALER (MATTHEWS MAZDA; 3013 OLD VESTAL RD B, VESTAL, NY 13850; (607) 729-6261) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-222-5500 AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD ARRIVE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10992826

Apr 20, 2015Body & structureTires

AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED FROM DAY ONE, THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG IN THE REAR TIRES FOR BRAKE ASSEMBLY. EACH TIME I'D VISIT THE SHOP I WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I BELIEVE SOMEWHERE AROUND 12,000 MILES I NOTICED THE TIRES WERE GETTING BALD. THEY CHECK THE ALIGNMENTS SHORTLY AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. LATER I HAD ANOTHER ALIGNMENT DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SEEM TO PULL MORE TO THE LEFT. THEY SAID IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OUT OF ALIGNMENT BUT EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. WHEN I QUESTIONED HIM ON THE TIRES WHICH BY THE WAY I HAD TO REPLACE ONE WHILE ON THE TRIP. THEIR REPLY WITH THE SAME THESE ARE CHEAP TIRES PUT ON BY THE MANUFACTURER AND SHOULD NOT LAST ANYMORE 12,000 MILES. AFTER GETTING NOWHERE I FINALLY WENT TO TIRE KINGDOM AND REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AT MY COST. I FELT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND SEE IF THIS COULD'VE BEEN RESOLVED. NO LUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10711819

May 6, 2013Body & structure

FINDING MULTIPLE YELLOW SPIDERS IN THE CAB OF THE OF OUR CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10510869

Working with the data? Download all 36 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Mazda Mazda5 verdict →