2012 Mazda MAZDA5 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
43,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 37 complaints (21.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 21.6% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 10.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 8.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Tires | 7 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Tires: 7; Structure:Body: 5; Air Bags: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 4; Steering: 4; Power Train: 3; Service Brakes: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 8 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 3; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2017: 5; 2018: 5; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2024: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10469121 · 2012-08-03 (August 3, 2012)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10469121 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10476557 · 2012-09-20 (September 20, 2012)
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 W…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10476557 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10794347 · 2015-11-17 (November 17, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK OVERFLOWED WHEN FILLED UP. THIS WAS A RECURRING ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10794347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10820654 · 2016-01-16 (January 16, 2016)
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2014 WITH APPROXIMATELY 47,000 MILES. FOR THE ENTIRE TIME OF OWNERSHIP, WHEN FILLING THE FUEL TANK, IF AN AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF NOZZLE FEATURE IS USED, GASOLINE WILL SPILL FROM THE TANK WITHOUT TRIGGERING THE AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF. THIS HAPPENS IRRESPECTIVE OF STATION OR PUMP. EXAMPLES FOUND ONLINE OF OTHERS WITH THIS SYMPTOM WERE ULTIMATELY DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY FUEL RETURN VALVE AND REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK WAS REQUIRED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. OTHER MAZDA VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR SIMILAR ISSUE- REFERENCE RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10820654 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11754718 · 2026-08-04 (August 4, 2026)
While accelerating from a complete stop at a traffic light on a multi-lane roadway, the vehicle suddenly lost all engine power without prior warning. The engine RPM dropped immediately to 0, causing the vehicle to stall in the middle of an active intersection and creating an immediate risk of a side-impact collision from oncoming traffic. All warning lights on the instrument cluster illuminated upon stalling. To clear the intersection safely, the vehicle was placed into Neutral and restarted. After shifting back into Drive and proceeding out o…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11754718 at NHTSA ↗