RoadVitals

2006 Mazda Mazda5 Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Feb 11, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 78 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Mazda Mazda5 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Feb 11, 2019

INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITY AS WELL. THE LOSS IS SUDDEN AND CAUSES THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS STEERING BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THIS IS DANGEROUS. I ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD ONCE AND HIT A MEDIAN ON ANOTHER OCCASION. ITS LIKE A TIME BOMB, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR. DASH LIGHTS ALL LIGHT UP AS WELL AND SOMETIMES POWER IS RESTORED BUT THE ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR IS NOT. CAR IS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL YET STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL ISSUE AND MAZDA CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUE. ADDITIONAL VEHICLES NEED TO BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST AS THERE ARE MORE VEHICLES AFFECTED OUTSIDE OF THE VIN'S INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. SINCE. ACCORDING TO MAZDA, THEY COMPLY WITH NHTSA WHEN ISSUING RECALLS, MORE VEHICLES NEED TO BE INCLUDED AS THERE IS A MULTITUDE OF MAZDA 5 OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALL VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID
11176293
Incident
Feb 8, 2019
Mileage
125,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 15, 2017

THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES STIFF WHILE IN MOTION AND A WARNING YELLOW STEERING LIGHT TURNS ON ON DASHBOARD. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. WE EVEN HAD IT CHECKED WITH A MECHANIC WHO COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE CAR COOLS DOWN, THE STEERING STARTS WORKING AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, SINCE WHILE DRIVING, THE WHEEL BECOMES INOPERATIVE, THEREFORE, MAY CAUSE A TRAGIC ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
10978667
Incident
Apr 15, 2017
Mileage
89,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 2, 2016

THE MAZDA PART USED IN 2006 IS EXACTLY THE SAME PART USED IN 2007-2009 WHICH HAVE A NHTSA RECALL, SO WHY ISN'T THE 2006 COVERED? IT'S THE SAME PART WITH THE SAME INHERENT DEFECT. OUR POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED WITH LESS THAN 75,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THE FAULT CAUSES THE POWER STEERING LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE PUMP STOPS WORKING MAKING THE STEERING VERY HEAVY, IT CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, AT A LIGHT, OR STATIONARY. THE PUMP IS ELECTRICAL SO SOMETIMES TURNING OFF THE CAR AND TURNING IT BACK ON "RESETS" THE SYSTEM AND IT WILL WORK FOR A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE FAILING AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
10839435
Incident
Feb 12, 2016
Mileage
75,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 25, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 5. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V374000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE STILL RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

NHTSA ID
10821990
Incident
Nov 26, 2015
Mileage
149,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 9, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AFTER THE STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V374000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,224.

NHTSA ID
10693063
Incident
Feb 16, 2015
Mileage
62,224 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 14, 2013

2006 MAZDA 5 STEERING WHEEL GOT STUCK 4 TIMES IN LAST 2 MONTHS FOR FRACTION OF SECONDS WHILE MAKING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT TURN DRIVING AT 10-15 MPH (ONE TIME AT AFTER I STOPPED AT STOP SIGN). THE STEERING WHEEL GOT SO HARD I COULD NOT TURN IT AND THEN ALL OF SUDDEN I WAS ABLE TO TURN. TOOK IT TO DEALER BUT THEY SAID THEIR DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS DID NOT FIND ANY ISSUES AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10508202
Incident
Mar 7, 2013
Mileage
72,600 mi
Steering
Filed May 7, 2012

POWER STEERING WENT OUT DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH DOWNHILL. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND FAULT. DRIVING UP A WINDING CAYON ROAD, POWER STEERING WENT OUT, CAUSING ONE TO USE FORCE TO TURN VEHICLE. NO RECALLS ON THE 2006 MAZDA5, HOWEVER RECALLS ON THE 2007. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY MAZDA YET THEY DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL. NO WARRANTY DUE TO BEING OVER 50K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10457645
Incident
May 7, 2012
Mileage
69,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 19, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 5. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING UNDER 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO UTILIZE EXTREME BODILY FORCE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING PUMP YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,729 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,194.

NHTSA ID
10350550
Incident
Jun 26, 2010
Mileage
89,729 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 6, 2009

I HAVE A 2006 MAZDA 5 THAT HAS AN ENGINEERING FAULT IN THE SUSPENSION/STEERING SYSTEM. THIS DEFECT LEADS TO INTENSE UNEVEN WEAR IN TIRES,WHICH LEADS TO A HAZARDOUS SITUATION ON THE ROAD. THE DEALERS MASK THE PROBLEMS BY OVERINFLATING THE TIRES (EVEN MORE DANGEROUS) AND MAZDA NORTH AMERICA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FROM UK CANADA AND USA THAT I'VE COMMUNICATED WITH AND THEY HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR MAZDA 5. THE ORIGINAL TOYO TIRES FAILED IN THE FIRST YEAR, A SECOND SET OF TIRES PROVIDED BY MAZDA FAILED AFTER THE FIRST 20000 MILES AND EVEN THE MOST EXPENSIVE HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES FROM GOODYEAR CAN NOT PROVIDE MORE THAN 2 YEARS OR 20000 MILES OF USAGE. I HAVE GONE TO MULTIPLE DEALERS AND SHOPS, THEY ALL SAY THE ALIGNMENT AND BALANCE ARE OK BUT NO ONE CAN IMPROVE THE TIRE SAFETY SITUATION. I USE THIS CAR TO DRIVE TO WORK AND BACK EVERY DAY AND TO TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND THEIR ACTIVITIES, ABOUT 12000 MILES / YEAR AND I AM AFRAID THAT SOMETHING BAD MIGHT HAPPEN. I DO NOT USE THE CAR FOR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES AND I AM NOT AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER. THE CONSTANT REPLACEMENT OF TIRES AND THE EXPENSE INCURRED DID NOT PUT ME IN A SAFER POSITION. ONLY ADDRESSING THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEMS CAN MAKE THIS VEHICLE SAFER FOR ME, MY KIDS AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND DILIGENCE IN SOLVING THIS PROBLEM! *TR

NHTSA ID
10264214
Incident
Mar 30, 2009
SteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 30, 2006
Crash reported1 injury reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THIS OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON 08/16/06, THE STABILIZER BAR BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED. ON 10/21/06, WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND THE VEHICLE WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, ARM AND HEAD. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED, AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. PICTURES AND A POLICE REPORT WERE TAKEN.*AK UPDATED 11/17/06. *JB

NHTSA ID
10172157
Incident
Oct 21, 2006
Mileage
13,600 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .