2008 Mazda Mazda5 Owner Complaints

Mazda 5 power steering system fails intermittently. The power steering light comes on and steering becomes extremely difficult to steer. Occasionally, the check engine comes on as well and the engine stalls making the situation Also vibration in the steering wheel, and when I mean, the steering logs all the way up it locks all the way up, likes flicker and go out, but then it goes away after a few moments

NHTSA ID

11586233

Incident

Apr 30, 2024

Mazda 5 power steering system fails intermittently. The power steering light comes on and steering becomes extremely difficult to steer. Occasionally, the check engine comes on as well and the engine stalls making the situation even more dangerous. The Mazda 5 is available for inspection upon request. My daughters life was put at risk when the steering fails intermittently potentially causing damage to the car, other vehicles, and injury or death of pedestrians. The car has not been repaired or inspected at this point. There is no warning before the power steering fails. The power steering indicator light is illuminated and occasionally also the check engine light when the power steering failure causes the engine to stall as well. The first occurrence of the issue was January 17, 2022, while my daughter was driving the vehicle. The vehicle recall history shows the power steering had been repaired previously for the same issue.

NHTSA ID

11449859

Incident

Jan 17, 2022

We bought 4 of these tires 1/23/2018. The first failed within 3 months (passenger rear). The tire distributor no longer carried them, so we fit the next best ... a different Primewell. Now, the driver side front tire has developed a bulge where the tread and sidewall meet - similar to the first failure. We cannot drive it and - still - the distributor no longer carries THAT tire. We have - as of 9/1/2021 driven the car a TOTAL of less than 14,000 miles since the purchase. The 50K warranty was ignored in the first failure; and we have been told that it is irrelevant in this second one. The size is 205/50R17 for both - all four. Both tires were continuously losing air and had to start carrying a portable air pump. Just noticed this weekend that the driver side tire was ONCE AGAIN low on air. When I went to fill it, noticed the bulge. Do not know hoe long ot has been there ... just noticed it this weekend.

NHTSA ID

11431413

Incident

Aug 28, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 5. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST LOST CONTROL AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS BRIEFLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1-2284518588. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,889.

NHTSA ID

11242105

Incident

Jul 8, 2019

Mileage

179,889 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 5. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11208333

Incident

May 17, 2019

Mileage

149,000 mi

I BOUGHT 4 KUMHO TIRES SIZED 205 50R17 FOR THIS CAR IN SEPTEMBER OF 2015. IN AUGUST OF 2017, AT ABOUT 25000 MILES ON THE TIRES, ONE OF THEM DEVELOPED WHAT WE LATER LEARNED WAS A BELT SEPARATION. THE SYMPTOMS WERE A SEVERE VIBRATION, AND SEVERE PULL. WE REPLACED TWO OF THE TIRES. 10 MONTHS LATER THE CAR DEVELOPED EXACTLY THE SAME SYMPTOMS, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ANOTHER OF THE TIRES HAD A BELT SEPARATION. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND. I CALLED KUMHO TO REPORT THE ISSUE, AS THEY CLEARLY HAD A BAD RUN OF TIRES FOR ME TO HAVE TO OUT OF ONE SET. THE PERSON ANSWERING THE PHONE (WARRANTY DEPARTMENT) INSISTED THAT 'BELT SEPARATIONS ARE COMMON', THAT THE RECENT RECALL WAS A "VOLUNTARY RECALL BECAUSE THE ENGINEERS JUST WANTED TO SEE THE TIRES'. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE IN THEIR SAFETY OR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS. SHE SAID "WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE LIKE THAT".

NHTSA ID

11103068

Incident

Jun 19, 2018

Mileage

162,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 5. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

NHTSA ID

11093335

Incident

Apr 20, 2018

Mileage

141,000 mi

2008 MAZDA 5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE TRANSMISSION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR SHOCK MOUNTS AND THE OIL ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THE WHEEL RIMS CORRODED INTERNALLY, ALLOWING AIR TO LEAK FROM THE TIRES. THE IGNITION SWITCH AND TRANSMISSION FAILED. UPDATED 08/23/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

11005668

Incident

May 1, 2017

STEERING WARNING LIGHT COMES ON STEERING GETS HEAVY

NHTSA ID

10983817

Incident

May 1, 2017

REAR SLIDING DOORS WILL NOT CLOSE IN COLDER TEMPERATURES THEY OPEN FINE AND THEN WILL NOT CLOSE, MEANING THE DOORS WILL NOT LATCH AND CAN COME OPEN WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT LOCK OR ALLOW SETTING THE ALARM FUNCTION WHEN PARKING. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE COLD,HAVING TWO KIDS THAT RIDE IN THE BACK MY DOORS SHOULD NO COME OPEN ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10944381

Incident

Jan 9, 2017

Mileage

130,000 mi

REAR SLIDER DOORS FREEZE SHUT. THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO OCCUR UNTIL IT'S ALREADY AN ISSUE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE REAR SLIDER DOOR LATCHING MECHANISM FREEZES IN 'OPEN' POSITION. IF THE DOOR IS ABLE TO BE OPENED AND NOT CLOSED, THE DOOR HAS TO BE TIED SHUT WITH BUNGEES. IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT NOTICE THE OPEN DOOR LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER DOES NOT NOTICE THAT THE DOOR DID NOT CLOSE AND LATCH, THE DOOR WILL SLIDE OPEN WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING. THIS HAPPENED TO MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR IN 2013 AND MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19TH. THE 2006 MAZDA 5 WAS RECALLED FOR THIS SAME REASON (4306K). *TR

NHTSA ID

10936186

Incident

Dec 17, 2016

Mileage

115,000 mi

WHEN TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW FREEZING, REAR SLIDING DOORS HAVE DIFFICULTY LATCHING TO THE POINT WHERE THEY CAN'T BE PROPERLY CLOSED. THIS EXACT ISSUE IS DESCRIBED IN RECALL #06V463000 FOR WHICH MY VEHICLE'S VIN/YEAR IS NOT INCLUDED. I WOULD LIKE MY VEHICLE TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL SO I CAN HAVE THE ISSUE ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10936154

Incident

Dec 19, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SOUNDS LIKE A ROCK BANGING IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL. IT TURNS OUT TO BE A BROKEN SHOCK MOUNT. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE THAT HAS BROKEN. ONE BROKE AT ~80,000 MILES AND NOW THIS AT ~120000. SEARCH THE INTERNET AND IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10746183

Incident

Aug 4, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 MAZDA 5. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DRIVER HEARD A BANG SOUND NEAR THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A PRIVATE TOW COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

NHTSA ID

10722224

Incident

May 28, 2015

Mileage

166,000 mi

THIS IS WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY CAR. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE POWER STEERING ASSIST IS SUDDENLY LOST BY REDUCING MY ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. MAZDA SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY CAR SO THEY CANT HELP ME. MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 MAZDA3 AND MAZDA5 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2, 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2008. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. CONSEQUENCE: POWER STEERING ASSIST IS SUDDENLY LOST REDUCING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE AS TYPICALLY EXPECTED, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10672636

Incident

Jan 13, 2015

Mileage

66,000 mi

REAR SEATBELT JAM AND WILL NOT UNLATCHED. SEATBELT LOCKUP AND CHILD WAS LOCK IN BELT AND HAD TO BE CAREFULLY PULLED FROM SEAT. SEAL BELT IS LOCK TO SEAT. CANNOT USED EXISTING BELT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10631352

Incident

Sep 7, 2014

Mileage

76,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MAZDA 5 AND STOPPED FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT AS IT WAS RED. AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I MOVED MY FOOT FROM BRAKE TO ACCELERATOR PADDLE, THE CAR STARTED GOING IN REVERSE DIRECTION. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED BRAKES, I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AGAIN AND AGAIN THE CAR WAS GOING IN REVERSE. NO I DID NOT HAVE MY CAR ON REVERSE GEAR, THE CAR WAS ON "D" DRIVE ALL THE TIME. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND OUT THE CAR ON "D" AND AGAIN THE CAR WENT ON REVERSE. I TRIED THIS PROCESS AGAIN, THIS TIME ALL THE CAR DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR DID NOT START. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911, ON 5TH JULY (SUNDAY) AROUND 3:00PM. MY CALL DETAILS CAN BE RECEIVED. I TOWED MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE SUGGESTING ENGINE FAILURE. THE CAR CAN NO WAY HAVE ENGINE FAILURE. IF IT WAS ENGINE FAILURE HOW CAN THE CAR GO ON REVERSE? I AM THANKFUL TO GOD THAT I DID NOT HIT THE CAR BEHIND I HAD A 4 YEAR OLD CHILD IN MY CAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. I WOULD SUGGEST PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THIS MAJOR ISSUE AS THIS CAN LEAD TO MAJOR ACCIDENTS. ALSO, I GOT IT SERVICED 3 MONTHS BACK AND NO ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED. I LIKE MAZDA 5 MINI VAN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS BUT THIS INCIDENT HAS GREAT SETBACK ABOUT MAZDA IN MY MIND. I ALSO HAVE MAZDA CX-7 THAT I AM SO SCARED TO DRIVE. I CAN NEVER IMAGINE THE CAR GOING INTO REVERSE WHILE IN DRIVE MODE. THIS IS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT IN THE CAR. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU. P.S. THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS BETWEEN 0-5 MPH, THE SPEED WHEN YOU TAKE FOOT OF BRAKE AND PRESS SPEED ACCELERATOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609712

Incident

Jul 6, 2014

Mileage

96,000 mi

MAZDA5 2008 WEARING INSIDE OF TIRES PREMATURELY AND CUPPING. OUTSIDE EDGE OF TIRES REPORTED TO STILL HAVE 15000 MILES LEFT OF USE. SECOND SET OF TIRES PURCHASED WITH SAME PROBLEM. GRINDING NOISE EVERY TIME DEALER ROTATED AND ALIGNED THE TIRES EVERY 5K MILES DURING OIL CHANGE. I WAS ACCUSED OF NOT ROTATING TIRES ENOUGH; HOWEVER, NOW THEY ADMIT THE ALIGNMENT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MAZDA5. DEALER ONLY RECOMMENDS I GET A "SPECIAL" GERMAN ENGINEERING STYLE ALIGNMENT THAT COSTS $89 EVERY 10K MILES. I AM FORCED TO PAY FOR THEIR POOR DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10496132

Incident

Feb 1, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA MAZDA5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE WEARING EXCESSIVELY DUE TO THE FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS OF THE ALIGNMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10493434

Incident

Jan 15, 2012

Mileage

60,000 mi

NOTICED THE SEAL THAT SECURES THE WINDOW TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE HAS AN 1/8 INCH OPENING, A BREAK IN THE SEAL LINING. ON A RECENT ROAD TRIP, IN MAY, DRIVER AND PASSENGER HEARD THIS POPPING NOISE, WE THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING WAS HITTING THE CAR TOP, APPARENTLY NOT, AS THE RIGHT WINDOW SEAL IS FURTHER STRETCHED OUT AND A BREAK HAS NOW OCCURRED. I AM CONCERNED THAT UNDER CONSISTENT USE AND PRESSURE THAT THE OPENING WILL CONTINUE TO STRETCH OUT EVEN FURTHER AFFECTING THE WINDSHIELD SECURITY AND THE DRIVER. MY MILEAGE IS LIMITED AND VERY LOW AT THIS TIME BUT VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY PURPOSES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10463322

Incident

May 19, 2012

Mileage

18,549 mi

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR BEGAN TO STALL AND SLOW DOWN SUDDENLY. THE CAR'S HEAT INDICATOR LIGHT WENT ON HIGH AND THEN WENT TO COLD. HE COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR PAST 45 MILES. WHEN MY HUSBAND EXITED THE RAMP OFF THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. THE INCIDENT COULD POTENTIALLY PUT MY HUSBAND IN A DEADLY ACCIDENT HAVING HAD STALLED AND STOPPED ON A HIGHWAY WITH CARS SPEEDING BEHIND HIM. WE WERE TOLD BY A MAZDA DEALER THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE ENGINE WHICH APPARENTLY BLEW. THEY CLAIM THE ENGINE HAD NO OIL, BUT WE KNOW THE CAR SHOULD HAVE HAD OIL. NO CHECK OIL LIGHT EVER CAME ON. IN ADDITION, THIS CAR STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 6 MONTHS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR. THAT TIME I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SLOW LANE AND DRIVE IT SLOWLY AS THAT TIME IT ALSO DID NOT ALLOW ME TO DRIVE PAST 45 MILES. THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM STATING THAT IT WAS THE TRANS CONTROL MODULE THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. EARLIER THIS MONTH THE CAR BEGAN TO STALL AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ONCE MORE, THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I FAILED TO MENTION THAT A FEW MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON INDICATING THAT IT WAS NOT WORKING. WE EXPECTED ALL THE TROUBLES WITH THE CAR TO BE ELECTRICAL, BUT EITHER WAY THESE PROBLEMS COULD HAVE CAUSED OUR LIVES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10463089

Incident

Jun 23, 2012

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA MAZDA5. THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN ACCELERATING. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH THE STRUTS AND SHOCKS WERE FRACTURED, LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT SENT THE MANUFACTURER AN EMAIL AND WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ID

10444449

Incident

Oct 1, 2011

Mileage

46,000 mi

TOYO TIRES SIZE 205 50 17 FAILED AT 22,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10427220

Incident

Aug 22, 2011

Mileage

22,449 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN A TIRE SUDDENLY BECAME FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FLAT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.

NHTSA ID

10393772

Incident

Mar 28, 2011

Mileage

48,000 mi

TOOK CAR IN DUE TO RECALL NOTICE FOR POWER STEERING FAILURE FOR REPLACEMENT PART. NEW PART INSTALLED WAS DEFECTIVE AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10386865

Incident

Mar 8, 2011

Mileage

67,000 mi