2008 Mazda Mazda5 Suspension Problems

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

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

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

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 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

MAZDA 5 - 2008 SHOCKS AND STRUTS CAUSES CAR UNBALANCED AND DAMAGING RUBBERS (BETWEEN SHOCK AND FRAME) TO CAUSE NOISES. THIS ALSO DAMAGES THE TIRES AND TIRE ALIGNMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10352341

Incident

May 14, 2009

MAZDA 5 PREMATURE TIRE WEAR ON TOYO TIRES. THE MAZDA HAS 24712 MILES, BUT ONLY ~15000 ARE ON THE TOYO TIRES DUE TO RUNNING SNOW TIRES ALL WINTER AND THERE IS CUPPING AND INNER TIRE WEAR. ALIGNMENT WAS CHECKED AT MAZDA AND REAR WAS SLIGHTLY OUT OF SPEC (-0.03). MAZDA DENIES EVER HEARING OF A TIRE PROBLEM ON THEIR MAZDA 5S, WHEN THE TOPIC IS ALL OVER THEIR WEB. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR THE SALEMAN ASSURED ME MAZDA HAD RESOLVED THE PREMATURE TIRE WEAR THAT HAD BEEN SEEN IN THE UK WHERE THE MAZDA 5 APPEARED BEFORE THE USA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282467

Incident

Aug 27, 2009

Mileage

15,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE LOOSE BOLTS ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD LOUD POPPING NOISES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ONCE AND THEY PLANNED ON REPLACING THE BUSHING AND TIGHTENING THE BOLTS ON THE SUSPENSION. THE INNER WALLS OF THE TIRES WERE WEARING OFF DUE TO THE LOOSE BOLTS, WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE SUSPENSION TO SLOWLY DETACH. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT SEVERAL OTHER CONSUMERS WERE EXPERIENCING SUSPENSION FAILURE AS WELL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

NHTSA ID

10253630

Incident

Nov 16, 2008

Mileage

17,000 mi

WE BOUGHT A 2008 MAZDA5 AND HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR LOOSE BOLTS ON THE REAR RIGHT SUSPENSION. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 2000 MILES ON IT. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245449

Incident

Oct 14, 2008

Mileage

1,200 mi