2012 Mazda Mazda5 Owner Complaints

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 of traffic, the vehicle repeatedly entered a fail-safe/limp mode every 30 to 120 seconds. During these episodes, the Automatic Transaxle (AT) light flashed, the engine shuddered severely, and the engine RPM fluctuated erratically, causing unpredictable acceleration and poor drivability. The sudden stalling in active traffic created a severe hazard to driver and occupant safety. The vehicle had not displayed a Check Engine Light or Transmission warning light prior to the complete stalling event.

NHTSA ID

11754718

Incident

Aug 4, 2026

The contact owned a 2012 Mazda Mazda5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, a deer wandered into the middle of the road, and the contact depressed the brake pedal and the wheels locked up, causing the tires to slide. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a ditch, spun around, and struck another object, causing the vehicle to land back into the ditch where it came to a stop. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. A bystander called 911, and the contact was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The contact bit his lips hard during the crash, which caused the bottom two front teeth to pierce through the bottom lip. The contact sustained a severe cut to the right leg, which led to excessive bleeding. The contact also sustained pain in the neck and lower back. The contact was given an X-ray and a CT scan to check for internal injuries, but none were found. The contact was released the same day. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard, where it remained. The vehicle was destroyed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 226,000.

NHTSA ID

11747212

Incident

Jun 28, 2026

Mileage

226,000 mi

Sentury Touring (Discount Tire) 205/55/R16. Both front tires have inner wear to the point of shredding in the same location on *both* front tires. Both tires went out at the same time and could have caused a serious accident. Discount tire stated it was an alignment issue. The alignment shop (30 minutes after new tires were installed after dual blowout) stated that my alignment was perfectly within spec and also stated there was no indication of tire rub on any portion of the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11616499

Incident

Sep 25, 2024

The contact owns a 2012 Mazda MZ5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

NHTSA ID

11488741

Incident

Sep 21, 2022

Mileage

118,000 mi

This vehicle ejects a significant amount of fuel from its fuel filler port during every refueling. The volume of fuel and the distance the gasoline travels in a hazardous environment poses an avoidable risk that can result in a catastrophic event with potential fatalities. In addition, the cumulative quantity of fuel needlessly spilled negatively impacts the environment at a time of heightened environmental concerns. For these reasons, this known issue should be elevated from a simple technical service bulletin (#01-013-15-3048) to a safety recall before fatalities result from a known manufacturing defect.

NHTSA ID

11478692

Incident

Aug 10, 2022

During July of 2021 brake pedal went all the way down with no braking. Pumping the pedal restored braking. After the 3rd incident, had the master cylinder replaced on July 30, 2021 by certified mechanics. Brakes seemed fine, but on Aug 11, 2021 brake pedal went all the way down producing no braking on 3 occasions. Pumping the pedal restored braking. Took vehicle back to garage. Mechanics have not gotten it to fail. Possible new parts are bad? Could anti lock brake system cause this? Its been a really good car for 155,000 miles, but now I'm afraid to drive it.

NHTSA ID

11429103

Incident

Aug 11, 2021

Mileage

155,000 mi

The Mazda5 has a TSB on the issue, 01-013/15. What I am attempting to find out is why this isn't a recall. When the failure occurs, the fuelling of the vehicle doesn't shut off the nozzle. What happens is fuel comes spraying out of the opening, getting over the ground, the vehicle, and in most cases the person fueling the vehicle. My vehicle has been dong this almost since new. When I reported it early on, Mazda blamed the fuel pumps in my area. The next time I went in I presented the TSB but they still wanted me to pay for diagnostic procedures and even potentially for the repair. I think that's ridiculous. From what I understand, it's very common, common enough to have a TSB. Since it does cause environmental issues and safety issues by splashing gasoline on skin, clothing, and potentially could be ignited, well, why isn't this a recall? I do find the TSB to be carefully worded to specifically NOT say what actually happens, making it look like an inconvenience and not a safety issue. ****Video of what happens is available upon request.****

NHTSA ID

11421605

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

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 ID

11416664

Incident

Apr 29, 2021

Mileage

110,300 mi

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 ID

11301036

Incident

Dec 17, 2019

Mileage

122,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY STEERING WHEEL GOT REALLY HARDEN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I NEARLY CRASH. I WAS LUCKY I WAS GOING SLOW. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN MORE THAN 1 OCASSION. I WAS DRIVING IN CITY.

NHTSA ID

11242361

Incident

Aug 7, 2019

Mileage

65,000 mi

EVERY TIME I FILL UP THE GAS TANK GAS SHOOTS OUT THE FILLER RECEPTICAL. I MUST ALWAYS STAND AWAY FROM THE FILLER TO AVOID GETTING ANY GAS ON MYSELF. GAS RUNS DOWN THE SIDE OF THE CAR. I AM CONCERNED THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. I HAD TO GIVE A DATE BELOW BUT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS.

NHTSA ID

11162493

Incident

Dec 5, 2018

Mileage

39,000 mi

MY ENGINE THREW A ROD. NO VISIBLE OIL LEAKS. NO SMELL OF OIL. OIL WAS DRY. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON. HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE ON CAR AND CAR WAS NOT VERY OLD. THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR ON 2012 MAZDA 5.

NHTSA ID

11073340

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

Mileage

60,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11067384

Incident

Feb 5, 2012

Mileage

85,475 mi

WHEN PUT INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR, THIS VEHICLE DRIVES IN REVERSE. IT CAUSED OUR VEHICLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY BACK INTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY. AFTER GETTING OFF THE ROAD IN 3RD GEAR, MULTIPLE DRIVERS HAVE TESTED THIS WITH THE SAME RESULT... THE VEHICLE TRAVELS IN REVERSE WHILE IN 1ST OR 2ND GEAR. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THIS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND NEARLY CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11064524

Incident

Jan 23, 2018

Mileage

67,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11060932

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

10,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11030124

Incident

Sep 5, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHEN THE CAR IS AT A STOP OR MOVING SLOWLY IT PERIODICALLY ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. I MAKE SURE TO KEEP EXTRA DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO PREVENT AN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT. IT TENDS TO ACCELERATE AS I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK AND ABOUT TO STEP ON THE GAS FROM A STOP. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS AND GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN, WHILE GETTING OFF A FWY OR WHILE PARKED.

NHTSA ID

11000559

Incident

Jun 21, 2017

Mileage

91,000 mi

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 ID

10992826

Incident

Sep 6, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE AIR BAGS AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VIN AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10984433

Incident

Oct 10, 2016

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED OF ABOUT 50 MPH THE FUEL LEAKED FROM THE TANK. IT TOOK ABOUT 40 MINUTES FOR HALF A TANK EMPTY. I NOTICED THE LEAK AFTER REACHING HOME WHERE I COLLECTED REST OF THE GAS BELOW THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10983796

Incident

May 5, 2017

Mileage

62,849 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 MAZDA 5. WHILE MAKING A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 53 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND MINOR NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,666.

NHTSA ID

10926632

Incident

Nov 16, 2016

Mileage

64,666 mi

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 RECALL 7414D FOR 2014 MAZDA6 VEHICLES. THE SPILLAGE OF SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE DURING FILL-UP PRESENTS A CONSIDERABLE SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ID

10820654

Incident

Jan 16, 2016

Mileage

60,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10794347

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

Mileage

42,000 mi

THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2012 AND HAD 20715 MILES ON THE ORIGINAL TIRES, WHICH NEED REPLACEMENT AND ARE UNEVENLY WORN AT THE INNER SIDE DESPITE REGULAR TIRE ROTATION. A YEAR AGO, AN ALIGNMENT SERVICE WAS PERFORMED BUT THE RIGHT REAR CAMBER IS -2.6, OUT OF MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATION. A SECOND ALIGNMENT SERVICE WAS PERFORMED RECENTLY AND DEALER COULDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE REAR CAMBER IS NOT ADJUSTABLE. THIS MUST BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND I SEEK PLACE TO COMPLAIN THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10785235

Incident

Jul 21, 2014

Mileage

20,715 mi

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 ID

10711819

Incident

Apr 4, 2013

Mileage

136 mi