Common Mazda 5 Faults: Reliability, Problems And Solutions!

The Mazda 5 is a minivan known for its reliability, spacious interiors and easy handling. Although it’s billed as a great car, it also has its fair share of breakdowns, so we’ve listed the common Mazda 5 breakdowns for you , in case you’re interested in buying one.

Declining sales may have pushed the Mazda 5 out of the North American market, but it’s still a beloved model.

How good is the Mazda 5?

The Mazda 5 is a reliable minivan. Surveys give this model an above-average reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0, placing it 22nd out of 36 vehicles in its class. The Mazda 5 has an average annual repair cost of $581 , which is around the typical repair cost of other compact vehicles ($526) but significantly less than other vehicle models ($652).

The Mazda 5 also has a relatively low frequency of unscheduled repairs. You can expect to take this vehicle to the shop for flash repairs about 0.4 times a year. This frequency is around the average for repairs for compact cars (0.3) and for other vehicles in general (0.4).

Lastly, the chance of major repairs being done on the Mazda 5 is only 10%. Compared to compact cars (11%) and other vehicles in general (12%), the probability that the Mazda 5 will need major repairs is relatively low.

Proper care is essential to keep a vehicle on the road for longer. With regular maintenance, you can expect a Mazda 5 to last 200,000 miles or more.

Common failures of the Mazda 5

The Mazda 5 may be a reliable vehicle, but there are also some major issues that affect certain model years. Below are some of the common Mazda 5 faults:

1- Slip failures in the clutch

The 2012 manual transmission Mazda 5s have a serious problem with their clutch. Affected owners have reported finding this problem at around 50,000 miles. According to the owners, they were on their daily commute when their vehicles suddenly refused to accelerate.

Many have gone to their local dealerships for answers, only to be told there are no Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) or recalls for this specific issue. Most affected owners have resorted to having their vehicle’s clutch replaced , which has cost them an average of $1,100.

Although there are no specific TSBs addressing the slipper clutch issue, Mazda did post a TSB to address a transmission related issue on certain units of the Mazda 5.

TSB #05-002/13, which was published in March 2013, tried to remind owners to use the correct transmission fluid for their vehicles. However, this TSB is only for Mazda 5s equipped with manual transmissions.

2- Problems with the air conditioning

Although 2010 Mazda 5 air conditioning problems are only rarely reported, it’s worth mentioning here. According to the affected owner, he did not experience any problems with his vehicle until it had reached around 40,000 miles.

The owner turned on the air conditioner and all of a sudden, the A/C made a loud vibrating noise that was quite unbearable. They took their vehicle to the dealership and found they had to pay $800 out of pocket for repairs since their warranty had expired. Currently, Mazda has not yet issued any TSBs or recalls regarding this issue.

3- Chassis noise problems

A Mazda 5 owner has reported hearing an unusually loud noise from his minivan. Unfortunately, the owner did not include any further details. That being said, Mazda has posted some TSBs about unusual drive noises in the Mazda 5.

TSB #04-003/18, which was issued in April 2018, was issued to address a slight clunk, buzz, or jolt from the front of the vehicle . According to the document, the sounds are just normal operating noise and no repair is necessary to fix the problem.

4- Transmission failure

Transmission failure is one of the worst problems with the 2008 Mazda 5. Owners have reported that the transmission in their compact cars would lock up at speeds above 30 miles per hour. According to them, the warning lights were not illuminated and the vehicle was plummeting as if the brakes were on hard . The problem got progressively worse over time.

One owner said that replacing the transmission control module fixed the problem. However, according to a couple of owners, they had to spend $4,000 to install a completely new transmission. On average, the transmission problem started to happen at around 140,000 miles.

Mazda has not issued any recalls regarding this specific issue, but this model year is covered by the transmission fluid TSB listed above.

5- Failure in the doors

This may seem like a minor problem, but for families with small children who drive a Mazda 5, this is a particularly dangerous issue. A 2007 Mazda 5 owner has reported that he had trouble closing the sliding doors of his vehicle for about 15 to 20 minutes .

According to the report, the locking mechanisms and the door itself seemed fine, but it was a very frustrating and dangerous problem because they had children in the back seat. Letting your children hold the door while the vehicle was moving was simply not an option. This problem started happening around 65,000 miles.

Fortunately, Mazda published a TSB in September 2009 to fix this problem. TSB #SB-09-054-09 contains fix information about this bug. If you encounter this issue on a pre-owned 2007 Mazda 5, you can request a copy of the TSB from a dealer near you.

6- Engine failure

In general, engine failure is the worst problem with the Mazda 5. Although this problem has few reports, it is still the worst problem with the 2006 Mazda 5 due to the severity of the damage and the cost of repairs. On average, affected owners encounter engine failure around 100,000 miles. The repairs involved replacing the engine and cost affected owners about $5,400.

The engines reportedly suddenly shut down while the drivers were going about their daily commutes. When these owners went to their dealerships, they were told that the root cause of the problem was a faulty timing chain. The damage was so severe that the entire engine had to be replaced.

Mazda has issued quite a few TSBs for the 2006 Mazda 5, but none of the TSBs and even the recalls addressed this specific issue. TSB #SB-01-028-10 was released in 2011 to address unusual ticking noises coming from Variable Valve Timing (VVT) on some units.

To end

Despite its high reliability scores, the Mazda 5 has its share of problems. If you’re thinking of buying a used one, be sure to do your research first. Find out more about the model year you plan to buy and clear everything up with the seller before closing the deal.