2012 Mazda5 Reliability
The 2012 Mazda5 has 37 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about fuel / propulsion system and service brakes. Compared with nearby Mazda5 model years (2010–2014), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Mazda5's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
37
NHTSA owner complaints
1
Recall campaigns
4
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Mazda5 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2012 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel / propulsion system | 8 | 22% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 19% |
| Tires | 7 | 19% |
| Body structure | 7 | 19% |
| Air bags | 4 | 11% |
| Steering | 4 | 11% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 3 | 8% |
| Seats | 2 | 5% |
2012 Mazda5 recalls
1 recall campaign on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V644000 | Sep 6, 2016 | Body structure — body / hatchback/liftgate | Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles… |
How the 2012 compares with nearby Mazda5 years
Verdicts compare these Mazda5 model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 57 | 1 | Air bags | Caution |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | Wheels | Too few reports |
| 2012 (this page) | 37 | 1 | Fuel / propulsion system | Solid |
| 2013 | 24 | 1 | Service brakes | Solid |
| 2014 | 12 | 1 | Service brakes | Too few reports |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2012 Mazda5
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Tires: check tread depth and date codes, and look for uneven wear that points to alignment problems.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 1 campaign above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2012 Mazda5 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2012 Mazda5 reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Mazda5 reliable?
The 2012 Mazda5 has 37 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about fuel / propulsion system and service brakes. Compared with nearby Mazda5 model years (2010–2014), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Mazda5's typical year.
What are the most common 2012 Mazda5 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Mazda5 are fuel / propulsion system (8), service brakes (7), tires (7), body structure (7). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Mazda5 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 Mazda5, including 16V644000 (body structure — body / hatchback/liftgate). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Mazda5 compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 1 complaint and 0 recalls (too few reports); the 2013 has 24 complaints and 1 recall (solid). The 2012 has 37 complaints and 1 recall.
How do I check a specific used 2012 Mazda5?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Mazda5 research
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 Mazda5, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.