The Lemon Index
2010
20132nd generation
One of the most reliable · most complaints: tires
Fewest complaints of its generation (2nd generation).
15 owner complaints, first 3 years — combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2012 Nissan Quest2012 Chrysler Town & Country 2292012 Toyota Sienna 38
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 13 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recall 16V644000 (body structure) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any steering noise, wander or power-steering warning? Has the steering rack or pump been replaced?
- Any rust or damage underneath, or doors and hatches that don't close right?
- Mazda sent dealers 225 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “On various model years and model vehicles, the headlamp assembly would have excessive…”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Mazda's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 15 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 10K to 34K miles (17K to 56K km) on the car (13 of all 15 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 120 YouTube videos · 4.1M views · 2012–2015 Mazda5
Most-watched topics
- Windows, doors & mirrors96K views
2012 Mazda 5 sliding door roller replacementsigor2011 · 78K views · 2 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door93K views
Mazda 5 2012 Cabin Air Filter Replacement | AQ1116Filterheads · 93K views - Driveshaft, axles & 4x462K views
2012 - 2017 Mazda 5 Left Front Axle Replacementsigor2011 · 40K views · 3 videos - Oil changes & service55K views
2012 Mazda5 oil changechicagoted · 30K views · 3 videos
Show 1 more
- Starter, alternator & belts48K views
2012 - 2017 Mazda 5 serpentine belt replacementsigor2011 · 48K views
Before you buy, watch
2012 Mazda5 Grand Touring Start Up, Exhaust, In Depth Review, and Test DriveSaabkyle04 · 353K views
2014 Mazda5 Minivan Test Drive Video ReviewUsedCarsTV · 218K views
Mazda 5 review (2010 to 2015) | What Car?What Car? · 151K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2012 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Mazda told dealers about
Mazda sent dealers 225 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- On various model years and model vehicles, the headlamp assembly would have excessive…
- There is a concern that some water pumps are being replaced that are not faulty, due to signs…
- Some customers may complain of signs of oil on the struts or shock absorbers
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 1
- Body structure · recall issued 2016
On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda Mazda2 5 HB FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Mazda Mazda3 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Mazda Mazda3 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Every Mazda5 year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 5 Mazda5 years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2012 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/mazda-mazda5/?y=2012" title="Mazda5 reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="284" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/mazda-mazda5/2012/">Lemon Index</a> (2012 Mazda5 reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2012 Mazda5 reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew a bit under half as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 40; 100 is average, lower is better). 2012 is one of the better years of a model that draws 1.3× the average car's complaints.
What are the most common 2012 Mazda5 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are tires (40%), steering (13%) and body structure (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Mazda5 have?
1 safety recall (latest: body structure). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2012 Mazda5 safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2012 Mazda5 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
Is there a better Mazda5 year than the 2012?
Not nearby: the 2012 drew the fewest complaints per car sold of the Mazda5 years within 3 model years of it.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works