There are two safety issues with this mini van. The first one is for the door handles/latches on the back sliding doors on drivers and passenger side. There was a recall for it and apparently it was fixed in 2009 but has been a problem again that is getting worse. When I try to open the door to get my child out the door handle does not engage, I have to try to open from inside and sometimes that does nto engage, so then I have to slide the lock back and forth and continue to try to open the door until it finally opens. This obviously is a big safety problem if we were ever to be in an accident etc. I called mazda and they said recall is closed and they can not help me unless I want to pay diagnostic fee of 140 and then whatever the repair is on top of that. The second problem is the brakes. They do not work well under ideal conditions, but when it rains sometimes they stop working all together. I've almost been in an accident several times when they suddnely go soft and just stop working. I have to continuously pump the brakes to try to get any traction and then stop driving until they dry out. We've had the entire brake system replaced and mechanics say nothing is wrong, but obviously this is just a bad design and something is definitely wrong. We can't afford a new car but don't' feel safe in this car, not sure what to do about it.
The worst 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Suspension20
- Tires18
- Engine11
- Steering10
- Brakes9
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Suspension20
- Tires18
- Engine11
- Steering10
- Brakes9
- Body6
- Locks5
- Electrical3
- Seat belts3
- Transmission3
- Acceleration2
- Driver assistance2
- Wheels2
- Lights1
- Seats1
- Visibility1
Recalls 2
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles currently registered in the following states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, nebraska, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, north dakota, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, utah, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin,and wyoming. The side door latch mechanisms may experience water intrusion allowing the latch mechanism to freeze in cold weather.
- Risk
- As a result, when the door is opened the door latch pawl may remain in the open position resulting in the door not being able to be closed and latched. If the vehicle is operated with an open door it may allow an unbelted occupant to be ejected from the vehicle which could result in injury or death.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the sliding door latches with modified latches. The recall began on december 18, 2006. Owners may contact mazda at 1‑800‑222‑5500.
Recall number 06V463000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system
- What is wrong
- On certain sport utility vehicles, a heat buildup in the exhaust system can occur.
- Risk
- This condition could result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Mazda instructed owners (september 16, 2005) to bring in their vehicles and will be given a rental or loaner vehicle at no cost while mazda repairs these vehicles. The recall began on october 26, 2005. Owners may contact mazda at 1‑800‑222‑5500.
Recall number 05V412000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 199
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below
- Product Quality Information (PQI) DESCRIPTION Service Information MT-041/12 is no longer valid
- This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red....
- A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system is operating
- Exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.) when parked near a glass building or Low-E windows
- When replacing the SiriusXM satellite radio unit, a call must be made to inform SiriusXM of the existing...
- Some customers may complain about a noisy HVAC blower motor or odor after a cabin air filter replacement
- Exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.) when parked near a glass building or Low-E windows
- In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer
- Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems
What 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Intermittent loss of power while driving. Loss of steering capability as well. The loss is sudden and causes the driver to lose control of the vehicle as steering becomes extremely difficult. This is dangerous. I almost ran off the road once and hit a median on another occasion. Its like a time bomb, you never know when you will lose the ability to steer the car. Dash lights all light up as well and sometimes power is restored but the ability to steer the car is not. Car is outside of the recall yet still has the same problem as the recall issue and mazda claims no responsibility for the issue. Additional vehicles need to be added to the recall list as there are more vehicles affected outside of the VIN's included in the recall. Since. According to mazda, they comply with the federal safety agency when issuing recalls, more vehicles need to be included as there is a multitude of mazda 5 owners experiencing the exact same issue as the recall vehicles.
Brake pedal spongy after ABS system activated,seem like ABS control unit fault pump air in brake system.it is a safety issues with a lot of mazda model.mazda had to do some before something bad,accident happens
While driving down the highway my driver side sliding door flew open with my 5 and 3 year old in the car. When I pulled over and tried to close it I could see that the latch was frozen open. I could not get it to latch again until the temperature had been warmer for half the day. It has been colder that 25 degrees for the last 3 days.
I was driving the vehicle, made a u turn and suddenly all lights on the dashboard went off and the vehicle started to turn on and off with no key in the ignition and caught fire. I had parked the vehicle on the side road on a city street.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mazda 5. While driving various speeds, an abnormal noise was heard in the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 126,481.
The steering wheel becomes stiff while in motion and a warning yellow steering light turns on on dashboard. This has been happening for the last four years. We even had it checked with a mechanic who couldn't find the problem. After the car cools down, the steering starts working again. This is very dangerous, since while driving, the wheel becomes inoperative, therefore, may cause a tragic accident.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mazda 5. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the sun roof shattered without impact. As a result, small pieces of glass fell on the contact. The contact sustained minor cuts to the hands that did not require medical attention. The contact managed to avoid a collision and merged to the shoulder of the road. The contact confirmed that there was no impact to the sun roof that could have caused the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 158,914.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mazda 5. While stopped in traffic, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder and caught fire. A police officer extinguished the fire. A fire report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mazda 5. The contact stated that the plastic guard around the tire fractured and detached on the front driver side of the vehicle. As a result, the brake line was cut by the plastic and caused the driver to crash into a rock wall. The brake caliper and driver door were damaged. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Compare the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5
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Questions about the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5
Is the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 reliable?
Owners have filed 78 complaints about the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5, 2.1 times a typical MAZDA5 model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 year score?
The 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 scores 48 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Mazda MAZDA5: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5?
Suspension, with 20 complaints, typically around 26,000 miles. Next is tires (18).
How many recalls does the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 have?
2 recalls, covering latches/locks/linkages and engine and engine cooling.
What year does the Mazda MAZDA5 have bad suspension?
The Mazda MAZDA5 model years with the most suspension complaints are 2006 (20 complaints) and 2007 (12 complaints).
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