Most common 2006 Mazda Mazda5 problems
Share of the 78 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda Mazda5 complaints by model year
Best Mazda5 years: 2015, 2014, 2013. Years to avoid: 2006, 2008. Compare all years →
2006 Mazda Mazda5 recalls (2)
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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…
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.
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system
On certain sport utility vehicles, a heat buildup in the exhaust system can occur.
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.
What 2006 Mazda Mazda5 owners say
Suspension all 20 →
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 25 MPH on dry road conditions, the power steering failed without warning, and the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The check engine light illuminated intermittently prior to the incident. This occurred on two occasions. The first time, the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who performed a diagnostic and determined that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. On 08/16/06, the stabilizer bar bushings were replaced. On 10/21/06, while making a right turn at 20 MPH, the steering wheel locked up, and the vehicle went down an embankment. The contact sustained injuries to the back, arm and head. The contact expressed that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The insurance company was contacted, and deemed the vehicle totaled. Pictures and a police report were taken. Updated 11/17/06.
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.
Wheels & tires all 20 →
We've owned our Mazda 5 2006 since 2009. There were 22,000 miles on the car when we purchased it. In 2016, it has 138,000 miles. During our ownership, we have purchased 2 new tires at 60,000, 2 new tires at 73,000, 2 new tires at 82,000, 2 new tires at 104,000, 1 tire at 107,000, 2 new tires at 116,000, and 1 new tire at 124,000. We are responsible about rotating and balancing the tires every 5-6,000 miles. The tires have been punctured on at least 3 occasions, due to uneven wear. We replaced the front struts and rear shocks at 126,000 miles in hopes of correcting uneven wear (done by the Mazda dealer). We were just notified today that one tire has again worn unevenly (on the inside, as has always been the issue...) we are careful drivers and owners and have never had (not heard of) a car with these kinds of uneven tire wear problems. …
1. Purchase vehicle used in 2009 with 170,000 kms 2. Since day one, have had issues with door latches / lock and unlock - happens on random occassions and especially in cold/ wet or humid conditions. On several occassions I have been unable to lock / unlock the rear passenger doors using the keyfob or the interior vehicle switches, (I have to unlock/lock the rear vehicle doors manually). 2. Today for the first time, the rear passenger door flew open (while driving) as it did not latched closed. The right side rear sliding door still will not latch closed......thought it was frozen, but dealer says no - not frozen - it's a faulty part / switch causing issue. 3. …
Engine & cooling
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.
I'm driving a 2006 Mazda5 that has been the subject of two previous recalls for engine overheating and catching fire due to exhaust and shoddy locks that do not work well under colder weather. This morning the car has smoke coming out of the engine compartment due to a faulty manufacturer ac compressor as diagnosed by sutherlin Mazda in buford ga. The smoke and heat from the engine prompted and immediate shut down of the vehicle for fear of fire as the smoke was entering the cabin. After doing research, the only possible points of failure are faulty component, improper installation (eg moisture or air in valves, too much or two less oil --oil for the compressor and engine are not the same). Unfortunately the Mazda5 is slightly out of warranty and Mazda corporate reclaims the ac compressor when the new one is installed. …
2006 Mazda Mazda5 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 25 / 22 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Mazda Mazda5 a good car?
Based on 78 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Mazda5 rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Mazda5 at the same age. It is one of the Mazda5 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Mazda Mazda5?
The suspension — 20 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year, most often about rear. Next are the wheels & tires (20) and engine & cooling (11).
How many recalls does the 2006 Mazda Mazda5 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2006 Mazda Mazda5, the most recent from December 4, 2006 (latch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda Mazda5?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2014 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006 and 2008. See the full Mazda Mazda5 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Mazda Mazda5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 51,000 miles; 45% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.