Most common 2009 Mazda Mazda5 problems
Share of the 64 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 →
2009 Mazda Mazda5 recalls (2)
Fuel system, other › Delivery › Fuel pump
Mazda is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 mazda5 vehicles manufactured from June 29, 2009, through April 28, 2010. Water May not have been removed completely from the harness connector of the fuel pump due to variations in the fuel tank leak check process performed before vehicle assembly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel pump connector and if necessary it will be replaced and the harness will be repaired free of charge. The safety recall began on December 6, 2010.
Steering › Electric power assist system
Mazda is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 mazda3 and mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008. These vehicles May have a condition in which a sudden loss of power steering assist could occur at any time while driving the vehicle.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering pump and lines free of charge. The safety recall began on September 15, 2010. Owners May contact Mazda customer assistance center at 1-800-222-5500.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2009 Mazda Mazda5:
Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist
The subject vehicles have electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS).The complaint counts shown above alleged a loss of power steering assist in the subject vehicles.Usually, but not always, the loss is accompanied by the simultaneous lighting of an indicator light on the dash.The complaints include 14 alleged crashes involving 6 injuries.On Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through…
What 2009 Mazda Mazda5 owners say
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mazda 5. While driving 55 MPH, the power steering malfunctioned and the steering veered to the left. The failure almost caused a crash. In addition, the entire instrument panel illuminated. The contact had to exert excessive force to turn the steering wheel and pull the vehicle off the road. When the vehicle was turned off and restarted, the power steering returned to normal and the contact was able to drive home. The manufacturer and the dealer were not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 86,000.
The steering wheel started to uncontrollable and wobbling suddenly while driving a freeway at 60mph and ended up causing the center divider crash. The vehicle was purchased one month ago as brand new car. The power steering has been difficult to handle and finally caused this major accident. The car is waiting for inspection from insurance company and the dealer refused to take any responsibility.
Wheels & tires
The tire pressure sensor illuminated and I checked to see if the tire was flat. It was not. I drove to a filling station to top off the pressure and as I was driving away from the air pump the valve stem to the rear driver side tire broke and the tire deflated instantly. The valve stem was corroded. Apparently it was initially cracked slightly causing the tire to first lose air slowly. Then, upon manipulation from the pump fitting, the stem was further damaged causing the stem to break off. I did have this happen once before. The explanation from a service station was the same. In this model the valve stem and pressure sensor is a single assembly so when the tire is changed the valve stem is not changed even if it is old and showing signs of aging. Otherwise the cost of replacing a tire would be nearly doubled. The sensor itself will last much longer than its valve stem. …
I have had 2 tire pressure monitoring valves break into 2 parts each in the past 4 months. The latest was when I was driving today on city streets. The tire pressure alarm went off so I stopped the car to check the tires. When I touched one of the valves it just came apart in my hand and I was holding part of the valve, the rest of it was still in the tire. The tire then completely deflated in about 2 seconds. This could be extremely hazardous. If you lost all tire pressure in a few seconds at 65 MPH you could easily lose control of the car and get in an accident. I no longer trust the 2 valves that have yet to break so I am going to be proactive and replace them before they do break at an inopportune time. I see a lot of other complaints about the same problem on the internet. I included a picture of the piece of the valve that broke off into my hand.
Suspension
I purchased a used 2009 Mazda5 knowing that it needed tires. After buying new tires I had the car aligned. I was told the alignment was "within spec" despite the fact that the rear camber was set in such a manner that the tires shop said I'd be lucky to get 15,000 miles out of my new tires. I was also informed that there was no adjustment for rear camber without buying a $600 camber kit. I took it to the dealer, assuming they had more experience with the car, but was told the same thing. In order to properly align the car I would have to buy an aftermarket kit. I believe this is a safety issue because with the extreme and unadjustable negative camber tires can wear down to the cord on the inside edge while looking nearly new on the outer edge. All this happens rather quickly while the car is technically within the rather wide specification set by Mazda. …
Kept hearing a rattling noise coming from rear driver's side, took the car in two times b/c of this. Turned out to be a problem with the rear seat rubber bushing which is requiring the dealer to grind the arch weld on the spring coil. There is a service bulletin about this very problem, which indicated that they have redesigned the parts in newer models so this does not happen. I feel that this is a design problem for which I have to pay for the repair and that it is not due to normal wear and tear on the car. It seems to me that they should fix the parts due to their faulty manufacturing/design?
2009 Mazda Mazda5 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 27 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Mazda Mazda5 a good car?
Based on 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Mazda5 rates average: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Mazda5 at the same age. 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 2009 Mazda Mazda5?
The steering — 17 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about hydraulic power assist › hose, piping, and connections. Next are the wheels & tires (15) and suspension (8).
How many recalls does the 2009 Mazda Mazda5 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2009 Mazda Mazda5, the most recent from November 24, 2010 (fuel pump). 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 2009 Mazda Mazda5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 42,000 miles; 63% 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.