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Mazda MAZDA5Model year report

2006 Mazda MAZDA5 Problems

Complaints
78filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
50,500miles, 64 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 2.3L 4-cyl FWD · 19 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about premature, uneven tire wear on the inner edges of the tires, frequently discovered at low mileage and often described as cupping or a roaring noise. A second common theme is rear suspension noise and strut or shock absorber oiliness, sometimes with repeated replacements, and a third is intermittent loss of power steering assist. Most of the sampled complaints were filed well under 60,000 miles, with cold weather appearing in some door-latch and parking brake reports.

  1. Tires

    Inner-edge tire wear and cupping

    • 21 complaints (27%)
    • median 26,000 mi at 2.4 yrs old (17 state mileage)
    • filed 2006–2016

    Complaints describe tires wearing out on the inside edge while the outside tread still looks good, sometimes to the cords, and in other cases cupping or a roaring noise that sounds like a bad wheel bearing. Owners say they rotated and balanced the tires on schedule and still replaced them repeatedly at low mileage. Some report that the dealer rotated or replaced tires but said the alignment or wear could not be corrected, while others were told the wear was due to maintenance. Mostly reported between roughly 8,000 and 30,000 miles, often on the original tires.

    What to check: Inspect the inner edges of all four tires, not just the outside, and ask for recent alignment and rotation records.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have also had excessive tire wear on toyo proxes 205/50/17. The tires are wearing on the inside, almost to the point of the belts showing. There are approximately 26,000 miles on the car and I have personally rotated the tires four times. There has also been roaring almost wheel bearing like noises for the last 15,000+ miles. Tire pressure is always properly maintained.”

    NHTSA complaint #10202825, filed 2007-09, 10,052 miles

    “Tires-premature wear. Tires become cupped. I have driven the vehicle for 26,000 miles and had to replace all tires at 21,000 due to noise. Problem was first reported at 17,000 miles. I have 5,000 on the new tires and the noise is back. Noise sounds just like bad bearings. Dealer said there is nothing wrong with the vehicle and can not explain the reason for the abnormal tire wear.”

    NHTSA complaint #10173171, filed 2006-11, 17,000 miles
  2. Suspension

    Rear suspension noise and leaking struts/shocks

    Mentioned in 9 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners describe knocking, creaking or rubbing noises from the front and rear suspension, sometimes returning after sway bar bushings, control arms or shocks were replaced. Others report oil visible on the struts or shock absorbers and in some cases repeat replacements of shocks or wheel bearings. Complaints say some dealers replaced parts under warranty, others could not reproduce the noise, and some repairs were not permanent. Spread from about 15,000 to over 120,000 miles, with many reports in the 20,000 to 60,000 mile range.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Look for oil film on the struts and shocks and ask whether suspension bushings or shocks have been replaced; service bulletins note that a light oil film on the shaft can be normal, so check the inspection criteria.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “2006 Mazda 5 steering wheel got stuck 4 times in last 2 months for fraction of seconds while making either left or right turn driving at 10-15 MPH (one time at after I stopped at stop sign). The steering wheel got so hard I could not turn it and then all of sudden I was able to turn. Took it to dealer but they said their diagnostic results did not find any issues and they were not able to reproduce the problem.”

    NHTSA complaint #10508202, filed 2013-04, 72,600 miles

    “I recently noticed severe wear on the inside shoulders of both rear tires on my 2006 Mazda 5. Looking from the rear of the vehicle, the rear tires appear to lean in at the top. I believe the failure of the tires to correctly contact the road contributes to poor handling, and the severe tire wear will lead to unexpected blow-outs. The vehicle was purchased in nov. 2005 and currently has 23,000 miles. It has not been wrecked or otherwise abused in a manner which would affect the rear alignment. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10207662, filed 2007-11, 22,998 miles
  3. Steering

    Intermittent loss of power steering assist

    • 10 complaints (13%)
    • median 75,000 mi at 9.4 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2006–2019

    Complaints describe the steering wheel suddenly becoming very hard to turn, often at low speed or during a turn, sometimes with a steering warning light on the dash. Several owners report that the assist returns after the car is shut off and restarted or after it cools, and that dealers replaced the power steering pump or could not reproduce the fault. Some note their vehicle was not included in a steering recall covering other model years. Reported from about 62,000 to 150,000 miles, at both low and highway speeds.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: During a test drive, try slow turns and parking-lot maneuvers and watch for a steering warning light; ask whether the power steering pump has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Power steering went out driving about 25 MPH downhill. Mechanic could not find fault. Driving up a winding cayon road, power steering went out, causing one to use force to turn vehicle. No recalls on the 2006 MAZDA5, however recalls on the 2007. This is a known problem by Mazda yet they did not issue a recall. No warranty due to being over 50k miles.”

    NHTSA complaint #10457645, filed 2012-05, 69,000 miles

    “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.”

    NHTSA complaint #10978667, filed 2017-04, 89,000 miles
  4. Latches, locks and linkages

    Sliding door latches stick or release on their own

    • 9 complaints (12%)
    • median 90,000 mi at 7.7 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2006–2019

    Owners report rear sliding doors that will not latch closed, are hard to lock or unlock with the key fob, or open while driving, with some saying the latch was found fractured. Several complaints mention the problem in cold or wet weather, and some say the latch froze open until temperatures warmed. Complaints describe dealers replacing door latches or locks, and some owners were told the fault could not be assisted unless the locks were frozen at the time of inspection. Mostly reported between about 27,000 and 136,000 miles, often in cold or damp conditions.

    Recall 06V463000

    What to check: Open and close both sliding doors several times, check that the door-ajar warning stays off, and ask whether the door latch recall work was completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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.”

    NHTSA complaint #11151171, filed 2018-11, 136,000 miles

    “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. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10303271, filed 2010-01, 194,525 miles
  5. Brakes

    Weak parking brake hold on inclines

    • 5 complaints (6%)
    • median 22,500 mi at 3.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2006–2019

    Owners describe the handbrake holding with little or no tension and vehicles rolling when parked on a slope, in a couple of cases after the lever was fully applied. Complaints mention the parking brake being unable to hold the car in gear or allowing it to move in drive. Some reports note the condition in cold weather, and one owner said the brake could be lifted with almost no effort. Reported from very low mileage up to about 60,000 miles, sometimes in cold conditions.

    What to check: On a slight slope, apply the parking brake and check that the car holds; ask when the rear brakes and parking brake adjustment were last serviced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The handbrake on my 2006 Mazda 5 does not stop the car from rolling backwards when it's parked on an incline. This has happened to me twice now. The first time it was parked on a small incline in a parking lot and proceeded to roll backwards and hit a curb causing considerable damage to the bumper. The second time it was parked at a steeper incline and again rolled backwards down a very large hill and finally ended up on a neighbor's lawn. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10265017, filed 2009-04, 20,000 miles

    “I am the owner of a MAZDA5- manual transmission. I parked my car in my driveway and engaged the brake. My daughter re-entered the car about 1 hour later, as she got in the car and sat down she felt it move and hopped out. The car rolled down our driveway hit a tree with the door still open and crashed into another car. I am not sure if the brake was completely engaged or it just failed. I have photos of the accident. The brake is engaged in the photo. The entire right side of the car will have to be replaced. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10165608, filed 2006-08, 5,500 miles

Buying note. Check tire wear on the inner edges, listen for suspension noise on a test drive, and confirm that the sliding door latch recall was completed. Ask for service records showing regular tire rotation and any steering or suspension repairs.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 78 consumer complaints for the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5. 64 of the complaints include a mileage, and 45% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 50,500 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 198 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Electronic stability control (2), Engine (2), Other or unknown (2), Vehicle speed control (2), Wheels (2), Equipment (1), Exterior lighting (1), Seats (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Suspension: “The 2006 MAZDA5 causes excessive wear on tires quite frequently. I purchased my MAZDA5 new in august 2006, and since then, I've had to purchase 2 sets of tires for this car due to the tires wearing on the inside edge. The 2nd set of tires that were replaced were so bad, that the service person at the dealership recommend that I do not drive the car off the lot because the tires hard worn so badly and could blow out at any moment. Those tires had only about 26000 miles on them! …”

NHTSA complaint #10253414, filed 2008-12, 26,000 miles

Tires: “I own a 2006 Mazda 5 I have had the tires balanced 4 times and the front end alignment checked, my tires had to be replaced due to excessive cupping on all four tires, I have had the tires balanced at least four times, they had just over 29,000 miles, the tire size is 205/50vr 17 (toyo). I have never had to replace tires this early, and needless to say these tires are expensive, I was just wondering if you have had any other complaints about this specific tire size and manufacturer.”

NHTSA complaint #10200137, filed 2007-08, 29,000 miles

Steering: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #11176293, filed 2019-02, 125,000 miles

Brakes: “Road dry, no pot holes, clean, approaching a red light, applied the brakes no there was nothing. Pushed harder, nothing, again nothing. Finally with my hand on the emergency brake, I removed my foot from the brake and jammed it on again and they finally caught. I barely missed crossing traffic and was almost in the middle of the intersection. My speed could not have been more than 35 MPH at the time.”

NHTSA complaint #10222586, filed 2008-03, 30,330 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

45% of the 64 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 21,000 and 83,000 miles.

11%0–1019%10–2516%25–5025%50–758%75–10019%100–1503%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (64 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 50,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’05’07’0914’11’13’15’17’19
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
5 FWD2.3L 4-cyl5-speed manual192522$3,050
5 FWD2.3L 4-cyl4-speed automatic192421$3,200

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 198 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 198 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mazda MAZDA5

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2015945,0001—24—Not enough data
20141279,0001—24—Not enough data
20132438,0001—24—Stable
20123743,0001—2423 · FewerFalling
20105751,5001—2443 · TypicalStable
20096442,3052—2472 · MoreFalling
20086738,7501—2456 · TypicalFalling
20076165,0001—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20067850,5002—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Mazda MAZDA5 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5?

Owners of this model year most often write about premature, uneven tire wear on the inner edges of the tires, frequently discovered at low mileage and often described as cupping or a roaring noise. The issues reported most often: Inner-edge tire wear and cupping; Rear suspension noise and leaking struts/shocks; Intermittent loss of power steering assist.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 have?

NHTSA recorded 78 consumer complaints for the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 is reported most often?

Suspension is named most often, in 20 complaints (26% of the total), followed by tires with 18.

Has the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 (5, 2.3L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Mazda MAZDA5 reported?

Among the 64 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 50,500 miles and the middle half falls between 21,000 and 83,000 miles; 45% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.