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Mazda MAZDA5Model year report

2010 Mazda MAZDA5 Problems

Compared with other Mazda MAZDA5 years

Typical for this model

43/100 0.8× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2012

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
57filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
51,500miles, 46 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns 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
24 mpgcombined, 2.3L 4-cyl FWD · 22 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2010 Mazda MAZDA5 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the airbag warning light coming on, blinking, or staying lit, and about engines that shut off or lose power while driving. Tire sidewall bubbles and valve stem breaks, sudden surging or delayed response, and rear sliding doors that freeze or open unexpectedly are also reported. Mileage varies widely across these complaints, from very low to about 180,000 miles.

  1. Air bags

    Airbag warning light comes on, blinks, or stays lit

    • 11 complaints (19%)
    • median 85,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (11 state mileage)
    • filed 2010–2019

    Owners describe the air bag warning light coming on when the engine starts, staying lit, or blinking, sometimes only when a passenger sits in the front seat. Some say the dealer could not duplicate the fault because the light went out before the visit, and some were asked to pay a diagnostic charge. One owner says a mechanic found the passenger airbag had failed, and another says the dealership and a second mechanic judged the system would not work properly in an accident. Mileage given ranges from very low (a few miles) to about 155,000 miles, and the light is reported at both ends of that range.

    What to check: Check whether the airbag warning light is on at startup and whether it goes off after the self-check, and ask the seller for any diagnostic records. Ask the dealer to scan for stored airbag codes and to check the passenger seat sensor, since some complaints tie the light to the passenger seat.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Takata recall my fuel tank was contaminat with water and black gook I payed $900.00 to have it fixed will the problem is still therethenmy airbag light keeps blinking on and off and my suspencion is off as well then I payed $923.40 fora rental all this was payed out of pocket”

    NHTSA complaint #10934751, filed 2016-12, 61,605 miles

    “Airbag lit and blinking on the dash board panel. I took it to Mazda dealership to have it check but I was told to pay $150.00 just to diagnostic test plus labor & parts when repair is will be done by them. Is this part of safety recall ? For airbags .”

    NHTSA complaint #10839283, filed 2016-03, 85,000 miles
  2. Engine

    Engine shuts off or loses power while driving

    • 8 complaints (14%)
    • median 88,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2010–2024

    Owners say the engine lost power or shut off suddenly while slowing for a light, after a turn, or while braking, and some say there was no warning. Several restarted the car after a short wait and were able to keep driving. Owners who returned their cars for fuel pump repairs describe sudden shutdowns on the highway, and one says the replacement part was on backorder. Where mileage is given, it ranges from about 8,000 to 180,000 miles; descriptions mostly involve slowing, braking, or highway driving.

    Recall 10V600000

    What to check: Ask whether recall 10V600000 for the fuel pump connector has been completed, and ask for any fuel pump repair records. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check the fuel pump connector for corrosion or water, since the recall describes both.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Following a sudden brake of the car going between 40-50 mpr on an incline the engine shutdown. I then put the transmission on park and turned off the ignition, waited a minute and then restarted the car. I was able to continue driving thereafter without any problems. This is the first time I encounter this problem with the car.”

    NHTSA complaint #10393657, filed 2011-03, 10,000 miles

    “I was driving and brake slowly and the engine just shut off on me. I was able to start the car again. There is not a warning at all but just stop anytime that it want too.”

    NHTSA complaint #10691521, filed 2015-03, 84,000 miles
  3. Tires

    Tire sidewalls bubble or tear; valve stems break

    • 7 complaints (12%)
    • median 48,480 mi at 2.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2010–2023

    Owners describe sidewall bubbles or blisters, and tires that nearly tore apart while driving, including at highway speed. Some valve stems broke during inflation or a pressure check, and in one case a corroded tire pressure sensor was reported as the likely reason for a sudden loss of air. The manufacturer reportedly attributed one sidewall failure to road hazards, and an owner sent the tires to the manufacturer for investigation. Mileage given ranges from about 1,200 to 165,000 miles; the sidewall bubbles were reported at both low and moderate mileage.

    What to check: Inspect the tire sidewalls for bubbles, cuts, or screws, and check the valve stems and tire pressure sensors for corrosion or cracks. Ask for tire replacement and service records, including whether any valve stem or sensor was replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While checking the customer's tire pressure as part of an oil change service, the valve stem broke. The valve stem was part of the TPMS sensor resulting in the tire going flat and the car to become inoperable. A new TPMS sensor was procured and we (the service center) had to pay the $205.77 to repair the fault.”

    NHTSA complaint #10483435, filed 2012-11, 64,961 miles

    “Corroded tire pressure sensor caused sudden loss of air and tire exploded while driving on freeway at highway speed. No potholes, obstructions or other impediments to cause loss of tire pressure. Result was a very dangerous situation requiring driver to cross three lanes of traffic to reach shoulder. Tire was shredded nearly around entire circumference, and rubber crumbled. Dealership tech said probable cause was corrosion of tire pressure sensor. Tire pressure sensor was original equipment on vehicle.”

    NHTSA complaint #11099159, filed 2018-06, 112,325 miles
  4. Engine

    Car lurches, surges, or responds late to pedal

    • 5 complaints (9%)
    • median 30,000 mi at 3.4 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2011–2024

    Owners describe the car lurching or surging when accelerating, and in one case jumping and revving at a full stop while the brake was pressed, which forced the owner to shift to neutral and turn it off. Another describes a delay after pressing the accelerator following a coast, and another describes losing acceleration and the ability to shift at highway speed, with transmission and traction warning lights on. Mileage given ranges from about 26,000 to 180,000 miles; the descriptions include stops, slow traffic, and highway driving.

    What to check: On a test drive, check for lurching or hesitation when accelerating from a stop and after coasting, and watch for transmission or traction warning lights. Ask the seller for repair records for those warning lights and any dealer diagnosis.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “At a full stop with my right foot on the brake, the car jumped (as if being hit from behind) and the engine began revving as if I had my foot pressing down as hard as possible on the accelerator. I had to put the car into neutral and turn the car off to get it to stop. This has happened several times since february at random intervals ranging from 4 months to 1 week apart between incidents and in all different types of weather. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10556740, filed 2013-12, 30,000 miles

    “Around 26000 miles, I noticed my 2010 Mazda 5 started showing difficulty shifting. There are 2 noticeable times when it occurs, 1) when travelling between 30-40mph and you remove your foot from the accelerator for 5 seconds or so and then depress the accelerator to increase speed, the car fails to respond until you almost push the pedal to the floor, and 2) when accelerating out of a turn or when traffic light turns green as you approach slowly, the car fails to respond when you depress the gas pedal to accelerate. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10436352, filed 2011-11, 26,000 miles
  5. Body and structure

    Rear sliding doors freeze shut or open unexpectedly

    • 5 complaints (9%)
    • median 59,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2012–2019

    Owners describe rear sliding doors that freeze in cold weather, so the door opens only slightly and cannot be opened or closed until the car is driven into a warm garage. An owner says a door did not latch below freezing and slid open with a child in the seat, and another says a sliding door opened fully on its own at slow speed with no dash warning. Some say the locks and doors were inaccessible after condensation and freezing, and that a spouse and child could not enter the car. Mileage given ranges from about 31,000 to 140,000 miles; the cold-weather reports describe freezing temperatures.

    What to check: Test each sliding door and its latch in cold conditions if possible, and check that the door latches fully and the door ajar warning clears. Ask whether the sliding door latch or lock has been repaired, and check the NHTSA recall lookup for the VIN.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “When the temperature is below freezing, the door does not latch. I began to drive the vehicle and the door slid open with my child in the seat closest to the door. There is a recall for this very issue on the 2006 Mazda 5”

    NHTSA complaint #11058439, filed 2018-01, 140,000 miles

    “When traveling up a slight incline in heavy traffic at slow speed, the driver side rear sliding door opened fully with no operator interaction without any warning. There was no illumination of the dash door open warning prior to the incident.”

    NHTSA complaint #10452456, filed 2012-03, 31,000 miles

Buying note. For a used purchase, check whether recall 10V600000 on the fuel pump connector has been completed, and ask for the airbag warning light diagnostic records. On a test drive, watch for surging or delayed response when accelerating, and confirm the airbag light goes off after startup.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 53 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 57 consumer complaints for the 2010 Mazda MAZDA5. 46 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 51,500 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 219 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 3 Mazda MAZDA5 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 43 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

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: Seat belts (2), Transmission and drivetrain (2), Wheels (2), Engine cooling (1), Interior lighting (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Maybe takata recall - our Mazda 5 was parked in the driveway overnight on march 12. We went to drive the car and found the entire interior of the car was covered in a fine powder. The glove box was open. We concluded that the inflator from the front passenger airbag position had gone off on its own. The airbag itself did not deploy. We then drove the vehicle to the Mazda dealership for service, (about 1 mile).”

NHTSA complaint #10846330, filed 2016-03, 70,000 miles

Engine: “My check engine light came on. We took it to a mechanic who hooked it up to the computer. It read DTC p2096. When the mechanic looked it up, he noticed that there was a recall issued previously on this specific problem. The description said Target EF feedback system to lean- manual and automatic transmission. When plugging in my VIN number it said it was not affected. But my question is if I'm having the same problem and it affected the same year that my vehicle was made, why is my vehicle not on that recall list?”

NHTSA complaint #11527963, filed 2023-06

Other or unknown: “Riding over bump or rough road illuminates tsc (traction stability control) light on dash. The light should go off on it's own, but does not until car is turned off. After re-starting car, light is no longer illuminated. Dealer says light must be illuminated when car is brought in. All Mazda on-line forums acknowledge this is a known problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10336135, filed 2010-06, 2,000 miles

Tires: “Mazda 5 premature tire wear on rear toyo tires. Tires are cupping. This problem has existed on MAZDA5's since at least 2006 due to camber settings. This problem has been reported to the ntsb and on multiple web sites and to Mazda.”

NHTSA complaint #10456038, filed 2012-04, 23,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 46 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 18,205 and 96,000 miles.

20%0–1013%10–2517%25–5017%50–759%75–10015%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (46 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 51,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

8’118’13’15’17’19’22’24
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.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2010 Mazda MAZDA5. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
MAZDA5 · hatchback FWDnot rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2010 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 manual222824$2,800
5 FWD2.3L 4-cyl5-speed automatic212723$2,900

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 2010 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. 219 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 219 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 2010 Mazda MAZDA5?

Owners of this model year most often write about the airbag warning light coming on, blinking, or staying lit, and about engines that shut off or lose power while driving. The issues reported most often: Airbag warning light comes on, blinks, or stays lit; Engine shuts off or loses power while driving; Tire sidewalls bubble or tear; valve stems break.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2010 Mazda MAZDA5 have?

NHTSA recorded 57 consumer complaints for the 2010 Mazda MAZDA5 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2010 Mazda MAZDA5 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 13 complaints (23% of the total), followed by engine with 8.

Has the 2010 Mazda MAZDA5 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2010 Mazda MAZDA5 get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Mazda MAZDA5 (5, 2.3L 4-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 22 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2010 Mazda MAZDA5 reported?

Among the 46 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 51,500 miles and the middle half falls between 18,205 and 96,000 miles; 50% 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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. 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.