Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 75/100 (GOOD)

2025 Mazda 5 Reliability Report

The 2025 Mazda 5 rates good for reliability, but early front CV axle failures are the main problem owners report.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

N/A

Est. Repair Cost

$581

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint SeverityN/A

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs80/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact68/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue DiversityN/A

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

Rates good but sits among the weaker of nine Mazda 5 years, with early front CV axle failures and five recalls.

Top Issues to Watch

POWER TRAIN (9)
SUSPENSION (5)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (4)

Should You Buy the 2025 Mazda 5?

Reliability is good, but this is one of the weaker years for the Mazda 5. Against other 2025 sedans it lands close to average. Independent repair-cost data puts yearly repairs at $581, above the $526 class figure. The crash-test rating is the full 5 of 5 stars. The 2024 model rates about the same, with more owner complaints.

Front CV axles are the main worry. Owners describe clicking, popping, or clunking in turns, often under acceleration. Some failures came at roughly 5,000 to 6,100 miles, and back-ordered parts meant waits of 6 to 8 weeks. Others report the transmission will not engage Drive after reversing until the car is restarted. One crash report involves the car rolling after shutdown with the shifter left in D. Federal records list 5 recalls, covering air bags (2), suspension, engine cooling, electrical, and stability control.

Ask the seller for proof that every recall repair was done. On a test drive, make tight turns under light acceleration and listen for clicking. The 2026 model has no complaint history yet, so its clean record says little.

Compared to the 2026 Mazda 5, which scored 13 points higher. See also the 2024 Mazda 5 for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Acceptable reliability score
+Low major repair risk (10%)
+Low complaint frequency

Cons

−Above-average repair costs for its class
−Moderate recall count
−POWER TRAIN: Front CV axles fail early (9 complaints)

Compare 2025 Mazda 5 With

2025 Mazda 3

Reliability: 79/100

Good

2025 Subaru Impreza

Reliability: 77/100

Good

2025 Volkswagen Jetta

Reliability: 81/100

Excellent

2025 Toyota Prius

Reliability: 78/100

Good

2025 BMW 2 Series

Reliability: 70/100

Good

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK

5 manufacturer recalls issued

Other

HIGH RISK

POWER TRAIN (9)
SUSPENSION (5)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

recalls on record

A moderate 5 recalls are on file for the 2025 Mazda 5. Each one points to a specific safety or compliance issue identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA — check the list below before buying.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

complaints

LowAvgHigh

Very Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2025 Mazda 5 Recall Details

5 recalls have been issued for the 2025 Mazda 5. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

25V3570002025-05-29

AIR BAGS

Mazda North American Operations is recalling certain 2024-2025 Mazda3 and CX30 vehicles. The Sophisticated Air Bag Sensor (SAS) units may set an error code and deactivate the air bags, due to a low battery condition.

Consequence

Air bags that do not deploy in the event of a crash increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will reprogram the SAS unit with improved software or replace the unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2025. Mazda's number for this recall is 7525E.

25V7370002025-10-29

SUSPENSION

Mazda North American Operations is recalling certain 2025 CX-50 and CX-50 Hybrid vehicles. The front suspension fastener bolts may not be tightened properly, which can result in suspension component and/or wheel detachment.

Consequence

Wheel or suspension component detachment can cause a loss of vehicle control and a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the front suspension fastener bolts and, if necessary, replace and tighten them, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 10, 2025. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. The manufacturer's number for this recall is 7925J. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning November 3, 2025.

25V4180002025-06-19

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2025 CX-50 Hybrid vehicles. The transmission gear shifter can be moved from Neutral to Drive without pressing the brake pedal.

Consequence

Shifting into gear without the brake pedal depressed can result in unexpected vehicle movement, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the Engine Control Module (ECM) and reprogram the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) and Power Control Unit (PCU), free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed August 15, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the remedy becomes available, anticipated late summer 2025. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. The manufacturer's number for this recall is 7725F.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2025 Mazda 5? Check its history first

Power train problems lead owner complaints about the 2025 Mazda 5, and 5 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2025 Mazda 5 NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 10.1%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, Roof)

HEV Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Not Available)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (No)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, Roof)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Mazda 5Repair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$581

vs $526 avg for compact cars

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.4

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

10%

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

$581

Category Avg

$526

All Vehicles

$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2025 Mazda 5.

Turn sharply both ways while accelerating in a parking lot and listen for clicking, popping, or clunking from the front axles.
Look behind both front wheels for grease spray or torn CV boots.
Ask for service records showing front axle replacement, back-ordered axle parts, or unresolved axle noise complaints.
Reverse out of a space, shift to Drive, and confirm the car moves forward right away without acting like it is in neutral.
Start the car several times and watch for no-start, many warning lights at once, or a hybrid system malfunction message.
Drive on the highway with adaptive cruise on and watch for sudden slowdowns, hard braking in curves, or false crash alerts.
Run both heated front seats on high for several minutes and check for hot spots, burning smells, or scorched fabric.
Check the windshield, sunroof, and rear hatch glass for cracks, including from inside the cabin.

2025 Mazda 5 Common Problems by Component

42 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

POWER TRAIN (9)SUSPENSION (5)ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (4)FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (3)VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (3)UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3)STRUCTURE (3)SERVICE BRAKES (2)Other (10)

POWER TRAIN

9 complaintsSafety-related

Front CV axles fail early. The usual sign is clicking, popping, or clunking from the front end during turns, often under acceleration. Dealers find grease leaking from a torn CV boot or internal axle damage, sometimes around 5,000 to 6,100 miles. Back-ordered axle parts delay repairs, with waits of 6 to 8 weeks. Some dealers blame an outside impact. A second pattern: after reversing, the transmission will not engage Drive and acts like it is in neutral until the car is restarted. One crash report involves the car rolling after shutdown with the shifter left in D.

9 complaints total1 crash

SUSPENSION

5 complaints

Front CV joints click and pop on turns and under acceleration. Reported failures range from about 6,000 to 22,000 miles. These reports overlap with the axle complaints filed under powertrain. Some dealers could not reproduce the noise. Others had long waits for inspection, and one repair took over 3 weeks. Owners warn that a failed axle can cause sudden loss of drive power. A separate report describes 18-inch factory rims bending after low-speed contact with small potholes.

5 complaints total

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

4 complaints

The car sometimes will not start. Warning lights come on at once for the brakes, stability control, blind spot monitoring, keyless entry, and airbags. In one case a hybrid system malfunction message appeared before the car finally started. Key fobs sometimes fail to unlock the doors. Dealers often find no fault. A separate complaint describes the passenger-side blind spot sensor missing vehicles now and then at about 4,200 miles. The dealer could reproduce that problem but not fix it.

4 complaints total

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (3 complaints)

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

3 complaintsSafety-related

Automatic emergency braking stops the car when the driver steers around a vehicle turning left at about 30 mph, even with no real collision threat. One of these false stops led to a rear-end crash. Another report describes the hybrid battery, body sensors, and tire pressure system failing together. The car was left inoperable. It could not be shifted into neutral or jump-started.

3 complaints total1 crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (3 complaints)

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

3 complaints

Speed drops suddenly on the highway with cruise control on, in one case from 75 mph to 30 mph. A false crash warning also sounds with no traffic ahead. Other reports describe the car surging when pulling away from a stop, forcing hard braking to avoid hitting the car ahead, plus trembling at idle and erratic behavior during hard stops. The events happen more than once to the same owners, and dealers have not found a cause.

3 complaints total

UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3 complaints)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 complaints

Glass cracks or shatters without a clear impact. One report describes a windshield crack in a nearly new, garage-kept car that can be felt only from the inside. A sunroof shattered with a loud bang at highway speed, leaving loose shards that could fly out at traffic behind. A rear hatch window shattered overnight while the car was parked, with no sign of tampering.

3 complaints total

STRUCTURE (3 complaints)

STRUCTURE

3 complaints

The driver-side mirror vibrates above 65 mph, especially in wind, which blurs the view behind. A replacement mirror assembly did not fix it. Other complaints describe the front passenger door scraping against the fender and a dent-like indentation in the rear bumper that the dealer would not address. One report also notes a rough idle that shakes the cabin for about 40 seconds after startup.

3 complaints total

SERVICE BRAKES (2 complaints)

SERVICE BRAKES

2 complaints

The car moves forward while the brake pedal is pressed in stop-and-go lines, creeping 8 to 10 feet and nearly causing collisions. This happened several times within 1800 miles. With adaptive cruise control on, the car also brakes hard without warning in some corners. That creates a rear-end crash risk when another car is following closely.

2 complaints total

SEATS (2 complaints)

SEATS

2 complaints

Front seats overheat or catch fire. In one case a heated seat caused blistering burns on a long drive, and the driver was given care instructions for second- or third-degree burns. In another, a fire started inside a front seat about 6 to 8 weeks after purchase and charred the seat material. One complaint lists an injury, and both cases carry a serious risk of harm to occupants.

2 complaints total1 injury

STEERING (1 complaints)

STEERING

1 complaint

2026-02-17

Breaks and gas pedal simultaneously stopped working while driving and steering wheel locked up

When Do 2025 Mazda 5 Problems Start?

Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.

5,000–10,000 milesFront CV axle and boot failure

Best & Worst Mazda 5 Years

Best Mazda 5 Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Excellent

Mazda 5 Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Mazda 5 reliability scores by year
Year	Score	Rating
2018	72/100	Good
2019	72/100	Good
2020	75/100	Good
2021	78/100	Good
2022	83/100	Excellent
2023	78/100	Good
2024	75/100	Good
2025	75/100	Good
2026	88/100	Excellent

Mazda 5 Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026	88/100	+13	Excellent	0	0
2025(selected)	75/100	0	Good	5	42
2024	75/100	-3	Good	5	70
2023	78/100	-5	Good	3	68
2022	83/100	+5	Excellent	1	79
2021	78/100	+3	Good	3	180
2020	75/100	+3	Good	5	127
2019	72/100	0	Good	12	325
2018	72/100	—	Good	10	423

2025 Mazda 5 Reliability by Powertrain

The 2025 Mazda 5 is available with 2powertrain options. Here's how they compare on reliability.

Reliability comparison across powertrain options
Powertrain	Complaints	Recalls	Incidents*	Crash Rating
Gas	42	5	2	5 out of 5
HEV	0	0	0	5 out of 5
Total	42	5	2

NHTSA tracks complaints by vehicle configuration when that detail is available. Model-level reports that do not identify a specific powertrain are included in Total but not assigned to a row. A plus sign indicates a confirmed minimum; — means no complaints could be attributed to that specific powertrain. N/T = Not tested by NHTSA.

* Incidents = crash + fire reports. A single complaint can include multiple incident types.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2025 Mazda 5 reliable?

Yes, overall it rates good, and it sits close to average among 2025 sedans. Within the Mazda 5 lineup, though, it is among the weaker of nine scored years. Owners filed 42 complaints, and federal records show 5 recalls. The most serious reports involve front axles and transmission behavior.

What are the most common problems with the 2025 Mazda 5?

Powertrain complaints lead, mainly front CV axle failure with clicking or clunking in turns. Suspension reports describe the same noise. Electrical complaints include no-start events and warning lights. Owners also report automatic emergency braking stopping the car when no real collision threat existed.

Does the 2025 Mazda 5 have CV axle problems?

Yes, it is the most repeated complaint. Owners hear clicking and popping during turns. Reported failures range from about 5,000 to 22,000 miles, with problems typically starting between 5,000 and 10,000 miles. Dealers found torn boots or internal damage, and some parts were back-ordered for 6 to 8 weeks.

How many recalls does the 2025 Mazda 5 have?

Federal recall records list 5 recalls for this year. Two involve air bags. The others cover suspension, engine and engine cooling, the electrical system, and traction control with electronic stability control. Run the VIN to confirm each repair was completed before buying.

Is the 2025 Mazda 5 better than the 2024 or 2026?

Against 2024, it rates about the same. That year has 70 complaints and 5 recalls. The 2026 rates better but has no complaints or recalls on file, so it has had little time to build a record. That absence is not proof of fewer problems.

Don’t buy a 2025 Mazda 5 without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2025 Mazda 5

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2025 Mazda 5 does best on repair costs (80/100) and worst on recall impact (68/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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