Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year per car on the road, against this model's usual year.
2012GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual
29 serious complaints of 37, the most about fuel system (8) and structure (7); per car on the road, 0.9× this model's usual year. 1 recall.
What owners report
“This vehicle ejects a significant amount of fuel from its fuel filler port during every refueling. The volume of fuel and the distance the gasoline travels in a hazardous environment poses an avoidable risk that can result in a catastrophic event with potential fatalities.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the fuel system, Aug 2022
“Rear-ended while stopped by truck going under 20 mph. Our heads struck headrests and driver and front passenger seats instantly reclined back onto front of children's car seats. They're legs would have been crushed at the knees if they were in the accident. Our necks were sore from whiplash.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the structure, May 2021
37 owner complaints · 1 recall (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 24 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2012 trims and features
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
What changed for 2012
First year we have trim data for.
2012 Mazda5 trims
| Grand Touring | Sport | Touring | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
| Starting MSRP | $24,025 | — | $21,625 |
| Powertrain | |||
| Engine | MZR 2.5-liter DOHC | MZR 2.5-liter DOHC | MZR 2.5-liter DOHC |
| Horsepower | 157 hp | 157 hp | 157 hp |
| Torque | 163 lb-ft | 163 lb-ft | 163 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 5-speed Sport with Adaptive Shift Logic and manual-shift mode | Automatic: 5-speed Sport with Adaptive Shift Logic and manual-shift mode Manual: 6-speed overdrive | 5-speed Sport with Adaptive Shift Logic and manual-shift mode |
| Gears | 5 | Automatic: 5 Manual: 6 | 5 |
| Drivetrain | Fwd | Automatic / Manual | Fwd |
| Size and capability | |||
| Seats | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Max cargo | 44.4 cu ft | 44.4 cu ft | 44.4 cu ft |
| Third-row legroom | 30.5 in | 30.5 in | 30.5 in |
| Ground clearance | 5.5 in | 5.5 in | 5.5 in |
| Length | 180.5 in | 180.5 in | 180.5 in |
| Curb weight | 3,457 lb | Automatic: 3,457 lb Manual: 3,417 lb | 3,457 lb |
| Tech | |||
| Apple CarPlay | — | Optional | Optional |
| Android Auto | — | Optional | Optional |
| Speakers | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Comfort | |||
| Seats | Leather + option | Cloth + option | Cloth + option |
| Heated seats | Front | — | — |
| Second row | Captain's Chairs | Captain's Chairs | Captain's Chairs |
| Exterior | |||
| Sunroof | Tilt/Slide Moonroof | — | Optional |
| Power liftgate | Manual | Manual | Manual |
| Wheels | 17 in | 16 in | 17 in |
| Headlights | HID Projector | Halogen | Halogen |
Packages and options (46)
| Grand Touring | Sport | Touring | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moonroof and Audio Package $1,140 | — | — | Optional |
| Bike Carrier | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Cargo Box (Short and Medium) | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Fog Lights $350 | Standard | Optional | Standard |
| Front Splash Guards | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Kayak Carrier | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| License Plate Frames | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Roof Luggage Basket | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Moonroof Wind Deflector | Optional | — | Optional |
| Power Sliding-Glass Moonroof | Standard | — | Optional |
| Rear Bumper Guard $60 | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Rear Splash Guards | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Roof Rack | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Ski/Snowboard Carrier | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Surfboard Carrier | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Tailpipe Finisher | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Touch-Up Paint | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Wheel Locks $55 | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| All-Weather Floor Mats $100 | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Ashtray | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror with Compass and HomeLink | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Bluetooth Car Kit by Motorola | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Cargo Net $50 | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Carpet Floor Mats | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| DVD Entertainment System | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| First Aid Kit | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Lighter | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Portable Navigation Devices by Garmin | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Remote Engine Start $400 | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Retractable Cargo Cover | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Roadside Assistance Kit | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Soft Cargo Liner with Removable Bumper Protection | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| 3.5-mm Audio Cable | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| In-Dash 6-Disc CD Changer $525 | Standard | Optional | Optional |
| iPod Integration | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| SIRIUS Satellite Radio | Standard | Optional | Optional |
| Brilliant Black Clearcoat | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Clearwater Blue Mica | — | Optional | Optional |
| Copper Red Mica | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Crystal White Pearl Mica | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Liquid Silver Metallic | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Metropolitan Gray Mica | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Black Cloth | — | Optional | Optional |
| Black Leather | Optional | — | — |
| Sand Cloth | — | Optional | Optional |
| Sand Leather | Optional | — | — |
Trim data from OpenSpec (ODbL 1.0), built from Oem brochure, Oem brochure, Oem brochure, Nhtsa vin decode. Still partial for this year: chassis, dimensions, exterior, interior, infotainment, safety, option rules. "Optional" means a package or option adds it; hover for which.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2.5L 4-cyl | FWD | 24 mpg | Not rated | 1 | 9 | Seats (2) | — |
| 2014 | 2.5L 4-cyl manual available | FWD | 24 mpg | Not rated | 1 | 12 | Service brakes (4) | — |
| 2013 | 2.5L 4-cyl manual available | FWD | 24 mpg | Not rated | 1 | 24 | Service brakes (5) | — |
| 2012 | 2.5L 4-cyl manual available | FWD | 24 mpg | Not rated | 1 | 37 | Fuel/propulsion system (8) | — |
| 2010 | 2.3L 4-cyl manual available | FWD | 23–24 mpg | Not rated | 1 | 57 | Air bags (13) | — |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Which years have…
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Mazda Mazda5 SW FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 1 | 9 |
| 2014 | Mazda Mazda5 SW FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 1 | 12 |
| 2013 | Mazda Mazda5 SW FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 1 | 24 |
| 2012 | Mazda Mazda5 SW FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 1 | 37 |
| 2010 | Mazda5 5-DR. Hatchback w/SAB | Not Rated | No | No | 1 | 57 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5 | Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 24 |
| 2014 | 5 | Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L |
24 |
| 2013 | 5 | Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L |
24 |
| 2012 | 5 | Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L |
24 |
| 2010 | 5 | Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.3 L |
23–24 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.