Mazda
10 February 2012
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2008 Mazda 5 reviews
Mazda 5 reviews by year of make: 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 5 Read all reviews
Paul Brown, Norfolk
Mazda 5 1.8 TS2 2008
I have had our Mazda 5 1.8 TS2 for 3.5 years and have done 24000 miles. We have it on a lease with all maintenance covered. After two years, at around 13000 miles the power steering pump cut out twice after performing a number of turns at low speeds. This was replaced under warranty and the dealer advised us it was a known issue to do with overheating. Our car then failed on its first MOT at three years and 19000 miles. Both the rear shocks shocks needed replacing (dealer advised this was normal for my vehicle and I see why reading all your comments) and because we lease this was done at no cost, but we were left without our car for a week and offered no courtesy car, which was just great as that week my wife needed to go in to hospital for a scheduled op and we needed to drop our niece and nephew back to Colchester from Norfolk. So although our car has had issues that do seem to be caused by design flaws I’m happy because I’ve not paid to put it right. If, however, I was expected to pay for repairs due to clearly flawed design I would have been very angry by now. A note on tyre wear: As with everyone elses mine have worn unevenly, but lasted 12000 miles on the first set and I thought this was reasonable. The problem seemed to improve by running slightly higher tyre pressures.
Submitted: 25/01/2012 10:27:13
Alan Craddock, Buckinghamshire
Mazda 5 Ts2 diesel 2008
Bought new and still have it after 32K miles, but not that impressed as have not seen fabled Mazda reliability or build quality. Front tyre excess wear on outer edge but managed 19K before replacement. Gearbox is very stiff and notchy in lower gears especially when cold. Biggest disappointment is poor fuel economy for a diesel - don’t think I have seen better than 40 mpg and I drive gently. Latest problem is front suspension noise and am about to have the antiroll bar bushes changed.
Submitted: 22/02/2011 21:12:47
Ron Mr, United States of America
Mazda 5 2008
Our 2008 Mazda 5 operates well, but we have experienced a problem with the wheels. What started as a low vibration in the vehicle increased to a rumbling/thumping sound. The Mazda dealership diagnosed the problm as being the Toyo Tyres that came new with the vehicle. On advice of the dealership technician, we took our vehicle to a tyre shop that was licensed to sell and do warranty work for Toyo Tyres. The tyre shop found the yires to be sound, but one wheel was bent. Taking their advice, we purchased a new Mazda wheel. After leaving the tyre shop we discovered the rumbling/thumping sound had not changed. We returned the vehicle to the tyre shop where, this time, the technician recommended replacing one Toyo Tyre under the warranty. We purchased the tyre and had the wheel re-balanced. When we departed the tyre shop we found no change in the noise we had detected earlier. After $750 in repairs, we decided to abandon the Tyre Shop and return to the Mazda dealership. The technician at the dealership re-diagnosed the issue as being tyre related. We waited two weeks and returned to the Mazda dealership for a four-wheel alignment and rotation/balancing of the wheels hoping that might solve the problem. The technician did the work and then reported that we had two bent wheels on the vehicle! He further stated that the problem is common to the Mazda 5 because of the low silhouette tyres on the vehicle. Our next step was to complain to Mazda North America (NA) about the bent wheels, now a total of three. Mazda NA stated to us that they would not honor the vehicle warranty for replacemeent of the wheels and that the technician at the Mazda dealership had denied telling us about the wheel/tyre problem with the Mazda 5. Our only remaining choices are (1) never return to Brown’s Mazda for any reason and (2) send a documented letter to Mazda NA with copies furnished to the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Reports, etc. We have a recall letter from Mazda concerning the power steering on our Mazda 5. We will seek this repair at a dealership other than Brown’s Mazda, Chantilly, Virginia. Meanwhile, we are pursuing the replacement of the four wheels and tyres now on our Mazda 5.
Submitted: 23/11/2010 10:41:07
Andrew, South Africa
Mazda 5 2.0L Active 2008
Got a Mazda 5 in June 2008. I really like the car (my wife uses it daily), BUT: Tyre use is horrific 10,000km replaced Dunlop tyres - worn out 21,000km replaced second set of tyres, worn out 34,000km replaced third set of tyres, worn out With the last replacement the rear tyres are worn right through to the nylon cap ply on the insides, but 4 mm left on the outsides. 28,000km brake system failure - all fluid leaked internally. 33,000km thermostat failed - stuck closed and overheated the engine 33,500km powersteering seal leak on supply pipe and powersteering belt had to be replaced Fuel consumption of around 11.5 L/100km around town on the school run.
Submitted: 24/09/2010 21:51:09
Andrew S, Durham
Mazda 5 2.0 sport diesel (143PS) 2008
Excellent car in many respects, however, I too have suffered the ’tyre wear’ issue on the front! After less than 2 years and 23,000 miles, my car now needs its THIRD set of front tyres!! My local Mazda dealership made me pay for a 4 wheel alignment when this problem first reared its head in October 09, saying that because I bought the car from a Mazda dealership in Wolverhampton and not at the local one (Jennings Sunderland) they wouldn’t take responsibility... so £50 for an alignment and £160 for two front tyres it was!! I wouldn’t have even known that the tyres were still wearing, as it is the inside edge that is wearing down, but (un)fortunately? I picked up a puncture and when I tried to get it repaired the tyre place pointed out the wear! So back to Mazda it went, who first off tried to charge me for another 4 wheel alignment!! (after a brief argument they said they’d check it free as a "gesture of goodwill"!!!! And the result? Your alignment is fine, the suspension is all fine, Mazda suggests you use Dunlop tyres and rotate them every 3000 miles!!! Well whoop-de-doo!! So, a phone call to Mazda UK, who have started an "investigation" into my problems and have hinted that they may provide some free tyres!! At least then I’ll be able to trade it in!! The end result? I certainly would never buy another Mazda, or a car from Jennings Sunderland (I have bought from them in the past).
Submitted: 30/07/2010 11:01:21
Arthur Jackso, Staffordshire
Mazda 5 2008
I have owned from new in 2008 and have now done 48000 miles. I did experience excessive wear on the inside edges of the two front tyres. My Mazda dealers stated that the allignment had been rectified and was now within the manufacturers tolerences, I asked why they were not from the start but they just shrugged their shoulders. I have tried to complain to Mazda but have wasted my time. After a second set of tyres shredded on the inside edges I took the vehicle back and again they said all was ok...it obviously was not. I changed tyres to a Goodyear make and from an independent tyre fitter was told that the tracking was out. He rectified the problem and touch wood the tyres although a little noisy are doing far better than the originals fitted by Mazda. I can not fault the car just the after service and servicing costs.
Submitted: 14/07/2010 15:57:28
Colin, Northamptonshire
Mazda 5 2.0D SPORT 2008
Bought the Mazda new and the family love the versatility. It has been really reliable (no faults, touch wood). Servicing has been really expensive considering the car has only just got 17,000 miles, my local dealer has quoted me £350 for 1st and 2nd services (that would be £700 for 2 years). I went ballistic when I compared it to the rivals, got them down to £250 on both occasions in the end. Tyres seems to be the issue, on the last service in April the dealer reported mis-alignment on both off side tyres as they were badly worn on the inner edge. I complained to Mazda (worst customer service in the motoring world) but they weren’t bothered at all and fobbed me off with, "My chassis number did not have the problem of previous models and if it was all 4 wheels then they may have a look at it". The dealer said they would still have to charge £70 + VAT to do an alignment after I fit new tyres. All in all, we like the car but would be put off from buying another Mazda based on poor customer service and high servicing cost for diesel engines. Consider why on earth do Mazda diesel engines need an expensive valve adjustment on the first service (irrespective of mileage) and the end user has to pickup the rip off labour rates of the dealers, that’s just poor engineering. I wonder where they source the diesel engines from and do other users (if there are any have similar issues)?? I would also suggest not bothering with the diesel engine at all if your mileage is low (below 10k pa). You could easily run into DPF problems with to much fuel in the oil, extremely high servicing costs and MPG isn’t that great (we average 27mpg).
Submitted: 04/07/2010 21:21:38
John, Hertfordshire
Mazda 5 TS2 2.0 DIESEL 2008
I have owned this car since March 09 and found that the drivers electric window (one touch operation) doesn’t work in the cold but works fine during warm weather. The engine runs lumpy during warm weather but is fine in cold weather.
Submitted: 03/07/2010 17:29:01
Charles Sanderson, Yorkshire
Mazda 5 2.0D sport 2008
The car is ideal, over 43 mpg on long runs, drives like a car not a converted van. The Leather seats and electric rear doors make it an ideal family car; the rear doors will not open until the car is in neutral and the handbrake applied. The reason for not giving the maximum stars is the 17 inch wheels and low profile tyres, which are expensive and do not last long. I was told by the main dealer that you only usually get about 12,000 miles on the front tyres, which wear on the inside shoulder. Mazda UK do not acknowledge that there is a problem, their customer care is the worst I have ever had to deal with. I will sell and never touch a Mazda car again.
Submitted: 20/03/2010 13:07:57
Stephen Bonas, England
Mazda 5 2008
Had a blowout this week and on checking found the extent of horrific uneven wear on both front tyres. The car is currently with the dealer but dont know if I will have to pay for replacement tyres. Only had car for 15 months and it has also been back in 3 times for problems with gear box which still isn’t right. Will be very reluctant to undertake any motorway journeys in case I have another blowout. Can’t wait to get rid of it as soon as I can afford to.
Submitted: 21/01/2010 22:14:19
Dale, Northamptonshire
Mazda 5 2.0 Sport petrol 2008
Got the Mazda 5 Sport in July 2008, (after Mazda’s claimed cure for the rear tyre wear, about Feb I think). I have covered 34000 miles and is now on it’s 3rd complete set of tyres. All have worn through to the inner carcass of the tyres on the front inner edge. Mazda try to hide or extend tyre life by moving worn front tyres to the rear therefore effectively doubling their useful life. See photos of tyres at http://mazdaforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20951 . From my many years of experience I will declare that this front inner edge tyre wear is due wholly to the incorrect CAMBER (too negative) because this vehicle has the 17" wheels as opposed to the originally designed 15" base model with no alteration to thoe front geometry in this larger wheeled version. Do not be fobbed off by Mazda’s excuse of "..it’s toe-in, toe-out, under inflation, over inflation or heavy/fast cornering." All these excuses show different symptoms to what we see and experience. The effect is that the car is really running on its inner edge while driving causing the poor handling, grip and performance. I have tried Dunlop 2050, Dunlop Maxx TT and now Continental Contisport3 (the ContiSport 3 are the best gripping for the UK’s cold and wet roads). It is not the tyre manufacturers fault as Mazda have suggested with some rubbish about a redesigned tyre (I have talked to & e-mailed Dunlop and there is no knowledge or proof of a ’redesign’ of Sport 2050). There is no easy cure for the Mazda 5’s front inner edge tyre wear problem except for a major expensive refit of the front suspensions’ McPherson Strut. Other than that and both rear suspension dampers being replaced (failed and leaking oil) it goes well with its 2 litre engine and built in bluetooth for mobile phones it’s okay. Consumption is less than 31MPG (27.5 - 30.1)
Submitted: 30/12/2009 22:21:02
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