Ask the Car People.SM


Mazda5 Owners - Give Us Your Report

260 messages,  Last post on Nov 29, 2012 at 9:58 AM

You are in the Mazda Mazda5 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Mazda MAZDA5, Car Buying, Wagon

Messages Page 26 of 26

#251 of 260 Re: Skyactiv[bobw3] - Mazda 5 not until '13/'14 [kensanramon] [bobw3] by kensanramon

Nov 09, 2011 (2:39 pm)

Replying to: bobw3 (Nov 09, 2011 1:19 pm)
Bob:
 
Everyone that likes Mazda vehicles is excited about the SkyActiv engines (currently just added as an optional engine to the 2011 Mazda 3 and will be the standard engine on the new 2013 (spring 2012) Mazda CX-5 compact CUV).
 
However, keep in mind that the Mazda 5 was just updated and it is a niche vehicle (sales in the 20,000 range) in the US. So, this engine will make it to the Mazda 5 (as the 2.5 liter engine and the 2.3 liter engine before it were shared with the Mazda 3 and Mazda 6) but the Mazda 6 will get it first (and the diesel variant of SkyActiv) as it up for a new redesign in 18 months.
 
Honda has only recent Acura models (TL this year) with a 6 speed automatic (even the new 2012 Honda Civic redesign stuck with a 5 speed automatic and was panned) and has zero cars at this point with direct injection (Hyundai, Kia are leading this race but came in 3rd in a new Passat/Camry/Sonata comparison in the December 2012 Motortrend (in 3 separate tests for the 4 cylinder, 6 cylinder and fuel efficient models -- Passat is TDI diesel not hybrid) to the Passat .................
 
Note that Ford is introducing the C-Max (a direct platform cousin to the Mazda 5) this year and it has the same sliding doors (but power option I think) and can seat 7 (has the seat insert option in the 2nd row). Ford, however, backed out of offering a gasoline version in the US (Hybrid and plug in hybrid versions only) and I am not interested in a hybrid at this point (I have kept my 1990 Mazda 626 hatchback for 21 years and a hybrid won't last that long).
 
I am interested in the SkyActiv (both gas and diesel) down the line ............

#252 of 260 2008 Mazda 5 User Review by knobbytire

Nov 13, 2011 (7:26 am)

I bought a used 2008 Mazda5 with just under 36,000 miles on it. This is my first Japanese branded car and in summary, I'm unimpressed.
 
This replaced a 1996 Olds Cutlass with 185K miles on it. The Mazda's engine seems OK and gives some nice zip for a 4 cylinder, but my 6 cylinder Olds gave smoother power and fuel mileage. In comparison, the Cutlass averaged about 26 MPG. The Mazda does about the same. The Cutlass' parts wore out at intervals one would expect. I'm finding the Mazda to be a lower quality vehicle and I'll likely not buy another.
 
Immediately after purchase, I had to replace the rear shocks which improved handling. I made the replacement myself and observed that the shocks are pretty dainty - they're long and skinny similar to the hatch pistons. There's not enough mass there to sustain the vehicle so I expect that they'll require replacement again at about 60,000 miles.
 
Mazda soon after had a recall on the power steering pump which improved steering greatly. I'd suggest that any Mazda 3/5 owner make sure that this recall has been completed.
 
This past summer, I had the Mazda dealer flush the transmission. Since then, I've noticed on warm days over 90 degrees F or driving in the mountains that the transmission has a hard shift between 3rd and 4th gears. I believe that this is more around transmission cooling than the transmission itself. Similar to the rear shocks, Mazda engineers may have underspec'd the cooling for the transmission. My next step will be to try a transmission flush to see if it resolves the shift issue.
 
One of the rear hubs seized up and I replaced this myself, again observing that the part was dainty. In the case of a hub, I believe that it just doesn't have enough mass to cool warm bearings.
 
I'm at just over 60,000 miles now and the front struts are in need of replacement. I'll probably replace the front struts and rear shocks at the same time. It won't surprise me if they're undersized, similar to the rear shocks.
 
I've always driven GM cars and ran them to about 200K miles with standard wear/tear issues that one would expect. I bought the Mazda hearing how much better Japanese quality is, but I'm not seeing it. Instead, I see a vehicle with very questionable engineering quality.
 
After this experience, I'm unimpressed with Mazda specifically and will further question Japanese brands' quality in general.
 
Engineering quality:
Build quality:
Fuel economy:
Overall:

#253 of 260 Re: 2008 Mazda 5 User Review [knobbytire] by davicho

Nov 14, 2011 (9:13 am)

Replying to: knobbytire (Nov 13, 2011 7:26 am)
There is a reason Olds does not exist anymore...nonetheless to each its own!
 
Shocks = normal wear and tear part
Bearings = normal wear and tear part
Transmission shifting = there is a TSB make sure it is done already
 
Wow really?
  + + = ???
 
GM= 's

#254 of 260 Re: 2008 Mazda 5 User Review [davicho] by knobbytire

Nov 19, 2011 (6:55 am)

Replying to: davicho (Nov 14, 2011 9:13 am)
The 7 GM's that I had over the past 30 years would run 80K to 100K miles before I had to replace struts and I've never had hub go out. Again, the GM's have run 80K to 200K miles with very few issues.
 
I agree that they're normal wear & tear parts, but they seem to wear & tear faster on Mazda since they're undersized.
 
The tranny has been to the dealer's shop 3 times now with no resolution.
 
My 2 year experience with my single Mazda isn't impressing me as much as my 30 year experience with the 7 GM's I've owned.

#255 of 260 already have problems by bobbart

Nov 26, 2011 (11:16 am)

First time Mazda owner, metropolitan grey mazda5. I have 4700 miles on the car and was quite pleased with it until I went to change the motor oil. While I was under there I noticed transmission fluid leaking of the tranny somewhere. You can see where it was dripping and coated the undercarriage of the car. I have to say I am not at all happy. Called the dealer which is 3 hours away to make an appointment. Of course they can't imagine what would cause such a thing and the service manager had to look in the owner's manual to see if it had an automatic dipstick so I could check the levels. Which I had already found on my own. I hope it is a quick fix.

#256 of 260 Re: 2008 Mazda 5 User Review [knobbytire] by microrepair

Apr 29, 2012 (12:41 pm)

Replying to: knobbytire (Nov 19, 2011 6:55 am)
Wow, you and I have had exactly opposite experiences with GM and Mazda. Back in the 90's, I owned two Buicks that pretty much disentegrated mechanically in the 50-60 K mile range and got traded immediately with expensive problems that I refused to pay for. I've also owned another 5 or 6 GM products over the last 50 years and never had one I would call a reliable vehicle and never could trust keeping one beyond the 60K mile point. On the other hand, I had a 1988 MX-6 which I kept to the 100K mark and it only cost me tires, brakes and oil changes. And maybe one refill on the AC. I have had a 2009 Mazda6i GT since 11/2008 and it appears to be well on the way to repeating my experience with the 1988 model. I have 41K on it now and just last month the dealer said I don't even need to worry about the brakes as yet..! And that is amazing for me personally because I have not owned ANY car where I could get more than 35K out of the brakes.!! And the 2009 hasn't needed anything so far except oil changes..
 
In August 2011 we bought a 2012 Mazda5 and are very happy with it so far. I will need to call the dealer this week and have them check out a small vibration when the brakes are applied moderately at 40MPH. The only complaint we have with the Mazda5 is that a power seat was not available and for me the lack of lumbar adjustment and seat tilt makes it less than comfortable for long trips. But it is primarily my wife's vehicle so we take the 6 on long trips. But the 5 is a delight to drive; responsive steering, brakes, and throttle along with a slightly softer ride than the 6. And the smaller size makes it easier to park in congested areas. The 2.5 engine is almost identical in both cars and is a great engine...!
 
It may be that you got one of the rare lemons from Mazda..?? Or maybe Mazda is improving after their almost divorce from Ford??

#257 of 260 Madza5 is the Best! by ben70

May 19, 2012 (2:37 pm)

After owned Hondas for years lately some serious issues made our Odyssey unsafe to drive (brakes didn't work). Madza5 is zero defects and is $10K less expensive too. Would have kept the Odyssey if it weren't for life-threatening safety issues.

#258 of 260 suspension problems by jjac28

May 24, 2012 (9:48 am)

Cant recommend this car. Bought it based on looks , handling and Mazda reliability... did i say Mazda reliability? lol
at 75k km Im having noisy back suspension issues. Also had problems with front engine mounts, luckily these were replaced before my warranty expired.
 Ive been many times to the dealership to be told that its a design issue, the suspension is improperly designed not suitable for a van ...
looks like theres no solution either.
Be prepared to have this problem and having to constantly pay for it to get it fixed. Im not sure if the new 2012 model will have the same suspension issues but stay away from older models imho

#259 of 260 Two bad struts at 50k miles by dave594

Oct 07, 2012 (9:03 am)

My wife's 2008 Mazda 5 has had both rear struts fail within a month or so after the car left the warranty coverage period. Good thing the dealer worked with Mazda to go 50-50 on the cost of replacements. But seriously, two bad struts for a low mileage car that is very gently driven? I've owned a bunch of other Japanese and American cars over the years and NEVER had any suspension parts go bad even over 120k miles. Looking online I see many other complaining of bad struts on the Mazda 3 and 5 models. This would seem like a pretty well known problem but Mazda doesn't seem to be doing anything about it.

#260 of 260 More suspension problems by dave594

Nov 29, 2012 (9:58 am)

Took the car in for an oil change and brake flush and the dealer tells me the suspension bushings on the front and back are all shot. This is at 40k miles. I've never owned a car in 30 years that has ever needed any suspension work like this car. Mazda has a problem with the 3 and 5 series models and the internet boards are full of talk about the suspension components going out at about the 40k mile mark. I'm not going to buy another Mazda after this experience.

Messages Page 26 of 26

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement