Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Mazda 5. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning indicator illuminated for three seconds. The power steering warning indicator turned off and the steering resumed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign…
2007 Mazda Mazda5 steering problems
severe 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 21 steering complaints filed for the 2007 Mazda Mazda5, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Steering accounts for 34% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 6 categories tracked.
Among the 7 model years of Mazda Mazda5 in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe sudden, intermittent loss of power steering assist while driving—sometimes at highway speeds, sometimes during low-speed maneuvers. The steering wheel stiffens or becomes completely inoperable, and a power steering warning light typically illuminates. Many incidents resolve temporarily after restarting the engine, only to recur. Several owners report the steering wheel jerking violently or forcing itself back to center during loss-of-assist events, accompanied by dashboard anomalies like intermittently flashing lights or radio resets.
A distinct steering pull issue appears in multiple complaints: vehicles pull hard to the right at all speeds, requiring constant wheel correction. Owners report 10+ alignment attempts—including subframe alignment—with no fix. This causes severe inner-edge tire wear, forcing replacements every 12,000 miles instead of normal intervals.
Owners consistently note that dealers deny recall coverage because their VINs fall outside the recall window, despite identical symptoms matching NHTSA Campaign 10V374000 (manufactured before April 2, 2007, or outside other cutoff dates). Several owners were denied coverage after informing dealers about the recall. Some report independent mechanics diagnosed power steering pump failure; others found no codes despite failures occurring repeatedly. One crash resulted in severe child injury when steering became unresponsive at 77 mph.
Same Mazda Mazda5 steering reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden loss of power steering assist (intermittent)
Power steering assist fails abruptly and without warning while driving, making the steering wheel stiff or inoperable. The failure is intermittent and often resolves temporarily after restarting the vehicle.
When: Occurs at various speeds (5–77 mph) and conditions; some failures occur while parked or stationary, others during turns or lane changes. Mileage range 27,000–138,000.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes stiff or completely unresponsive; Power steering warning light illuminates; Steering wheel jerks violently or forces itself back to center; Multiple dashboard lights flashing intermittently or radio resets; Failure resolves temporarily after engine restart; Failure recurs within minutes to days
Repairs/costs cited: One owner's independent mechanic diagnosed power steering pump failure requiring replacement. Dealers typically cannot find fault codes despite failures occurring.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 10V374000 calls for replacement of power steering pump and lines at no cost for certain 2007–2009 Mazda5 models manufactured April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008. However, most complainants' VINs were excluded from recall coverage despite exhibiting identical symptoms. Mazda blamed rust contamination in hydraulic steering system causing pump overheat and shutdown. A service bulletin (TSB) was issued more than a year before the formal recall.
Severe right-pull with excessive tire wear
Vehicle pulls hard to the right at all speeds, requiring constant left steering-wheel correction. Causes rapid inner-edge tire wear, forcing tire replacement every 12,000 miles instead of normal intervals.
When: Beginning around 100–27,000 miles; ongoing across entire driving range.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle drifts and steers itself to the right; Steering wheel must be held 2 degrees left at all times; Severe inner-edge tire wear (cords visible before outer edge shows wear); Tires require replacement 48,000 miles earlier than normal
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple owners received 10+ wheel alignments, including subframe alignment, with no resolution. Tire replacement required twice in some cases.
Steering wheel seizure (brief, intermittent)
Steering wheel temporarily locks or seizes, usually at low speeds, with power steering warning light illuminating. Failure typically resolves on its own or after restart.
When: At low speeds (5–30 mph) during parking or maneuvers. Mileage range 64,000–110,000.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes inoperable or locked; Power steering warning light illuminates for seconds to minutes; Steering resumes after restart or spontaneously
Repairs/costs cited: One owner's independent mechanic could not determine the cause. Dealers typically unable to diagnose or repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One manufacturer response mentioned a TSB should be consulted.
Power steering column noise and failure
Abnormal noise from the front end associated with power steering system failure.
When: At 28,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise from front end; Power steering column malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed power steering column requiring replacement. Vehicle not repaired.
Engine stalling with power steering loss
Vehicle loses power at idle or light throttle and engine shuts down completely. Power steering indicator illuminates during the event.
When: At idle or during light driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine idles normally for about one minute, then begins to lose power; Engine bogs down and shuts down completely; Power steering indicator illuminates; Requires continued throttle to prevent stalling
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer denied recall coverage based on VIN exclusion.
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
Mazda will not include my vehicle in this recall below because it was mfr 07/2006 and sold as a 2007: 2010-08-13 (published by NHTSA on 2010-08-13) recall summary: Mazda is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 mazda3 and mazda5 vehicles manufactured from april 2, 2007 through november 30, 2008. These vehicles may have a condition in which a sudden loss of power steering assist could occur at…
An issue occurs with the power steering assist, the power steering malfunction warning light will illuminate, and the car will require more physical effort to steer. This happens in very unsafe conditions while driving. I then turn the car off and I am able to steer again for about 2-3 min before this happens again. I called Mazda and they are saying my VIN is not part of the recall #60108…
2007 mazda5 excessive tire wear and alignment/steering issues @ 27k miles. Have had approx. 10 alignments including a subframe alignment with no success. Have been forced to replace all tires twice due to tire wire on inner edges. Car steers to the right requiring steering wheel to held 2 degrees to the left while operating at all speeds. If steering wheel is released car will drift and then…
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 Mazda 5. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle began to pull to the right and was difficult to control. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the wheel was aligned; the failure continued. The vehicle had been aligned ten time and the subframe was also aligned; the failure continued. The problem was causing wear on the tires every 12,000…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Mazda 5. While driving 15 MPH, the steering wheel failed to return to its original position and straighten the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the contact should take the vehicle to the dealer and…
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 Mazda, mazda5. The contact started the ignition and detected that the power steering would not function. There was no prior warning. The contact proceeded to drive with difficulty turning the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the vehicle was repaired at the owner's expense. The identical defect was mentioned in the recall associated…
Power steering leak
Sudden power steering loss while driving on an entry ramp of a highway, accompanied by illumination of multiple lights on the dashboard. Steering loss occurred while vehicle steering wheel was turned and vehicle was in motion and preparing to merge onto highway. Steering wheel suddenly and violently jerked from my hands, causing the vehicle to steer in the direction off the road. Dash lights…
Had steering trouble with your 2007 Mazda Mazda5?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2007 Mazda Mazda5?
It's a meaningful issue. 21 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 55,200 and 110,000 miles, with the median around 80,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 55,200; a quarter make it past 110,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Mazda/Mazda5.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.