ON 8/24/10 I WAS DRIVING IN SF CITY TRAFFIC AS I NEARED AN INTERSECTION, MY POWER STEERING ON MY 2008 MAZDA 5 FAILED. I PULLED OVER INTO A RED ZONE, BARELY OUT OF TRAFFIC, AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. I READ THE MANUAL AND IT SUGGESTED TURNING THE CAR ON AGAIN. I DID BUT THE STEERING LIGHT REMAINED ON. I MOVED THE CAR (WITH DIFFICULTY AND NO SMALL AMOUNT OF STRESS) TO A SAFER LOCATION. I CALLED MAZDA A…
2008 mazda Mazda5 steering problems
severe 37 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
37
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
LOSS OF POWER STEERING TWO TIMES ON MY MAZDA 5. *TR
FIRST INCIDENT, POWER STEERING WAS LOST WHILE MAKING A U-TURN. WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. REGAINED POWER AFTER HALF AN HOUR. SECOND INCIDENT, ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A SWERVING CAR, BUT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE. ENDED UP SPINNING OUT AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR AND THE CENTER MEDIAN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 5. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST LOST CONTROL AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS BRIEFLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1-2284518588. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,889.
POWER STEERING FAILED THREE TIMES YESTERDAY. DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING GOT VERY HEAVY ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO MUSCLE THE CAR THROUGH TURNS. DAY WAS VERY HOT AND WE WERE DRIVING IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT. I DID WHAT THE OWNERS' MANUAL SAID - STOPPED AND SHUT OFF THE CAR, WAITED A FEW SECONDS AND RESTARTED THE CAR. IN TWO OUT OF THE THREE INSTANCES THE POWER STEERING LIGHT HAD GONE OUT AND TH…
MAZDA 3 AND 5 POWER STEERING FAILURE. THIS IS CURRENTLY COVERED BY MAZDA TSB: 06-002/09 I THINK MAZDA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE AFFECTED PARTS. LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE WITH LIMITED PHYSICAL STRENGTH. *TR
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2008 mazda Mazda5?
It's a meaningful issue. 37 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.