Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Mazda Mazda5 steering problems
severe Owners of the 2009 Mazda Mazda5 have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 18,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 Mazda5 | 10 |
| 2007 Mazda5 | 21 |
| 2008 Mazda5 | 37 |
| 2009 Mazda5 (this page) | 17 |
| 2010 Mazda5 | 5 |
| 2012 Mazda5 | 4 |
| 2013 Mazda5 | 4 |
2crashes
5injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 17 steering complaints filed for the 2009 Mazda Mazda5, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Among the 7 model years of Mazda Mazda5 in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Steering accounts for 27% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗If a vehicle has body vibration or steering wheel shimmy while driving and the root cause is determined to be tire balance, re-balance the tires using a Hunter GSP9700 or equivalent balance machine. If your dealer does not have a GSP9700 or equivalent balance machine, sublet the vehicle out for repair. To find the location of a GSP9700 near your dealer, visit Hunter?s web site at www.gsp9700.com and click on ?Locate a GSP9700 Road Force Balancer.?
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently report sudden, unpredictable power steering failures on 2009 Mazda5 vehicles. The steering assist cuts out without warning at speeds ranging from 10 to 60 mph, leaving the driver fighting an extremely stiff wheel. In most cases, restarting the engine restores power steering, but the problem recurs—some owners report 5 to 20 failures over the vehicle's ownership. A few incidents turned serious: one owner at 35 mph drifted into the opposite turn lane with no steering response, hitting a curb hard enough to damage the oil pan and suspension; another experienced uncontrollable wobbling at 60 mph and hit the center divider.
The warning light illuminates during these events, and sometimes the entire instrument panel flashes. Dealers have had mixed results: some replaced the power steering pump and related piping, others ran diagnostics, tracked the problem to power steering, then denied finding anything wrong. Mazda issued recall campaign #6010H, but affected owners report missing the deadline or facing parts shortages that delayed repairs until late 2010. One owner had six separate repair attempts for a non-functioning steering column lock over 11 months with no resolution. Owners question whether a simple restart masking the real problem—or whether root-cause repairs actually address the failure—remains unclear.
Same Mazda Mazda5 steering reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Power Steering Failure—Intermittent Loss of Assist
Power steering cuts out suddenly while driving, requiring excessive force to steer or causing the steering wheel to become extremely stiff. In many cases, the failure resolves after the engine is turned off and restarted.
When: Mileage range 6,700 to 86,000 miles; failures reported at speeds from 10 to 60 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering warning light illuminates; Steering wheel becomes extremely stiff and difficult to turn; Sudden loss of power steering assist without warning; Uncontrolled drifting or veering of vehicle; Instrument panel lights up or flashes; Power steering returns to normal after engine restart
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealers replaced power steering pump, piping hose, and gasket (narrative #11); another owner (narrative #3) had pump and pipe replaced; some dealers found no defect despite repeated occurrences; recall campaign #6010H mentioned but parts availability issues reported
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall campaign #6010H for power steering exists; one owner missed deadline by one day and could not get repair (narrative #12); another owner received recall notice but dealer cited short parts supply and could not repair until December 2010 (narrative #13); Mazda indicated one VIN was not part of recall (narrative #10)
Steering Wheel Lock or Uncontrollable Stiffness
Steering wheel becomes locked, extremely stiff, or uncontrollable and wobbling, especially at highway speeds. Vehicle difficult or dangerous to maneuver; condition may be temporary or persist for minutes.
When: Early in ownership and at higher mileage; one case at 18,800 miles; highways and heavy traffic situations
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks suddenly; Steering wheel becomes uncontrollably stiff; Steering wheel wobbles or becomes uncontrollable; Power steering warning light on; Difficult to steer vehicle safely
Repairs/costs cited: One owner (narrative #9) reported uncontrollable wobbling at 60 mph leading to center divider crash; steering column lock issue in narrative #16 required six repair attempts over 11 months with persistent failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Narrative #16 documents six Mazda repair attempts (11/04/09, 4/14/10, 4/28/10, 6/10/10, 8/4/10, 10/25/10) for steering column lock issue, all unsuccessful
Steering Wheel Lock Failure—Non-Functioning Column Lock
Steering column will not lock in place, creating a safety concern. Despite multiple repair attempts, the locking mechanism fails to function properly.
When: Complaint filed 2009–2010; six repair attempts spanning 11 months
Symptoms owners cite: Steering column will not lock; Steering wheel can rotate freely when vehicle is parked
Repairs/costs cited: Six repair attempts documented over 11 months (11/04/09, 4/14/10, 4/28/10, 6/10/10, 8/4/10, 10/25/10); problem persists
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mazda made six repair attempts but failed to resolve the issue
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
2009 Mazda 5 power steering failure - power steering fails completely without warning while driving. - has occurred on 5 different occasions. Warning light illuminates - problem will usually go away after a re-start but sometimes returns. VIN [xxx] - Mazda indicates this unit is not part of their recall. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c.…
Power steering light comes on during operation, unable to use power steering until the car has been turned off and back on. This has occurred twice while driving the vehicle. Received a recall notice; however the dealership says the parts are in short supply and cannot be fixed until at least december 2010. *tr
Today september 6, 2010, lit the light of a malfunction in the steering system of a Mazda 5 2009, in heavy slow traffic, fortunately the car could drive to my house. Parked, went out and re-ignite the engine and the light disappeared. *tr
Had steering trouble with your 2009 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 2009 Mazda Mazda5?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 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 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 6,700 and 27,000 miles, with the median around 18,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,700; a quarter make it past 27,000. 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/2009/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.