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 tires problems
moderate Owners of the 2009 Mazda Mazda5 have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the tires, typically surfacing around 47,000 miles at roughly $150 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See tires across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
| Model year | tires complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 Mazda5 | 10 |
| 2007 Mazda5 | 5 |
| 2008 Mazda5 | 6 |
| 2009 Mazda5 (this page) | 11 |
| 2010 Mazda5 | 6 |
| 2012 Mazda5 | 5 |
When does it fail?
Of the 11 tires complaints filed for the 2009 Mazda Mazda5, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Of the 6 model years of Mazda Mazda5 we track for tires problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 11.
No new NHTSA tires complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering tires 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.
New CARB regulation regarding mandatory checking and documenting of tire pressure whenever a vehicle is in for service work. This applies to all service shops (including Mazda dealerships) in California effective September 1, 2010.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗MAZDA: TPMS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINDATED. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY DAMAGE TO THE VALVE NUT AND/OR VALVE STEM OF THE WHEEL.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2009 Mazda5 shows a pattern of TPMS sensor-valve corrosion and integrated-assembly failures. Owners report valve stems breaking off when adding air, corroding and detaching from rims, or developing slow leaks—sometimes multiple times per ownership. The design flaw: the TPMS sensor is permanently bonded to the valve stem, so when tires are replaced, the old stem stays on the new tire. Stems corrode faster than sensors, but replacing them alone costs nearly as much as a full tire with sensor. Several owners experienced sudden, complete tire deflation at highway speed; dealers blamed operator error or curb strike despite no damage evidence. One owner's TPMS nut corroded and fell into the tire cavity, causing rapid air loss at 70 mph in rain.
Separately, front and rear tires wear unevenly and heavily on the inner edge starting around 30,000 miles. After replacement, the same wear pattern appears on the rotated set within 10,000 miles. Tire shop technicians confirmed this is common for this model year. One tire developed blisters at 47,000 miles. Mazda has not issued a recall for either defect, and dealers typically deny warranty claims, claiming misuse or curb strike damage.
Same Mazda Mazda5 tires reports on nearby years: 2006
Failure modes owners describe
TPMS Sensor Nut Corrosion & Detachment
The nut securing the TPMS sensor to the rim corrodes and falls off, allowing the sensor to drop inside the tire cavity and cause rapid air loss.
When: 37 months in service; mild winter climate with frequent car washes
Symptoms owners cite: TPMS low pressure telltale illuminates; Vehicle pulls hard to one side; Tire loses all air pressure within seconds; Corrosion visible on sensor threads and nut
Repairs/costs cited: GMC dealership confirmed TPMS sensor nut failure due to corrosion. Tire destroyed; rim edge damaged.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mazda USA denied coverage citing 3-year warranty expiration (1 month prior) and stated corrosion not covered beyond 3 years.
TPMS Sensor-Valve Stem Corrosion & Breakage
The integrated TPMS sensor-valve stem assembly corrodes and breaks off, typically when air is being added. The valve stem is not replaced during tire changes because it is bonded to the sensor, creating a wear mismatch.
When: Multiple occurrences between 23,000–47,200 miles; December 2010, April 2011, May 2011, December 2011; both highway and parking scenarios
Symptoms owners cite: Tire loses air slowly at first (low tire warning); Valve stem breaks when air pump nozzle is applied; Air rushes out forcefully after stem breaks; Visible corrosion on valve stem; Sudden flat tire at any speed
Repairs/costs cited: Valve stem replaced at service stations and dealer. Some replaced with non-computerized stems. Tire replacement cost nearly doubled if sensor assembly must be retained. Dealers sometimes attributed failure to misuse or curb strike.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mazda representatives claimed no knowledge of the problem and declined coverage. Dealers denied warranty claims, blaming operator error (pushing too hard during inflation, hitting curbs). No recall issued.
TPMS Sensor-Valve Slow Leak
TPMS sensor-valve assembly develops a slow leak, requiring repeated tire inflation. The repeated inflation cycles accelerate sensor-valve breakage risk.
When: After new tire installation with reused TPMS sensors (January 2011); recurring every few weeks over months
Symptoms owners cite: TPMS warning light activates every couple of weeks; Tire pressure drops to high 20s PSI; Same tire affected repeatedly
Repairs/costs cited: Digital gauge used to verify low pressure. Tires re-inflated repeatedly. New Pirelli P6 Four Seasons tires installed but original TPMS sensor-valves retained.
Abrupt TPMS Sensor-Valve Failure at Speed
TPMS sensor-valve assembly fails suddenly while driving, causing complete tire deflation. The damaged tire is irreparable.
When: At 40 mph during commute
Symptoms owners cite: TPMS light illuminates; Audible sound of tire going flat; Complete tire deflation requiring replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Tire too damaged to re-inflate. Both tire and TPMS sensor required replacement.
Uneven Tire Wear
Premature and pronounced uneven wear on front and rear tires, with wear patterns concentrated on the inner edge. Causes vibration, thumping noise, and potential blowout risk.
When: 30,000 miles on original tires; recurred within 10,000 miles on replacement set
Symptoms owners cite: Considerable vibration and thumping noise from right front area; Entire inner side of tire worn off; Uneven wear on front and rear tires; Same wear pattern affects rear tires after rotation from front
Repairs/costs cited: Two front tires replaced at 30,000 miles; wheel alignment performed. Recurrence prompted replacement of rear tires at 40,000 miles. Dealer indicated tires were a safety risk. Original equipment Toyo tires; weak alloy wheels suspected as contributing factor.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer diagnosed issue but offered no remedy beyond tire replacement. Forum posts suggest this is a known pattern.
Tire Blistering
Blisters develop on tire sidewalls, indicating internal structure failure and imminent blowout risk.
When: 47,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Blisters visible on tire surface
Repairs/costs cited: Blisters identified during inspection. Tires were not replaced at that time.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was made aware of the failure.
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
My husband purchased a brand new 2009 mazda5 and in february 10th 2011, as I was driving my tire lost all air, the valve had snapped in half. The dealer said I must have hit something but I know I didn't, I would have felt something if it was strong enough to break the valve, plus there was nothing on the side of the road close enough to hit the car. They made me pay $150 to replace it. In may…
On dec.8,2011, I was driving eastbound on interstate hwy 167., the rear end of the vehicle on the passenger side had gone flat. I was able to get on the auxiliary road without getting into an accident. I inspected the tire and could not find any holes. I used a portable tire inflater and drove approximately 1/4 mile to a tire repair station. The tire was removed and upon closer inspection, it was…
While driving at 70mph on us23 in michigan, TPMS low pressure telltale illuminated. Within 30 secs, vehicle began to pull hard to the left. Pulled off the side of this 4 lane 70mph highway in the rain to investigate. Left front tire completely flat. Nut holding the TPMS sensor to the rim was missing & had corroded, allowing the TPMS sensor to fall inside tire cavity, resulting in rapid air…
TPMS sensor-valve slow leak: four new tires (pirelli p6 four seasons) installed at Mazda dealer on jan 2011. The original TPMS sensor-valves where used on the new tires. After that the TPMS warning light would go on every couple of weeks. I would check the pressure in all the tires using a digital gauge which showed slightly low pressure (high 20?s PSI) in one tire, the same tire each time.…
TPMS sensor-valve failure: I was driving to work going about 40 MPH when TPMS light went on. I could not pull off immediately because of road conditions. Shortly after that I could hear the sound of a very flat tire. When I managed to pull off and check the tires, one was completely flat. Tire was too damaged to re-inflate. The relatively new tire and the TPMS sensor had to be replaced. *tr
Had tires 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 tires problem on the 2009 Mazda Mazda5?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $150 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most tires failures cluster between 30,000 and 48,000 miles, with the median around 47,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 48,000. 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 $150 for tires 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 tires?
No active recalls currently cover tires 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.