Owners have filed 26 complaints on the Mazda Mazda2, covering 2012–2014. The system named most often is Steering (8 reports). Worst years by volume: 2013, 2012, 2014; cleanest: 2014, 2012, 2013. 2 reports describe a crash, 1 a fire. On average the car was 4.5 years old when the problem happened.
What breaks on Mazda Mazda2
Grouped by the system owners named — percentages are shares of all 26 Mazda2 complaints. Open any row for the full reports in owners' own words.
Steering 8 Read
I have taken my car to two separate Mazda dealerships in 2019 and two separate non-dealership mechanics to address the same issue with a vibrating coming from the front driver when driving at lower speeds. It was not a constant noise until recently and saw there was a recall for my vehicle in May 2016. Mazda however…
I bought this 2014 Mazda 2 Sport HB on Thursday January 26, 2023. Upon driving it home, this vehicle with only 41,280 miles on it, shook, vibrating , hearing a very loud popping clicking sounds. Like body metal clanging. It was hard to see. I don’t know if the low beams were set wrong or what but visibility wasn’t…
The steering was making loud knocking noises at low-speed turns. When looked up Mazda2 issues, found that there was a recall for Steering, Recall no. 16V203000, dated 2016-04-10, states: If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.…
Air Bags 3 Read
Takata recall
Takata recall
Takata recall
Seats 3 Read
Driver's seat came unattached from the floor mounted slides/brackets that allow for leg length adjustments. Car was in motion, travelling approximately 35 mph, and in the center of three lanes of traffic at the time. I pulled over and examined the seat. Washers were under the seat, and the seat would move up and down…
A recall was issued on the 2011 mazda 2 models related to a problem with the seat height adjuster mechanism becoming loose. Based on the description of the issue, my 2013 mazda 2 is exhibiting the same issue. The seat 'rocks' back and forth, as if it's only partly secured. I contacted mazda and they reiterated that…
My wife and daughter and I were driving out of the driveway. The driver's seat came completely detached from the frame and I ended up rotated and laying backwards in the driver seat. This is extremely dangerous and could cause serious injury or death. This was a recall for 2010 and 2011 models but this was…
Vehicle Speed Control 2 Read
I was turning left on a protected green arrow when a truck on the left lane sped up and I noticed t merged and I would get hit I tried to go off to the side of the road but the steering wheel was stiff and when I pressed on the gas it did not move then it jerked me forward
Gas pedal stuck down causing unwanted accelerating
Suspension 2 Read
2014 mazda 2. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle steering system issues. *smd the consumer stated the right axle broke which caused him to loose control of the vehicle. Consequently, he hit another vehicle. The vehicle was totaled
After 3,000 - 5,000 miles of driving each time, a vibration begins and quickly leads to violent vibration in steering when braking from any significant speed (30 + mph). Especially violent when braking from highway speeds to an exit ramp. Also, the air bag sensor is on. And the dealer tryin to fix it but came again
Electrical System 2 Read
The contact owns a 2013 mazda 2. While the vehicle was at a stop light, smoke appeared from the cd player and flames appeared from the dashboard. The contact was able to exit the vehicle and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to groove mazda (located at 10301 e arapahoe rd, centennial, co 80112, (720)…
Upon stopping, turning off vehicle and removing ignition fob key; fob key and ignition switch were very, very hot to the touch
Tires 2 Read
Tire size: P 185 / 55 R 15 I believe there is a manufacturing defect with the Firestone Firehawk tires. The tires are prematurely cracking, these tires are supposed to have a 50,000 mile limited warranty. I replaced all four tires on 6/18/2022 and today (7/15/2023) I noticed there was deep cracking through the treads…
On the night dec 24,2014, I had picked up my rental car(1013 mazda 2 silver sedan) from dollar rental car at bwi airport. About 30 minutes after I drove off the lot, about 5 miles away from the pickup garage, I noticed the low tire pressure warning light was on. Before I had a chance to turn around and return the car,…
Service Brakes 2 Read
The contact owns a 2012 mazda2. The contact stated that the brake and accelerator pedals were design too close together. The contact's foot was caught between the brake and accelerator pedal several times while attempting to resume acceleration. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made…
I purchased a mazda2 on april30th 2012. At approximately 850 miles, I brought the vehicle to the dealership I purchased it at (towson mazda), because of a significant vibration in steering when braking. Since then, I have brought the vehicle back to the same dealership approximately every 5,000 miles for the same…
Mazda2 years to avoid — and the clean ones
Complaints per model year. More reports usually means more cars on the road as well as more trouble, so read the crash and fire columns alongside the count.
| Model year | Complaints | Top system | Crashes | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | — | |
| 2013 | Air Bags | — | 1 | |
| 2012 | Air Bags | — | — |
The same model year, different builds
Every complaint carries the first 11 characters of the VIN — plant, year, body and engine. That is a production series, and complaints are spread across them very unevenly.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Distinct production series | 24 |
| Average complaints per series | 1.1 |
| Worst single series | 2 complaints |
| Average age at failure | 4.5 years |
A model average of 1.1 hides a worst series at 2. Enter a VIN above to see the numbers for that exact build instead of the model as a whole.
Owners reported these. Find out if yours is one of them.
- Complaints matched to the exact production run, not just the model
- What the car is worth given what tends to fail on it
- The original window sticker and factory options
- Full research report as a PDF for the pre-purchase inspection
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- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
Every figure here comes from complaints owners filed with NHTSA — 1,100,006 of them, covering 1,982 models built between 1981 and 2026.
A complaint is an unverified report: someone wrote down what happened to their car. It is not a confirmed defect and not a recall. What makes the volume useful is the pattern — when thousands of owners of the same build describe the same failure, that is a signal no marketing brochure will give you.
Two things we do that the source does not. First, we compute the age of the car at the moment of failure from the incident date and the model year. Second, we group complaints by the first 11 characters of the VIN — the production series — so a bad plant run does not disappear into a model-wide average.
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Mazda2?
By complaint volume, 2013, 2012, 2014 drew the most owner reports. Bear in mind that popular years put more cars on the road, so check the crash and fire columns too.
Which Mazda2 years are the cleanest?
2014, 2012, 2013 have the fewest complaints on file. For recent years that can simply mean the cars are young.
How many complaints does the Mazda Mazda2 have?
26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, covering 2012–2014. Of those, 2 describe a crash and 1 a fire.
Are these complaints verified?
No. They are unverified reports from owners. NHTSA publishes them as filed and investigates only a fraction. The value is in the pattern, not in any single report.
Can I check complaints for one specific car?
Yes — enter its VIN above. We match the first 11 characters, which identify the plant, year, body and engine, so you get complaints on that exact production series rather than the whole model.