MazdaMazda22012Overview/mazda/mazda2/2012/base/

2012 Mazda Mazda2

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Mazda2.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2012 Mazda Mazda2 is a passenger car equipped with an automatic 4‑speed transmission and EPA‑rated fuel economy of 28/33/30 mpg. In its reliability record it accumulated nine owner complaints — the lowest figure for the model years 2012 through 2021 — and recorded no recalls, with air‑bag issues accounting for the bulk of the complaints. This places the 2012 model at the low end of complaint volume for its generation, indicating relatively solid early reliability.

Model year202020192018201720162015201420132012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy28/33/30 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 Canada and Cold Climate · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter B6Y114302A. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 Canada and Cold Climate · 525 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLIGHTOEM · verified
Tire sizeP185-55R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterB6Y114302A
Engine air filterZJ0113Z40
Spark plugZ6B718110
Battery000080026RWB alt 0000800035WB
Front wiper bladesDF9667330A alt DF9567330A
Serpentine beltZJ3815909C
ThermostatKL0115171A9U
Cabin air filterD65161J6X

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length155.5 in
Overall width66.5 in
Overall height58.3 in
Wheelbase98 in
Curb weight2299 lb
Track (front / rear)57.9 / 57.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined28 / 33 / 30 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Mazda2 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.80 sec — 2012 Touring Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2012Touring Hatchback 1.5L I-48.80 sec16.70 sec100 hpFWD
2011Touring Hatchback 1.5L I-48.50 sec16.50 sec100 hpFWD
2011Touring Hatchback 1.5L I-48.80 sec16.80 sec100 hpFWD
2011Touring Hatchback 1.5L I-49.00 sec16.80 sec100 hpFWD
2011Touring Hatchback 1.5L I-49.10 sec16.90 sec100 hpFWD
2011Touring Hatchback 1.5L I-49.20 sec17.00 sec100 hpFWD
2011Touring Hatchback 1.5L I-49.40 sec17.20 sec100 hpFWD
2011Touring Hatchback 1.5L I-410.20 sec17.90 sec100 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 · SAE J1703 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 23.0-30.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4.8
Brake FluidDOT 3 · SAE J1703
Manual Transmission Fluid75W-80 · GL-4
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity6.1
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs8-10 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts72-75 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15-18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts29-33 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug23.0-30.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs15-18 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Front Wheel Hub175-202 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Timing7 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.98-1.08 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.72 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35 Canada and Cold Climate
Standard BCI Cranking Performance525 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)36.2 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)36.2 psi
Injector Primary Resistance12 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression154.3-220.5 PSI. 28.5 maximum variation PSI.

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket17-22 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle61-74 ft-lbs
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.858 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.83 in
Drum Discard at-or-over7.933

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1116 ft. lbs., step 2: 157-187116 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 75,000 mi; coolant at 60,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 60,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (clean)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect)
Every 22,500 miEngine Air Filter Element (clean)
Every 30,000 miBody Fasteners (torque) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 37,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 45,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (clean) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 75,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Mazda Mazda2 sits at the beginning of the federal record with 9 complaints, zero recalls, and one open investigation, representing the lowest regulatory footprint in the early generation cohort compared to 2013 and 2014, which both accumulated single recalls while maintaining similar complaint volumes and investigation status. While 2012 shares the highest technical service bulletin count (209) with 2013, it notably avoids the recall campaigns that plagued subsequent model years, including the spike to two recalls in 2020 as the aging fleet required correction. The complaint profile shows minimal safety concerns—zero crash or fire incidents—with scattered grievances across air bags, seats, and steering systems, though the data does not specify root causes for these isolated reports. As the years progress, complaints drop to zero by 2019, yet recalls continue, suggesting 2012 benefits from early-production stability before systemic issues necessitated later corrective action. This positions the 2012 model as the most favorable year within this generation to purchase, offering the lowest recall risk while maintaining comparable reliability indicators to its immediate successors.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
209
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
9
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 9 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags2
Seats1
Steering,Service Brakes1
Suspension,Air Bags,Vehicle Speed Control1
Steering1
Service Brakes1
Fuel System, Gasoline,Electrical System1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 209 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SA-041-262026-06-18Electrical SystemThis SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in…
SA-029-262026-04-21Power TrainThis Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are…
SA-061-252025-12-17Electrical SystemIf you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start…
07-004-25a2025-12-10Unknown Or OtherA musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system…
SA-039/252025-08-21StructureSome vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.)…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Mazda2. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2012 Mazda2 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Mazda2 get?

EPA figures are 28 city / 33 highway / 30 combined mpg.