I Really Appreciate This, Mazda, But You Are An Hour Too Late, I’ve Upgraded To a 2025 Subaru Outback

I'm sorry Mazda, but I need to make a break.

That's what Lizzie (@some.call.me.lizzie) said, and after a decade of loyalty, she was ready to part ways with her Mazda 5. In a candid TikTok video, she revealed that the final straw was the minivan's stubborn frozen doors, a recurring issue that pushed her to break free from her trusted car and car brand, Mazda.

Imagine living in Minnesota; it's well below zero, the wind chill is cold enough to freeze your eyelashes shut, you are standing in the arctic cold, and you can't open your car door.    

You pull on the car's door handle repeatedly, but it remains stubbornly shut. Frustration mounts as you realize you might be late for work, a situation you can't afford. This is the reality Lizzie faced with her Mazda 5. 

This isn't the first time you couldn't open your Mazda's car door. It's happened many times, and you are ready to give it a swift kick with your snow boots. Your boss has already warned you that if you're late again, you will be written up and face disciplinary action. 

Imagine Lizzie's relief when a neighbor, taller and stronger, finally manages to open her Mazda 5’s driver door. The car starts with a groan, but at least it's moving. 

It's a typical winter day for Lizzie. 

Returning home after another typical winter day in Minnesota, Lizzie decided to reach out to Mazda about her car door issue. Frustratingly, her plea for assistance was met with silence, prompting her to vent her frustration on TikTok and tag Mazda USA. The lack of an immediate response only added to her mounting frustration. 

Driven to her wit's end by her Mazda 5, Lizzie made a bold decision. She drove her troublesome minivan straight to a Subaru dealer and traded it in for a 2025 Subaru Outback. As she returned home, a message from Mazda awaited her, an hour too late.

Mazda contacted Lizzy and said, "Hey, Lizzie, we're genuinely sorry about your experience and want to make things right. Please, please DM us so we can assist you further."

The video shows her responding to Mazda's customer service representative, with her delivering the news that they were an hour too late. She'd just purchased a new 2025 Subaru Outback.

Lizzie says in her video, "I really appreciate this Mazda, but it turns out you are, I don't know, like an hour too late. I've upgraded, no more frozen doors," as she kisses Mazda goodbye.

Why did she choose the Outback?

Lizzie says, "Replying to @MazdaUSA, sometimes you just need to make the break. I consider it destiny because my 13-year-old daughter was born in the front seat of a Subaru."

So, Lizzie had previously owned a Subaru vehicle, and now she's returning to the brand known for its all-wheel-drive system, which is ideal for the cold Minnesota winters. Subaru is renowned for its reliability and performance in harsh weather conditions, significantly influencing Lizzie's return to the car brand. 

For those not familiar with the Subaru Outback, it comes standard with Subaru's excellent Symmetrical all-wheel-drive technology, 8.7-inches of ground clearance, X-Mode for severe weather with a deep snow setting, and a winter package that includes heated seats, heated mirrors, and a windshield wiper de-icer. These features make it a perfect choice for the cold Minnesota winters. Check out my 2025 Outback report here.

There's more to the story.

Lizzie found a sense of community in the comments section as others shared their experiences with the Mazda 5.

SilenceIsScreaming says, The fact Mazda even reached out to help fix an issue on a van that has been discontinued since like 2014 or so Speaks Volumes...But welcome to the Subaru life. Maintain it and it'll take care of you.

Audrey - I ditched my Miata for a Subaru WRX. Best decision ever.

MikeNC - I went from Mazda to Subaru too and will never look back.

Mr. Shart - I'm on my 3rd Subaru. Literally will never buy another brand of car.

Lizzie shared that she'd had to put two transmissions into the Mazda 5. 

"I do appreciate their reach out. Would have been nice after the second transmission I had to put in, but better late than never, I guess," Lizzie says with resignation.

She concludes, "If you don't drive around with your check engine light on all the time, do you even know what it's like to live on the edge?"

To be fair to Mazda, they discounted the Mazda 5 minivan after the 2015 model year. Customers were not purchasing minivans but buying the automaker's compact SUVs and crossovers instead. 

Did the Mazda 5 have reliability issues?

According to Consumer Reports, based on information from its owner surveys, the Mazda 5 had a reliability rating of 31/100, significantly less reliable than other minivans.  

Consumer Reports says the Mazda 5 had trouble with the transmission (which Lizzie replaced twice), drive system, brakes, steering, and suspension.  

Does the Mazda 5 have issues with the "frozen" doors?

According to a report on the Mazda 5 Forum, they have an issue with the doors sticking and making them hard to open. It can be fixed.

Ashley Murray says, "The driver's side sliding door on my 2010 Mazda 5 would not open. The exterior handle would only pull out about half the normal distance. The interior manual sliding door lock/unlock mechanism would only slide to the unlock side about half the way. Both the interior and exterior handles would move freely but only half the normal distance."

At first, I didn't know how to begin. Then I found the following post on this website:

It was a tremendous help to show me how to begin to get the door panel off. I recommend reading that article.

Conclusion.

Lizzie took a break from a Mazda vehicle that had been discontinued because it did not meet customer expectations. Mazda offers newer crossovers and SUVs, which are great vehicles. 

However, she made a great choice in purchasing the 2025 Subaru Outback. It's designed for customers like Lizzie who need an all-weather capable SUV that is perfect for the Minnesota climate. She will be happy with her decision. 

How about you?

Have you recently made a change from a car brand? Which brand and what did you switch to? We'd love to hear your story. Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know. Your experience could help others who are considering a similar change.

Check out my Subaru story titled; I Wanted a 2025 Subaru Forester, So We Ditched the Porsche Macan and Our BMW and Bought Two, All Because Of Subaru’s Warm and Fuzzy Commercials

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Lizzie