Is the Mazda CX-90 more reliable than the Buick Enclave?

No. The Enclave leads by a large gap. It has 2.6 owner complaints per 10,000 sold, compared with 111.2 for the CX-90. CX-90 owners report steering that binds, hybrid shutdowns and driver-assist systems that turn off, while Enclave complaints are more spread out.

Which has more recalls, the CX-90 or the Enclave?

The CX-90 has more, with 13 recalls across just three model years. The Enclave has 10 recalls across nine model years. Recalls pile up with time on the road, so check any specific VIN for open recalls before you buy either one.

What is the biggest problem with the Mazda CX-90?

Steering is the largest area, with 80 complaints and five crash-linked reports. Owners describe a wheel that sticks or feels notchy in turns, and sometimes locks at full lock. The reports mention no confirmed fix. Hybrid shutdowns are the next biggest concern.

What goes wrong with the Buick Enclave?

Electrical, power train and brake complaints lead. The power liftgate can open on its own, the transmission can slam into park, and brakes can grind early. Some owners also report a broken exhaust bracket that lets fumes in. Transmission and brake reports each include three crash-linked cases.

Which Buick Enclave years should I avoid?

Avoid 2019 and 2020, which are the weakest years in the data. The 2023 model year is among the strongest. The 2026 year also looks strong, but it is recent and has had little time to collect complaints, so it is not a proven choice.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Buick Enclave vs Mazda CX-90: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Buick Enclave

Good

Mazda CX-90

Mixed

Buick Enclave comes out well ahead of the Mazda CX-90 on reliability. Owners filed far fewer complaints per car sold for the Enclave, while CX-90 owners report steering that sticks in turns and hybrid systems that shut the car down early in ownership.

How Do the Buick Enclave and Mazda CX-90 Generations Compare?

Every CX-90 on the used market is a first-generation car, built from 2024 to 2026. No older, proven years exist, so each one is an early build. The Enclave has more history. Its second generation covered 2018 to 2024, with a refresh in 2022, and the third generation began with the 2025 model year. A shopper on a budget will most likely look at the second generation, where 2023 was among the strongest years and 2019 and 2020 were the weakest. The 2025 and 2026 Enclaves are newer and have had less time to build a complaint record.

Verdict

The Buick Enclave is more reliable than the Mazda CX-90, scoring 76/100 vs 58/100.

Reliability favors the Enclave by a wide margin. Owners filed 2.6 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 111.2 for the CX-90. The CX-90 problems are also harder to live with: hybrid shutdowns in the first days of ownership, a steering wheel that sticks in turns, and driver-assist systems that switch off on their own. Enclave owners report real faults too, mainly transmission, brake and liftgate trouble, but far fewer of them per car sold. The CX-90 has been on sale only a short time, and its early record is still the weaker one.

Key Differences

1Buick Enclave has 108.6 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Buick Enclave scores 18 points higher in reliability
3Buick Enclave has 3 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

3Buick Enclave

—

0Mazda CX-90

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Buick Enclave vs Mazda CX-90: Which Is More Reliable?

Buick Enclave vs Mazda CX-90 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Buick Enclave	Mazda CX-90
Reliability Score	76/100	58/100
Years Tracked	9	3
Total Recalls	10	13
Complaints per 10k Sold	2.6	111.2
Year Wins	3	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Enclave and Mazda CX-90?

Safety systems and the hybrid drive the CX-90's complaints, while the Enclave's trouble is mostly mechanical. CX-90 steering is the biggest area, with a wheel that binds or catches in turns and five crash-linked reports. Hybrid faults shut the car down and leave it stuck in park, and the front radar can drop out of adaptive cruise and lane keeping. The Enclave has a transmission that slams into park, grinding brakes, a cracked exhaust bracket, and a liftgate that opens by itself. Its steering has only six complaints and none crash-linked. Its brakes and power train do carry crash-linked reports, three each.

Buick Enclave vs Mazda CX-90 common problem areas comparison
Component	Buick Enclave	Mazda CX-90
STEERING	0.1Very Low	31.8High
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	17.5High
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	11.5Above Avg
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.3Very Low	8.7Above Avg
POWER TRAIN	0.4Very Low	8.3Above Avg
ENGINE	0.3Very Low	6.8Average
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	6.4Average
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	4Average
SERVICE BRAKES	0.4Very Low	2.8Low
STRUCTURE	—None	1.6Low
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Buick Enclave vs Mazda CX-90 Reliability Compare by Year?

Buick Enclave vs Mazda CX-90 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Buick Enclave	Mazda CX-90	Edge
2026	81/1000R / 0C	72/1000R / 0C	Buick Enclave
2025	77/1000R / 31C	63/1002R / 21C	Buick Enclave
2024	77/1000R / 7C	38/10011R / 259C	Buick Enclave

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Buick Enclave scored 77/100 and the 2024 Mazda CX-90 scored 38/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Buick Enclave vs the Mazda CX-90?

Pick the Enclave if you want the lower-risk used buy. Its owner complaint rate is a tiny fraction of the CX-90's. The 2023 model year is among its strongest, while 2019 and 2020 are the weakest and are best avoided. The 2026 year also rates well, but it is recent and has had little time to collect complaints, so do not treat it as proven. Before you buy any Enclave, test the power liftgate, listen for grinding under braking, and look under the car for exhaust damage. Pick the CX-90 only if you want its newer design and accept the risk. The 2024 model year is among its weakest, and 2025 shows up on the weak list as well. The 2026 year looks better on paper, but it is too new to trust. Drive any CX-90 through tight turns and watch for sticking in the wheel. Confirm that no hybrid or driver-assist warnings appear. Run the VIN for open recalls, since the CX-90 has 13 across its three model years.

Buick Enclave vs Mazda CX-90: Common Questions

Is the Mazda CX-90 more reliable than the Buick Enclave?: No. The Enclave leads by a large gap. It has 2.6 owner complaints per 10,000 sold, compared with 111.2 for the CX-90. CX-90 owners report steering that binds, hybrid shutdowns and driver-assist systems that turn off, while Enclave complaints are more spread out.
Which has more recalls, the CX-90 or the Enclave?: The CX-90 has more, with 13 recalls across just three model years. The Enclave has 10 recalls across nine model years. Recalls pile up with time on the road, so check any specific VIN for open recalls before you buy either one.
What is the biggest problem with the Mazda CX-90?: Steering is the largest area, with 80 complaints and five crash-linked reports. Owners describe a wheel that sticks or feels notchy in turns, and sometimes locks at full lock. The reports mention no confirmed fix. Hybrid shutdowns are the next biggest concern.
What goes wrong with the Buick Enclave?: Electrical, power train and brake complaints lead. The power liftgate can open on its own, the transmission can slam into park, and brakes can grind early. Some owners also report a broken exhaust bracket that lets fumes in. Transmission and brake reports each include three crash-linked cases.
Which Buick Enclave years should I avoid?: Avoid 2019 and 2020, which are the weakest years in the data. The 2023 model year is among the strongest. The 2026 year also looks strong, but it is recent and has had little time to collect complaints, so it is not a proven choice.

More Buick Enclave comparisons

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More Mazda CX-90 comparisons

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How we score the Buick Enclave and Mazda CX-90

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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