Is the Chevrolet Equinox more reliable than the Mazda CX-50?

Slightly, yes. The Equinox draws 3.7 complaints per 10,000 sold, while the CX-50 draws 27.4. The Equinox also has nine model years of history. Its serious brake and fuel pump complaints keep the lead narrow, and the CX-50 has had less time on the road.

Which has more recalls, the Equinox or the CX-50?

The Equinox has more. Federal recall records show 32 recalls across its 9 model years, against 6 across the 4 model years of the CX-50. The Equinox has been sold longer, so some of that gap comes from time on the road.

Which is cheaper to repair, the Equinox or the CX-50?

Repair-cost data is only available for the Equinox, so a direct comparison is not possible. The Equinox averages about $537 a year, 0.3 unscheduled shop visits, and an 18% chance that a repair is major. Get a quote for the CX-50 before buying.

Does the Mazda CX-50 have a braking problem?

Owners report false automatic emergency braking most often. The car brakes hard with nothing ahead, and in one case it dropped from 70 to 35 mph on a highway. Brake complaints are few, at 11, with one crash-linked. Test drive it in traffic.

What are the main problems with the Chevrolet Equinox?

Brakes lead the list with 248 complaints. Owners describe a pedal that sinks to the floor. Others report sudden power loss at highway speed, often blamed on the high-pressure fuel pump, along with infotainment faults and severe dashboard glare on the windshield.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Equinox vs Mazda CX-50: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Chevrolet Equinox

Good

Mazda CX-50

Good

Between the Chevrolet Equinox and the Mazda CX-50, the Equinox is slightly ahead on reliability. Owners file far fewer complaints per vehicle sold. It also carries more recalls and some serious brake and fuel faults, so the lead is narrow.

How Do the Chevrolet Equinox and Mazda CX-50 Generations Compare?

Most used Equinox shoppers will land in the third generation, which ran from 2018 to 2024 and was refreshed in 2022. Its weakest years, 2018 and 2020, fall in the early part of that run. The fourth generation began in 2025, so those years have little history. The CX-50 is a newer nameplate. Its first generation started in 2023 and received an update for 2025. Only four model years exist, so every CX-50 is young, and you have far less long-term evidence to lean on than with the Equinox.

Verdict

The Chevrolet Equinox is more reliable than the Mazda CX-50, scoring 73/100 vs 70/100.

A slight edge goes to the Equinox. Owners file far fewer complaints per vehicle sold, 3.7 per 10,000 against 27.4 for the CX-50, and the Equinox has a record spanning nine model years. The gap is small. The Equinox has more recalls and some serious faults, including a sinking brake pedal and sudden power loss. The CX-50 has only four model years on the road, so part of its short problem list reflects limited time to collect reports. Both stand well on reliability.

Key Differences

1Mazda CX-50 has 26 fewer total recalls
2Chevrolet Equinox has 23.7 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Chevrolet Equinox scores 3 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

2Chevrolet Equinox

—

1Mazda CX-50

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Chevrolet Equinox vs Mazda CX-50: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Equinox vs Mazda CX-50 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Equinox	Mazda CX-50
Reliability Score	73/100	70/100
Years Tracked	9	4
Total Recalls	32	6
Complaints per 10k Sold	3.7	27.4
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	4	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Equinox and Mazda CX-50?

Brakes are the shared trouble spot, but they fail differently. Equinox owners describe a pedal that sinks to the floor, with 24 crash-linked complaints. They also report sudden power loss at highway speed, limp mode, and vibration at 35 to 40 mph. Power train and fuel complaints carry crash links too. CX-50 owners report false automatic emergency braking, dead batteries that lock the car, and front ball joints pulling out of control arms. Its crash-linked areas are brakes, electrical, and suspension, one report each. Suspension crash links appear only on the CX-50.

Chevrolet Equinox vs Mazda CX-50 common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Equinox	Mazda CX-50
SERVICE BRAKES	0.6Very Low	3.1Average
POWER TRAIN	0.4Very Low	2.9Low
STRUCTURE	—None	2.9Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	2.3Low
STEERING	0.1Very Low	2Low
SUSPENSION	—None	2Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	1.7Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.3Very Low	1.4Low
SEATS	—None	1.1Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.3Very Low	0.6Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.6Very Low
WHEELS	—None	0.6Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	0.6Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.3Very Low	—None
ENGINE	0.3Very Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None

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

How Does Chevrolet Equinox vs Mazda CX-50 Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Equinox vs Mazda CX-50 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Equinox	Mazda CX-50	Edge
2026	82/1000R / 0C	76/1000R / 0C	Chevrolet Equinox
2025	72/1005R / 288C	66/1003R / 21C	Chevrolet Equinox
2024	76/1002R / 143C	71/1001R / 26C	Chevrolet Equinox
2023	76/1003R / 70C	65/1002R / 49C	Chevrolet Equinox

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox scored 76/100 and the 2024 Mazda CX-50 scored 71/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Equinox vs the Mazda CX-50?

Choose the Equinox if you want a compact SUV with a long track record and a lower complaint rate per vehicle sold. Target 2023, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2018 and 2020, its weakest. Ask whether any brake or fuel pump repairs were done, and drive it past 35 mph to check for vibration. If you commute in low sun, look for dash glare on the windshield yourself. Choose the CX-50 if you want a midsize SUV and can accept a short history. Target 2024, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2023 and 2025, its weakest. Have a shop inspect the front ball joints and control arms. Test the keyless entry, ask about battery lockouts, and check for sudden braking during a test drive. For either model, treat 2026 with care. Its clean record mostly reflects how little time it has had to collect complaints.

Chevrolet Equinox vs Mazda CX-50: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Equinox more reliable than the Mazda CX-50?: Slightly, yes. The Equinox draws 3.7 complaints per 10,000 sold, while the CX-50 draws 27.4. The Equinox also has nine model years of history. Its serious brake and fuel pump complaints keep the lead narrow, and the CX-50 has had less time on the road.
Which has more recalls, the Equinox or the CX-50?: The Equinox has more. Federal recall records show 32 recalls across its 9 model years, against 6 across the 4 model years of the CX-50. The Equinox has been sold longer, so some of that gap comes from time on the road.
Which is cheaper to repair, the Equinox or the CX-50?: Repair-cost data is only available for the Equinox, so a direct comparison is not possible. The Equinox averages about $537 a year, 0.3 unscheduled shop visits, and an 18% chance that a repair is major. Get a quote for the CX-50 before buying.
Does the Mazda CX-50 have a braking problem?: Owners report false automatic emergency braking most often. The car brakes hard with nothing ahead, and in one case it dropped from 70 to 35 mph on a highway. Brake complaints are few, at 11, with one crash-linked. Test drive it in traffic.
What are the main problems with the Chevrolet Equinox?: Brakes lead the list with 248 complaints. Owners describe a pedal that sinks to the floor. Others report sudden power loss at highway speed, often blamed on the high-pressure fuel pump, along with infotainment faults and severe dashboard glare on the windshield.

More Chevrolet Equinox comparisons

Chevrolet Equinox vs GMC Terrain reliability Chevrolet Equinox vs Kia Sportage reliability Chevrolet Equinox vs Hyundai Tucson reliability Chevrolet Equinox vs Volkswagen Tiguan reliability Chevrolet Equinox reliability by year Chevrolet Equinox years to avoid

More Mazda CX-50 comparisons

Mazda CX-50 vs Honda CR-V reliability Mazda CX-50 vs Toyota RAV4 reliability Mazda CX-50 vs Nissan Rogue reliability Mazda CX-50 vs Hyundai Tucson reliability Mazda CX-50 reliability by year Mazda CX-50 years to avoid

Decided between Chevrolet Equinox and Mazda CX-50? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the Chevrolet Equinox and Mazda CX-50

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.

See incorrect data? Report an issue