Is the Chevrolet Traverse more reliable than the Mazda CX-90?

Yes, by a large gap. The Traverse has a good reliability standing and the CX-90 is mixed. The CX-90 draws 111.2 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 7.2 for the Traverse. The CX-90 is also much newer, so its record is short and still forming.

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

The Traverse has more in total, with 19 recalls across 9 model years. The CX-90 has 13 across just 3 model years. Spread over time, the CX-90 has been recalled more often per year on the market, so check any car's recall status by VIN before buying.

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

The hybrid system shutting the car down is the most serious pattern. Owners report "electrical leakage detected" and "hybrid system malfunction" warnings, a car that will not shift out of park, and a tow, sometimes within the first 25 miles. Dealers often cannot find the cause, and repairs can take weeks.

What goes wrong most often on the Chevrolet Traverse?

Power train complaints lead, especially AWD Service messages that drop the car into two-wheel drive. Next come early alternator failures, between about 26,500 and 57,323 miles, and cracked front exhaust brackets that cause a loud rattle or roar. Brake complaints are fewer but carry the most crash links.

Which Traverse years should I avoid?

Avoid 2018 and 2019, the weakest years. Be careful with 2020 as well, because GM special coverage for the exhaust bracket applies to 2019 and 2021 models but not 2020, leaving owners to pay for repairs. Treat 2025 and 2026 as unproven rather than best, since they have had little time to collect complaints.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Traverse vs Mazda CX-90: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Chevrolet Traverse

Good

Mazda CX-90

Mixed

Between the Chevrolet Traverse and Mazda CX-90, the Traverse is the more reliable pick by a wide margin. CX-90 owners file far more complaints per sale, and their worst reports involve sudden hybrid shutdowns and sticking steering.

How Do the Chevrolet Traverse and Mazda CX-90 Generations Compare?

Shoppers have a wide spread of Traverse years to consider. The second generation began with the 2018 model year and received a facelift for 2022, so the early 2018 and 2019 cars are the ones to treat carefully. The CX-90 is a first-generation model that arrived for 2024, so every year on the market is early production from that single generation. Its 2025 and 2026 years have had little time to collect complaints, so a clean record there is not proof of reliability.

Verdict

The Chevrolet Traverse is more reliable than the Mazda CX-90, scoring 70/100 vs 58/100.

The more reliable used SUV here is the Chevrolet Traverse, and the gap is large. Its standing is good, while the CX-90 is mixed. The deciding fact is complaint rate: CX-90 owners file far more complaints per vehicle sold, and their worst reports are sudden hybrid shutdowns and sticking steering. The Traverse has serious faults too, including early alternator failure and cracked exhaust brackets. Those problems are known and repairable, which makes the Traverse the safer bet.

Key Differences

1Chevrolet Traverse has 104.0 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Chevrolet Traverse scores 12 points higher in reliability
3Mazda CX-90 has 6 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

2Chevrolet Traverse

—

1Mazda CX-90

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Chevrolet Traverse vs Mazda CX-90: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Traverse vs Mazda CX-90 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Traverse	Mazda CX-90
Reliability Score	70/100	58/100
Years Tracked	9	3
Total Recalls	19	13
Complaints per 10k Sold	7.2	111.2
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	3	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Traverse and Mazda CX-90?

Different parts fail on each. Traverse owners report AWD shutoffs, alternators that die early, and front exhaust brackets that crack and tear the pipe. Its brake complaints, where the car fails to stop at low speeds, include 7 crash-linked reports, and the CX-90 has no brake category to match. The CX-90 fails differently. Its hybrid system shuts the car down with "electrical leakage detected" warnings, sometimes in the first miles, and dealers often find no cause. Steering that binds mid-turn has 5 crash-linked complaints, and no Traverse steering category appears. Radar-related driver-assist shutoffs are also unique to the CX-90.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Mazda CX-90 common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Traverse	Mazda CX-90
STEERING	0.2Very Low	31.8High
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.1Low	17.5High
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	11.5Above Avg
POWER TRAIN	2.2Low	8.3Above Avg
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.9Very Low	8.7Above Avg
ENGINE	0.6Very Low	6.8Average
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	6.4Average
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	4Average
SERVICE BRAKES	0.7Very Low	2.8Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	1.6Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.2Very Low	—None
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
SEATS	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None

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

How Does Chevrolet Traverse vs Mazda CX-90 Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Traverse vs Mazda CX-90 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Traverse	Mazda CX-90	Edge
2026	76/1000R / 6C	72/1000R / 0C	Chevrolet Traverse
2025	75/1000R / 132C	63/1002R / 21C	Chevrolet Traverse
2024	73/1000R / 107C	38/10011R / 259C	Chevrolet Traverse

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse scored 73/100 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 Chevrolet Traverse vs the Mazda CX-90?

Buy the Traverse if you want the lower-risk purchase and can live with known weak spots. Skip 2018 and 2019, the weakest years. Listen for an exhaust rattle at startup, ask whether the alternator has been replaced, and test the AWD and the brakes at parking speeds. Be careful with 2020: GM special coverage for the exhaust bracket applies to 2019 and 2021 but not 2020. The 2025 and 2026 cars look good partly because they have had less time to collect complaints. Buy the CX-90 only if you specifically want its hybrid setup and accept more risk. Every year is new, and 2024 is among the weakest, so favor a car with a clean service history over a low price. Ask whether the hybrid system has ever shut down, test the steering through full turns, and confirm all recall work is done. Walk away from any car with a repeat electrical or steering visit that ended without a fix.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Mazda CX-90: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Traverse more reliable than the Mazda CX-90?: Yes, by a large gap. The Traverse has a good reliability standing and the CX-90 is mixed. The CX-90 draws 111.2 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 7.2 for the Traverse. The CX-90 is also much newer, so its record is short and still forming.
Which has more recalls, the Traverse or the CX-90?: The Traverse has more in total, with 19 recalls across 9 model years. The CX-90 has 13 across just 3 model years. Spread over time, the CX-90 has been recalled more often per year on the market, so check any car's recall status by VIN before buying.
What is the biggest problem with the Mazda CX-90?: The hybrid system shutting the car down is the most serious pattern. Owners report "electrical leakage detected" and "hybrid system malfunction" warnings, a car that will not shift out of park, and a tow, sometimes within the first 25 miles. Dealers often cannot find the cause, and repairs can take weeks.
What goes wrong most often on the Chevrolet Traverse?: Power train complaints lead, especially AWD Service messages that drop the car into two-wheel drive. Next come early alternator failures, between about 26,500 and 57,323 miles, and cracked front exhaust brackets that cause a loud rattle or roar. Brake complaints are fewer but carry the most crash links.
Which Traverse years should I avoid?: Avoid 2018 and 2019, the weakest years. Be careful with 2020 as well, because GM special coverage for the exhaust bracket applies to 2019 and 2021 models but not 2020, leaving owners to pay for repairs. Treat 2025 and 2026 as unproven rather than best, since they have had little time to collect complaints.

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More Mazda CX-90 comparisons

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How we score the Chevrolet Traverse 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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