Is the Dodge Hornet more reliable than the Mazda CX-5?

No. The CX-5 comes out well ahead. Hornet owners filed 21.7 complaints per 10,000 sold versus 5.6 for the CX-5. Hornet reports center on battery drain, power loss, door latches, and driver-assist shutoffs that dealers often could not fix.

Which has more recalls, the Hornet or the CX-5?

The Hornet has more, and in far less time. Federal recall records show 13 recalls across its three model years, against 11 across nine CX-5 model years. Hornet owners also describe long waits for replacement parts, including brake and rear camera repairs.

What is the biggest problem with the Mazda CX-5?

Cracked cylinder heads are the biggest. They leak oil onto the hot exhaust side, and drivers notice a burning smell, white smoke, or oil on the ground. Many cars show no warning light until oil runs low. Failures cluster between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles, with repair quotes up to $8,000.

Which CX-5 model years should I avoid?

Avoid 2018 and 2019, which rank as the weakest years. The 2022 year ranks among the strongest, and it came with a facelift. The 2026 year opens a new generation, so it has had little time to collect complaints and should not be read as proven.

Are Hornet electrical problems dangerous?

They can be. Sudden loss of power steering usually comes with a wider electrical failure, and one owner reports five total power losses. One forward collision report describes adaptive cruise switching off while lane assist steered the car into a sign. Another describes hard braking on an open highway with nothing ahead.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Dodge Hornet vs Mazda CX-5: Reliability Compared

Dodge Hornet

Mixed

More Reliable

Mazda CX-5

Excellent

Reliability favors the Mazda CX-5 by a wide margin over the Dodge Hornet. Owners filed nearly four times as many complaints per car sold on the Hornet, mostly electrical faults that cut power and disable driver-assist features.

How Do the Dodge Hornet and Mazda CX-5 Generations Compare?

Every used Hornet belongs to a single generation, which debuted for 2023 and received a minor refresh for 2025. That means its electrical and recall problems cut across all three years. The 2025 year has had the least time to collect complaints, so treat its record as unfinished. The CX-5 has the longer history. Its second generation ran from 2017 through 2025 and was facelifted in 2022. A third generation arrived for 2026 only, so that year has little track record yet. Most used shoppers will land in the second generation, where 2022 ranks among the strongest years and 2018 and 2019 rank weakest.

Verdict

The Mazda CX-5 is more reliable than the Dodge Hornet, scoring 83/100 vs 59/100.

Reliability clearly favors the CX-5, and the gap is large. Hornet owners report electrical faults that strand them: dead batteries, total power loss, failing door latches, and driver-assist systems that shut off, often with no dealer fix. Complaints per car sold run nearly four times higher than on the Mazda. The CX-5 has a serious flaw of its own in cracked cylinder heads, but its overall record, shop-visit rate, and repair-cost data stay strong. The Hornet offers no comparable cushion.

Key Differences

1Mazda CX-5 scores 24 points higher in reliability
2Mazda CX-5 has 16.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Mazda CX-5 has 2 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

0Dodge Hornet

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3Mazda CX-5

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Dodge Hornet vs Mazda CX-5: Which Is More Reliable?

Dodge Hornet vs Mazda CX-5 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Dodge Hornet	Mazda CX-5
Reliability Score	59/100	83/100
Years Tracked	3	9
Total Recalls	13	11
Complaints per 10k Sold	21.7	5.6
Year Wins	0	3

What Are the Common Problems With the Dodge Hornet and Mazda CX-5?

Electrical trouble spreads across the Hornet from one root. A dead battery or power loss can take down power steering, stability control, the center screen, and driver-assist features together. Several complaints also describe waits for back-ordered recall parts. The CX-5's biggest problem is mechanical: cracked cylinder heads leak oil onto the hot exhaust side, with a burning smell or smoke as the usual warning. Its touchscreen "ghost touch" is common but mostly an annoyance. Crash-linked reports are heavier on the Mazda, especially brakes tied to the smart brake and radar system, plus transmission and rollaway cases. The Hornet has one crash report each in electrical, back over prevention, and forward collision avoidance.

Dodge Hornet vs Mazda CX-5 common problem areas comparison
Component	Dodge Hornet	Mazda CX-5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	6.8Average	0.7Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	2.5Low	0.3Very Low
ENGINE	1.3Low	1.5Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.8Low	0.7Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	2Low	—None
STEERING	1.8Low	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	1.5Low	0.1Very Low
POWER TRAIN	0.5Very Low	0.6Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.5Very Low	0.2Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.2Very Low
AIR BAGS	—None	0.2Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None

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

How Does Dodge Hornet vs Mazda CX-5 Reliability Compare by Year?

Dodge Hornet vs Mazda CX-5 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Dodge Hornet	Mazda CX-5	Edge
2025	64/1002R / 1C	82/1003R / 25C	Mazda CX-5
2024	54/1007R / 60C	84/1001R / 53C	Mazda CX-5
2023	59/1004R / 25C	81/1002R / 96C	Mazda CX-5

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Dodge Hornet scored 59/100 and the 2024 Mazda CX-5 scored 84/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Dodge Hornet vs the Mazda CX-5?

Pick the CX-5 if you want the lower-risk used compact SUV. Its complaint rate is far lower, and repair-cost data shows few unscheduled shop visits. Target 2022 through 2025, which includes the 2022 facelift. Avoid 2018 and 2019, the weakest years. Whatever year you shop, ask for proof of oil-leak or cylinder head repairs, because failures cluster between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles, often just after the powertrain warranty ends. Repair quotes there reach $8,000. Consider the Hornet only if you find a car at a clear discount and can tolerate electrical uncertainty. Before buying, confirm every recall repair is finished, and check the VIN on the federal recall site rather than trusting the dealer's word alone. Test the rear camera, adaptive cruise, and center screen, and ask about battery drain and door latches. Among Hornet years, 2025 and 2023 rank strongest and 2024 weakest, but 2023 also shows up among the weakest, so no year is a safe pick.

Dodge Hornet vs Mazda CX-5: Common Questions

Is the Dodge Hornet more reliable than the Mazda CX-5?: No. The CX-5 comes out well ahead. Hornet owners filed 21.7 complaints per 10,000 sold versus 5.6 for the CX-5. Hornet reports center on battery drain, power loss, door latches, and driver-assist shutoffs that dealers often could not fix.
Which has more recalls, the Hornet or the CX-5?: The Hornet has more, and in far less time. Federal recall records show 13 recalls across its three model years, against 11 across nine CX-5 model years. Hornet owners also describe long waits for replacement parts, including brake and rear camera repairs.
What is the biggest problem with the Mazda CX-5?: Cracked cylinder heads are the biggest. They leak oil onto the hot exhaust side, and drivers notice a burning smell, white smoke, or oil on the ground. Many cars show no warning light until oil runs low. Failures cluster between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles, with repair quotes up to $8,000.
Which CX-5 model years should I avoid?: Avoid 2018 and 2019, which rank as the weakest years. The 2022 year ranks among the strongest, and it came with a facelift. The 2026 year opens a new generation, so it has had little time to collect complaints and should not be read as proven.
Are Hornet electrical problems dangerous?: They can be. Sudden loss of power steering usually comes with a wider electrical failure, and one owner reports five total power losses. One forward collision report describes adaptive cruise switching off while lane assist steered the car into a sign. Another describes hard braking on an open highway with nothing ahead.

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How we score the Dodge Hornet and Mazda CX-5

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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