Is the Ford Bronco more reliable than the Mazda CX-90?

No. The CX-90 has a clear edge. It has far fewer recalls, and its complaints do not describe the fires or failed transmissions that Bronco owners report. It does draw more complaints per vehicle sold, mostly about steering and hybrid system shutdowns, so it is not trouble free.

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

The Bronco, by a wide margin. Federal recall records show 126 recalls across its six model years from 2021 to 2026. The CX-90 has 13 across three model years. The Bronco has been on sale longer, but the gap is still large.

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

Steering is the largest complaint area. Owners describe the wheel binding or feeling notchy in turns, catching when coming out of left turns, or refusing to return to center. Five of those reports are crash-linked, and none mention a confirmed fix. Test drive carefully.

Do Ford Broncos have serious engine or transmission problems?

Yes, in owner complaints. Engine reports include fires, smoke from under the hood, and repeated water pump leaks. Transmission complaints include 7th-to-8th shift faults, limp mode and internal breakage, with dealer replacement quotes of $10,000 to $13,000 on some higher-mileage vehicles.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Ford Bronco vs Mazda CX-90: Reliability Compared

Ford Bronco

Mixed

More Reliable

Mazda CX-90

Mixed

The Mazda CX-90 comes out ahead of the Ford Bronco on reliability, with a clear edge. The deciding fact is recalls: the Bronco has 126 across six model years, plus fire and transmission reports, while the CX-90 has 13 across three.

How Do the Ford Bronco and Mazda CX-90 Generations Compare?

Every Bronco you are likely to find sits in the sixth generation, which started with the 2021 model year. The 2023 model year added the Raptor trim. Because the data covers 2021 through 2026, the year matters: 2021 and 2022 rank weakest, while 2025 and 2026 look strongest partly because they have had less time to collect complaints. The CX-90 is in its first generation, which began with the 2024 model year. No older generation exists to fall back on, so even the oldest examples are only a few years old and early problems may still be surfacing.

Verdict

The Mazda CX-90 is more reliable than the Ford Bronco, scoring 58/100 vs 52/100.

A clear edge goes to the Mazda CX-90. Federal recall records show 126 recalls across six Bronco model years against 13 across three CX-90 years. Bronco owners report engine compartment fires, transmissions that fail outright with quoted replacements of $10,000 to $13,000, and brakes that fade without warning. The CX-90 draws far more complaints per vehicle sold, and its sticking steering is a real concern. Even so, the complaint text for it describes no fires and no outright transmission failures.

Key Differences

1Mazda CX-90 has 113 fewer total recalls
2Ford Bronco has 81.8 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Mazda CX-90 scores 6 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

1Ford Bronco

—

2Mazda CX-90

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Ford Bronco vs Mazda CX-90: Which Is More Reliable?

Ford Bronco vs Mazda CX-90 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Ford Bronco	Mazda CX-90
Reliability Score	52/100	58/100
Years Tracked	6	3
Total Recalls	126	13
Complaints per 10k Sold	29.4	111.2
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	1	2

What Are the Common Problems With the Ford Bronco and Mazda CX-90?

Fires, failed transmissions and fading brakes set the Bronco's problems apart. Fires appear in both the electrical and engine reports. Transmissions break, water pumps leak, and the brake pedal can sink to the floor after ABS faults. Brakes carry 11 crash-linked reports, and the CX-90 list has no brake area at all. CX-90 complaints center on steering that binds or sticks in turns, with 5 crash-linked reports, a problem the Bronco list does not show. Its hybrid system also shuts the car down within days of purchase, and the driver-assist radar switches itself off without cause.

Ford Bronco vs Mazda CX-90 common problem areas comparison
Component	Ford Bronco	Mazda CX-90
STEERING	0.7Very Low	31.8High
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	5Average	17.5High
POWER TRAIN	4.2Average	8.3Above Avg
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	11.5Above Avg
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	2.3Low	8.7Above Avg
ENGINE	2.6Low	6.8Average
VISIBILITY/WIPER	2.5Low	4Average
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	6.4Average
SERVICE BRAKES	3Low	2.8Low
FUEL SYSTEM	1.8Low	—None
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	1.6Low
SUSPENSION	1.3Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.4Very Low	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.3Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	0.2Very Low	—None
SEAT BELTS	0.2Very Low	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.1Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.1Very Low	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	—None

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

How Does Ford Bronco vs Mazda CX-90 Reliability Compare by Year?

Ford Bronco vs Mazda CX-90 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Ford Bronco	Mazda CX-90	Edge
2026	59/1002R / 0C	72/1000R / 0C	Mazda CX-90
2025	61/10016R / 30C	63/1002R / 21C	Mazda CX-90
2024	58/10018R / 104C	38/10011R / 259C	Ford Bronco

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Ford Bronco scored 58/100 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 Ford Bronco vs the Mazda CX-90?

If you want fewer recalls and less risk of a major breakdown, buy the CX-90. Test drive it with attention to the steering, especially coming out of left turns, because binding is its most common complaint. Ask whether the hybrid system has ever shown a leakage or malfunction warning, since those reports often came in the first days of ownership. The 2024 year is listed among its weakest, and 2025 appears on both the strongest and weakest lists. The 2026 model has had the least time to collect complaints, so a cleaner record is not proof. Buy the Bronco only if you want its off-road character and accept the risk. Target 2025 or 2026, but remember those years have had less time to collect complaints. Avoid 2021 and 2022, the weakest years. On any Bronco, ask for proof of water pump work, check for stored battery or electrical faults, and confirm every open recall was completed. Higher-mileage examples carry the transmission risk, so get a pre-purchase inspection.

Ford Bronco vs Mazda CX-90: Common Questions

Is the Ford Bronco more reliable than the Mazda CX-90?: No. The CX-90 has a clear edge. It has far fewer recalls, and its complaints do not describe the fires or failed transmissions that Bronco owners report. It does draw more complaints per vehicle sold, mostly about steering and hybrid system shutdowns, so it is not trouble free.
Which has more recalls, the Bronco or the CX-90?: The Bronco, by a wide margin. Federal recall records show 126 recalls across its six model years from 2021 to 2026. The CX-90 has 13 across three model years. The Bronco has been on sale longer, but the gap is still large.
What is the biggest problem with the Mazda CX-90?: Steering is the largest complaint area. Owners describe the wheel binding or feeling notchy in turns, catching when coming out of left turns, or refusing to return to center. Five of those reports are crash-linked, and none mention a confirmed fix. Test drive carefully.
Do Ford Broncos have serious engine or transmission problems?: Yes, in owner complaints. Engine reports include fires, smoke from under the hood, and repeated water pump leaks. Transmission complaints include 7th-to-8th shift faults, limp mode and internal breakage, with dealer replacement quotes of $10,000 to $13,000 on some higher-mileage vehicles.
Which model years of the Bronco and CX-90 should I avoid?: On the Bronco, avoid 2021 and 2022, its weakest years. On the CX-90, 2024 is listed among the weakest, and 2025 appears on both the strongest and weakest lists. The 2026 model of either vehicle has had less time to collect complaints, so do not treat it as proven.

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How we score the Ford Bronco 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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