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

Yes, the Explorer has a clear edge. Its reliability standing is good, while the CX-90 is mixed. Owners filed 6.8 complaints per 10,000 Explorers sold, compared with 111.2 for the CX-90. The CX-90 is newer, so its record is short, but early reports include hybrid shutdowns and sticking steering.

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

The Explorer has far more. Federal recall records show 117 across its 9 model years, against 13 across the CX-90's 3 model years. The Explorer has been on sale longer, so the gap is partly age. Check any VIN for open recalls either way.

What are the most common problems on the Mazda CX-90?

Steering is the largest area. Owners describe a wheel that binds or sticks in turns, or locks at full lock. Next come hybrid system shutdowns with leakage warnings, sometimes in the first days of ownership, and a driver-assist system that turns itself off with a "front radar obstructed" message.

What goes wrong most often on the Ford Explorer?

Power train complaints lead, mainly harsh, delayed, or skipped shifts and occasional power loss. Loose exterior trim and electrical faults that kill power follow. Engine failures are less common but can be severe, with replacement quotes of $11,000 to $12,000 reported.

Which Explorer and CX-90 model years should I avoid?

On the Explorer, avoid 2020 and 2021, its weakest years. On the CX-90, avoid 2024, a weakest year, and be careful with 2025, which appears on both the strongest and weakest lists. The 2026 CX-90 is too new to judge from its few complaints.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Ford Explorer vs Mazda CX-90: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Ford Explorer

Good

Mazda CX-90

Mixed

On reliability, the Ford Explorer clearly beats the Mazda CX-90. Owners filed 6.8 complaints per 10,000 Explorers sold against 111.2 for the CX-90, whose steering and hybrid faults hold it back, though the Explorer carries a much longer recall list.

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

Two generations cover the Explorer years in the data. The 2018 and 2019 models belonged to the fifth generation, which ran from 2011 to 2019. The sixth generation began in 2020 and ran through 2023, and its first two years, 2020 and 2021, were the weakest. Shoppers weighing those years are choosing the oldest and weakest part of that run. The CX-90 sits in its first generation, and every model year from 2024 to 2026 belongs to it. Its debut year, 2024, is among the weakest, and the newest years have had little time to build a complaint record.

Verdict

The Ford Explorer is more reliable than the Mazda CX-90, scoring 67/100 vs 58/100.

Reliability favors the Explorer, and the edge is clear. Its standing is good, while the CX-90's is mixed, and owners filed far fewer complaints per vehicle sold. The Explorer is not trouble free. It has a long recall list and some very costly engine and transmission failures. But the CX-90's problems show up early and often stump dealers, with cars towed in the first days of ownership and no confirmed fix in the steering reports.

Key Differences

1Ford Explorer has 104.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Mazda CX-90 has 104 fewer total recalls
3Ford Explorer scores 9 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

2Ford Explorer

—

1Mazda CX-90

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

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

Ford Explorer vs Mazda CX-90 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Ford Explorer	Mazda CX-90
Reliability Score	67/100	58/100
Years Tracked	9	3
Total Recalls	117	13
Complaints per 10k Sold	6.8	111.2
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	2	1

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

Harsh or erratic shifting, power loss while driving, loose exterior trim, wiring faults that kill power, and engine failures with quotes up to $12,000 define the Explorer. Rear camera recall delays add a steady stream of reports. The CX-90 shows a different pattern: a steering wheel that binds or locks at full lock, hybrid shutdowns with "electrical leakage detected" warnings, and a driver-assist system that switches off. Every Explorer problem area has crash-linked reports, including engine. The CX-90's engine area has none, but its steering area has five.

Ford Explorer vs Mazda CX-90 common problem areas comparison
Component	Ford Explorer	Mazda CX-90
STEERING	0.2Very Low	31.8High
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.7Very Low	17.5High
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	11.5Above Avg
POWER TRAIN	1.6Low	8.3Above Avg
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.1Low	8.7Above Avg
ENGINE	0.4Very Low	6.8Average
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	6.4Average
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	4Average
SERVICE BRAKES	0.2Very Low	2.8Low
STRUCTURE	1.1Low	1.6Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.2Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.1Very Low	—None
SEATS	0.1Very Low	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.1Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None

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

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

Ford Explorer vs Mazda CX-90 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Ford Explorer	Mazda CX-90	Edge
2026	70/1004R / 0C	72/1000R / 0C	Mazda CX-90
2025	72/10014R / 65C	63/1002R / 21C	Ford Explorer
2024	73/1006R / 14C	38/10011R / 259C	Ford Explorer

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Ford Explorer 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 Ford Explorer vs the Mazda CX-90?

If you want the lower-risk used buy and can live with a long recall history, pick the Explorer. Avoid 2020 and 2021, its weakest years. The 2024 and 2025 models rate best, but newer cars have had less time to collect complaints, so check the VIN for open recalls, especially the rear camera ones where parts were unavailable. Have a shop check the shifting and ask about engine recall coverage. Choose the CX-90 only if you specifically want its hybrid setup and will buy with care. Skip 2024, a weakest year, and treat 2025 as mixed since it appears on both the strongest and weakest lists. The 2026 model has had the least time to collect complaints, so do not read its rating as proof of quality. Test the steering through left turns, confirm the dash shows no hybrid warnings, and ask for written service history.

Ford Explorer vs Mazda CX-90: Common Questions

Is the Ford Explorer more reliable than the Mazda CX-90?: Yes, the Explorer has a clear edge. Its reliability standing is good, while the CX-90 is mixed. Owners filed 6.8 complaints per 10,000 Explorers sold, compared with 111.2 for the CX-90. The CX-90 is newer, so its record is short, but early reports include hybrid shutdowns and sticking steering.
Which has more recalls, the Explorer or the CX-90?: The Explorer has far more. Federal recall records show 117 across its 9 model years, against 13 across the CX-90's 3 model years. The Explorer has been on sale longer, so the gap is partly age. Check any VIN for open recalls either way.
What are the most common problems on the Mazda CX-90?: Steering is the largest area. Owners describe a wheel that binds or sticks in turns, or locks at full lock. Next come hybrid system shutdowns with leakage warnings, sometimes in the first days of ownership, and a driver-assist system that turns itself off with a "front radar obstructed" message.
What goes wrong most often on the Ford Explorer?: Power train complaints lead, mainly harsh, delayed, or skipped shifts and occasional power loss. Loose exterior trim and electrical faults that kill power follow. Engine failures are less common but can be severe, with replacement quotes of $11,000 to $12,000 reported.
Which Explorer and CX-90 model years should I avoid?: On the Explorer, avoid 2020 and 2021, its weakest years. On the CX-90, avoid 2024, a weakest year, and be careful with 2025, which appears on both the strongest and weakest lists. The 2026 CX-90 is too new to judge from its few complaints.

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More Mazda CX-90 comparisons

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How we score the Ford Explorer 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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