Is the Honda CR-V more reliable than the Mazda CX-50?

Yes, the Honda CR-V has a clear reliability edge. Owners report 8 complaints per 10,000 CR-Vs sold, compared with 27.4 for the CX-50. The CX-50 also has a much shorter history, with model years starting in 2023. The CR-V data covers 2018 through 2026.

Which has more recalls, the CR-V or the CX-50?

The Honda CR-V has more recalls in total: 46 across nine model years. The Mazda CX-50 has 6 across four model years. Part of that gap comes from time on the road, since the CR-V data covers more than twice as many model years. Check any used car's VIN for open recalls before you buy.

What is the steering problem on the Honda CR-V?

Most CR-V steering complaints describe a wheel that sticks or catches near center, then suddenly releases, so drivers overcorrect. Owners also hear clicking, creaking or popping, and they notice extra effort returning to straight at highway speeds. Reports start as early as 9,000 miles. Dealers usually diagnose a failing steering rack or gearbox. A separate group of complaints says lane keeping assist tugs the wheel unexpectedly.

Does the Mazda CX-50 have suspension problems?

Yes, several CX-50 owner complaints describe failed front lower ball joints and control arms. In the worst cases, the joint pulled out of the control arm and the front wheel nearly separated from the car. Other owners hear loud clunks at 5 to 25 mph. One owner waited nearly two months for a control arm because of a part shortage.

Do the CR-V and CX-50 both have phantom braking?

Yes, owners of both models report the car braking hard with nothing ahead. The problem is far larger on the CR-V, with 656 forward collision avoidance complaints and 13 tied to crashes. Many involve adaptive cruise control or curves. CX-50 reports are fewer. One describes the car dropping from 70 to 35 mph on a snowy highway.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Honda CR-V vs Mazda CX-50: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Honda CR-V

Good

Mazda CX-50

Good

On reliability, the Honda CR-V holds a clear edge over the Mazda CX-50. CR-V owners file 8 complaints per 10,000 sold, while CX-50 owners file 27.4. The CR-V does have known weak spots, mainly a sticking steering rack and false automatic braking, but its record covers nine model years.

How Do the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-50 Generations Compare?

Two generations fall within the CR-V years on this page. The 2018 to 2022 models are fifth generation, and that generation got a facelift in 2020. A 2018 or 2019 is the pre-facelift version, and those are also the CR-V's weakest years. The sixth generation followed for 2023 and covers 2023 to 2025 in the generation data. The CX-50 is still in its first generation. It launched for 2023, and Mazda updated it for 2025. That 2025 update year is one of the CX-50's weaker years, so a newer CX-50 is not automatically the better one.

Verdict

The Honda CR-V is more reliable than the Mazda CX-50, scoring 75/100 vs 70/100.

The clear reliability pick is the Honda CR-V. Its owners file complaints at less than a third of the CX-50's rate, 8 per 10,000 sold against 27.4, and that gap decides it. The CR-V still has problems. Complaints about steering and false emergency braking run into the hundreds, and dozens are tied to crashes. Those complaints are spread over a very large number of cars and nine model years, though. The CX-50 has only been on sale since the 2023 model year, so its record is short, and its complaint rate per vehicle is already higher.

Key Differences

1Mazda CX-50 has 40 fewer total recalls
2Honda CR-V has 19.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Honda CR-V scores 5 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

2Honda CR-V

—

1Mazda CX-50

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Honda CR-V vs Mazda CX-50: Which Is More Reliable?

Honda CR-V vs Mazda CX-50 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Honda CR-V	Mazda CX-50
Reliability Score	75/100	70/100
Years Tracked	9	4
Total Recalls	46	6
Complaints per 10k Sold	8	27.4
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	4	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-50?

Steering tops the CR-V's complaint list. The wheel sticks near center, then lets go suddenly, and dealers often blame the steering rack. Phantom braking comes second. The car brakes hard with nothing ahead, warnings flash, and drivers risk being rear-ended. Owners also report highway power loss, oil dilution and fuel injector failures. CX-50 owners report the same false braking, plus hardware failures that aren't among the CR-V's main problem areas. Front lower ball joints have pulled out of control arms, one at 2,077 miles. One liftgate opened on its own, and some batteries die repeatedly. Crash-linked steering complaints appear only on the CR-V, and crash-linked suspension complaints only on the CX-50.

Honda CR-V vs Mazda CX-50 common problem areas comparison
Component	Honda CR-V	Mazda CX-50
STEERING	1.8Low	2Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.4Very Low	3.1Average
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.9Very Low	2.3Low
POWER TRAIN	0.2Very Low	2.9Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	2.9Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	1Very Low	1.7Low
SUSPENSION	—None	2Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.3Very Low	1.4Low
SEATS	—None	1.1Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.6Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.2Very Low	0.6Very Low
ENGINE	0.7Very Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	0.6Very Low	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	0.6Very Low
WHEELS	—None	0.6Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None

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

How Does Honda CR-V vs Mazda CX-50 Reliability Compare by Year?

Honda CR-V vs Mazda CX-50 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Honda CR-V	Mazda CX-50	Edge
2026	83/1000R / 35C	76/1000R / 0C	Honda CR-V
2025	80/1006R / 201C	66/1003R / 21C	Honda CR-V
2024	77/1004R / 406C	71/1001R / 26C	Honda CR-V
2023	72/1007R / 578C	65/1002R / 49C	Honda CR-V

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Honda CR-V scored 77/100 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 Honda CR-V vs the Mazda CX-50?

Pick the CR-V if you want a long, steady track record. You get nine model years to choose from and a low complaint rate per car sold. Avoid the 2018 and 2019, which are its weakest years. On any CR-V, take a test drive at 40 to 50 mph. Feel for the wheel catching near center and listen for clicking or popping. Steering rack failures cluster around 47,000 to 53,000 miles, and dealer quotes run $3,500 to $4,478. The 2025 and 2026 rate best so far, but they have also had the least time to collect complaints. Choose the CX-50 if you want what the data classes as a midsize SUV and can accept a short record. Skip the 2023 and 2025, which are its weakest years. The 2024 is one of its stronger years and has been on the road longer than the 2026. Before you buy, have a mechanic check the front lower ball joints and control arms. Open and close the liftgate several times. Ask whether the car has had repeated dead-battery lockouts.

Honda CR-V vs Mazda CX-50: Common Questions

Is the Honda CR-V more reliable than the Mazda CX-50?: Yes, the Honda CR-V has a clear reliability edge. Owners report 8 complaints per 10,000 CR-Vs sold, compared with 27.4 for the CX-50. The CX-50 also has a much shorter history, with model years starting in 2023. The CR-V data covers 2018 through 2026.
Which has more recalls, the CR-V or the CX-50?: The Honda CR-V has more recalls in total: 46 across nine model years. The Mazda CX-50 has 6 across four model years. Part of that gap comes from time on the road, since the CR-V data covers more than twice as many model years. Check any used car's VIN for open recalls before you buy.
What is the steering problem on the Honda CR-V?: Most CR-V steering complaints describe a wheel that sticks or catches near center, then suddenly releases, so drivers overcorrect. Owners also hear clicking, creaking or popping, and they notice extra effort returning to straight at highway speeds. Reports start as early as 9,000 miles. Dealers usually diagnose a failing steering rack or gearbox. A separate group of complaints says lane keeping assist tugs the wheel unexpectedly.
Does the Mazda CX-50 have suspension problems?: Yes, several CX-50 owner complaints describe failed front lower ball joints and control arms. In the worst cases, the joint pulled out of the control arm and the front wheel nearly separated from the car. Other owners hear loud clunks at 5 to 25 mph. One owner waited nearly two months for a control arm because of a part shortage.
Do the CR-V and CX-50 both have phantom braking?: Yes, owners of both models report the car braking hard with nothing ahead. The problem is far larger on the CR-V, with 656 forward collision avoidance complaints and 13 tied to crashes. Many involve adaptive cruise control or curves. CX-50 reports are fewer. One describes the car dropping from 70 to 35 mph on a snowy highway.

More Honda CR-V comparisons

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More Mazda CX-50 comparisons

Mazda CX-50 vs Toyota RAV4 reliability Mazda CX-50 vs Nissan Rogue reliability Mazda CX-50 vs Hyundai Tucson reliability Mazda CX-50 vs Kia Sportage reliability Mazda CX-50 reliability by year Mazda CX-50 years to avoid

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How we score the Honda CR-V 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.

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