Is the Mazda CX-5 more reliable than the Hyundai Ioniq 5?

Yes, by a large gap. The CX-5 has about 5.6 owner complaints per 10,000 sold, against 63.4 for the Ioniq 5. Its main risk is cracked cylinder heads, while the Ioniq 5's is ICCU failure that cuts drive power and often strands the car.

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

The Ioniq 5 does. Federal recall records show 18 recalls across 5 model years for the Ioniq 5, versus 11 across 9 model years for the CX-5. The Ioniq 5 packs more recalls into fewer years on the road.

What is the biggest problem with the Hyundai Ioniq 5?

The ICCU. Owners report a pop, a "check electrical system" warning, then a power-limited mode that tops out at low speed before the car stops. Failures appear around 22,000 to 25,000 miles, can recur after recall work, and repairs stretch because parts are back ordered.

What goes wrong with the Mazda CX-5 engine?

Cylinder heads can crack and leak oil onto the hot exhaust side. Owners notice a burning smell, white smoke, or oil on the ground, and often get no warning light until oil runs low. Reports cluster between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles, with quotes reaching $8,000.

Which CX-5 and Ioniq 5 model years should I avoid?

Avoid the 2018 and 2019 CX-5, which are its weakest years. For the Ioniq 5, avoid 2022 and 2023. The 2026 model year looks strong for both, but it has had little time to collect complaints, so do not treat it as proven.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Mazda CX-5: Reliability Compared

Hyundai Ioniq 5

Mixed

More Reliable

Mazda CX-5

Excellent

Reliability favors the Mazda CX-5 over the Hyundai Ioniq 5 by a wide margin. The Ioniq 5's ICCU failures can strand the car. Owners also file far more complaints per car sold on the Hyundai, and it has more recalls.

How Do the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Mazda CX-5 Generations Compare?

Shoppers have the most to choose from on the Mazda side. The second generation CX-5 covered the 2017 to 2025 model years and received a facelift for 2022, so most used cars you will see belong to it. A third generation began with the 2026 model year. It has had little time on the road, so its low complaint count says little yet. The Ioniq 5 is still in its first generation, which began with the 2022 model year and received a facelift for 2024. The weakest years, 2022 and 2023, come from before that facelift.

Verdict

The Mazda CX-5 is more reliable than the Hyundai Ioniq 5, scoring 83/100 vs 54/100.

The more reliable choice is the Mazda CX-5, and the gap is large. Its complaint rate is a fraction of the Ioniq 5's, and it has fewer recalls despite more model years on the road. The deciding flaw is the Ioniq 5's ICCU, which fails around 22,000 to 25,000 miles, can leave the car stranded, and sometimes fails again after recall work. The CX-5 has a serious problem of its own, cracked cylinder heads, but it is one engine failure rather than a fault spread across the car.

Key Differences

1Mazda CX-5 has 57.8 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Mazda CX-5 scores 29 points higher in reliability
3Mazda CX-5 has 7 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

0Hyundai Ioniq 5

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3Mazda CX-5

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Mazda CX-5: Which Is More Reliable?

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Mazda CX-5 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Hyundai Ioniq 5	Mazda CX-5
Reliability Score	54/100	83/100
Years Tracked	5	9
Total Recalls	18	11
Complaints per 10k Sold	63.4	5.6
Year Wins	0	5

What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Mazda CX-5?

One failed part drives most Ioniq 5 complaints. A loud pop and a "check electrical system" warning come first, then a power-limited crawl and a dead car, traced to the ICCU. Back-ordered parts drag repairs out. The CX-5 has two separate patterns: cracked cylinder heads that leak oil onto the hot exhaust, and a touchscreen that registers phantom inputs. Only the CX-5 has crash-linked service brake complaints, tied to its smart brake and radar system. Only the Ioniq 5 has crash-linked speed control complaints, including sudden acceleration while pulling into parking spaces.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Mazda CX-5 common problem areas comparison
Component	Hyundai Ioniq 5	Mazda CX-5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	36.8High	0.7Very Low
POWER TRAIN	12.1Above Avg	0.6Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	2.9Low	0.7Very Low
ENGINE	0.3Very Low	1.5Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	1.5Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	1.4Low	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	1.3Low	0.2Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	1.2Low	0.3Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.9Very Low	0.1Very Low
STEERING	0.7Very Low	0.1Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	0.7Very Low	—None
TIRES	0.4Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.3Very Low	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.2Very Low
AIR BAGS	—None	0.2Very Low
PARKING BRAKE	0.1Very Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	—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 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Mazda CX-5 Reliability Compare by Year?

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Mazda CX-5 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Hyundai Ioniq 5	Mazda CX-5	Edge
2026	63/1002R / 3C	94/1000R / 0C	Mazda CX-5
2025	53/1008R / 158C	82/1003R / 25C	Mazda CX-5
2024	58/1002R / 134C	84/1001R / 53C	Mazda CX-5
2023	50/1003R / 311C	81/1002R / 96C	Mazda CX-5
2022	46/1003R / 349C	87/1000R / 50C	Mazda CX-5

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 scored 58/100 and the 2022 Mazda CX-5 scored 87/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs the Mazda CX-5?

Pick the CX-5 if you want a compact SUV that rarely sits in a shop and costs little to keep running. Aim for 2022 or later, since 2018 and 2019 are the weakest years. Ask whether the cylinder heads have ever been inspected or repaired, because cracks cluster between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles, and test the touchscreen for phantom inputs. Treat 2026 with care. It rates well, but it has had little time to collect complaints. Pick the Ioniq 5 only if you want an electric car and can tolerate downtime risk. Avoid 2022 and 2023, the weakest years, and look for a 2024 with documented ICCU work. Ask the seller about any "check electrical system" warning, 12V battery replacements, and whether the car lost power after recall updates. If you cannot be without your car for a week or more, the CX-5 is the safer buy.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Mazda CX-5: Common Questions

Is the Mazda CX-5 more reliable than the Hyundai Ioniq 5?: Yes, by a large gap. The CX-5 has about 5.6 owner complaints per 10,000 sold, against 63.4 for the Ioniq 5. Its main risk is cracked cylinder heads, while the Ioniq 5's is ICCU failure that cuts drive power and often strands the car.
Which has more recalls, the CX-5 or the Ioniq 5?: The Ioniq 5 does. Federal recall records show 18 recalls across 5 model years for the Ioniq 5, versus 11 across 9 model years for the CX-5. The Ioniq 5 packs more recalls into fewer years on the road.
What is the biggest problem with the Hyundai Ioniq 5?: The ICCU. Owners report a pop, a "check electrical system" warning, then a power-limited mode that tops out at low speed before the car stops. Failures appear around 22,000 to 25,000 miles, can recur after recall work, and repairs stretch because parts are back ordered.
What goes wrong with the Mazda CX-5 engine?: Cylinder heads can crack and leak oil onto the hot exhaust side. Owners notice a burning smell, white smoke, or oil on the ground, and often get no warning light until oil runs low. Reports cluster between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles, with quotes reaching $8,000.
Which CX-5 and Ioniq 5 model years should I avoid?: Avoid the 2018 and 2019 CX-5, which are its weakest years. For the Ioniq 5, avoid 2022 and 2023. The 2026 model year looks strong for both, but it has had little time to collect complaints, so do not treat it as proven.

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How we score the Hyundai Ioniq 5 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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