Is the Hyundai Palisade more reliable than the Mazda CX-9?

Based on our data, the Mazda CX-9 is more reliable with an average score of 76/100 compared to 65/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Hyundai Palisade or the Mazda CX-9?

The Hyundai Palisade has more recalls (33) compared to the Mazda CX-9 (6). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Hyundai Palisade or the Mazda CX-9?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Mazda CX-9 has a lower complaint rate at 15 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 31.7 for the Hyundai Palisade. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Hyundai Palisade or the Mazda CX-9?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Mazda CX-9 is cheaper to maintain at $539/year versus $573/year for the Hyundai Palisade.

Last updated: 2026-07-26

Hyundai Palisade vs Mazda CX-9: Reliability Compared

Hyundai Palisade

Good

More Reliable

Mazda CX-9

Good

Choosing between the Hyundai Palisade and the Mazda CX-9? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two full-size suvs.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Mazda CX-9 currently leads with an average score of 76/100 compared to 65/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Hyundai Palisade and Mazda CX-9 Generations Compare?

As of 2026, the Hyundai Palisade is in its second generation, which began in 2024. It received a facelift in 2023, indicating that it's still relatively early in its current generation cycle. Newer platforms like the Palisade's second generation often experience first-year issues as any production kinks are ironed out. In contrast, the Mazda CX-9 is late in its second generation, which started in 2016 and continued through 2024 without further redesigns. Mature platforms like the CX-9's tend to be well-sorted, offering refined reliability as initial issues have typically been addressed over the years.

Verdict

The Mazda CX-9 is more reliable than the Hyundai Palisade, scoring 76/100 vs 65/100.

The Mazda CX-9 outshines the Hyundai Palisade in terms of reliability, boasting a higher average reliability score of 76/100 compared to the Palisade's 65/100. With only 6 recalls over six years and a lower complaint rate of 15 per 10,000 sold, the CX-9 demonstrates greater dependability than the Palisade, which has 33 recalls and a complaint rate of 31.7 per 10,000 sold. Additionally, the CX-9 incurs slightly lower annual repair costs at $539, as opposed to the Palisade's $573. These factors, combined with fewer common issues, make the Mazda CX-9 the more reliable choice in this comparison.

Key Differences

1Mazda CX-9 costs $34 less per year to repair
2Mazda CX-9 has 27 fewer total recalls
3Mazda CX-9 has 16.7 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

1Hyundai Palisade

—

4Mazda CX-9

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair Frequency

Hyundai Palisade vs Mazda CX-9: Which Is More Reliable?

Hyundai Palisade vs Mazda CX-9 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Hyundai Palisade	Mazda CX-9
Reliability Score	65/100	76/100
Years Tracked	7	6
Total Recalls	33	6
Complaints per 10k Sold	31.7	15
Annual Repair Cost	$573/yr	$539/yr
Repair Frequency	0.4/yr	0.6/yr
Year Wins	0	4

What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Palisade and Mazda CX-9?

The Hyundai Palisade exhibits a higher volume of complaints across several categories compared to the Mazda CX-9, with significant issues noted in service brakes, seat belts, and visibility/wiper systems. Notably, the Palisade's service brakes have 16 crash-linked complaints, suggesting a potential safety concern. In contrast, the Mazda CX-9's primary issue lies with the engine, accounting for 95 complaints, but it has fewer overall safety-related incidents. Both models have some crash-linked complaints in the "unknown or other" category, but the Palisade's broader distribution of issues, particularly in safety-critical components, indicates a more diverse problem profile.

Hyundai Palisade vs Mazda CX-9 common problem areas comparison
Component	Hyundai Palisade	Mazda CX-9
ENGINE	1.7Low	5.7Average
SERVICE BRAKES	5.4Average	0.7Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	3.3Average	2Low
SEAT BELTS	3.9Average	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	3.6Average	0.1Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	2.1Low	1.5Low
POWER TRAIN	1.6Low	1.2Low
SUSPENSION	2.3Low	0.2Very Low
STEERING	1.1Low	0.4Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.4Very Low	0.3Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.4Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.2Very Low
VISIBILITY	0.2Very Low	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	0.2Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	—None
Chest Clip	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
SEATS	—None	—None

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

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Hyundai Palisade or Mazda CX-9?

Based on industry estimates, the Hyundai Palisade has an annual repair cost of $573, slightly higher than the Mazda CX-9's $539. Over five years, this difference amounts to $170. However, the Palisade requires fewer repair visits, with an average of 0.4 visits per year compared to the CX-9's 0.6 visits. Additionally, the CX-9 carries a 10% risk of major repairs, a factor not applicable to the Palisade. For cost-conscious buyers, the Palisade offers better value due to its lower repair frequency and absence of major repair risk, despite its marginally higher annual repair cost.

How Does Hyundai Palisade vs Mazda CX-9 Reliability Compare by Year?

Hyundai Palisade vs Mazda CX-9 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Hyundai Palisade	Mazda CX-9	Edge
2023	62/1005R / 326C	81/1000R / 12C	Mazda CX-9
2022	65/1005R / 241C	81/1000R / 9C	Mazda CX-9
2021	61/1006R / 354C	77/1001R / 35C	Mazda CX-9
2020	59/1007R / 521C	78/1001R / 19C	Mazda CX-9

Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 Hyundai Palisade scored 65/100 and the 2023 Mazda CX-9 scored 81/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Hyundai Palisade vs the Mazda CX-9?

If you prioritize reliability and fewer recalls, the Mazda CX-9 is a strong contender. With a reliability score of 76/100 and only six recalls, it offers a more dependable experience. The owner complaints per 10,000 sold are significantly lower at 15, reducing the likelihood of encountering issues. Although the repair frequency is slightly higher at 0.6 times per year, the estimated annual repair cost is affordable at $539. This model suits those who value long-term reliability and minimal disruptions. On the other hand, if you are budget-conscious and can manage occasional maintenance, the Hyundai Palisade might be appealing. Despite its lower reliability score of 65/100 and higher owner complaints at 31.7 per 10,000 sold, it has a slightly lower repair frequency of 0.4 times per year and an annual repair cost of $573. This vehicle is suitable for those who don't mind addressing minor issues in exchange for potential savings on repair frequency.

Hyundai Palisade vs Mazda CX-9: Common Questions

Is the Hyundai Palisade more reliable than the Mazda CX-9?: Based on our data, the Mazda CX-9 is more reliable with an average score of 76/100 compared to 65/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Hyundai Palisade or the Mazda CX-9?: The Hyundai Palisade has more recalls (33) compared to the Mazda CX-9 (6). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Hyundai Palisade or the Mazda CX-9?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Mazda CX-9 has a lower complaint rate at 15 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 31.7 for the Hyundai Palisade. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Hyundai Palisade or the Mazda CX-9?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Mazda CX-9 is cheaper to maintain at $539/year versus $573/year for the Hyundai Palisade.

More Hyundai Palisade comparisons

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More Mazda CX-9 comparisons

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How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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