Is the Mazda CX-5 more reliable than the KIA Sorento?

Yes, by a large margin. The CX-5 has 5.6 owner complaints per 10,000 sold against 7.4 for the Sorento. It also has lower repair costs and fewer recalls. Its main risk is cracked cylinder heads, while the Sorento's is engine failure after oil loss.

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

The Sorento, by a wide gap. Federal recall records show 43 recalls for the Sorento across model years 2018 to 2026, against 11 for the CX-5. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy, since a model's total does not tell you about one car.

Which costs less to repair?

The CX-5 costs less. Independent repair-cost data estimates $447 a year for the CX-5 and $533 for the Sorento, about $430 apart over five years. Shop visits are equal at 0.3 a year, but a Sorento repair is more likely to be major.

What is the biggest engine problem on the CX-5?

Cracked cylinder heads. They leak oil onto the hot exhaust side, which causes a burning smell, white smoke, or oil on the ground. Many cars show no warning light until oil runs low. Reports cluster between 30,000 and 80,000 miles, and repair quotes reach $8,000.

Why do Sorento engines fail?

Owner complaints point to oil disappearing between changes with no visible leak and no warning light. Some owners report a quart every 400 miles. Many cases end in knocking, misfires, or a stall at highway speed, usually between 90,000 and 116,000 miles. Check oil records before buying.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Kia Sorento vs Mazda CX-5: Reliability Compared

Kia Sorento

Good

More Reliable

Mazda CX-5

Excellent

On reliability, the Mazda CX-5 comes out well ahead of the KIA Sorento. It has fewer owner complaints per car sold and lower repair costs. The Sorento has far more recalls and a higher chance of a major repair, though both models have serious engine problems.

How Do the Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-5 Generations Compare?

Most used CX-5 shoppers will land in the second generation (KF), which covered US model years 2017 to 2025 and received a facelift in 2022. That facelift gives a clear dividing line within it. A third generation (KI) began with the 2026 model year. Because 2026 has had very little time to collect complaints, its strong standing is not yet proof. The Sorento's third generation (UM) covered 2016 to 2020, with a facelift in 2019. The fourth generation (MQ4) began in 2021 and was facelifted for 2024. Shoppers in the 2018 to 2020 range are buying the older UM design, while 2021 and later cars are the newer MQ4.

Verdict

The Mazda CX-5 is more reliable than the Kia Sorento, scoring 83/100 vs 71/100.

The more reliable used SUV here is the Mazda CX-5, and the gap is large. It draws fewer owner complaints per car sold, has far fewer recalls across the same nine model years, and costs less to keep running. A repair is also less likely to be major. The CX-5 is not trouble free, since cracked cylinder heads can run to $8,000. But the Sorento's engine oil loss and failures between 90,000 and 116,000 miles leave it behind on almost every measure.

Key Differences

1Mazda CX-5 costs $86 less per year to repair
2Mazda CX-5 has 32 fewer total recalls
3Mazda CX-5 scores 12 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

0Kia Sorento

—

5Mazda CX-5

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Kia Sorento vs Mazda CX-5: Which Is More Reliable?

Kia Sorento vs Mazda CX-5 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Kia Sorento	Mazda CX-5
Reliability Score	71/100	83/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	43	11
Complaints per 10k Sold	7.4	5.6
Annual Repair Cost	$533/yr	$447/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	11%	8%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	0	9

What Are the Common Problems With the Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-5?

Engines are the weak point on both, but they fail differently. CX-5 cylinder heads crack and leak oil onto the hot exhaust side, giving a burning smell or smoke, usually at 30,000 to 80,000 miles. Sorento engines burn oil with no leak and no warning light, then knock, misfire, or stall. The CX-5 adds touchscreen ghost touch and smart brake radar faults, and its service brake complaints include crashes. The Sorento has no brake area among its main problems. Its steering and exterior lighting complaints, such as sticking steering and headlights going dark at night, carry no crash links.

Kia Sorento vs Mazda CX-5 common problem areas comparison
Component	Kia Sorento	Mazda CX-5
ENGINE	1.4Low	1.5Low
POWER TRAIN	1.5Low	0.6Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.1Low	0.7Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1Very Low	0.7Very Low
STEERING	0.3Very Low	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.3Very Low	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.2Very Low	0.2Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.2Very Low	0.2Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.1Very Low	0.3Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
TRAILER HITCHES	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	0.1Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None

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

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Kia Sorento or Mazda CX-5?

Independent repair-cost data puts the CX-5 at $447 a year and the Sorento at $533. That is $86 a year, or about $430 over five years in the CX-5's favor. Both average 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, so you will visit the shop equally often. The difference is in how bad a visit gets. A CX-5 repair has an 8% chance of being major, against 11% for the Sorento. An engine replacement on either car would wipe out the savings.

How Does Kia Sorento vs Mazda CX-5 Reliability Compare by Year?

Kia Sorento vs Mazda CX-5 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Kia Sorento	Mazda CX-5	Edge
2026	80/1004R / 0C	94/1000R / 0C	Mazda CX-5
2025	75/1008R / 72C	82/1003R / 25C	Mazda CX-5
2024	79/1002R / 35C	84/1001R / 53C	Mazda CX-5
2023	70/1007R / 120C	81/1002R / 96C	Mazda CX-5
2022	66/10010R / 171C	87/1000R / 50C	Mazda CX-5
2021	66/1006R / 217C	83/1000R / 129C	Mazda CX-5
2020	71/1001R / 115C	86/1000R / 94C	Mazda CX-5
2019	64/1002R / 383C	75/1002R / 229C	Mazda CX-5
2018	68/1003R / 232C	71/1003R / 310C	Mazda CX-5

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Kia Sorento scored 79/100 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 Kia Sorento vs the Mazda CX-5?

Pick the CX-5 if you want the lower running cost and fewer recalls, and a compact SUV is enough. Target 2022, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest. Whatever year you shop, ask for proof of oil leak checks, because cracked heads tend to appear soon after the powertrain warranty ends. Test the touchscreen for ghost touch before you sign. Pick the Sorento if you need midsize room and can accept the higher cost. Look at 2024, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2019 and 2021, its weakest. Treat 2026 with caution on either model. It ranks well, but it has had little time to collect complaints, so that standing is not proof. On any Sorento, check oil records closely, since owners report oil loss with no warning light and several say Kia refused coverage after the warranty ended. Test the headlights in Auto mode at night.

Kia Sorento vs Mazda CX-5: Common Questions

Is the Mazda CX-5 more reliable than the KIA Sorento?: Yes, by a large margin. The CX-5 has 5.6 owner complaints per 10,000 sold against 7.4 for the Sorento. It also has lower repair costs and fewer recalls. Its main risk is cracked cylinder heads, while the Sorento's is engine failure after oil loss.
Which has more recalls, the CX-5 or the Sorento?: The Sorento, by a wide gap. Federal recall records show 43 recalls for the Sorento across model years 2018 to 2026, against 11 for the CX-5. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy, since a model's total does not tell you about one car.
Which costs less to repair?: The CX-5 costs less. Independent repair-cost data estimates $447 a year for the CX-5 and $533 for the Sorento, about $430 apart over five years. Shop visits are equal at 0.3 a year, but a Sorento repair is more likely to be major.
What is the biggest engine problem on the CX-5?: Cracked cylinder heads. They leak oil onto the hot exhaust side, which causes a burning smell, white smoke, or oil on the ground. Many cars show no warning light until oil runs low. Reports cluster between 30,000 and 80,000 miles, and repair quotes reach $8,000.
Why do Sorento engines fail?: Owner complaints point to oil disappearing between changes with no visible leak and no warning light. Some owners report a quart every 400 miles. Many cases end in knocking, misfires, or a stall at highway speed, usually between 90,000 and 116,000 miles. Check oil records before buying.

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How we score the Kia Sorento 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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