Last updated: 2026-10-10
Kia Telluride vs Mazda CX-50: Reliability Compared
Kia Telluride
Mazda CX-50
Reliability favors the Mazda CX-50 by a slight margin over the KIA Telluride, which has 27 recalls to Mazda's 6. The Telluride also has more serious engine and rollaway complaints, though the CX-50 has a higher complaint rate per vehicle sold.
How Do the Kia Telluride and Mazda CX-50 Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Mazda CX-50 is more reliable than the Kia Telluride, scoring 70/100 vs 66/100.
A slight edge goes to the Mazda CX-50. Its owner complaints are fewer in total and milder in the worst cases, and federal recall records show far fewer campaigns. The Telluride has a long list of serious reports: oil use that ends in engine failure, rollaway in Park, and cracking windshields. The CX-50 is not clean, though. Its ball joint and false braking reports are serious, and its complaint rate per vehicle sold is a bit higher. That is why the gap is small.
Key Differences
- 1Mazda CX-50 has 21 fewer total recalls
- 2Kia Telluride has 4.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 3Mazda CX-50 scores 4 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Kia Telluride vs Mazda CX-50: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Kia Telluride | Mazda CX-50 |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 66/100 | 70/100 |
| Years Tracked | 6 | 4 |
| Total Recalls | 27 | 6 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 23.3 | 27.4 |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2025 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 2 | 1 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Kia Telluride and Mazda CX-50?
Engine and drivetrain reports set the Telluride apart. Owners describe oil loss that ends in a seized engine, and vehicles rolling backward after being put in Park. Windshields crack with no visible impact, and the instrument cluster goes blank while driving. The CX-50 problems are lighter in volume. Its top report is false automatic emergency braking, including a hard stop on a snowy highway. Its worst suspension cases involve a ball joint pulling out of the control arm. Crash-linked reports in the Telluride sit in power train and exterior lighting, which the CX-50 lacks. The CX-50 has crash-linked reports in service brakes and suspension, which the Telluride lacks. Both have them in the electrical system.
| Component | Kia Telluride | Mazda CX-50 |
|---|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 4.4Average | 1.4Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2.8Low | 2.3Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 4.2Average | 0.6Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 1.7Low | 2.9Low |
| STRUCTURE | 1.6Low | 2.9Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.3Very Low | 3.1Average |
| SUSPENSION | 0.6Very Low | 2Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 2.5Low | —None |
| STEERING | 0.1Very Low | 2Low |
| ENGINE | 1.9Low | —None |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.1Very Low | 1.7Low |
| SEATS | —None | 1.1Low |
| VISIBILITY | 0.7Very Low | —None |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.6Very Low |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | 0.6Very Low |
| WHEELS | —None | 0.6Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | 0.1Very Low | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
How Does Kia Telluride vs Mazda CX-50 Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Kia Telluride | Mazda CX-50 | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 78/1002R / 32C | 66/1003R / 21C | Kia Telluride |
| 2024 | 69/1004R / 180C | 71/1001R / 26C | Mazda CX-50 |
| 2023 | 68/1005R / 161C | 65/1002R / 49C | Kia Telluride |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Kia Telluride scored 69/100 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 Kia Telluride vs the Mazda CX-50?
Kia Telluride vs Mazda CX-50: Common Questions
- Is the KIA Telluride more reliable than the Mazda CX-50?
- No, the Mazda CX-50 has a slight edge. It has fewer recalls and no reports of engine failure from oil use. The Telluride is still rated good, but its owners report oil-related engine failure, rollaway in Park, and cracking windshields. The gap between the two is small.
- Which has more recalls, the Telluride or the CX-50?
- The Telluride has more. Federal recall records show 27 recalls across six model years for the Telluride, against 6 across four model years for the CX-50. The Telluride has also been on sale longer, so it has had more time to collect them.
- Which is worse for engine problems?
- The Telluride. Owners report losing a quart or more of oil between changes, then engine failure with no low-oil warning. Some needed a new engine. The CX-50 complaints do not describe engine failure. Its power train reports involve noises, and neither describes a loss of drive power.
- What are the most serious CX-50 problems?
- False automatic emergency braking and front suspension failures. Owners report hard braking with nothing ahead, including on a highway. In the worst suspension cases, a ball joint pulled out of the control arm. One failure at 2077 miles caused a complete loss of control.
- Which model years should I avoid?
- For the Telluride, avoid 2020 and 2021, the weakest years. For the CX-50, be careful with 2023 and 2025. The 2024 is a stronger pick for both models. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so do not treat them as proven.
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Decided between Kia Telluride and Mazda CX-50? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Kia Telluride 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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