Is the Mazda 5 more reliable than the Toyota GR86?

No, the GR86 has a slight edge, and both cars hold a good standing. The GR86 has 3 recalls and 36 owner complaints, against 44 recalls and 1314 complaints for the Mazda 5. The GR86 is newer, though, so its record is shorter and the gap looks larger than it may be.

Which has more recalls, the Mazda 5 or the GR86?

The Mazda 5 has far more. Federal recall records show 44 across its 9 model years, while the GR86 has 3 across 5 model years. The Mazda 5 has had more years on the road, which explains some of the difference but not all of it.

What is the biggest known problem with the Toyota GR86?

Engine failure from oil starvation. Many owners blame excess sealant at the oil pan that clogs the oil pickup screen or pump. Reported signs include knocking, a late or missing oil light, and sudden power loss. Some owners found silicone on the dipstick or in the filler tube first.

What goes wrong with the Mazda 5 engine?

Cracked cylinder heads are the main complaint. Oil, and sometimes coolant, leaks onto the exhaust area, causing a burning smell and smoke from under the hood. Most owners saw no warning light first. Failures were reported from about 31,000 to 75,000 miles, and owners cite bills of almost $6,000.

Which Mazda 5 years should I avoid?

Avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. The strongest years are 2026 and 2022, but 2026 is recent and has had little time to collect complaints. Whatever year you pick, check for cylinder head leaks, test the touchscreen and camera, and confirm open recall work is done.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Mazda 5 vs Toyota GR86: Reliability Compared

Mazda 5

Good

More Reliable

Toyota GR86

Good

On reliability, the Toyota GR86 holds a slight edge over the Mazda 5. It has far fewer recalls and owner complaints. Its oil starvation engine failures keep the lead narrow, while the Mazda 5 struggles with cracked cylinder heads.

How Do the Mazda 5 and Toyota GR86 Generations Compare?

Any GR86 you consider comes from the second generation (ZN8/ZD8), which began in 2021, so it is still early in its run. Generation data lists US model years 2022 and 2023 for it, and this page covers 2022 through 2026. The first generation (ZN6/ZC6) sold in the US from 2013 to 2020, with a facelift in 2017. Years that look clean have had little time to collect complaints, so a thin record is not proof of a trouble-free car. One owner noted that first-generation cars had sleeves on the fuel lines.

Verdict

The Toyota GR86 is more reliable than the Mazda 5, scoring 79/100 vs 77/100.

Reliability favors the Toyota GR86, but only slightly. Both cars hold a good standing. The GR86 pulls ahead on volume, with 3 recalls against 44 for the Mazda 5 and 36 owner complaints against 1314. Part of that gap is time on the road, since the GR86 covers 5 model years and the Mazda 5 covers 9. The GR86 also has a severe flaw of its own: engine failure from oil starvation. Neither car is a clean pick, and the edge is narrow.

Key Differences

1Toyota GR86 has 41 fewer total recalls
2Toyota GR86 scores 2 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

0Mazda 5

—

2Toyota GR86

Reliability ScoreTotal Recalls

Mazda 5 vs Toyota GR86: Which Is More Reliable?

Mazda 5 vs Toyota GR86 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Mazda 5	Toyota GR86
Reliability Score	77/100	79/100
Years Tracked	9	5
Total Recalls	44	3
Total ComplaintsRaw count — varies with sales volume	1314	36
Year Wins	2 (1 tied)	2 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Mazda 5 and Toyota GR86?

Cracked cylinder heads dominate the Mazda 5 reports. Oil leaks onto the exhaust, the cabin smells of burning, and owners say no warning light came first. Dealers replace the head, with bills near $6,000. Its touchscreen also acts on phantom touches, and rear brake calipers seize. Crash-linked complaints appear in all five of its main problem areas, most often air bags and brakes. The GR86 problems are fewer but sharper. Excess sealant at the oil pan can clog the oil pickup and wreck the engine. Fuel lines also rub on the hood. Its data lists no crash-linked counts.

Mazda 5 vs Toyota GR86 common problem areas comparison
Component	Mazda 5	Toyota GR86
ENGINE	299	14
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	178	—
POWER TRAIN	141	—
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	107	3
SERVICE BRAKES	69	—
AIR BAGS	50	—
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	45	—
STRUCTURE	35	—
VISIBILITY/WIPER	32	—
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	29	—
STEERING	28	—
FUEL SYSTEM	22	—
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	17	4
SUSPENSION	10	—
SEATS	7	—
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—	7
LANE DEPARTURE	4	—
TIRES	2	—

Raw complaint counts aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports. Counts vary with sales volume.

How Does Mazda 5 vs Toyota GR86 Reliability Compare by Year?

Mazda 5 vs Toyota GR86 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Mazda 5	Toyota GR86	Edge
2026	88/1000R / 0C	88/1000R / 0C	Tie
2025	75/1005R / 42C	79/1000R / 3C	Toyota GR86
2024	75/1005R / 70C	77/1001R / 3C	Toyota GR86
2023	78/1003R / 68C	77/1001R / 9C	Mazda 5
2022	83/1001R / 79C	76/1001R / 21C	Mazda 5

Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 Mazda 5 scored 83/100 and the 2024 Toyota GR86 scored 77/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Mazda 5 vs the Toyota GR86?

Pick the GR86 if you want a driver's coupe with a lighter complaint and recall history. The main thing to check is the engine. Look for silicone on the dipstick or in the filler tube, and ask whether the fuel lines have been inspected for rubbing. Its weakest years are 2022 and 2024, so shop those with extra care. Newer years show fewer complaints mostly because they have had less time to collect them, so do not treat 2026 as proven. Pick the Mazda 5 if you need a sedan and can accept a bigger paper trail. Its repair costs are modest and major repairs are uncommon, but the cylinder head failures are expensive when they hit. Failures were reported from about 31,000 to 75,000 miles, so a car in that range deserves a close inspection and a service history. Avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. Test the touchscreen and backup camera, and check that any open recall work is finished before you buy.

Mazda 5 vs Toyota GR86: Common Questions

Is the Mazda 5 more reliable than the Toyota GR86?: No, the GR86 has a slight edge, and both cars hold a good standing. The GR86 has 3 recalls and 36 owner complaints, against 44 recalls and 1314 complaints for the Mazda 5. The GR86 is newer, though, so its record is shorter and the gap looks larger than it may be.
Which has more recalls, the Mazda 5 or the GR86?: The Mazda 5 has far more. Federal recall records show 44 across its 9 model years, while the GR86 has 3 across 5 model years. The Mazda 5 has had more years on the road, which explains some of the difference but not all of it.
What is the biggest known problem with the Toyota GR86?: Engine failure from oil starvation. Many owners blame excess sealant at the oil pan that clogs the oil pickup screen or pump. Reported signs include knocking, a late or missing oil light, and sudden power loss. Some owners found silicone on the dipstick or in the filler tube first.
What goes wrong with the Mazda 5 engine?: Cracked cylinder heads are the main complaint. Oil, and sometimes coolant, leaks onto the exhaust area, causing a burning smell and smoke from under the hood. Most owners saw no warning light first. Failures were reported from about 31,000 to 75,000 miles, and owners cite bills of almost $6,000.
Which Mazda 5 years should I avoid?: Avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. The strongest years are 2026 and 2022, but 2026 is recent and has had little time to collect complaints. Whatever year you pick, check for cylinder head leaks, test the touchscreen and camera, and confirm open recall work is done.

More Mazda 5 comparisons

Mazda 5 vs Mazda 3 reliability Mazda 5 vs Subaru Impreza reliability Mazda 5 vs Volkswagen Jetta reliability Mazda 5 vs Toyota Prius reliability Mazda 5 reliability by year Mazda 5 years to avoid

More Toyota GR86 comparisons

Toyota GR86 vs Mazda 3 reliability Toyota GR86 vs Subaru Impreza reliability Toyota GR86 vs Chevrolet Camaro reliability Toyota GR86 vs Volkswagen Beetle reliability Toyota GR86 reliability by year Toyota GR86 years to avoid

Decided between Mazda 5 and Toyota GR86? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the Mazda 5 and Toyota GR86

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.

See incorrect data? Report an issue