Is the Subaru Forester more reliable than the Mazda CX-5?

No, the CX-5 is more reliable, with a clear edge. Owners filed 5.6 complaints per 10,000 sold for the CX-5 against 8.7 for the Forester. The CX-5 also has lower yearly repair costs and a smaller chance of a major repair. The Forester still stands well overall.

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

The Forester has slightly more. Federal recall records show 13 recalls across nine model years for the Forester and 11 for the CX-5. The gap is small, so recalls should not decide your choice. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Which is cheaper to repair, the Forester or the CX-5?

The CX-5 is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data estimates $447 a year for the CX-5 and $632 for the Forester. Over five years that is roughly $925 saved. The CX-5 also has fewer unscheduled shop visits, though a cracked cylinder head can cost far more.

What is the biggest problem with the Mazda CX-5?

Cracked cylinder heads are the biggest. They leak oil onto the hot exhaust side, giving a burning smell or white smoke, often with no warning light until oil runs low. Failures cluster between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles, and quotes reach $8,000. Ghost touch on the screen is the next most common complaint.

Why do Forester windshields crack so often?

Owner complaints do not give a cause. They describe cracks appearing with no impact, sometimes while parked and often within the first few thousand miles. Some start near the wiper rest area or ahead of the EyeSight camera. A cracked windshield can disable EyeSight, and replacement is quoted at over $1000.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Mazda CX-5 vs Subaru Forester: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Mazda CX-5

Excellent

Subaru Forester

Good

Reliability favors the Mazda CX-5 over the Subaru Forester, with fewer owner complaints per car sold and lower repair bills. The Forester still rates well, but cracking windshields and start/stop stalls hold it back. The CX-5's main risk is cracked cylinder heads.

How Do the Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester Generations Compare?

Most used Forester shopping lands in the fifth generation (SK), which covered 2019 through 2025 with a facelift in 2022. The 2018 model belongs to the older fourth generation (SJ) and is one of the weakest years. A sixth generation (SL) arrived for 2025. On the Mazda side, the second generation (KF) ran 2017 through 2025 with a facelift in 2022, which covers nearly every used CX-5 you will see. The third generation (KI) began with the 2026 model year. The newest years have had little time to collect complaints, so a clean record there proves less than it would on an older car.

Verdict

The Mazda CX-5 is more reliable than the Subaru Forester, scoring 83/100 vs 74/100.

A clear edge goes to the Mazda CX-5. Owners filed fewer complaints per car sold, and independent repair-cost data shows lower yearly bills, fewer shop visits, and a smaller chance that a repair is major. The Forester still stands well, and its biggest problem, cracking windshields, is more irritating than catastrophic. Cracked cylinder heads are the one failure that can erase the CX-5's lead, so mileage and service history matter on that car.

Key Differences

1Mazda CX-5 costs $185 less per year to repair
2Mazda CX-5 scores 9 points higher in reliability
3Mazda CX-5 has 5% lower major repair risk

Category Scoreboard

6Mazda CX-5

—

0Subaru Forester

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Mazda CX-5 vs Subaru Forester: Which Is More Reliable?

Mazda CX-5 vs Subaru Forester at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Mazda CX-5	Subaru Forester
Reliability Score	83/100	74/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	11	13
Complaints per 10k Sold	5.6	8.7
Annual Repair Cost	$447/yr	$632/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.4/yr
Major Repair Risk	8%	13%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	9	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester?

Glass and stalling define the Forester's complaints. Windshields crack with no impact, sometimes while parked, and a cracked one can knock out EyeSight. Auto start/stop also fails to restart the engine at intersections. The CX-5's complaints center on cracked cylinder heads that leak oil onto the hot exhaust, plus a touchscreen that registers phantom inputs. Crash-linked reports differ. The CX-5 has crash-linked service brake reports tied to its smart brake and radar system, while brakes are not among the Forester's main problem areas. One Forester air bag crash report describes unintended acceleration, not an air bag fault.

Mazda CX-5 vs Subaru Forester common problem areas comparison
Component	Mazda CX-5	Subaru Forester
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.1Very Low	3.1Average
ENGINE	1.5Low	0.4Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.7Very Low	1.2Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.7Very Low	1.2Low
POWER TRAIN	0.6Very Low	0.4Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.5Very Low
VISIBILITY	—None	0.5Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.3Very Low	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.2Very Low	0.2Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
STEERING	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None

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

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Mazda CX-5 or Subaru Forester?

Lower running costs go to the CX-5. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $447 a year against $632 for the Forester, a gap of $185 a year, or about $925 over five years. It also averages 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year versus 0.4. When a repair does happen, the chance it is major is 8% on the CX-5 and 13% on the Forester. One caution: a cracked cylinder head on the CX-5 has drawn quotes up to $8,000.

How Does Mazda CX-5 vs Subaru Forester Reliability Compare by Year?

Mazda CX-5 vs Subaru Forester year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Mazda CX-5	Subaru Forester	Edge
2026	94/1000R / 0C	77/1001R / 0C	Mazda CX-5
2025	82/1003R / 25C	79/1002R / 48C	Mazda CX-5
2024	84/1001R / 53C	78/1002R / 26C	Mazda CX-5
2023	81/1002R / 96C	79/1001R / 61C	Mazda CX-5
2022	87/1000R / 50C	77/1001R / 86C	Mazda CX-5
2021	83/1000R / 129C	76/1000R / 196C	Mazda CX-5
2020	86/1000R / 94C	71/1000R / 584C	Mazda CX-5
2019	75/1002R / 229C	63/1003R / 825C	Mazda CX-5
2018	71/1003R / 310C	66/1003R / 475C	Mazda CX-5

Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 Mazda CX-5 scored 87/100 and the 2023 Subaru Forester scored 79/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Mazda CX-5 vs the Subaru Forester?

Choose the CX-5 if you want the lower repair bill and fewer surprises. Target 2022, one of its strongest years, and skip 2018 and 2019, the weakest. Ask for proof of oil leak checks, because head cracks cluster between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles, often just after the powertrain warranty ends. Test the touchscreen for random inputs and ask how the car handled smart brake or radar warnings. Choose the Forester if glass and battery trouble are something you can live with. Target 2023, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2018 and 2019. Inspect the windshield for cracks, since replacement is quoted at over $1000 and a crack can disable EyeSight. Test the start/stop system at a few stoplights and check the battery's age. The newest years have had little time to collect complaints, so do not treat them as proven.

Mazda CX-5 vs Subaru Forester: Common Questions

Is the Subaru Forester more reliable than the Mazda CX-5?: No, the CX-5 is more reliable, with a clear edge. Owners filed 5.6 complaints per 10,000 sold for the CX-5 against 8.7 for the Forester. The CX-5 also has lower yearly repair costs and a smaller chance of a major repair. The Forester still stands well overall.
Which has more recalls, the Forester or the CX-5?: The Forester has slightly more. Federal recall records show 13 recalls across nine model years for the Forester and 11 for the CX-5. The gap is small, so recalls should not decide your choice. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Which is cheaper to repair, the Forester or the CX-5?: The CX-5 is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data estimates $447 a year for the CX-5 and $632 for the Forester. Over five years that is roughly $925 saved. The CX-5 also has fewer unscheduled shop visits, though a cracked cylinder head can cost far more.
What is the biggest problem with the Mazda CX-5?: Cracked cylinder heads are the biggest. They leak oil onto the hot exhaust side, giving a burning smell or white smoke, often with no warning light until oil runs low. Failures cluster between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles, and quotes reach $8,000. Ghost touch on the screen is the next most common complaint.
Why do Forester windshields crack so often?: Owner complaints do not give a cause. They describe cracks appearing with no impact, sometimes while parked and often within the first few thousand miles. Some start near the wiper rest area or ahead of the EyeSight camera. A cracked windshield can disable EyeSight, and replacement is quoted at over $1000.

More Mazda CX-5 comparisons

Mazda CX-5 vs GMC Terrain reliability Mazda CX-5 vs Toyota RAV4 reliability Mazda CX-5 vs Kia Sportage reliability Mazda CX-5 vs Volkswagen Tiguan reliability Mazda CX-5 reliability by year Mazda CX-5 years to avoid

More Subaru Forester comparisons

Subaru Forester vs Honda CR-V reliability Subaru Forester vs Toyota RAV4 reliability Subaru Forester vs Nissan Rogue reliability Subaru Forester vs Hyundai Tucson reliability Subaru Forester reliability by year Subaru Forester years to avoid

Decided between Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester

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