Is the Toyota Highlander more reliable than the Mazda CX-9?

No, but the gap is slight. The CX-9 comes out ahead because it has far fewer recalls and a lower chance that a repair is major. The Highlander counters with fewer shop visits and a lower yearly repair cost. Both models stand good for reliability.

Which has more recalls, the Highlander or the CX-9?

The Highlander, by a wide margin. Federal recall records show 66 recalls across its 9 model years, against 6 across 6 model years for the CX-9. One Highlander recall, 23V720000, covers a front bumper cover that can detach at highway speed.

Which costs less to repair, the Highlander or the CX-9?

The Highlander. Independent repair-cost data estimates $489 a year, against $539 for the CX-9. Over five years that is about $250 saved. The Highlander also needs unscheduled repairs 0.3 times a year, while the CX-9 needs them 0.6 times.

What is the biggest safety concern on the Toyota Highlander?

Air bags. Owners filed 162 air bag complaints, 41 of them crash-linked, and most crash reports say the air bags did not deploy in front impacts. Some also say automatic braking did not respond. Owners also report brake surging at low speeds and the detaching bumper cover.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Mazda CX-9 vs Toyota Highlander: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Mazda CX-9

Good

Toyota Highlander

Good

A slight reliability edge goes to the Mazda CX-9 over the Toyota Highlander, which has far more recalls and more crash-linked complaints. The Highlander still costs less to repair each year and visits the shop half as often. The gap is small, and both stand good.

How Do the Mazda CX-9 and Toyota Highlander Generations Compare?

Most used Highlander shoppers will land in the fourth generation (XU70), which covers 2020 through 2026. The 2018 and 2019 model years belong to the third generation (XU50), which ran from 2014 to 2019 and had a refresh for 2017. A fifth generation (XU80) is listed starting with the 2027 model year. The CX-9 sits in a single second generation (TC), which ran from 2016 through 2024. Every CX-9 from 2018 to 2023 shares that generation, so the differences between its weaker early years and stronger later ones happened within one design cycle.

Verdict

The Mazda CX-9 is more reliable than the Toyota Highlander, scoring 76/100 vs 73/100.

A slight edge goes to the CX-9. It has far fewer recalls, a lower chance that a repair turns out major, and no crash-linked reports in its two biggest problem areas, engine and electrical. The Highlander has real strengths: a lower yearly repair bill, half the shop visits, and fewer complaints per vehicle sold. But its air bag, brake and structure complaints include many crash reports. Both stand good, so the gap is small.

Key Differences

1Mazda CX-9 has 60 fewer total recalls
2Toyota Highlander costs $50 less per year to repair
3Toyota Highlander has 9.2 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

3Mazda CX-9

—

3Toyota Highlander

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Mazda CX-9 vs Toyota Highlander: Which Is More Reliable?

Mazda CX-9 vs Toyota Highlander at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Mazda CX-9	Toyota Highlander
Reliability Score	76/100	73/100
Years Tracked	6	9
Total Recalls	6	66
Complaints per 10k Sold	15	5.8
Annual Repair Cost	$539/yr	$489/yr
Repair Frequency	0.6/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	10%	13%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2023 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	5	1

What Are the Common Problems With the Mazda CX-9 and Toyota Highlander?

Crash-linked complaints separate the two. The Highlander has them in all five main areas, and owners describe a whine that grows until the transmission needs replacing, with dealer quotes of $8,500 to $10,000. They also report air bags that did not deploy in front impacts, and a front bumper cover that detaches at highway speed while the recall part sits on backorder. The CX-9 problems center on coolant leaks at the cylinder head, which lead to limp mode, plus oil consumption and warnings that stop the car from accelerating at speed. Its engine and electrical complaints have no crash links.

Mazda CX-9 vs Toyota Highlander common problem areas comparison
Component	Mazda CX-9	Toyota Highlander
ENGINE	5.7Average	0.2Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	2Low	0.8Very Low
POWER TRAIN	1.2Low	1.5Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.5Low	0.4Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.7Very Low	0.5Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.3Very Low	0.5Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.5Very Low
STEERING	0.4Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.3Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.2Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	0.2Very Low	—None
Chest Clip	0.1Very Low	—None
SEATS	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.1Very Low	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.1Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
TIRES	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—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-9 or Toyota Highlander?

Independent repair-cost data favors the Highlander on routine upkeep. It estimates $489 a year against $539 for the CX-9, a gap of $50 a year or $250 over five years. The Highlander also visits the shop for unscheduled repairs 0.3 times a year, half the CX-9's 0.6. The CX-9 wins on severity: 10% of its repairs are major, against 13% for the Highlander.

How Does Mazda CX-9 vs Toyota Highlander Reliability Compare by Year?

Mazda CX-9 vs Toyota Highlander year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Mazda CX-9	Toyota Highlander	Edge
2023	81/1000R / 12C	73/10013R / 140C	Mazda CX-9
2022	81/1000R / 9C	74/1007R / 186C	Mazda CX-9
2021	77/1001R / 35C	70/1006R / 403C	Mazda CX-9
2020	78/1001R / 19C	71/1008R / 269C	Mazda CX-9
2019	73/1002R / 52C	70/1003R / 414C	Mazda CX-9
2018	66/1002R / 125C	72/1005R / 242C	Toyota Highlander

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Mazda CX-9 scored 81/100 and the 2022 Toyota Highlander scored 74/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Mazda CX-9 vs the Toyota Highlander?

Pick the CX-9 if you want the lower chance of a major repair and a much cleaner recall record. Target 2022 or 2023, its strongest years, and steer clear of 2018 and 2019. Before buying, ask whether the engine has ever leaked coolant or burned oil, since owners say Mazda declined goodwill help with that repair. Pick the Highlander if you want fewer shop visits and a lower yearly repair bill, and you can live with a long recall history. Avoid 2024 and 2021, its weakest years. The 2025 and 2026 models rank strongest, but they have had the least time to collect complaints, so treat that as unproven. On any Highlander, confirm that recall 23V720000 for the bumper cover was completed, and ask about transmission noise under acceleration.

Mazda CX-9 vs Toyota Highlander: Common Questions

Is the Toyota Highlander more reliable than the Mazda CX-9?: No, but the gap is slight. The CX-9 comes out ahead because it has far fewer recalls and a lower chance that a repair is major. The Highlander counters with fewer shop visits and a lower yearly repair cost. Both models stand good for reliability.
Which has more recalls, the Highlander or the CX-9?: The Highlander, by a wide margin. Federal recall records show 66 recalls across its 9 model years, against 6 across 6 model years for the CX-9. One Highlander recall, 23V720000, covers a front bumper cover that can detach at highway speed.
Which costs less to repair, the Highlander or the CX-9?: The Highlander. Independent repair-cost data estimates $489 a year, against $539 for the CX-9. Over five years that is about $250 saved. The Highlander also needs unscheduled repairs 0.3 times a year, while the CX-9 needs them 0.6 times.
What are the common problems with the Mazda CX-9?: Engine trouble leads the list. Owners report coolant leaks at the cylinder head that cause overheating and limp mode, and some report heavy oil consumption. Electrical reports include smart brake and radar warnings at highway speed that stop the car from accelerating, and a screen that cracks.
What is the biggest safety concern on the Toyota Highlander?: Air bags. Owners filed 162 air bag complaints, 41 of them crash-linked, and most crash reports say the air bags did not deploy in front impacts. Some also say automatic braking did not respond. Owners also report brake surging at low speeds and the detaching bumper cover.

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How we score the Mazda CX-9 and Toyota Highlander

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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