Is the Toyota Highlander more reliable than the Mazda CX-90?

Yes, by a large margin. The Highlander has a good reliability standing, and the CX-90 is rated mixed. Owners filed about 5.8 complaints per 10,000 Highlanders sold, against 111.2 per 10,000 for the CX-90. The Highlander also has a much longer record to judge.

Which has more recalls, the Highlander or the CX-90?

The Highlander has more in total, with 66 recalls across 9 model years. The CX-90 has 13 across 3 model years. The Highlander has simply been on sale much longer. Recall counts alone do not show which is worse, so check any specific car's VIN for open recalls.

What is the biggest problem with the Mazda CX-90?

Steering is the largest complaint area, with 80 reports. Owners describe the wheel binding or feeling notchy in turns, sometimes catching out of left turns at 30 to 50 mph. None of the reports mention a confirmed fix. Hybrid shutdowns with electrical leakage warnings come second.

Do Toyota Highlanders have transmission problems?

Some do. Power train is the top complaint area, with 485 reports. Owners describe a rising whine under acceleration, then a failed transmission, usually just after 60,000 miles. Dealers quote $8,500 to $10,000 for the replacement, and some owners wait months for a part.

Which Highlander model years should I avoid?

Avoid 2024 and 2021, which rank as the weakest years. Cars from 2025 and 2026 have collected fewer complaints, but they have also had less time on the road, so do not treat that as proof they are better. Check that the bumper cover recall repair was done.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Mazda CX-90 vs Toyota Highlander: Reliability Compared

Mazda CX-90

Mixed

More Reliable

Toyota Highlander

Good

Reliability favors the Toyota Highlander over the Mazda CX-90 by a wide margin. Highlander owners file far fewer complaints per vehicle sold. The CX-90 draws reports of sticking steering and hybrid shutdowns, often within days of purchase.

How Do the Mazda CX-90 and Toyota Highlander Generations Compare?

Two generations matter for most Highlander shoppers. The 2018 and 2019 model years belong to the third generation, while 2020 through 2026 make up the fourth. A fifth generation was slated for the 2027 model year, so the fourth generation sits at the end of its run and has the longest track record to check. The CX-90 is a first-generation model, with used examples from 2024 through 2026. Every one of them comes from the early years of its run, and none has had time to show how it ages.

Verdict

The Toyota Highlander is more reliable than the Mazda CX-90, scoring 73/100 vs 58/100.

The more reliable choice is the Toyota Highlander, and the gap is large. Its owners file far fewer complaints per vehicle sold, and its standing is good against mixed for the Mazda CX-90. The Highlander does have serious weak spots, including transmission failures and air bag non-deployment reports. But the CX-90 has a short record and still draws steering binding and hybrid shutdown complaints at very low mileage. That combination makes it the riskier used purchase.

Key Differences

1Toyota Highlander has 105.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Mazda CX-90 has 53 fewer total recalls
3Toyota Highlander scores 15 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

1Mazda CX-90

—

2Toyota Highlander

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Mazda CX-90 vs Toyota Highlander: Which Is More Reliable?

Mazda CX-90 vs Toyota Highlander at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Mazda CX-90	Toyota Highlander
Reliability Score	58/100	73/100
Years Tracked	3	9
Total Recalls	13	66
Complaints per 10k Sold	111.2	5.8
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	0	3

What Are the Common Problems With the Mazda CX-90 and Toyota Highlander?

Different failures define each profile. Highlander complaints center on a whining transmission that fails after the warranty, brake surging at low speeds, front crashes where air bags did not deploy, and a front bumper cover that detaches at highway speed. Air bags carry the most crash-linked reports. CX-90 complaints center on a steering wheel that binds or sticks in turns, and a hybrid system that shuts the car down in the first days of ownership with "electrical leakage detected" warnings. Steering is a crash-linked area only the CX-90 has. Air bag, brake, and structure complaints are crash-linked only on the Highlander.

Mazda CX-90 vs Toyota Highlander common problem areas comparison
Component	Mazda CX-90	Toyota Highlander
STEERING	31.8High	0.1Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	17.5High	0.4Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	11.5Above Avg	—None
POWER TRAIN	8.3Above Avg	1.5Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	8.7Above Avg	0.8Very Low
ENGINE	6.8Average	0.2Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	6.4Average	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	4Average	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	2.8Low	0.5Very Low
STRUCTURE	1.6Low	0.5Very Low
AIR BAGS	—None	0.5Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	0.3Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
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.

How Does Mazda CX-90 vs Toyota Highlander Reliability Compare by Year?

Mazda CX-90 vs Toyota Highlander year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Mazda CX-90	Toyota Highlander	Edge
2026	72/1000R / 0C	84/1000R / 0C	Toyota Highlander
2025	63/1002R / 21C	76/1008R / 40C	Toyota Highlander
2024	38/10011R / 259C	67/10016R / 198C	Toyota Highlander

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Mazda CX-90 scored 38/100 and the 2024 Toyota Highlander scored 67/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Mazda CX-90 vs the Toyota Highlander?

Pick the Highlander if you want the lower-risk used SUV and plan to keep it for years. Its owner complaint rate is far lower, and independent repair-cost data shows modest yearly costs. Target the 2020 and later years from the current generation, and skip 2024 and 2021, which rank weakest. Before you buy, ask for proof that recall 23V720000 on the front bumper cover was completed, and have the transmission checked for a whine under acceleration. Consider the CX-90 only if you want it for its features and can accept the risk of an unproven vehicle. It has been sold for just three model years, and owners report steering that sticks in turns and hybrid shutdowns that leave the car stuck in park. Test drive it through left turns at moderate speed. Confirm every open recall is done. Do not read the lower complaint counts on 2025 and 2026 as proof of better quality, since those cars have had less time on the road.

Mazda CX-90 vs Toyota Highlander: Common Questions

Is the Toyota Highlander more reliable than the Mazda CX-90?: Yes, by a large margin. The Highlander has a good reliability standing, and the CX-90 is rated mixed. Owners filed about 5.8 complaints per 10,000 Highlanders sold, against 111.2 per 10,000 for the CX-90. The Highlander also has a much longer record to judge.
Which has more recalls, the Highlander or the CX-90?: The Highlander has more in total, with 66 recalls across 9 model years. The CX-90 has 13 across 3 model years. The Highlander has simply been on sale much longer. Recall counts alone do not show which is worse, so check any specific car's VIN for open recalls.
What is the biggest problem with the Mazda CX-90?: Steering is the largest complaint area, with 80 reports. Owners describe the wheel binding or feeling notchy in turns, sometimes catching out of left turns at 30 to 50 mph. None of the reports mention a confirmed fix. Hybrid shutdowns with electrical leakage warnings come second.
Do Toyota Highlanders have transmission problems?: Some do. Power train is the top complaint area, with 485 reports. Owners describe a rising whine under acceleration, then a failed transmission, usually just after 60,000 miles. Dealers quote $8,500 to $10,000 for the replacement, and some owners wait months for a part.
Which Highlander model years should I avoid?: Avoid 2024 and 2021, which rank as the weakest years. Cars from 2025 and 2026 have collected fewer complaints, but they have also had less time on the road, so do not treat that as proof they are better. Check that the bumper cover recall repair was done.

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How we score the Mazda CX-90 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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