Last updated: 2026-10-10
Most Reliable Mazda Models — Ranked in 2026
We ranked every Mazda model and year in our database by reliability score. The average Mazda scores 75/100 across all models and years. The 2026 Mazda CX-5 is the most reliable Mazda with a score of 94/100.
Mazda Reliability Rankings
| # | Vehicle | Best Year | Score | Rating | Recalls | Complaints / 10k | Maint. Rating | Est. Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026 Mazda CX-5 | 2026 | 94/100 | Excellent | 0 | — | 4.5 | $447/yr |
| 2 | 2026 Mazda 5 | 2026 | 88/100 | Excellent | 0 | — | 4 | $581/yr |
| 3 | 2022 Mazda CX-5 | 2022 | 87/100 | Excellent | 0 | 3.3 | 4.5 | $447/yr |
| 4 | 2020 Mazda CX-5 | 2020 | 86/100 | Excellent | 0 | 6.4 | 4.5 | $447/yr |
| 5 | 2024 Mazda CX-5 | 2024 | 84/100 | Excellent | 1 | 4.0 | 4.5 | $447/yr |
| 6 | 2026 Mazda 3 | 2026 | 84/100 | Excellent | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | $433/yr |
| 7 | 2021 Mazda CX-5 | 2021 | 83/100 | Excellent | 0 | 7.9 | 4.5 | $447/yr |
| 8 | 2022 Mazda 5 | 2022 | 83/100 | Excellent | 1 | — | 4 | $581/yr |
| 9 | 2025 Mazda CX-5 | 2025 | 82/100 | Excellent | 3 | 1.8 | 4.5 | $447/yr |
| 10 | 2023 Mazda CX-9 | 2023 | 81/100 | Excellent | 0 | 6.9 | 4 | $539/yr |
| 11 | 2023 Mazda CX-5 | 2023 | 81/100 | Excellent | 2 | 6.2 | 4.5 | $447/yr |
| 12 | 2022 Mazda CX-9 | 2022 | 81/100 | Excellent | 0 | 2.7 | 4 | $539/yr |
| 13 | 2025 Mazda 3 | 2025 | 79/100 | Good | 1 | 6.8 | 4 | $433/yr |
| 14 | 2018 Mazda 3 | 2018 | 79/100 | Good | 1 | 1.4 | 4 | $433/yr |
| 15 | 2019 Mazda 3 | 2019 | 78/100 | Good | 2 | 5.1 | 4 | $433/yr |
| 16 | 2022 Mazda 3 | 2022 | 78/100 | Good | 1 | 9.4 | 4 | $433/yr |
| 17 | 2023 Mazda 3 | 2023 | 78/100 | Good | 1 | 6.2 | 4 | $433/yr |
| 18 | 2024 Mazda 3 | 2024 | 78/100 | Good | 2 | 5.7 | 4 | $433/yr |
| 19 | 2021 Mazda 5 | 2021 | 78/100 | Good | 3 | — | 4 | $581/yr |
| 20 | 2023 Mazda 5 | 2023 | 78/100 | Good | 3 | — | 4 | $581/yr |
| 21 | 2020 Mazda CX-9 | 2020 | 78/100 | Good | 1 | 6.9 | 4 | $539/yr |
| 22 | 2021 Mazda CX-9 | 2021 | 77/100 | Good | 1 | 10.1 | 4 | $539/yr |
| 23 | 2026 Mazda CX-50 | 2026 | 76/100 | Good | 0 | — | 3 | |
| 24 | 2024 Mazda 5 | 2024 | 75/100 | Good | 5 | — | 4 | $581/yr |
| 25 | 2025 Mazda 5 | 2025 | 75/100 | Good | 5 | — | 4 | $581/yr |
| 26 | 2020 Mazda 5 | 2020 | 75/100 | Good | 5 | — | 4 | $581/yr |
| 27 | 2019 Mazda CX-5 | 2019 | 75/100 | Good | 2 | 14.8 | 4.5 | $447/yr |
| 28 | 2019 Mazda CX-9 | 2019 | 73/100 | Good | 2 | 19.4 | 4 | $539/yr |
| 29 | 2026 Mazda CX-90 | 2026 | 72/100 | Good | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | |
| 30 | 2019 Mazda 5 | 2019 | 72/100 | Good | 12 | — | 4 | $581/yr |
| 31 | 2018 Mazda 5 | 2018 | 72/100 | Good | 10 | — | 4 | $581/yr |
| 32 | 2026 Mazda CX-30 | 2026 | 72/100 | Good | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | |
| 33 | 2024 Mazda CX-50 | 2024 | 71/100 | Good | 1 | — | 3 | |
| 34 | 2018 Mazda CX-5 | 2018 | 71/100 | Good | 3 | 20.6 | 4.5 | $447/yr |
| 35 | 2021 Mazda 3 | 2021 | 70/100 | Good | 3 | 22.7 | 4 | $433/yr |
| 36 | 2024 Mazda CX-30 | 2024 | 68/100 | Good | 2 | 2.4 | 2 | |
| 37 | 2025 Mazda CX-30 | 2025 | 68/100 | Good | 1 | 3.9 | 2 | |
| 38 | 2023 Mazda CX-30 | 2023 | 68/100 | Good | 1 | 2.6 | 2 | |
| 39 | 2022 Mazda CX-30 | 2022 | 67/100 | Good | 1 | 5.3 | 2 | |
| 40 | 2018 Mazda CX-9 | 2018 | 66/100 | Good | 2 | 44.2 | 4 | $539/yr |
| 41 | 2025 Mazda CX-50 | 2025 | 66/100 | Good | 3 | — | 3 | |
| 42 | 2023 Mazda CX-50 | 2023 | 65/100 | Good | 2 | 32.7 | 3 | |
| 43 | 2020 Mazda CX-30 | 2020 | 64/100 | Good | 3 | 8.1 | 2 | |
| 44 | 2025 Mazda CX-90 | 2025 | 63/100 | Good | 2 | 15.2 | 2 | |
| 45 | 2021 Mazda CX-30 | 2021 | 60/100 | Good | 2 | 17.0 | 2 | |
| 46 | 2024 Mazda CX-90 | 2024 | 38/100 | Risky | 11 | 242.6 | 2 |
Model Summaries
Mazda 3
Good reliability and yearly repair costs below the compact-car average make this a sound used compact. Oil that vanishes with no visible leak is the main worry, mostly in 2021, where owners add a quart every 1,500 to 4,000 miles. Steering that sticks and then jerks is the other problem to check. Among years with real road time, 2018 is the safest buy.
Average score: 78/100. Best year: 2018 (79/100). 8 years tracked.
Mazda 5
Cracked cylinder heads in the 2018 and 2019 are the big risk. They leak oil, often with no warning light, and owners report bills of almost $6,000. Reliability is good and above average among sedans, and the 2022 is the year to favor, with a single recall. Its main complaints are a whining headlight fan and airbag warning messages.
Average score: 77/100. Best year: 2022 (83/100). 9 years tracked.
Mazda CX-30
Reliability is rated good, though below average among SUVs on the site. The 2021 model year is the one to skip, with 94 owner complaints led by oil disappearing between changes. The 2024 is the better used buy. Across all years, watch for sudden loss of electrical power and automatic braking that stops the car with nothing ahead.
Average score: 67/100. Best year: 2024 (68/100). 7 years tracked.
Mazda CX-5
Excellent reliability puts this compact SUV well above other SUVs, and 2022 is the best used buy, with few complaints and no recalls. Skip 2018, where cracked cylinder heads leak oil onto the exhaust and cause burning smells, smoke, and fumes in the cabin. Touchscreen ghost touch is the most common electrical complaint across years.
Average score: 83/100. Best year: 2022 (87/100). 9 years tracked.
Mazda CX-50
False automatic emergency braking and repeated dead batteries are the faults to check on this SUV. The car brakes hard with nothing ahead, and a drained battery can lock owners out. Reliability is good and close to average for SUVs. The 2024 is the year to favor, 2023 has drawn the most owner complaints, and the 2026 is too new to judge.
Average score: 70/100. Best year: 2024 (71/100). 4 years tracked.
Mazda CX-9
Used buyers get a solid SUV here, with one big exception: the 2018 model year. Cracked cylinder heads leak coolant, often with no warning light, and dealers usually quote a full engine replacement. Later years, especially 2022 and 2023, rate excellent, and independent repair-cost data puts yearly upkeep well below the midsize SUV average.
Average score: 76/100. Best year: 2023 (81/100). 6 years tracked.
Mazda CX-90
Early CX-90 model years have a rough record. Owner complaints for 2024 center on a steering wheel that binds in sustained highway curves and, on the plug-in hybrid, sudden power loss with a hybrid system warning. The 2025 and 2026 years show far fewer complaints, but they have had little time on the road, so their clean records prove little. Inspect any used CX-90 closely.
Average score: 58/100. Best year: 2024 (38/100). 3 years tracked.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the most reliable Mazda?
- Based on our data, the 2026 Mazda CX-5 is the most reliable Mazda with a score of 94/100 ("Excellent"). It has 0 recalls and 0 owner complaints.
- Are Mazda vehicles reliable?
- Mazda vehicles have an average reliability score of 75/100 across all models and years in our database. Individual models vary, so checking the specific model year you're considering is important.
- Which Mazda models should I avoid?
- Based on our data, these Mazda model-years are statistical outliers within their lines: 2019 5 (72/100), 2018 5 (72/100), 2018 CX-5 (71/100), 2021 3 (70/100), 2018 CX-9 (66/100), 2021 CX-30 (60/100), 2024 CX-90 (38/100). These have higher recall counts and complaint volumes relative to their siblings.
- How do Mazda repair costs compare?
- Repair costs vary by model. Check the detailed rankings table above for estimated annual repair costs for each Mazda model year.
How we score Mazda model years
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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