Which Toyota Highlander years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 as the Highlander years to avoid, with 2021 having the highest complaint index (100) and 482 complaints in 2019 alone, mostly tied to Transmission & Powertrain.

Which Mazda CX-5 years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019 as the CX-5 years to avoid. 2016 has the worst complaint index (100) with 510 complaints, largely Electrical System issues.

Does the Highlander or CX-5 have more recalls?

The Highlander has 39 total recall campaigns across 16 model years versus 8 for the CX-5 across 14 model years.

Which gets better fuel economy, the Highlander or CX-5?

The CX-5 averages 26.5 MPG combined across its years, while the Highlander averages 22 MPG combined.

Are these totals a fair reliability comparison?

Not directly. NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so total complaint counts (3,549 for Highlander vs 2,430 for CX-5) are not normalized per vehicle sold.

Toyota Highlander vs Mazda CX-5: Which Years to Avoid

Toyota Highlander years to avoid are 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023; Mazda CX-5 years to avoid are 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019. The Highlander logs 3,549 total complaints across 39 recalls (avg 22 MPG), the CX-5 logs 2,430 complaints across 8 recalls (avg 26.5 MPG). Totals aren't sales-normalized.

Head to head

Toyota Highlander

Model years: 2010–2025 (16)
NHTSA complaints: 3,549
Per model year: 222
Recall campaigns: 39
Years to avoid: 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Best years: 2011, 2014, 2016, 2025
Top problem area: Transmission & Powertrain
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 22.0
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.8 ★

Mazda CX-5

Model years: 2012–2025 (14)
NHTSA complaints: 2,430
Per model year: 174
Recall campaigns: 8
Years to avoid: 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019
Best years: 2015, 2017, 2022
Top problem area: Engine
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 26.5
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.8 ★

Year by year

Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.

Year	Highlander				CX-5
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2010	Good	214	10	20	—	—	—	—
2011	Best	181	5	20	—	—	—	—
2012	Good	182	2	20	No verdict	1	0	—
2013	Caution	207	3	20	Good	194	1	28
2014	Best	135	4	21	Avoid	377	3	27
2015	Good	192	1	21	Best	133	3	27
2016	Best	110	2	21	Avoid	510	4	29
2017	Caution	267	3	22.5	Best	148	1	26.5
2018	Caution	265	4	22.5	Avoid	349	3	28
2019	Avoid	482	3	22.5	Avoid	270	2	27
2020	Caution	315	4	23	Good	106	0	26
2021	Avoid	517	4	23	Caution	146	0	25.5
2022	Avoid	249	5	23	Best	63	0	25
2023	Avoid	181	9	24	Caution	62	0	25
2024	Good	42	7	24	Good	44	0	25
2025	Best	10	4	24	Caution	27	0	25

Complaint Index by year

Toyota Highlander

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Mazda CX-5

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Frequently asked questions

Which Toyota Highlander years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 as the Highlander years to avoid, with 2021 having the highest complaint index (100) and 482 complaints in 2019 alone, mostly tied to Transmission & Powertrain.
Which Mazda CX-5 years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019 as the CX-5 years to avoid. 2016 has the worst complaint index (100) with 510 complaints, largely Electrical System issues.
Does the Highlander or CX-5 have more recalls?: The Highlander has 39 total recall campaigns across 16 model years versus 8 for the CX-5 across 14 model years.
Which gets better fuel economy, the Highlander or CX-5?: The CX-5 averages 26.5 MPG combined across its years, while the Highlander averages 22 MPG combined.
Are these totals a fair reliability comparison?: Not directly. NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so total complaint counts (3,549 for Highlander vs 2,430 for CX-5) are not normalized per vehicle sold.