YearToAvoid

Mazda Best and Worst Years by Model

17 Mazda models, 12,637 NHTSA owner complaints and 154 recall campaigns for model years 2005–2025. Pick a model to see which years to avoid and which are the safest bets.

Mazda models ranked by owner complaints

Sorted by popularity. Years to avoid / best years come from each model’s own Complaint Index.

Verdicts are based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, compared within each model. This is not a reliability rating. How the Complaint Index works.

ModelYearsComplaintsRecallsYears to avoidBest yearsTop issue
Mazda CX-52012–20252,43082014, 2016, 2018, 20192017, 2022, 2024Engine
Mazda CX-302020–202524872021, 20242020, 2023Engine
Mazda CX-92007–20231,487132008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 20182017, 2020, 2022, 2023Brakes
Mazda CX-32014–202111442016, 2019—Electrical System
Mazda CX-72007–20131,13162007, 2008—Engine
Mazda CX-902024–202537211——Steering
Mazda Mazda32005–20252,837282007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 20122020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Electrical System
Mazda CX-502023–20251345——Brakes
Mazda Mazda62005–20211,872242007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 20112019, 2021Airbags
Mazda Tribute2005–201179482005, 20082011Engine
Mazda CX-702025504——Lane Departure
Mazda RX-82005–201129492005, 2006—Transmission & Powertrain
Mazda Mazda52006–201641252008, 2009, 20122014Suspension, Wheels & Tires
Mazda CX-90 Plug-in Hybrid2024–20251080——Electrical System
Mazda MX-52006–202515462006, 2016, 2019, 2023—Transmission & Powertrain
Mazda Mazdaspeed32007–201312152008, 20102011Transmission & Powertrain
Mazda B-series Truck2005–200979112007—Airbags

Mazda model years with the most complaints

Raw complaint counts (not adjusted for age or sales). Click through for the breakdown.

  1. 2010 Mazda Mazda3 · 686 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  2. 2007 Mazda CX-7 · 528 complaints · 4 recalls Avoid
  3. 2016 Mazda CX-5 · 510 complaints · 4 recalls Avoid
  4. 2009 Mazda Mazda6 · 386 complaints · 9 recalls Avoid
  5. 2014 Mazda CX-5 · 377 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  6. 2005 Mazda Tribute · 377 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  7. 2018 Mazda CX-5 · 349 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  8. 2024 Mazda CX-90 · 342 complaints · 11 recalls No verdict
  9. 2008 Mazda Mazda3 · 303 complaints · 2 recalls Avoid
  10. 2019 Mazda CX-5 · 270 complaints · 2 recalls Avoid

How we rank Mazda years

For each model we compare its own model years using the Complaint Index: complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and “Do Not Drive” recalls reported to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. The top quarter of a model’s years is marked Avoid, the bottom quarter Best. Because NHTSA publishes no sales data, models are not ranked against each other. Full details in the methodology.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.