Mazda Reliability Overview
Based on 29,064 real complaints filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Mazda reliability varies significantly by model. Compare models below and review the specific model-year page before buying.
Is Mazda reliable? Quick answer
Based on 29,064 real NHTSA complaints across 21 Mazda models
Mazda reliability varies significantly by model and year. Some Mazda models have consistently low complaint rates; others show recurring automatic transmission patterns across multiple generations. The brand-level reliability score is less useful than picking the specific model + year you're considering.
- Mazda CX-30· 342 complaints
- Mazda CX-5· 3,079 complaints
- Mazda CX-90· 372 complaints
172 reported fatalities in Mazda complaints. Scroll down for the full model-by-model breakdown, or use the links above to jump to a specific model's year-by-year page.
Best Mazda Models to Buy
Lowest complaint severity among Mazda models with enough data for a confident comparison (200+ complaints).
Worst Mazda Models to Avoid
All 21 Mazda models — sorted by severity (highest first)
Mazda 626
(1983–2003) high severityMazda Protege
(1989–2003) high severityMazda Mpv
(1989–2006) high severityMazda Tribute
(2000–2011) high severityMazda RX-7
(1987–1995) high severityMazda RX-8
(2004–2011) high severityMazda CX-7
(2007–2013)Mazda MX-5 Miata
(1990–2005) high severityMazda Mazda5
(2006–2016)Mazda Mazdaspeed3
(2007–2013)Mazda Mazda6
(2002–2021)Mazda Mazda3
(2004–2026)Mazda CX-70
(2025–2025)Mazda Mazda2
(2011–2014)Mazda CX-9
(2007–2023)Mazda CX-90
(2024–2026)Mazda CX-5
(2012–2025)Mazda CX-3
(2014–2021)Mazda Mx-5
(2006–2025) high severityMazda CX-50
(2023–2026) high severityMazda CX-30
(2020–2025) high severityPick your model above, then check the VIN.
NHTSA data tells you which models & years to avoid. The VIN tells you if this specific car has hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Most Common Mazda Problems
Components most reported across all Mazda models in NHTSA complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Transmission | 2,348 | 1.0% |
| Airbags | 1,962 | 17.7% |
| Engine Problems | 1,811 | 2.5% |
| Electrical Faults | 1,636 | 3.1% |
| Steering Defects | 1,261 | 8.5% |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 1,248 | 3.4% |
| Brakes | 1,130 | 11.8% |
| Suspension Failures | 1,101 | 3.9% |
| Unintended Acceleration | 890 | 15.6% |
| Body Structure | 830 | 7.3% |
Mazda Reliability — Frequently Asked Questions
How many NHTSA complaints does Mazda have?
Mazda has 29,064 NHTSA consumer complaints across 21 distinct models in the VinItel database (1995–present). 7.3% of those complaints involved a crash, and 172 involved a fatality. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation via VinItel.
Which Mazda model has the most NHTSA complaints?
By total complaint volume, the top Mazda models are: Mazda Mazda3 (3,987 complaints), Mazda 626 (3,877 complaints), Mazda CX-5 (3,079 complaints). Note that higher-volume models naturally accumulate more complaints, so per-model severity depends on sales volume and crash rate. See the full sortable ranking at vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/mazda.
What are the most common Mazda problems?
Across all Mazda models in the NHTSA database, the most-reported issue categories are: Automatic Transmission (2,348 complaints, 1.0% crash rate); Airbags (1,962 complaints, 17.7% crash rate); Engine Problems (1,811 complaints, 2.5% crash rate). Crash percentages indicate how often that component failure resulted in an accident — higher percentages are safety-critical.
Which Mazda model years should I avoid?
Mazda models with the highest severity scores include Mazda 626 and Mazda Protege. Specific model years to avoid depend on the model — click any Mazda model to see its year-by-year breakdown with complaint counts, crash rates, and recalls. Our AVOID label is applied when a year's normalized complaint rate exceeds 1.5× the model's median.
Which Mazda model is the most reliable?
Among Mazda models with at least 200 NHTSA complaints (enough data for a confident comparison), the lowest severity scores are: Mazda CX-30 (342 complaints), Mazda CX-5 (3,079 complaints), Mazda CX-90 (372 complaints). Lower complaint volume plus lower crash/fire/injury rates indicates fewer reported safety issues per vehicle on the road.
Is Mazda a reliable car brand?
NHTSA complaint data shows reliability varies significantly by model and year within every major brand — including Mazda. A brand-level reliability verdict is misleading because it averages a bad year of one model with a great year of another. VinItel's approach: pick your target Mazda model + year and view that specific page for actionable reliability data. See vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/mazda to browse all 21 Mazda models.
Should I buy a used Mazda?
Buying used requires two checks: (1) research the specific model + year for known problems using the NHTSA data on this page, and (2) run a VIN report on the exact car to check for hidden accidents, title issues, and odometer rollbacks. VinItel offers both — reliability research is free, individual VIN reports are $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99). Common Mazda issues to ask about during inspection include automatic transmission.
Looking for accident history? See Mazda accident & safety statistics from our 16M+ vehicle history database.
Buying a Mazda?
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