Are Mazdas Reliable? Mazda Reliability by Model
Mazda reliability varies significantly by model year. Among the 6 Mazda models analyzed, the MX-5 has the fewest flagged years at 0, while the Mazda6 has the most at 5. The sharpest single-year spike belongs to the Mazda3, whose worst year logged up to 4.3× its own median complaint rate. Because complaint totals are not adjusted for vehicle sales, this analysis identifies strong and weak years within each model — it does not rank Mazda models against one another.
Analysis by CarWhere Research · Updated August 28, 2026 · Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of July 2026 · How we rate model years · Download the dataset (CSV)
7,478 NHTSA complaints
model years flagged on federal data
MX-5 and CX-3
Mazda problem areas by service-bulletin volume
The vehicle systems drawing the most federal service-bulletin (TSB) filings across the 6 Mazda models we analyze — a volume signal of where the manufacturer issues the most fix guidance. These are TSB counts by NHTSA component category, not owner-complaint counts.
Mazda reliability by model
| Model | Complaints | Years to avoid | Best years | Worst year vs. its avg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda Mazda3 | 2,339 | 2008, 2010 and 2012 | 2017, 2020 and 2022 | 4.3× |
| Mazda CX-5 | 2,160 | 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021 | — | 3.1× |
| Mazda Mazda6 | 1,387 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2018 | 2013, 2017 and 2021 | 3.5× |
| Mazda CX-9 | 1,383 | 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2018 | 2015 and 2020 | 3.2× |
| Mazda MX-5 | 97 | None | — | — |
| Mazda CX-3 | 112 | None | — | — |
Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA owner complaints), not adjusted for sales volume. A model year is flagged when its severity-weighted complaint rate is among the highest within that model's own history — never a comparison against other brands. Follow any model for its full year-by-year verdict. Full methodology.
Where Mazda owners report the most trouble
Mazda Mazda3: 3 model years flagged to avoid (2008, 2010 and 2012) — the worst logged up to 4.3× the model's own median severity-weighted complaint rate. See the year-by-year verdict →
Mazda Mazda6: 5 model years flagged to avoid (2009, 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2018) — the worst logged up to 3.5× the model's own median severity-weighted complaint rate. See the year-by-year verdict →
Mazda CX-9: 5 model years flagged to avoid (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2018) — the worst logged up to 3.2× the model's own median severity-weighted complaint rate. See the year-by-year verdict →
Cleanest Mazda records: the MX-5 and CX-3 carry no model year flagged to avoid in the current federal data.
Ready to find the right Mazda?
Use the reliability data to choose the right model year—then compare live inventory and see what buyers actually paid.
Shop Mazda Cars Near You
Search new, used and certified Mazda inventory.
See What Mazda Buyers Paid
Real out-the-door prices from verified buyers — know a fair deal before you negotiate.
Keep Researching
Years to avoid, dealer fees, incentives and more from CarWhere Research.
FAQ
Are Mazdas reliable?
Mazda reliability varies sharply by model year, not by badge. Among the 6 most-documented Mazda models, 4 carry at least one model year we flag to avoid on NHTSA complaint and recall data — the MX-5 has the fewest flagged years (0) and the Mazda6 the most (5). These are raw federal complaint counts, not adjusted for how many vehicles Mazda sold, so they can't be read as a single cross-brand reliability score — use the per-model, per-year verdicts below.
Which Mazda model years should I avoid?
The Mazda models carrying the most flagged years are the Mazda6 (5 flagged years: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2018); the CX-9 (5 flagged years: 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2018); the CX-5 (5 flagged years: 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021). A flag means that model year's severity-weighted complaint rate is among the highest within that model's own history — it is not a comparison against other models or brands. See each model's page for the full year-by-year verdict.
Which Mazda models have the fewest flagged years?
Among Mazda models with enough federal complaint history to rate, the MX-5 and CX-3 carry no model year flagged to avoid. That is not a cross-model reliability ranking — complaint counts are not sales-adjusted — and a thin record is never counted as a clean one: model years with too little data rate "insufficient" instead.
How do I check a specific Mazda before buying?
Start with the free Mazda window sticker lookup at carwhere.com/window-sticker/mazda to confirm the exact trim and factory options, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year plus a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & data notes
All figures are drawn from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Defects Investigation — the public NHTSA owner-complaints data and safety recall campaigns — across the 6 most-documented Mazda models and every model year on record for each. Retrieved July 2026. Counts are raw federal filings and are not adjusted for the number of vehicles sold or registered, so they cannot be read as a single cross-brand reliability ranking; each model year's verdict compares it only against the rest of that model's own history. Full scoring at the methodology page.
Suggested citation
CarWhere Research. "Mazda Reliability by Model & Year: NHTSA Complaint and Recall Analysis." Based on 7,478 NHTSA owner complaints across 6 Mazda models, model years 2008–2025. Updated August 28, 2026. https://www.carwhere.com/research/reliability/mazda
This dataset is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with attribution to CarWhere Research and a link to this page.
Download the dataset (CSV) — per-model complaint totals, flagged years and verdict counts for every brand we cover (version 2026-08-28).