Mazda Years to Avoid by Model
Mazda years to avoid: the 2010 Mazda3 (686 complaints), 2016 CX-5 (507 complaints), 2009 Mazda6 (385 complaints) and 2012 CX-9 (221 complaints). 4 of the 6 Mazda models we track have at least one avoid-rated year; the cleanest records include the 2022 Mazda3 and 2013 Mazda6. Based on 7,478 NHTSA owner complaints, rated model year by model year.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, recall campaigns & service bulletins · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
Mazda years to avoid, model by model
| Model | Years to avoid | Best years | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda Mazda3 | 200820102012 | 201720202022 | 2,339 (2008–2025) |
| Mazda CX-5 | 20142016201820192021 | — | 2,160 (2012–2025) |
| Mazda Mazda6 | 20092010201120142018 | 201320172021 | 1,387 (2008–2025) |
| Mazda CX-9 | 20082010201120122018 | 20152020 | 1,383 (2008–2025) |
| Mazda MX-5 | None rated avoid | — | 97 (2011–2025) |
| Mazda CX-3 | None rated avoid | — | 112 (2014–2025) |
Verdicts are each model’s own, rated against that model’s history (see the methodology); counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
The worst year for each Mazda model
2010 Mazda Mazda3: 686 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2008, 2010 and 2012 · Full Mazda3 breakdown →
2016 Mazda CX-5: 507 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021 · Full CX-5 breakdown →
2009 Mazda Mazda6: 385 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2018 · Full Mazda6 breakdown →
2012 Mazda CX-9: 221 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2018 · Full CX-9 breakdown →
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Frequently asked questions
What Mazda years should you avoid?
By model: Mazda3 2008, 2010 and 2012; CX-5 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021; Mazda6 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2018; CX-9 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2018. Each verdict matches that model's own years-to-avoid page, built from NHTSA owner-complaint and recall records.
What are the best Mazda years to buy?
The cleanest federal records by model: Mazda3 2017, 2020 and 2022; Mazda6 2013, 2017 and 2021; CX-9 2015 and 2020.
Which Mazda model has the most years to avoid?
The Mazda CX-5, with 5 avoid-rated model years (2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021) across 14 years on record (2012–2025).
How are Mazda years to avoid rated?
Each model year's NHTSA owner complaints are weighted for severity, converted to a rate per year on the road, compared with the rest of that model's own history and adjusted for recalls. Full method at /research/years-to-avoid/methodology.
Where does the Mazda data come from?
Federal records: 7,478 NHTSA owner complaints across 6 Mazda models, plus NHTSA recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.