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Mazda: reliability & common problems

#14 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~190k
~115k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
203
Mazdas inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
64/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100



Based on 203 used Mazdas we inspected, they tend to be in slightly better shape than average — average condition 64/100 vs 61 for all cars we check. Every number on this page comes from real pre-purchase inspections — cars people were about to buy and paid an independent inspector to go through point by point, engine to underbody, paint depth to error codes. Not owner surveys, not warranty statistics, not forum lore: what we actually found.

What we found

Most common faults

Oil leaks · Engine
66%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
33%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
33%
Worn suspension joints · Suspension
15%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
15%

Share of inspected Mazdas where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 28% Good 33% Mediocre 22% Poor 17%
Hidden history

What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on Mazdas.

77%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
6%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
25%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 23%

Compare with another brand:

Cross-shopping? Mazda vs Toyota · Mazda vs Honda · Mazda vs Ford

How long does a Mazda last?

Across every Mazda body style we've inspected — sedans, SUVs and anything else pooled together — the average one's condition dips below decent (a 55/100 score) around ~115k miles. It ranks Mazda #14 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~190k. Shopping a Mazda near that mileage? Expect more wear ahead — see which makes give the best odds at your budget.



Good cars by mileage
0 25 50 75 100 0–20k mi: 93% in good shape (14 cars) 20–40k mi: 80% in good shape (20 cars) 40–60k mi: 85% in good shape (34 cars) 60–80k mi: 67% in good shape (27 cars) 80–100k mi: 49% in good shape (35 cars) 100–120k mi: 44% in good shape (27 cars) 120–140k mi: 35% in good shape (20 cars) 140–160k mi: 25% in good shape (12 cars) 160–180k mi: 20% in good shape (5 cars) 40k 80k 120k 160k 200k mileage when we inspected it
Good cars by age
0 25 50 75 100 1 years old: 88% in good shape (8 cars) 2 years old: 90% in good shape (10 cars) 3 years old: 94% in good shape (16 cars) 4 years old: 93% in good shape (15 cars) 5 years old: 77% in good shape (13 cars) 6 years old: 73% in good shape (15 cars) 7 years old: 63% in good shape (16 cars) 8 years old: 65% in good shape (17 cars) 9 years old: 48% in good shape (25 cars) 10 years old: 50% in good shape (14 cars) 11 years old: 30% in good shape (10 cars) 12 years old: 42% in good shape (12 cars) 13 years old: 60% in good shape (5 cars) 14 years old: 29% in good shape (7 cars) 2y 4y 6y 8y 10y 12y 14y 16y vehicle age when we inspected it

Share of Mazdas in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). The dashed grey curve is all cars we check.

Is Mazda getting better?
▬ Consistent across generations 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 64% in good shape (age-adjusted; 23 cars, raw 61%) 64 2015–17: 57% in good shape (age-adjusted; 38 cars, raw 50%) 57 2018+: 67% in good shape (age-adjusted; 35 cars, raw 74%) 67 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+

Share of Mazdas in good shape (60+/100) when inspected at the same age — 5–10 years old, age-adjusted — by model-year generation; the dashed line is the all-brand average. Compare every brand's trajectory →



Mazda models we've inspected
CX-5 64 cars · 81% good 3 55 cars · 61% good 6 26 cars · 38% good CX-9 11 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2014 Mazda 6 · 174k mi — flagged: oil leaks, fuel trim out of range, worn suspension joints. Inspected Sep 8.
2015 Mazda 6 · 157k mi — flagged: smoothness, belts, signs of recent repair. Inspected Sep 4.
The bottom line

Oil leaks are the story here, showing up on 66 percent of these Mazdas, so get under the car and around the engine before you even start haggling. Fuel trim out of range is the other engine red flag, so insist on a scan and a proper test drive. The 2015–17 generation is the weak window; 2018 and newer cars hold up better, and even 2012–14 looks smarter than that middle group. Expect condition to sag around 115,000 miles. A respray alone is not a reason to walk, but a leaky engine plus paint work is your cue to negotiate hard or leave.

FAQ
?
Is Mazda reliable?
61% of the 203 Mazdas we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, averaging 64/100 — they tend to be in slightly better shape than average.
?
What are the most common problems with a used Mazda?
Across the Mazdas we inspected, the items we flag most often are oil leaks (66%), tires condition & wear (33%), fuel trim out of range (33%).
?
Are newer Mazdas more reliable than older ones?
About the same — comparing generations at the same age (5–10 years old), Mazda's share of cars in good shape has stayed consistent.
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Based on 203 inspections · updated Sep 11, 2026