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Mazda: reliability & common problems

#18 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~176k
~110k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
185
Mazdas inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
60/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 60/100



Based on 185 used Mazdas we inspected, they are in about average shape — average condition 60/100 vs 60 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%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
34%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
34%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
16%
Worn suspension joints · Suspension
14%

Share of inspected Mazdas where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 15% Good 36% Mediocre 41% Poor 9%
Hidden history

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

77%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 76%
6%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
24%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 ~110k miles. It ranks Mazda #18 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~176k. 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: 92% in good shape (13 cars) 20–40k mi: 76% in good shape (17 cars) 40–60k mi: 68% in good shape (34 cars) 60–80k mi: 70% in good shape (23 cars) 80–100k mi: 44% in good shape (32 cars) 100–120k mi: 16% in good shape (25 cars) 120–140k mi: 39% in good shape (18 cars) 140–160k mi: 18% in good shape (11 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: 67% in good shape (9 cars) 3 years old: 93% in good shape (14 cars) 4 years old: 71% in good shape (14 cars) 5 years old: 77% in good shape (13 cars) 6 years old: 57% in good shape (14 cars) 7 years old: 50% in good shape (14 cars) 8 years old: 59% in good shape (17 cars) 9 years old: 42% in good shape (24 cars) 10 years old: 27% in good shape (11 cars) 11 years old: 44% in good shape (9 cars) 12 years old: 20% in good shape (10 cars) 13 years old: 20% in good shape (5 cars) 14 years old: 0% in good shape (5 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?
▼ Newer Mazdas aren't holding up as well 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 56% in good shape (age-adjusted; 23 cars, raw 52%) 56 2015–17: 53% in good shape (age-adjusted; 34 cars, raw 47%) 53 2018+: 48% in good shape (age-adjusted; 32 cars, raw 56%) 48 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 56 cars · 70% good 3 50 cars · 46% good 6 23 cars · profile soon CX-9 11 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2018 Mazda 6 · 107k mi — flagged: oil leaks, abnormal noise, worn brake rotors. Inspected Jul 3.
2018 Mazda CX-5 · 114k mi — flagged: oil leaks, dirty or low engine oil, vibration. Inspected Jul 3.
The bottom line

Oil leaks plague two-thirds of Mazdas, so the first thing to do is crawl under and inspect the engine for seepage, then scan for fuel-trim issues and error codes. Age-adjusted, the 2012–14 cars stay in good shape more often than the later ones that keep sliding, making those earlier examples the smarter hunt. Longevity sits near the bottom of the pack and typically falls off around 110,000 miles, so treat anything higher as a negotiation point or a walk-away if the oil leaks are active and the suspension joints feel worn.

FAQ
?
Is Mazda reliable?
51% of the 185 Mazdas we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, averaging 60/100 — they are in about average shape.
?
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%), fuel trim out of range (34%), tires condition & wear (34%).
?
Are newer Mazdas more reliable than older ones?
No — comparing generations at the same age (5–10 years old), newer Mazdas actually score lower than the early-2010s ones.
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Based on 185 inspections · updated Jul 12, 2026