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Mazda: reliability & common problems

#12 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~185k
~118k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
194
Mazdas inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
64/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100



Based on 194 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
34%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
34%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
15%
Worn suspension joints · Suspension
14%

Share of inspected Mazdas where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 29% Good 33% Mediocre 23% Poor 15%
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 ~118k miles. It ranks Mazda #12 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~185k. 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 (24 cars) 80–100k mi: 50% in good shape (34 cars) 100–120k mi: 42% in good shape (26 cars) 120–140k mi: 37% in good shape (19 cars) 140–160k mi: 27% 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: 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: 50% in good shape (24 cars) 10 years old: 42% in good shape (12 cars) 11 years old: 33% in good shape (9 cars) 12 years old: 50% in good shape (10 cars) 13 years old: 60% in good shape (5 cars) 14 years old: 17% in good shape (6 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?
↘↗ Dipped in the mid-2010s — the newest generation recovered 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 64% in good shape (age-adjusted; 23 cars, raw 61%) 64 2015–17: 55% in good shape (age-adjusted; 35 cars, raw 49%) 55 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 52 cars · 61% good 6 23 cars · profile soon CX-9 11 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

1994 Mazda MX-5 · 94k mi — flagged: low coolant / cooling system issues, exhaust system, oil leaks. Inspected Aug 11.
2023 Mazda CX-5 · 15k mi — flagged: oil leaks, fuel trim out of range. Inspected Aug 7.
The bottom line

Mazda shoppers should start under the hood: oil leaks hit two-thirds of these cars and fuel-trim faults tag along, so demand a cold start, compression check, and underbody look for seepage before anything else. Skip the 2015–17 window where age-adjusted condition softens and favor 2018-plus or the still-solid 2012–14 cars instead. Longevity is only mid-pack, with the typical slide below decent arriving near 118,000 miles, so treat that as your ceiling unless a thorough PPI clears the engine and any recent code wipes. High repaint rates are basically table stakes—use them to negotiate, but walk if structural work or active leaks appear.

FAQ
?
Is Mazda reliable?
62% of the 194 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 (34%), fuel trim out of range (34%).
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Are newer Mazdas more reliable than older ones?
The mid-2010s Mazdas were the weak patch — the newest generation has recovered, comparing all of them at the same age (5–10 years old).
Thinking of buying a Mazda? Get the exact car inspected before you pay.
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Based on 194 inspections · updated Aug 12, 2026