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Mazda: reliability & common problems

#13 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~189k
~117k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
197
Mazdas inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
64/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100



Based on 197 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
65%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
34%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
33%
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 22% Poor 16%
Hidden history

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

76%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
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 ~117k miles. It ranks Mazda #13 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~189k. 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: 69% in good shape (26 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: 46% in good shape (13 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: 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?
↘↗ 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: 56% in good shape (age-adjusted; 36 cars, raw 50%) 56 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 53 cars · 62% good 6 23 cars · profile soon CX-9 11 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2016 Mazda Miata · 70k mi — flagged: tires condition & wear, control arms. Inspected Aug 21.
2012 Mazda 3 · 78k mi — flagged: tires condition & wear, key fob. Inspected Aug 19.
The bottom line

Oil leaks show up on most of these Mazdas so start there—crawl under and look for seepage around the engine, then have the fuel trims checked because that's the next common engine headache. The 2018-and-newer cars come out ahead on age-adjusted condition while the 2015-17 bunch lags, so hunt those later ones or the older 2012-14 if the price is right. They typically stay decent until around 117,000 miles before dropping off, which is middle of the pack; anything with structural work or a cluster of engine faults is your cue to walk or hammer the price hard.

FAQ
?
Is Mazda reliable?
62% of the 197 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 (65%), tires condition & wear (34%), fuel trim out of range (33%).
?
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 197 inspections · updated Aug 22, 2026