Mazda’s place in the automotive world is solidified by sound reliability, good styling & cars that put an emphasis on driver involvement. But that’s not to say all of their cars were a hit.
If you’re considering a Mazda for a new or pre-owned car, good news: They’re great cars. Often the underdog to the might of Honda and Toyota, Mazda’s place in the automotive world is solidified by solid reliability, good styling, and cars that put an emphasis on driver involvement. That’s not to say all of their cars were a hit. Some cars did have issues that are worth checking out, and listed at the bottom of this article is a list of recalls that affect multiple models. But for the 2020 model year, it should be noted that Mazda has ranked as Consumer Report’s best overall reliable brand for 2020.
How Mazda Made it in the U.S.
Mazda really emerged in the American marketplace in the mid-’80s with the fun-to-drive RX-7 sports car, but the automaker also offered several other cleverly packaged and efficient small cars. The 323 was a direct competitor to the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, and the bigger 626 was in the same Camry and Accord mid-size sedan segment. Where Mazda really excelled was in their MX5 Miata sports car. The MX5 Miata was a back-to-basics traditional roadster that emulated beloved British roadsters that came decades prior. But the MX5’s best feature was its reliability. This same fun-factor can be felt in other models, giving the brand a light-hearted feeling of ownership, rather than just being an A-to-B appliance.
Through a strategic partnership with Ford that began in the ’70s and was at full-sail in the early ’90s, Mazda was able to share some technology with Ford, and in return was able to gain some of the Blue Oval’s production volume. Mazda’s partnership with Ford dissolved in 2015, after which they struck up a deal with Toyota focusing on clean energy technologies.
Recently, Mazda has initiated a “Kodo Design” language, matching styling cues across the Mazda range. Still making the MX5, Mazda’s range has now expanded to include more crossovers and SUVs, all of which have received accolades for their longevity.
Mazda MX5 Miata
Mazda’s MX5 is arguably the most popular sports car ever made. This stylish and fun two-seater sports car has had a long-standing reputation of being reliable and inexpensive to buy and upkeep. Now in its fourth generation, the MX5 has an extremely loyal following. In fact, the following is so loyal, the term “Miata Is Always the Answer” has been coined as the acronym behind the car’s namesake.
The NA and NB Miatas produced through 2005 are all very reliable cars. At their age of 15 years or older, you should approach any of these cars with a thorough inspection. Age-related items may need to be replaced. The early 1.6 liter engines and more powerful 1.8s often see very long service life.
Miata’s third-generation, dubbed the NC, had early (NC1) and post-facelift versions (NC2). These cars grew quite a bit and softened the experience. Not to say they were not good cars, but the NC has a little less magic than the NA, NB, and ND variants. However, these cars carried over their reliability. The 2005-2008 model year NC1 was susceptible to some cooling issues according to MX5Vic, although not all cars were affected. The issues consisted of a coolant tank leaking, and a stuck thermostat. Both of which could cause significant engine issues if left unfixed.
NA & NB Miatas produced thru 2005 are all very reliable cars. But you should approach any of these cars with a thorough inspection. Age-related items may need to be replaced
Miata’s current and fourth-generation, dubbed ND, is a return to form. Small, svelte, and nimble, this Miata is a testament to Mazda’s engineering prowess. While cars continually get larger, the ND Miata occupies almost exactly the same footprint as the NA, which came 30 years prior. Thankfully, these cars are also reliable, but some ND MX5s did have transmission issues. These Miatas were given a recall noting that the automatic transmission might receive a poor signal from the selector lever, causing sudden deceleration, and directional instability. There have also been reports that the first-year 2016 ND Miata was prone to have its manual transmission fail very early. Though no official action was taken by Mazda, the issue is well documented in places like Miata.net. Some may accuse the failures of these cars as mostly occurring in the motorsports arena, but some have happened in regular driving, too.
Mazda 2, CX-3
From 2009-2014, Mazda sold the Mazda 2 compact to the U.S. market. With 100 horsepower and a very inexpensive entry price, this hatchback brought Mazda back to what made the company so popular in the first place. A small efficient vehicle that was stylish and reliable. In our research, we found no real outstanding trouble areas for the Mazda 2. Production of this car was somewhat small, meaning there’s a smaller sample-base to gather data from, however.
In the next generation, Mazda interestingly decided to forego U.S. sales of this car, and instead utilized its partnership with Toyota to create the CX-3. This compact crossover debuted in 2015 and competes with the Honda HR-V and Toyota C-HR. This car has proven to be trouble-free for the most part.
Mazda 3, Mazda 5, CX-5 & CX-30
Replacing the popular Protégé was Mazda’s new Mazda 3. This car spawned a platform that was utilized by a number of successive Mazda models, all with similar drivetrains. Simple in name and design, this car came in sedan and hatch versions. First-generation models, codenamed BK, are now 12 to 18 years old and should be inspected and approached carefully, as any car should at that age. Thankfully, these cars should be reliable, as evidenced by a 94% recommendation rate by Cars.com.
In our research, we found no real outstanding trouble areas for the Mazda 2. But production was somewhat small, so there’s a smaller base from which to gather data.
The second-generation “BL” Mazda 3 launched in 2008. With it came an interesting misstep from Mazda. Specifically, the 2010 model year. Car Complaints reports hundreds of complaints about the clutch failing prematurely. Many were replaced under warranty, but now considering their age, a new owner would be on the hook for the repair. This problem does not affect cars with automatic transmissions. In addition to the clutch issues, Mazda also had a seat bracket issue which would make the seat feel loose. Repair Pal notes that Mazda actually did issue a recall for this issue.
In 2014, Mazda started with a clean slate and launched the third-generation Mazda 3, and debuted the CX-5. J.D. Power gives the third-generation Mazda3 an average reliability rating. This car did receive an important recall from Mazda regarding a fuel line that could corrode and leak. They give it 78 out of 100, but their problem areas relate more to storage space and the intuition of the navigation system rather than any real trouble areas.
The latest generation of Mazda 3 was launched in 2019 and has not quite enough data to gather any trouble spots just yet. This generation additionally spawned the CX-30 subcompact.
Mazda 6, CX-7, CX-9 (thru 2016)
Mazda introduced the Mazda 6 in 2003. Available as a sedan, and in very limited quantity as a wagon, this mid-size sedan had a 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder variant just like its other major competitors. This generation was made till 2008. Knowing these cars are over 13 years old means any inspection should be thorough. Their 2.3-liter, 4-cylinder engines and 3.0 Duratec (Ford sourced) V6 are known as reliable units.
The Mazda 6 in its second generation spanned from 2009-2013, and Repair Pal noted that the only major issue was a cooling fan module. If this module fails, it will cause an overheating issue. This problem overshadows a generation of Mazda 6 that was well received and coincided with the SUV variant of the CX-9. Not only for being a good-looking sedan but also for showcasing Mazda’s ability to inject fun in all of their cars. These cars had generally good reliability, but U.S. News states some interior materials were cheap.
In the third and current generation of Mazda 6 that began for the 2014 model year, Mazda showcased what it could do without Ford’s influence. Although, this generation had a very unusual recall for the 2015 and 2016 models. During the assembly of the front seats, Weld splatter would come into contact with some of the wire harness is that connected the occupant classification system. Overtime this Weld splatter rubbing up against the wiring can cause a short circuit in the system disabling the airbag from properly functioning. This wiring issue could also disable the power steering. According to Mazda Problems, Mazda 6 owners can expect damage to the wiring that can lead to a short circuit and triggered multiple warning lights as the airbag is disabled and the power steering is lost.
Mazda CX-9 (2016–present)
Needing a larger platform for the CX-9 as it was growing upscale, Mazda created the SkyActiv platform. Three rows of seats couldn’t fit on the shared Mazda 3/6 platform any longer. Going to a new platform also saw Mazda going to new engines. The prior Mazda 6 engines of the 4-cylinder and V6 were eschewed in favor of a turbo 4. Car and Driver had a long-term test vehicle for 40,000 miles and only had to go to the dealership for routine oil changes.
Recalls that Affected Multiple Mazda Vehicles
NHSTA 16V203000: separation of steering knuckle
- 2016 CX-3
- 2013-2014 Mazda 2
- 2014-2016 CX-5
2013-2015 CX-9Takata Airbag Recall: dangerous metal shrapnel may cause severe injury
- 2004-2009 B-series truck
- 2004-2006 Mazda MPV
- 2003-2013 Mazda 6
- 2006-2007 MazdaSpeed6
- 2004-2011 Mazda RX-8
- 2007-2012 Mazda CX-7 2
- 007-2015 Mazda CX-9
