VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Mazda CX-52013–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Mazda CX-5
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Mazda CX-5 Years to Avoid
2 recalls · 289 complaints
9 reported injuries
Top issue: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1 recall · 266 complaints
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 recalls · 232 complaints
2 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
Mazda CX-5 — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 3 | — | — | 97 | 40 | 77 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 0 | 17 | 3 | — | 82 | 55 | 73 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 0 | 24 | — | — | 76 | 68 | 73 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 0 | 26 | — | — | 74 | 78 | 75 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 0 | 52 | — | — | 70 | 85 | 75 | Good |
| 2021 | 0 | 80 | 11 | — | 65 | 88 | 73 | Good |
| 2020 | 0 | 79 | 4 | — | 68 | 87 | 75 | Good |
| 2019 | 1 | 180 | 5 | — | 63 | 83 | 70 | Caution |
| 2018 | 2 | 232 | 2 | — | 59 | 77 | 65 | Avoid |
| 2017 | 0 | 90 | 1 | — | 70 | 70 | 70 | Good |
| 2016 | 2 | 289 | 9 | — | 56 | 63 | 58 | Avoid |
| 2015 | 1 | 94 | 3 | — | 64 | 56 | 61 | Good |
| 2014 | 1 | 266 | — | — | 65 | 50 | 60 | Avoid |
| 2013 | 0 | 142 | 2 | — | 69 | 45 | 61 | Caution |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Mazda CX-5 Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the CX-5 compares — best year within each era shown.
2018–Present
Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2026 (Buyer Score 77).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year CX-5 to buy?+
The 2020 Mazda CX-5 scores highest on our Buyer Score (75/100) — combining a reliability score of 68/100 with a value score of 87/100. It has 0 recalls and 79 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which CX-5 years have the most problems?+
The 2016, 2014, 2018 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2016 CX-5 leads with 2 recalls and 289 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common CX-5 problems?+
The most frequently reported Mazda CX-5 issues involve: ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, POWER TRAIN. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.