Neither the Mazda CX-5 nor the Mazda3—these are the models that cause the most headaches according to actual complaints from users and drivers

Mazda has a reputation for making reliable, good looking cars with that fun touch that ends up hooking you. We cannot deny that it has earned that reputation through effort and solid work, but even Mazda has made the occasional mistake in its history (we listen but we do not judge).

Official data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has brought to light that there are specific models and certain years that were not very fun for Mazda and have accumulated far more complaints than usual. We are not talking only about faults, but about problems that could affect vehicle safety and the patience of their owners, so we are going to make a ranking of Mazda’s worst chapters, why not.

Official complaints

These complaints do not appear overnight, they arise when a fault is repeated many times, or when the solution never really arrives. Many of Mazda’s problems repeat frequently, problematic transmissions, electrical failures, or issues with safety systems, and it does not matter if they are best selling vehicles, they also tend to have more complaints. Mazda, this is your roast.

Mazda CX-5

The CX-5 is one of Mazda’s big successes, it is comfortable, good looking, and pleasant to drive. But the 2014 and 2016 models appear frequently in complaint records because the buttons did not work, the screens went black, there were warnings about airbag problems, and even the heated seats overheated.

A total of 376 investigations were reported for this model, with four recalls.

Mazda 626

The late 90s brought this sedan, many thought it was a bland vehicle, but in the 80s it had been, together with the 626 Turbo, one of the best selling Japanese sedans in the United States. The fifth generation of this vehicle did not go very well and ended up with an unfavorable reputation. It had serious problems with the automatic transmission. Harsh shifts, sudden lockups, loss of power, all of this at mileages that, in theory, should not cause problems. There were 379 complaints and yet there was never a massive recall that solved all the problems at the root.

Mazda Tribute

This model earned all the bad comments on its own, with more than 383 official complaints. The main issue was listed as “structure and suspension”. Customers repeatedly reported strong impacts and noises coming from the rear underside of the car, and in many cases the shock absorber had completely rusted. Four recalls did not solve the problem.

Mazda RX-8

The RX-8 is special, very much so, anyone who has driven it knows it, but that does not mean it would not be on this ranking. The famous rotary engine was the biggest problem of this vehicle. It was a wonderful car that constantly asked for money.

Mazda 3 2010

The last candidate of this roast is the 2010 Mazda 3. It leads the ranking with more than 600 complaints, and interestingly the engine was not the main issue. The dashboard cracked, created reflections, a complete disaster that was never fully fixed.

So… is Mazda unreliable?

No. Not at all. Mazda is still among the most highly rated brands by drivers, but you have to be aware that not all models and not all years turn out equally well. So if you are thinking about buying a car, it is better to check all the complaints.