Ford or Mazda — what we actually found
Side by side from 492 Fords and 185 Mazdas buyers asked us to inspect before purchase. The average car we check scores 60/100.
Head to head
| Ford | Mazda | |
|---|---|---|
| Cars inspected | 492 | 185 |
| Average condition | 57/100 | 60/100 |
| In good shape (60+/100) | 46% | 51% |
| Holds up to (avg dips below decent) | ~126k mi | ~110k mi |
| Repainted or replaced panel | 71% | 77% |
| Structural repair found | 4% | 6% |
| Fault codes recently cleared | 23% | 24% |
Green = the better number of the pair. Condition reflects the mix of cars that came to us — age, price, model — so treat small gaps as a tie.
How they score
How long do they stay good?
Good cars by mileage
▬ Ford▬ Mazda▬ all cars
Good cars by age
▬ Ford▬ Mazda▬ all cars
Share 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). Dashed grey = all cars we check.
Most common faults
Oil leaks · Engine
59%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
39%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
35%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
31%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
22%
Oil leaks · Engine
66%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
34%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
34%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
16%
Worn suspension joints · Suspension
14%
Trajectory by generation
Share in good shape when inspected at the same age (5–10 years, age-adjusted), by model-year generation; dashed = all-brand average. All brands →
Whichever badge wins on paper, the car in front of you is its own story. Get it inspected before you pay.
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Based on 677 inspections · updated Jul 12, 2026