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Mazda: reliability & common problems

#14 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~197k
~115k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles
222
Mazdas inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections
63/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100



Based on 222 used Mazdas we inspected, they are in about average shape — average condition 63/100 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%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
34%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
33%
Worn suspension joints · Suspension
18%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
14%

Share of inspected Mazdas where each item was flagged.

How they score

Excellent 27% Good 31% Mediocre 24% Poor 18%
Hidden history

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

77%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
5%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
25%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 24%

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 ~115k miles. It ranks Mazda #14 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~197k. 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: 94% in good shape (17 cars) 20–40k mi: 80% in good shape (20 cars) 40–60k mi: 83% in good shape (35 cars) 60–80k mi: 62% in good shape (29 cars) 80–100k mi: 50% in good shape (36 cars) 100–120k mi: 40% in good shape (30 cars) 120–140k mi: 32% in good shape (22 cars) 140–160k mi: 20% in good shape (15 cars) 160–180k mi: 14% in good shape (7 cars) 180–200k mi: 83% in good shape (6 cars) 40k 80k 120k 160k 200k mileage when we inspected it
Good cars by age
0 25 50 75 100 1 years old: 91% in good shape (11 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: 71% in good shape (14 cars) 6 years old: 73% in good shape (15 cars) 7 years old: 63% in good shape (16 cars) 8 years old: 58% in good shape (19 cars) 9 years old: 43% in good shape (28 cars) 10 years old: 50% in good shape (16 cars) 11 years old: 33% in good shape (12 cars) 12 years old: 38% in good shape (13 cars) 13 years old: 67% in good shape (6 cars) 14 years old: 20% in good shape (10 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: 53% in good shape (age-adjusted; 43 cars, raw 47%) 53 2018–20: 64% in good shape (age-adjusted; 33 cars, raw 70%) 64 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018–20 2021+

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 67 cars · 81% good 3 65 cars · 54% good 6 31 cars · 39% good CX-9 11 cars · profile soon

Recently inspected:

2014 Mazda 6 · 77k mi — flagged: oil leaks, worn brake rotors, tires condition & wear. Inspected Oct 10.
2017 Mazda 3 · 113k mi — flagged: abnormal noise, belts, oil leaks. Inspected Oct 9.
The bottom line

Oil leaks are the story here, showing up on 65 percent of these cars, so crawl under the engine first and treat any seepage as a negotiation chip, not a surprise. Fuel trim out of range is the next engine flag, so a scan before you buy is non-negotiable. Skip the 2015–17 generation if you have a choice; the 2012–14 and 2018–20 windows hold up better at the same age. Check tires and suspension joints next. Condition typically slips below decent around 115,000 miles, so past that you need a clean engine and a discount, or you walk.

FAQ
?
Is Mazda reliable?
58% of the 222 Mazdas we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, averaging 63/100 — they are in about average shape.
?
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%), fuel trim out of range (34%), tires condition & wear (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 222 inspections · updated Oct 11, 2026