Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 47 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Mazda CX-50, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 9 | 19% |
| Structure | 4 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 9% |
| Seats | 4 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 6% |
| Engine | 2 | 4% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 4% |
| Suspension | 2 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 4% |
| Insert | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
My child is able to pull the pads off of the car seat. This is so unsafe and should not be allowed to happen. She is only [XXX] old. I am unable to resume the pass to the car seat. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE F
NHTSA complaint: Insert
The drivers side inside door handle has quit working twice. The dealer has temporarily fixed it both times, but advised us to "just be more gentle with the handle". The cable is falling off of the door hinge inside t
NHTSA complaint: Structure
The factory adhesive/anti-flutter sealant that bonds the outer hood skin to the inner structural frame has physically separated. There is a clear gap where the outer panel is no longer attached to the frame. As a result,
NHTSA complaint: Structure
The automatic emergency braking in this vehicle is faulty. It misinterprets obstacles and uses the emergency braking inconsistently. I park in a parking garage and I have to slowly (less than 5 MPH) drive up any ramps be
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
"My 2025 Mazda CX-50 began overheating while still under the factory warranty. During one incident, the engine lost coolant and overheated. I immediately shut the engine off to prevent damage. The vehicle continues to ov
NHTSA complaint: Engine
While driving my 2025 Mazda CX-50, the entire center-dash climate control panel (HVAC module) suffered a sudden, spontaneous, and total electrical power blackout. The unit completely loses power and goes dark exactly as
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The vehicle was traveling at highway speeds when it experienced a sudden, violent lateral jerk to the side, causing immediate side-curtain/seat airbag deployment prior to impacting the center divide. I believe there was
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
Brake booster failure in less than two years of ownership. It seems to be an issue with A LOT of these models. Very unsafe to have any brake failure
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2025 Mazda CX-50. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024 Mazda 3, CX-30, and 2025 CX-50 vehicles. A malfunction in the forward sensing camera (FSC) may prevent the automatic emergency braking system and the lane-keep assist system from functioning. In addition, the headlights will not aut
Risk: Automatic braking, steering assist, and headlight control systems that do not function as intended can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the forward sensing camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2024. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-80
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024-2025 CX-50 vehicles equipped with Mazda Genuine Accessory trailer hitches. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may loosen and cause the assembly to separate from the vehicle body during towing or normal driving conditions.
Risk: A detached trailer hitch assembly can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will tighten the trailer hitch bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2025. Mazda's number for this recall is 7225C.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain CX-50 Hybrid and CX-50 vehicles. Incorrectly configured module software may cause the air bag to deploy improperly.
Risk: An air bag that deploys improperly increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the module software, free of charge. Owner notifications will not be mailed due to all vehicles being under Mazda dealer control. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800
Mazda North American Operations is recalling certain 2025 CX-50 and CX-50 Hybrid vehicles. The front suspension fastener bolts may not be tightened properly, which can result in suspension component and/or wheel detachment.
Risk: Wheel or suspension component detachment can cause a loss of vehicle control and a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the front suspension fastener bolts and, if necessary, replace and tighten them, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 10, 2025. Owners may contact Mazda
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 84 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 56 | average |
| Performance | 60 | average |
| Efficiency | 60 | average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 47 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 9 of them (19%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 84/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2025 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 78/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.