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Mazda CX-5 vs Mitsubishi Outlander: reliability compared

From 2012 to 2026, owners filed an average of 166 complaints per model year about the Mazda CX-5 and 55 about the Mitsubishi Outlander.

Side by side

Mazda CX-5Mitsubishi Outlander
Model years compared2012-20262012-2026
Owner complaints2,483774
Complaints per model year16655
Recalls826
Years to avoid20142016201820162022
Best years20152020202220122013
Most common problemEngineTransmission
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy26 mpg combined (2026)25-28 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2012 Mazda CX-5: 12012 Mitsubishi Outlander: 2220122013 Mazda CX-5: 1942013 Mitsubishi Outlander: 262014 Mazda CX-5: 3772014 Mitsubishi Outlander: 4520142015 Mazda CX-5: 1332015 Mitsubishi Outlander: 532016 Mazda CX-5: 5122016 Mitsubishi Outlander: 14520162017 Mazda CX-5: 1502017 Mitsubishi Outlander: 512018 Mazda CX-5: 3562018 Mitsubishi Outlander: 5720182019 Mazda CX-5: 2732019 Mitsubishi Outlander: 292020 Mazda CX-5: 1102020 Mitsubishi Outlander: 3220202021 Mazda CX-5: 1502022 Mazda CX-5: 652022 Mitsubishi Outlander: 21920222023 Mazda CX-5: 672023 Mitsubishi Outlander: 502024 Mazda CX-5: 472024 Mitsubishi Outlander: 2620242025 Mazda CX-5: 292025 Mitsubishi Outlander: 162026 Mazda CX-5: 192026 Mitsubishi Outlander: 32026
Mazda CX-5Mitsubishi Outlander

Problems compared

CX-5Outlander
Engine61595
Electrical465112
Transmission285138
Brakes25290
Lights22628
Visibility21735
Body141112
Driver assistance15787

Questions about the Mazda CX-5 vs Mitsubishi Outlander

Which is more reliable, the Mazda CX-5 or the Mitsubishi Outlander?

Between 2012 and 2026, the Mazda CX-5 has 3 years to avoid and the Mitsubishi Outlander 2. The Mitsubishi Outlander has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Mitsubishi Outlander drew fewer complaints per model year (55 vs 166), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Mazda CX-5 or the Mitsubishi Outlander?

From 2012 to 2026, the Mazda CX-5 was covered by 8 recalls and the Mitsubishi Outlander by 26.

What years of the Mazda CX-5 and Mitsubishi Outlander should you avoid?

Mazda CX-5: 2014, 2016 and 2018. Mitsubishi Outlander: 2016 and 2022.

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