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Mazda CX-5 vs Subaru Forester: reliability compared

From 2012 to 2026, owners filed an average of 166 complaints per model year about the Mazda CX-5 and 314 about the Subaru Forester.

Side by side

Mazda CX-5Subaru Forester
Model years compared2012-20262012-2026
Owner complaints2,4834,711
Complaints per model year166314
Recalls833
Years to avoid201420162018201520162017201820192020
Best years2015202020222013
Most common problemEngineVisibility
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy26 mpg combined (2026)26-35 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 Subaru Forester: 10720122013 Mazda CX-5: 1942013 Subaru Forester: 782014 Mazda CX-5: 3772014 Subaru Forester: 40320142015 Mazda CX-5: 1332015 Subaru Forester: 6172016 Mazda CX-5: 5122016 Subaru Forester: 41620162017 Mazda CX-5: 1502017 Subaru Forester: 5942018 Mazda CX-5: 3562018 Subaru Forester: 49920182019 Mazda CX-5: 2732019 Subaru Forester: 8342020 Mazda CX-5: 1102020 Subaru Forester: 60420202021 Mazda CX-5: 1502021 Subaru Forester: 2152022 Mazda CX-5: 652022 Subaru Forester: 10020222023 Mazda CX-5: 672023 Subaru Forester: 762024 Mazda CX-5: 472024 Subaru Forester: 3120242025 Mazda CX-5: 292025 Subaru Forester: 1022026 Mazda CX-5: 192026 Subaru Forester: 352026
Mazda CX-5Subaru Forester

Problems compared

CX-5Forester
Engine615659
Electrical465720
Transmission285369
Brakes252223
Lights22671
Visibility2171,211
Airbags69610
Acceleration120322

Questions about the Mazda CX-5 vs Subaru Forester

Which is more reliable, the Mazda CX-5 or the Subaru Forester?

Between 2012 and 2026, the Mazda CX-5 has 3 years to avoid and the Subaru Forester 6. The Mazda CX-5 has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Mazda CX-5 drew fewer complaints per model year (166 vs 314), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Mazda CX-5 or the Subaru Forester?

From 2012 to 2026, the Mazda CX-5 was covered by 8 recalls and the Subaru Forester by 33.

What years of the Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester should you avoid?

Mazda CX-5: 2014, 2016 and 2018. Subaru Forester: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

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