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Mazda CX-5 vs Toyota RAV4: reliability compared

From 2012 to 2025, owners filed an average of 176 complaints per model year about the Mazda CX-5 and 315 about the Toyota RAV4.

Side by side

Mazda CX-5Toyota RAV4
Model years compared2012-20252012-2025
Owner complaints2,4644,410
Complaints per model year176315
Recalls828
Years to avoid20142016201820192020
Best years201520202022201420162022
Most common problemEngineElectrical
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy24-28 mpg combined (2025)28-39 mpg combined (2025)

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 Toyota RAV4: 26020122013 Mazda CX-5: 1942013 Toyota RAV4: 2572014 Mazda CX-5: 3772014 Toyota RAV4: 19820142015 Mazda CX-5: 1332015 Toyota RAV4: 3052016 Mazda CX-5: 5122016 Toyota RAV4: 24020162017 Mazda CX-5: 1502017 Toyota RAV4: 3082018 Mazda CX-5: 3562018 Toyota RAV4: 33320182019 Mazda CX-5: 2732019 Toyota RAV4: 8872020 Mazda CX-5: 1102020 Toyota RAV4: 64120202021 Mazda CX-5: 1502021 Toyota RAV4: 3902022 Mazda CX-5: 652022 Toyota RAV4: 15020222023 Mazda CX-5: 672023 Toyota RAV4: 1662024 Mazda CX-5: 472024 Toyota RAV4: 17720242025 Mazda CX-5: 292025 Toyota RAV4: 98
Mazda CX-5Toyota RAV4

Problems compared

CX-5RAV4
Engine615773
Electrical460962
Transmission284328
Brakes250352
Lights225123
Visibility214247
Fuel system142483
Airbags68374
Body141366

Questions about the Mazda CX-5 vs Toyota RAV4

Which is more reliable, the Mazda CX-5 or the Toyota RAV4?

Between 2012 and 2025, the Mazda CX-5 has 3 years to avoid and the Toyota RAV4 2. The Toyota RAV4 has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Mazda CX-5 drew fewer complaints per model year (176 vs 315), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Mazda CX-5 or the Toyota RAV4?

From 2012 to 2025, the Mazda CX-5 was covered by 8 recalls and the Toyota RAV4 by 28.

What years of the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4 should you avoid?

Mazda CX-5: 2014, 2016 and 2018. Toyota RAV4: 2019 and 2020.

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