Mazda CX-50: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Mazda CX-50: 3 model years scored from 137 NHTSA owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns. Worst year 2025, best year 2024.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2024 (score 87). Worst: 2025 (score 60, CAUTION).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 60 | CAUTION | $3,566 | 44 | 4 |
| 2024 | 87 | BUY | $3,274 | 32 | 1 |
| 2023 | 81 | BUY | $3,496 | 61 | 2 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the CX-50, through the years →
What goes wrong on the Mazda CX-50
Across every CX-50 model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Service Brakes28 complaints across all CX-50 years · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles$580–$1,140
- Forward Collision Avoidance25 complaints across all CX-50 years · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration$780–$2,160
- Unknown Or Other17 complaints across all CX-50 years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Power Train17 complaints across all CX-50 years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
- Electrical System16 complaints across all CX-50 years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Structure12 complaints across all CX-50 years · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair$1,070–$2,920
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What is the best year for the Mazda CX-50?
On our data the 2024 Mazda CX-50 scores 87/100 — the highest of the 3 model years we hold, with 32 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns on record.
Which Mazda CX-50 years should I avoid?
The 2025 is the weakest year we score, at 60/100 (CAUTION), on 44 complaints and 4 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Mazda CX-50 problem?
28 of the complaints filed against the CX-50 across all its model years sit in the Service Brakes group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04