Head-to-head reliability
Mazda CX 5 vs FORD F 150
How the Mazda CX 5 and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mazda CX 5 vs FORD F 150: The Mazda CX-5 has 988 complaints over 10 years (about 99 per year) and 6 recalls, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints (about 1,131 per year) and 145 recalls. The F-150 also has more crash-related complaints (328 vs 52). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda CX 5 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mazda CX 5
The Mazda CX-5 is a compact SUV that, based on owner complaints, has a moderate number of issues per year. The most common complaints involve the engine, electrical system, and power train, with reports of unintended acceleration, oil leaks, and transmission problems. While there are some crash-related complaints and injuries, the overall complaint rate is relatively low compared to the Ford F-150. For a used buyer, this suggests a vehicle that may have some recurring issues but is not overwhelmingly problematic.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup truck with a significantly higher number of complaints per year, indicating a higher frequency of reported problems. The most common issues are with the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting, including transmission failures, electrical glitches, and lighting malfunctions. With many recalls and crash-related complaints, owners report a range of safety concerns. For a used buyer, this means being prepared for potentially more frequent repairs and safety-related issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda CX 5 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 988 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 52 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 98.8 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 34 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mazda CX 5
- 01ENGINE369
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER176
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM161
- 04POWER TRAIN96
- 05SERVICE BRAKES80
Owners report unintended acceleration, where the vehicle speeds up on its own, and engine oil leaks from the timing cover that could drip onto hot components and create a fire risk. These issues can be dangerous and costly to fix.
Complaints include the Connectivity Master Unit (CMU) malfunctioning, causing the central display and dashboard to blink and drop signals. This can affect access to critical information and is frustrating for owners.
Some owners experience oil light issues and overheating shortly after oil changes, as well as a broken trailing link shaft at low mileage. These problems can lead to loss of control and expensive repairs.
While specific complaints are not detailed, the service brakes are a top component with 80 complaints. Brake issues are safety-critical and should be inspected carefully.
“..... ON AT LEAST 5 SEPERATE OCCASIONS OUR 2021 MAZDA CX5 SUV ACCELERATED TO A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (ON IT'S OWN). IT HAS DONE IT TO MY WIFE AND I BOTH. I CONTACTED TWO DIFFERENT MAZDA SERVICE CENTERS AND WAS ADVISED THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS AND THAT THER…”
“The vehicle developed an engine oil leak from the timing cover due to what appears to be premature seal failure. Engine oil was leaking externally and could drip onto hot engine components, creating a potential fire hazard while the vehicle is in operation. T…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard and delayed shifts, jerking, and clunking from the 10-speed automatic transmission, sometimes leading to loss of power. These transmission problems can be dangerous and costly to repair.
Complaints include loud bangs from the transmission and popping sounds from the rear suspension, as well as warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available.' These electrical glitches can affect safety features.
With 1,164 complaints, exterior lighting issues are common, though specific details are not provided. Faulty lights can reduce visibility and increase crash risk.
Engine problems are reported, but details are not specified in the sample. Given the high number of complaints, buyers should be cautious about potential engine reliability.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mazda CX 5 — 6 recalls
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda CX-5 vehicles. In the event of a side impact or rollover crash, the side curtain air bags may not properly unfold during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety S…
The risk: If the air bags do not deploy properly in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2718F.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
The risk: An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2017 CX-5 vehicles equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness. This harness may be routed such that there is insufficient clearance between the harness and the exhaust muffler, allowing the wiring harness to contact the muffl…
The risk: Contact with the muffler may damage the trailer wiring harness, potentially resulting in the trailer lighting being inoperative, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the trailer hitch harness away from the muffler, replacing the harness if it is damaged, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Mazda CX 5 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mazda CX-5 has far fewer complaints per year (about 99) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,131), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. In practice, this means a used CX-5 may require fewer repairs and have less downtime, while the F-150 could demand more frequent attention to transmission, electrical, and lighting problems.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over 11 times more complaints per year than the Mazda CX-5, with power train issues being the most common.
- Mazda CX-5 owners report unintended acceleration and oil leaks, while Ford F-150 owners report transmission jerking and loss of power.
- The Ford F-150 has 145 recalls versus 6 for the Mazda CX-5, indicating more widespread safety-related fixes.
- Electrical system complaints are prominent in both, but the F-150's include safety feature malfunctions like pre-collision assist failures.
- Check for any signs of oil leaks around the timing cover and engine bay, as owners report premature seal failure.
- Test drive at various speeds to detect any unintended acceleration or transmission hesitation, and listen for unusual noises from the passenger side.
- During a test drive, pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8 gears, for jerking or delayed engagement.
- Check for dashboard warnings related to front camera or pre-collision assist, and inspect all exterior lights for proper function.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
- For the Mazda CX-5, specifically ask about any oil leak repairs and test the infotainment system for glitches.
- For the Ford F-150, test drive extensively to feel for transmission issues and verify all safety features work.
- Review the owner's manual for maintenance schedules and ensure all services are up to date.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Mazda CX 5 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 14 | 24 |
| 2025 | 27 | 329 |
| 2024 | 42 | 617 |
| 2023 | 61 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 63 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 143 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 106 | 33 |
| 2019 | 267 | 36 |
| 2018 | 117 | 56 |
| 2017 | 148 | 43 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mazda CX 5 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda CX 5 vs FORD F 150
- Mazda CX 5 total complaints
- 988
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Mazda CX 5 total recalls
- 6
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Mazda CX 5 avg complaints/year
- 98.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Mazda CX 5
- Mazda CX 5 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN