Diagsheet

Compact SUVs · model years 2014 to 2021

Toyota RAV4 vs Mazda CX-5: problems and reliability

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the CX-5 looks better on 6 and the RAV4 on 0, with 1 too close to call.

Toyota RAV4

Toyota RAV4

3,266 complaints · 17 recalls

Mazda CX-5

Mazda CX-5

1,958 complaints · 9 recalls

Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026

Counts are not adjusted for sales. The more cars of a model there are on the road, the more complaints it draws, so the raw totals above say a lot about sales. Everything below compares shares of each model's own complaints, the mileage problems start at, recalls per model year and each model's years against its own median.

Scorecard

Measure, 2014 to 2021RAV4CX-5
Complaints that report a crash7.3%5.0%
Complaints that report a fire4.5%0.7%
Complaints that report an injury4.5%2.3%
Median miles when problems are reported25,00035,000
Recall campaigns per model year2.11.1
Do-not-drive recalls00
NHTSA investigations10

The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.

What owners complain about

The system RAV4 owners complain about most is electrical; for the CX-5 it is engine. Complaints citing fuel and propulsion make up 13% of all RAV4 complaints, against 4.5% on the CX-5. The CX-5 leans the other way on engine: 26% of its complaints, against 18% for the RAV4.

Toyota RAV4Mazda CX-5

Engine18%26%
Electrical22%19%
Transmission and drivetrain7.3%11%
Fuel and propulsion13%4.5%
Brakes6.9%9.0%
Structure8.1%5.4%
Exterior Lighting3.3%9.5%
Airbags9.3%3.0%
Windshield and wipers2.8%5.6%
Speed control3.7%3.7%

Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

The most reported problems

The most reported problem on the RAV4 is overheating (9.4% of its complaints). On the CX-5 it is misfire (15% of its complaints), against 1.9% on the RAV4.

ProblemRAV4CX-5
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails5.4% 177most in 2019 · 40k mi14% 279most in 2019 · 47k mi
Engine stalls or loses power while driving8.5% 278most in 2019 · 34k mi9.3% 182most in 2014 · 53k mi
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early7.2% 234most in 2016 · 15k mi9.3% 182most in 2016 · 26k mi
Check engine light or misfire1.9% 62most in 2019 · 46k mi15% 285most in 2018 · 53k mi
Engine overheats or leaks coolant9.4% 308most in 2020 · 47k mi2.7% 53most in 2019 · 54k mi
Airbag warning light or recall9.3% 305most in 2021 · 24k mi2.6% 5144k mi
Battery dies or the car will not start6.7% 218most in 2020 · 30k mi3.9% 77most in 2014 · 55k mi
Windshield cracks or distorts3.3% 10710k mi5.7% 111most in 2016 · 15k mi

Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.

When problems start

RAV4 owners report problems earlier. Half the RAV4 complaints that give a mileage come before 25,000 miles; for the CX-5 the halfway point is 35,000. 72% of RAV4 reports and 65% of CX-5 reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.

Toyota RAV4Mazda CX-5

Under 25k50%37%
25k to 50k22%28%
50k to 75k14%21%
75k to 100k5.9%8.7%
100k to 150k6.1%4.5%
Over 150k1.9%0.4%

Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 1,365 for the RAV4 and 1,071 for the CX-5.

Worst and best years

The 2019 RAV4 draws 3.0 times the complaints of a typical RAV4 year for its age. The 2016 CX-5 draws 3.0 times the complaints of a typical CX-5 year for its age.

Toyota RAV4

Every RAV4 model year

Mazda CX-5

  • Years to avoid: 2016, 2018 and 2019
  • Best years: none since 2016 is clearly better

Every CX-5 model year

Toyota RAV4Mazda CX-5

Each model year against its own model's median. RAV4: 2014 0.4, 2015 0.7, 2016 0.6, 2017 0.8, 2018 1.0, 2019 3.0, 2020 2.5, 2021 1.7. CX-5: 2014 1.5, 2015 0.7, 2016 3.0, 2017 1.0, 2018 2.5, 2019 2.2, 2020 1.0, 2021 1.6.2014 RAV4: 0.4 times its median2014 CX-5: 1.5 times its median'142015 RAV4: 0.7 times its median2015 CX-5: 0.7 times its median'152016 RAV4: 0.6 times its median2016 CX-5: 3.0 times its median'162017 RAV4: 0.8 times its median2017 CX-5: 1.0 times its median'172018 RAV4: 1.0 times its median2018 CX-5: 2.5 times its median'182019 RAV4: 3.0 times its median2019 CX-5: 2.2 times its median'192020 RAV4: 2.5 times its median2020 CX-5: 1.0 times its median'202021 RAV4: 1.7 times its median2021 CX-5: 1.6 times its median'211x

Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.

Recalls and investigations

The RAV4 draws more recalls: 2.1 campaigns per model year against 1.1 for the CX-5. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.

Toyota RAV4

17 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: equipment (4), steering (2) and tires (2).

  • 23V-734 (electrical) covers 5 model years
  • 19V-503 (equipment) covers 3 model years

Investigations

  • PE21005: Battery hold down bracket thermal events (closed, led to a recall)

Mazda CX-5

9 recall campaigns and 0 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: fuel system (2), structure (1) and steering (1).

  • 16V-644 (structure) covers 3 model years
  • 16V-064 (fuel system) covers 3 model years

Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Crashes, fires and injuries

A larger share of RAV4 complaints report a crash: 7.3%, against 5.0% for the CX-5. Fire reports: 147 for the RAV4 and 13 for the CX-5. Complaints on file report 3 deaths in the RAV4 and 0 in the CX-5 for these model years.

Toyota RAV4Mazda CX-5

Report a crash7.3%5.0%
Report a fire4.5%0.7%
Report someone hurt4.5%2.3%

Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.

Questions

Is the Toyota RAV4 or the Mazda CX-5 more reliable?

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the CX-5 looks better on 6 and the RAV4 on 0, with 1 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the RAV4 has 3,266 complaints and the CX-5 1,958 for model years 2014 to 2021, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.

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

The RAV4 has 17 recall campaigns and the CX-5 9 across model years 2014 to 2021. The RAV4 draws more recalls: 2.1 campaigns per model year against 1.1 for the CX-5.

What are the most common problems on the RAV4 and the CX-5?

The most reported problem on the RAV4 is overheating (9.4% of its complaints). On the CX-5 it is misfire (15% of its complaints), against 1.9% on the RAV4.

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