Compact SUVs · 5 model years, 2018 to 2026
Volkswagen Tiguan vs Mazda CX-5: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the CX-5 looks better on 4 and the Tiguan on 1, with 2 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2018 to 2026 | Tiguan | CX-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 2.3% | 5.0% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 2.3% | 2.4% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 10,000 | 29,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 4.4 | 0.6 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 1 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 2 | 0 |
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 Tiguan owners complain about most is engine, and it is the same for the CX-5. Complaints citing electrical make up 21% of all Tiguan complaints, against 14% on the CX-5. The CX-5 leans the other way on engine: 46% of its complaints, against 27% for the Tiguan.
Volkswagen TiguanMazda CX-5
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 Tiguan is stalling (11% of its complaints). On the CX-5 it is misfire (28% of its complaints), against 5.6% on the Tiguan.
| Problem | Tiguan | CX-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Check engine light or misfire | 5.6% 4448k mi | 28% 251most in 2018 · 53k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 9.2% 72most in 2019 · 20k mi | 18% 158most in 2019 · 30k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 11% 84most in 2018 · 8k mi | 7.6% 67most in 2018 · 35k mi |
| Engine leaks oil | 1.5% 12 | 17% 147most in 2019 · 52k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 8.3% 658k mi | 7.2% 64most in 2018 · 10k mi |
| Burns oil or oil level rises | 4.8% 3830k mi | 10% 90most in 2021 · 20k mi |
| Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing | 1.7% 1350k mi | 5.2% 4650k mi |
| Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) | 3.7% 2910k mi | 2.3% 20 |
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
Tiguan owners report problems earlier. Half the Tiguan complaints that give a mileage come before 10,000 miles; for the CX-5 the halfway point is 29,000. 81% of Tiguan reports and 68% 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.
Volkswagen TiguanMazda CX-5
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 284 for the Tiguan and 360 for the CX-5.
Worst and best years
The 2022 Tiguan draws 2.7 times the complaints of a typical Tiguan year for its age. The 2016 CX-5 draws 3.0 times the complaints of a typical CX-5 year for its age.
Mazda CX-5
Volkswagen TiguanMazda CX-5
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 Tiguan draws more recalls: 4.4 campaigns per model year against 0.6 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.
Volkswagen Tiguan
22 recall campaigns and 2 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: suspension (4), seat belts (2) and structure (2).
- Do not drive 18V-324 (suspension), model years 2018
- 22V-226 (structure) covers 4 model years
- 18V-824 (electrical) covers 2 model years
Investigations
- EA18005: Seat belt webbing failure (closed, led to a recall)
- PE18001: Seat belt webbing failure (closed)
Mazda CX-5
3 recall campaigns and 0 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: airbags (1), engine (1) and fuel system (1).
- 19V-497 (engine) covers 2 model years
- 21V-875 (fuel system) covers 2 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 CX-5 complaints report a crash: 5.0%, against 2.3% for the Tiguan. Fire reports: 5 for the Tiguan and 3 for the CX-5.
Volkswagen TiguanMazda CX-5
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 Volkswagen Tiguan or the Mazda CX-5 more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the CX-5 looks better on 4 and the Tiguan on 1, with 2 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Tiguan has 785 complaints and the CX-5 885 for the 5 model years from 2018 to 2026 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Tiguan or the CX-5?
The Tiguan has 22 recall campaigns and the CX-5 3 across the 5 model years from 2018 to 2026 that both have on file. The Tiguan draws more recalls: 4.4 campaigns per model year against 0.6 for the CX-5.
What are the most common problems on the Tiguan and the CX-5?
The most reported problem on the Tiguan is stalling (11% of its complaints). On the CX-5 it is misfire (28% of its complaints), against 5.6% on the Tiguan.
More comparisons
- Toyota RAV4 vs Mazda CX-52014 to 2021
- Volkswagen Tiguan vs Toyota RAV42018 to 2022
- Honda CR-V vs Mazda CX-52014 to 2026
- Volkswagen Tiguan vs Honda CR-V2018 to 2026