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2016 Mazda Cx-90 Phev
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
99 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 18, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (62% of complaints, typically reported near 63k miles).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#38 of 371Among the 2016 models with a matured record, the 2016 Mazda Cx-90 Phev ranks #38, scoring higher than 88% of them. See the 2016 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA hasn’t published a crash-test rating for this model year. That’s common for lower-volume or older models. It doesn’t mean the car is unsafe, just that this program hasn’t tested it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2016 Mazda Cx-90 Phev, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Brakes (11) · Transmission & drivetrain (9) · Fuel system (8)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Engine
62%61 complaints · typically near 63k mi · 8 in the last 2 years
“Engine failure with crack in the engine after a loss of coolant fluid.”
Electrical system
14%14 complaints · typically near 24k mi · 3 in the last 2 years
“Vehicle failed to turn off the engine while in park and I was unable to lock vehicle while engine was still running. The ignition button failed to work.”
Brakes
11%11 complaints
“Brake Booster damaged. I ended up with no brakes and nearly crashed.”
Transmission & drivetrain
9%9 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“I started smelling coolant after exiting the vehicle from a drive. Coolant level was very low. Adding coolant did not last long. I could not see where the leak was. Th…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 2 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 99 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 5 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Mazda before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 63k miles). Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 24k miles). Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2016 Mazda CX-90 PHEV beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2016? See how every Cx-90 Phev model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 Mazda Cx-90 Phev against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.