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2021 Mazda Cx-50 Hev
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
137 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (55% of complaints, typically reported near 6k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →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.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2021 Mazda CX-5 SUV AWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 17%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
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 2021 Mazda Cx-50 Hev, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (11) · Driver assistance (9)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Engine
55%76 complaints · typically near 6k mi · 15 in the last 2 years
“Due to oil consumption issues & oil leak on 2021 Mazda cx 5 AWD I was told the timing cover and gasket needs replacement due to oil leakage. This appears to be a very …”
Transmission & drivetrain
12%16 complaints · typically near 7k mi · 3 in the last 2 years
“Engine developed a major oil leak at 70,000 miles, with multiple seals leaking. This appears to be a known defect with these vehicles and owners should not be bearing …”
Brakes
8%11 complaints · typically near 15k mi · 3 in the last 2 years
“The car has 21000 miles and is driven lightly when applying the brakes the steering wheel started shaking and the car made noises - the brakes could have failed at any…”
Electrical system
8%11 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years
“Radio audio randomly stopped working and you have to disconnect the negative or you have to leave the car off essentially all night. It’s definitely unknown issue ther…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
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 2021 Mazda CX-50 HEV beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2021? See how every Cx-50 Hev model year scores →
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What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.