2012 Ford Explorer vs 2012 Mazda CX-9
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Ford Explorer | 2012 Mazda CX-9 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 822 | 221 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 88 | 289 |
| Investigations | 4 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 9 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–23 | 19 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 70,050 mi | 58,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Mazda CX-9 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 357 | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 19 | 139 |
| Structure | 142 | 1 |
| Engine | 79 | 25 |
| Power Train | 55 | 18 |
| Electrical System | 63 | 5 |
| Air Bags | 27 | 23 |
| Suspension | 22 | 9 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 74 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 53 | 0 |
| Stalling | 41 | 21 |
| Airbag warning light | 22 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 16 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 15 | 0 |
| Water leaks | 13 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 11 | 0 |
2012 Ford Explorer
2012 Mazda CX-9
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Mazda CX-9 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.