Ford Escape vs Mazda CX-5
Owner complaints, worst years and recall history side by side, from official NHTSA data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
Ford Escape
- Total complaints
- 27,062
- Avg per model year
- 1,003
- Recall campaigns (all years)
- 95
- Most complained year
- 2013 (2,742)
Top problems: Engine, Power Train, Steering
Mazda CX-5
- Total complaints
- 2,405
- Avg per model year
- 173
- Recall campaigns (all years)
- 8
- Most complained year
- 2016 (510)
Top problems: Engine, Electrical System, Unknown OR Other
Complaints by model year
| Year | Ford Escape | Mazda CX-5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 11 | ||
| 2025 | 21 | 25 | ||
| 2024 | 76 | 41 | ||
| 2023 | 94 | 59 | ||
| 2022 | 226 | 62 | ||
| 2021 | 330 | 141 | ||
| 2020 | 1,571 | 105 | ||
| 2019 | 570 | 263 | ||
| 2018 | 1,755 | 347 | ||
| 2017 | 2,649 | 148 | ||
| 2016 | 1,072 | 510 | ||
| 2015 | 1,049 | 133 | ||
| 2014 | 2,073 | 377 | ||
| 2013 | 2,742 | 194 |
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports per model year. A model that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — compare the shape across years, not just the raw totals, and read the year pages for what actually fails.