Hey everyone,
My wife and I are thinking about trading in our old RAV4 for a CX-5. We really like it and feel it suits our needs. But I’ve heard from a few people that Mazda might have issues with rust, especially with the chassis.
For some context, we live in a region where winters run from December to March, and the roads are salted during this time. I’m curious… do Mazdas still have a rust problem? Would love to hear your thoughts or experiences!
Mazda definitely had a rust reputation, especially in the 90s and early 2000s, but that’s mostly in the past. They’ve improved a lot since splitting from Ford in 2009. I’ve got a 2014 Mazda 3 with 177k miles, and it’s been through brutal New England winters. Most of the rust I see is minor surface rust on exhaust and suspension parts.
I did have to replace rusted rear shock mounts at 125k miles, but even my older Honda Civic had worse rust. My advice is to wash the undercarriage during winter and consider undercoating. With proper care, you should be fine!
There’s a discussion about this on another forum. Seems like people agree the rust problems aren’t as bad anymore.
Macon said:
There’s a discussion about this on another forum. Seems like people agree the rust problems aren’t as bad anymore.
Thanks for pointing that out! I’ll check it out.
Ford really hurt Mazda’s reputation during their partnership. Even after all these years, people still bring up rust. If not for that damage, Mazda might have been a bigger success in North America.
I’ve had my 2017 CX-5 for six years in Ohio, where the roads are covered in salt every winter. No rust issues so far.
Your friend might not know the full story. Rust isn’t a big problem with newer Mazdas.
Mazda had rust issues during the Ford ownership days, but since becoming independent, the problem has mostly gone away. Just get a fluid film coating and maintain it annually to stay on the safe side.
The underbody rust is pretty standard for any car in snowy areas. But Mazda’s paint is another story. It’s super thin and chips easily, exposing metal. Combine that with salt, and it’s bad news.
I’ve owned both a 2018 and a 2021 Mazda. Both developed rust from small chips I didn’t catch in time. The roof seems especially prone to this. My advice: get touch-up paint and fix any chips as soon as you spot them. The car’s corrosion warranty won’t cover damage from road debris, so staying on top of it is up to you.
Rust isn’t a bigger issue for Mazda than for any other car.
Mazda solved most of their rust problems by the late 2000s. The 2013+ Skyactiv models are much better than other brands when it comes to rust. Funny enough, Honda is now known for rust issues in northern Europe!
Japanese cars, in general, might rust a bit faster than European ones, but with proper rust prevention like Lanoguard or Krown, you’ll be fine. I’ve treated my RX-8 every other year, and even after 17 years, it’s still rust-free underneath.
Just do some rust prevention, and you won’t have problems. Rust was more of an issue in the 90s and 2000s but is much less common now.
Cody said:
Just do some rust prevention, and you won’t have problems. Rust was more of an issue in the 90s and 2000s but is much less common now.
What kind of rust prevention are we talking about? Like undercoating or something else?