Are Mazda cars prone to rust?
No. In fact, the owner's community suggests these cars either rusted fast, or virtually didn't. Apparently, an improperly-applied corrosion inhibitor was to blame for an initial batch of Mazda 3s, some years ago, that quickly turned into sheet-metal Swiss cheese.
Mazda reliability ratings
According to Consumer Reports, Mazda has been voted the most reliable car brand on the market. Mazda tops of the list with a score of 83. This was followed by Toyota with a score of 74, Lexus at 71 and Honda at 63.
Nowadays, the use of zinc-coated bodies for automobiles is standard procedure in auto manufacturing. The 'body-in-white' of a car makes up about 80% of the body, all using galvanized steel.
Preventing corrosion. This is pretty obvious – using galvanized steel increases the body's lifespan and prevents it from getting corroded over time. Providing structural integrity to the body due to minimal corrosion attacks. Gives a sense of safety to the owner.
- Audi: The A3, A4 and S4 all have excellent rust protection. ...
- Volkswagen: The Beetle, Golf, Passat, Rabbit and Jetta are highly resistant to rust.
“Anything Japanese will still be prone to a bit of rust. It's because they don't use salt on the roads, so don't need rust protection.” “A lot of modern rust issues are specific failures — arch liners rubbing through paint, and blocked drainage channels.” “French makes are pretty good for not rusting.”
Common Mazda problems range from corrosion on the valve stem to clutch failure, melting dashboards, engine malfunctions, and transmission issues. Even though Mazda has won over fans for its sleek, sporty, and fun cars, the popular manufacturer also has its critics.
Mazda's top-selling vehicle, the CX-5 crossover, has earned scores of 4 or 5 on Consumer Report reliability every year since 2013. In 7 of those years, the vehicle earned the highest possible score. The legendary Miata has never earned a score lower than 4 and has eight model years with a perfect score of 5.
Mazda sometimes flies under the radar, with brands like Honda and Toyota soaking up a lot of the limelight. That's especially unfortunate because Mazda makes great cars, but they lack the same unquestionable reliability.
A lot of the steels used in today's cars are high grade and they're galvanised before they've got anywhere near being a car. Bodies that aren't pre-galvanised are dipped to ensure a thorough coating of protective zinc. Many car makers then apply a protective polymer coat before painting.
Are new cars galvanized?
A key defense shield used by every automobile currently sold in the United States: galvanization. This process coats steel with a layer of zinc, most typically by “hot dipping” components in a molten vat of the metal (although painted components see a thinner layer deposited via electroplating).
All body panels are made of rust-resistant, electro-galvanized steel or aluminum alloy.

It's because the steel used to manufacture modern cars is hot-dip galvanised right at the end of the steel manufacturing process. Essentially galvanising is that whole "sacrificial anode" thing that Anthony is talking about.
Materials used to make vehicle parts have changed.
Modern cars are made of lighter materials, which do not rust as readily or severely as heavier metals did before them. Plastics through to carbon fibre feature far more in cars these days, and they simply do not rust. In summary, rust on cars is rarer sight these days.
Older vehicles were very prone to rust, but new cars have different ways to fight against corrosion and have made massive strides. While they may be more rust resistant than rust proof, they do protect against corrosion better than ever before.
- Toyota Camry. Toyota Camry cars are known to be great at being rust-free even when exposed to extreme weather. ...
- Hyundai Accent. The Hyundai Accent has been around the block for a while now and has proven to be great at keeping rust-free. ...
- Volkswagen Golf. ...
- Volvo S60. ...
- Honda Accord. ...
- Renault Clio. ...
- Audi A6. ...
- Hyundai Elantra.
A full service car wash can help to reduce the risk of rust on exterior surfaces as it can properly remove key elements that lead to rust. The car wash can also help renew the protective coating on the paint. As previously noted, the underbody of your car is not exempt of the threat of rust.
Though many people may not realize it, there have been issues with Hondas rusting out for some time. For example, on Civics, there was a rubberized trim piece that stretched the length of the wheel well.
Nonetheless, some automobile manufacturers such as Mahindra & Mahindra and Maruti Suzuki India have recognised the importance of galvanisation, given the increased use of High Strength Steel and Ultra High Strength Steel in their cars, which offer more strength but are thinner and lighter at the same time.
This was to be done in a way that the cars are affordable to the domestic market and fuel-efficient. That explains why Japanese cars are very light and fuel efficient.
Do Mazda engines last long?
Mazdas have a lifespan of up to 300,000 miles.
According to consumer data, Mazdas have a long lifespan. If diligently maintained, they'll go between 200,000 and 300,000 miles without any severe problems. Anecdotally, some Mazdas have over 350,000 miles and are still hitting the road.
The Mazda 2.0L engine appears to be highly reliable thus far. We're calling these the MOST common problems for a reason. It doesn't mean they're truly common and affect a large number of 2.0 Skyactiv engines. Rather, when the rare problems occur these are a few common areas.
Mazda models are made at the Mazda Motor Corporation which is based in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Mazda, best known for their rotary engines, has become one of the world's premier automakers.
Lexus is tops for reliability, with Mazda and Toyota right behind, according to the 2021 Auto Reliability Data report from Consumer Reports. Eight Asian automakers hit the top ten, along with Buick and Mini.
Are Mazda vehicles expensive to fix? The average annual maintenance cost of Mazda vehicles is $462 which is much less than the industry average of $652 for all vehicles.
Every year around November, Consumer Reports reveals its annual auto reliability brand rankings, which reflect predicted reliability based on comprehensive vehicle testing and owner surveys. For 2022, Lexus (76 on a 100-point scale), Mazda (75) and Toyota (71) make up the top 3.
From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports' January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda first in reliability. Kia is ranked 15th.
So, how well does Mazda actually perform? According to the various issues measured by ReliabilityIndex, the brand is impressive. When looking at everything from non-engine electrical issues to transmission, the number of faults reported are minimal, ranging from 1.79% (transmission) to 16.82% (engine).
The culmination of Mazda and Toyota's collaboration presents the upcoming hybrid powertrain for the 2023 Mazda CX-50.
The Actual hot dip galvanising process is dipping mild steel components in a hot Zinc bath. The problem with this is that any sealed surface- i.e. A square box section - must have a hole drilled in it to allow it to drain, and as it's a hot process thin steel had a habit of distorting.
When did cars become galvanized?
Galvanized steel is used in cars.
In the 1980s, imported Japanese models started coming with frames of galvanized steel, and American consumers came to demand galvanized steel in American models, too.
Japanese cars are mass-produced in large numbers. Parts are produced with long-lasting, low-cost materials that can be easily reproduced. It's also worth noting that Japan's best-known automakers (Toyota and Honda) are extremely skilled at building small, modest cars.
How Car Makers Help Prevent Rust - Tip of the Week - YouTube
The exterior is mostly made of steel which means that, it could start to rust in as little as four to five days. However, this is extremely rare. Unless the vehicle paint has already been scratched or damaged in places or the car is already old, a few months shouldn't make a huge difference.
For a brand new vehicle, there should be ZERO rust of any kind. For a used vehicle, it depends on where it was used and how good or bad the owners upkept the maintenance and cleaning.
Some might be surprised to hear that, yes, cars do rust in Florida. While the process might not be as fast as in Northern states where there's salt on the roads during the winter months, Florida still has a lot of salinity in the air, especially at popular coastal cities.
Honda Element RUST RECALL // This Is The ONE - YouTube
As of April 2019, all vehicle deliveries will include a galvanized chassis (or frame). The benefits of galvanizing the chassis are well documented on the Internet, but let us give you a quick run down…
A. The short answer is no. Cars today are manufactured with corrosion protection, which makes this added treatment unnecessary, though it is profitable for car dealerships.
How often should you get rustproofing done your car? Rustproofing should be done every one to two years. Depending on your driving habits and climate, you can determine if you should go yearly or push it to two years. It may be better to consider an extended car warranty on a new vehicle purchase.
Does undercoating stop existing rust?
NH Oil Undercoating® will not remove rust, however it will stop existing rust from spreading by penetrating through the rust to the base metal and stopping any further oxidization. The fact is, a new vehicle is subjected to thousands of spot welds and numerous bends and folds during production.
Sadly, for all its good points, the Mazda 3 is famous for having rust issues galore.
Myth #6: Only old cars rust
If the conditions are right, even a vehicle less than a year old has the potential for rust. When it comes to rust proofing, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Rust proofing is something that every car can benefit from.
To ensure that young buyers are impressed by the vehicle, Kia designed the exterior to last a long time and made the car with the highest quality materials to prevent corrosion.
That is, until the 1990's. Nowadays, the use of zinc-coated bodies for automobiles is standard procedure in auto manufacturing. The 'body-in-white' of a car makes up about 80% of the body, all using galvanized steel.
The overall improvement reflects many individual changes, he adds, including better coatings — mainly paint — and more use of galvanized steel, which is coated with rust-resistant zinc on both sides. Vehicles have also been redesigned without pockets for mud to gather, and rust-prone seams were removed.
Locations with less air moisture, such as desert environments, are less likely to induce rust, but there are no cars that are 100% immune to car rust. Due to the materials they're built from, certain cars are more susceptible to rust compared to others.
Are Mazda vehicles expensive to fix? The average annual maintenance cost of Mazda vehicles is $462 which is much less than the industry average of $652 for all vehicles.
The Mazda 3 has scored high in all major reliability ratings. It achieved a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 from RepairPal, ranking ninth out of 36 compact cars. The annual repair cost for this model is approximately $433, which is nearly $220 less than other compact cars.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2021 Mazda3 and CX-30 vehicles. Air may suddenly leak from the tire air valve. Tip: Recalls don't affect every vehicle of the same year, make and model. You'll need your car's 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to know for sure.
Where is Mazda car made?
Mazda models are built in a variety of locations both in Japan and America. Currently, there are three manufacturing facilities in Japan. Two are located in Hiroshima, Japan and the other is in Hofu, Japan. In addition to these Japan manufacturing facilities, there are several in North America.
Mazda's top-selling vehicle, the CX-5 crossover, has earned scores of 4 or 5 on Consumer Report reliability every year since 2013. In 7 of those years, the vehicle earned the highest possible score. The legendary Miata has never earned a score lower than 4 and has eight model years with a perfect score of 5.
Essentially, Mazda has emerged as the most dependable brand by sticking to the same formula. CR gave Mazda an overall model score of 83. Toyota and Lexus come in at second and third with scores of 74 and 71, respectively.
Mazdas have a lifespan of up to 300,000 miles.
According to consumer data, Mazdas have a long lifespan. If diligently maintained, they'll go between 200,000 and 300,000 miles without any severe problems. Anecdotally, some Mazdas have over 350,000 miles and are still hitting the road.
Common Mazda problems range from corrosion on the valve stem to clutch failure, melting dashboards, engine malfunctions, and transmission issues. Even though Mazda has won over fans for its sleek, sporty, and fun cars, the popular manufacturer also has its critics.
The Mazda3 is a well-built, reliable car that can last between 200,000 – 250,000 miles with proper care and good driving habits.
Model | Model Year(S) |
---|---|
MPV | 2004 – 2006 |
RX-8 | 2004 – 2011 |
CX-7 | 2007 – 2012 |
CX-9 | 2007 – 2015 |
Eight recalls for six Mazda models in 2021
Newer Mazda3s may have problems with the tailgate controls or the Smart Brake Support system. The Mazda CX-30 has also been recalled with both issues. The electric Mazda MX-30 also had the first two recalls in 2021.
- Mazda Fuel Pump Recall. ...
- Mazda Recalls 2009-2011 RX-8 and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6. ...
- Mazda Recalls 2020-2021 CX-9. ...
- 2004-2007 Mazda3 Recall. ...
- 2007-2009 Mazda B-series Recall. ...
- 2020-2021 Mazda CX-30 Recall. ...
- Mazda Recalls 2019-20 Mazda3. ...
- 2019 Mazda3, 2018-19 Mazda CX-5, Mazda6 Recalled.
Mazda models are made at the Mazda Motor Corporation which is based in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Mazda, best known for their rotary engines, has become one of the world's premier automakers.
Who owns Mazda now?
Mazda Motor Corporation
“Mazda” comes from Ahura Mazda, the god of harmony, intelligence and wisdom from the earliest civilization in West Asia. Key members of Toyo Kogyo interpreted Mazda as a symbol of the beginning of the East and the West civilization, but also a symbol of the automotive civilization and culture.