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2016 hyundai Genesis vs 2016 mazda CX-9

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-04-29 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2016 Hyundai Genesis and 2016 Mazda CX-9 are nearly tied on reliability data

2016 hyundai Genesis

3.7/5
Reliability score
92 complaints
2 recalls (0 critical)
$11,050 repair exposure
vs

2016 mazda CX-9

3.9/5
Reliability score
99 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$7,300 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

Look, these two are running close enough that you'd be fine either way. Reliability scores are within rounding distance (3.7 for the 2016 hyundai Genesis, 3.9 for the 2016 mazda CX-9), and they've each got their own laundry list of weak spots. There's no clean winner here on the data alone.

If you're leaning 2016 hyundai Genesis, know what you're getting into on electrical and brakes. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than what the 2016 mazda CX-9 sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2016 mazda CX-9? Watch the engine and wheels. The 2016 hyundai Genesis has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

On the dollars-and-cents side, total repair exposure across the top problem areas runs 1.5x higher on the 2016 hyundai Genesis. That's the number to keep in mind when you're pricing the deal — a $2,000 difference in purchase price disappears the first time you're staring at a transmission rebuild.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2016 hyundai Genesis
2016 mazda CX-9
engine
14 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
49 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
electrical
24 reports
severe · ~$850
12 reports
severe · ~$850
powertrain
8 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
8 reports
severe · ~$2,500
brakes
7 reports
moderate · ~$450
5 reports
moderate · ~$450
lighting
7 reports
moderate · ~$250
No reports
steering
6 reports
moderate · ~$700
No reports
body
4 reports
severe · ~$1,500
No reports
airbags
3 reports
severe · ~$1,100
No reports
wheels
No reports
3 reports
moderate · ~$400

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2016 Hyundai Genesis or the 2016 Mazda CX-9?

It's close to a tie. Both vehicles score within 0.2 points on our reliability index (3.7 vs 3.9). At this margin, either choice is defensible — base your decision on the specific failure modes that matter to you.

What goes wrong more often on the 2016 Hyundai Genesis?

Compared to the 2016 Mazda CX-9, the 2016 Hyundai Genesis sees more reported issues in electrical and brakes. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2016 Mazda CX-9?

Compared to the 2016 Hyundai Genesis, the 2016 Mazda CX-9 has more complaints in engine and wheels. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

The 2016 Hyundai Genesis has more active recalls (2 vs 0). Total count is less important than severity, though — a vehicle with one critical recall and zero moderate ones is generally riskier than one with five moderate recalls.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $11,050 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary auto-generated from the data and reviewed by ASE-certified contributors. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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