2016 Dodge Durango vs 2016 Mazda CX-9
Two midsize SUVs, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2016 Dodge
Durango
6/10
Buy the 5.7L Hemi, budget for electrical weirdness, and inspect those taillights before you sign anything.
VS
2016 Mazda
CX-9
6/10
The best-driving 3-row crossover of its era, undone by a coolant-into-cylinder-head issue that shows up right around the time the warranty runs out.
Dead heat: both score 6/10. The tiebreaker is which specific car you find.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Dodge Durango |
Mazda CX-9 |
| Known failure points | 6 | 5 |
| NHTSA complaints | 160 | 99 |
| Safety recalls | 3 | 0 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 58 | 58 |
| Cheap to own | 52 | 45 |
| Fun factor | 68 | 72 |
| Holds value | 48 | 60 |
| Enthusiast cred | 42 | 48 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2016 Dodge Durango
8HP70/45 transmission hard shifts, 'Service Transmission' warnings, sudden RPM drop/limp mode
$200–$4,50030k–70k mi
2016 Mazda CX-9
Cracked cylinder head / coolant intrusion on the 2.5T (coolant smell in cabin, coolant loss with no visible external leak, eventual overheating)
$3,500–$7,00060k–100k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2016 Dodge Durango
2016 Durango R/T with the 5.7L Hemi, AWD, and the Blacktop appearance package — verify all three recalls were completed and taillights show no fogging.
✅ 2016 Mazda CX-9
2016 Grand Touring or Signature AWD with the 2.5T engine and a documented cooling-system inspection/head gasket service history — the AWD system and turbo torque make this the sweet spot, and Signature adds Nappa leather/rosewood trim that feels genuinely upscale.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
Run my free report →
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Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.