Major Problems with Mazda CX-9 Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Mazda CX-9 to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

Mazda CX-9 complaint overview

873 recorded complaints across model years
Years covered 2007–2020
Most recorded categories SERVICE BRAKES (337), SUSPENSION (122), AIR BAGS (121)
Highest recorded count 180 in 2012

Complaint counts are reports, not confirmed defect rates. Older model years have had more time to accumulate reports, and sales volume and reporting coverage differ by year. A higher count does not by itself make a year the least reliable, and these figures are not a failure probability.

Compare two model years

Year A Year B

Problem category

Mazda CX-9 FlawScore

Best and Worst Years for Mazda CX-9

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Mazda CX-9.

Model Year	Complaints
2020 CX-9	1
2019 CX-9	3
2018 CX-9	8
2017 CX-9	4
2016 CX-9	20
2015 CX-9	17
2014 CX-9	28
2013 CX-9	43
2012 CX-9	180
2011 CX-9	144
2010 CX-9	148
2009 CX-9	51
2008 CX-9	156
2007 CX-9	70

Worst 3 Mazda CX-9 complaints

2012 Mazda CX-9 AIR BAGS Victims: 4 Mileage: 79855 miles

2015 Mazda CX-9 AIR BAGS Victims: 3 Mileage: 1200 miles

2016 Mazda CX-9 AIR BAGS Victims: 2 Mileage: 49000 miles

Browse Mazda CX-9 complaints by category

Problems with SERVICE BRAKES, SUSPENSION and AIR BAGS are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Mazda CX-9 owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
SERVICE BRAKES this is a mazda cx9 2014 awd. i needed to stop quickly on a city street in moderate traffic at...	337 ~ 61319 miles
SUSPENSION tl* the contact owns a 2014 mazda cx-9. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v451000 (suspension) however the...	122 ~ 68864 miles
AIR BAGS takata recall according to your airbag recall list website (http://www.safercar.gov/rs/takata/takatalist.html) the 2014 mazda cx-9 is part of the takata recall...	121 ~ 20824 miles
POWER TRAIN we were on a city road uphill and driving to a friends home. our mazda cx-9 grand touring made a...	93 ~ 75002 miles
ENGINE i started my car at home to allow it to warm up while i got the kids ready for school....	73 ~ 66959 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER i purchased the car with 7 000 miles and since the beginning there has been a humming noise every time...	49 ~ 50868 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM i started my car at home to allow it to warm up while i got the kids ready for school....	45 ~ 54633 miles
STEERING i purchased the car with 7 000 miles and since the beginning there has been a humming noise every time...	41 ~ 64566 miles
WHEELS my vehicle seemed as if the transmission was slipping between gears on the highway it would take forever to switch...	27 ~ 90194 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL i had an incident yesterday resulting in a minor collision. my accelerator stuck my engine kept revving and i could...	23 ~ 35481 miles
SEATS the driver seat and passenger seat has a clicking noise and has a little play on the back rest while...	17 ~ 46663 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC i had my cx-9 gt driving on the road. this happened while i drove on street and stepped on brake...	14 ~ 53991 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL brakes prematurely failed after feeling numb and squishy. upon diagnostic by a local mechanic it was determined that the brake...	13 ~ 42243 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE paint finish. chips on both front doors from just touching anything with them. also part of hood is discoloring and	13 ~ 45615 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING tl* the contact owns a 2013 mazda cx-9. the contact stated that the low beam headlights were engaged and failed...	13 ~ 44505 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM foul sulfur smell in cabin gas smell odor smelling gas fumes pungent fresh gasoline smell inside the cabin while driving....	11 ~ 46210 miles
SEAT BELTS in the third row there are no kind of holders preventing the seat belt buckles from going under and between...	8 ~ 35973 miles
VISIBILITY/WIPER was driving to duluth mn and as i was checking objects on drivers side mirror i noticed it vibrating. that...	7 ~ 54921 miles
SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY > VISIBILITY while driving on the road my sunroof exploded. i thought at first a rock hit but after inspecting it the	6 ~ 55615 miles
STRUCTURE rear window exploded when i took my foot off the brake? never even touched the accelerator. *tr...	5 ~ 35000 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE i am unsure of the first date of occurrence but the following have been happening since i purchased this vehicle...	5 ~ 57926 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING i am unsure of the first date of occurrence but the following have been happening since i purchased this vehicle...	5 ~ 21028 miles
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM the traction control light on my cx9 comes on and stays on even in dry conditions in which the traction	5 ~ 11870 miles
VISIBILITY 2013 mazda cx-9. consumer writes in regards to front lower control arms recall notice and vehicle sun visor issues. *smd	4 ~ 1500 miles
TREAD/BELT > TIRES as i was driving my mazda cx-9 i heard a loud banging against the right back side of the vehicle....	2 ~ 39585 miles
PEDALS AND LINKAGES > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC tl* the contact owns a 2012 mazda cx-9. after attempting to engage the brakes the brake pedal failed to depress....	2 ~ 67529 miles
VALVE > TIRES tl* the contact owns a 2010 mazda cx9. the contact stated that while driving 60 mph the tire pressure warning...	2 ~ 40520 miles
LOWER BALL JOINT > CONTROL ARM > FRONT tl* the contact owns a 2008 mazda cx9. the contact stated that while driving 40 mph the front driver's side...	2 ~ 131056 miles
TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) > POWER TRAIN tl* the contact owns a 2011 mazda cx-9. the contact stated that there were fuel fumes inside the cabin of...	2 ~ 36146 miles
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES tl* the contact owns a 2010 mazda cx-9. the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked he accidentally locked...	2 ~ 17500 miles
TIE ROD ASSEMBLY > LINKAGES > STEERING there have been a multitude of problems on the vehicle (two sets of brakes tierod electrical overhaul vacuum hoses...) the...	2 ~ 30300 miles
PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS > TIRES own a 2009 mazda cx-9 equipped with bridgestone dueler h/l 400 size 245/50/r20. at 26040 miles tpms low tire pressure...	2 ~ 21020 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN my new 2008 mazda cx-9 awd has gas pedal resonant vibrating issue when engine is right around 2000 rpm when	2 ~ 71075 miles
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2007 mazda cx9 shut off while driving. consumer states that dealer told him the problem was a fuse. consumer also...	2 ~ 62115 miles
FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE in 2017 my car shut off two times without warning one time at a stop light and again on the...	1 ~ 30400 miles
FAN/MOTOR > DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2011 mazda cx-9. while driving 40 mph the contact heard an abnormal noise and noticed...	1 ~ 102000 miles
CHILD SEAT cpsc: the manufacturer sells a smart car seat. *dt the consumer stated the cybex sironsafe 2.0 car seats plug into...	1
DIFFERENTIAL UNIT > DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN my wife was driving the kids and all of the sudden the car started to make loud noise could not...	1 ~ 120 miles
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE i purchased a new mazda cx-9 in sept 2017 because it had the highly touted smart city braking system for...	1 ~ 946 miles
LOWER ARM > CONTROL ARM > FRONT tl* the contact owns a 2011 mazda cx-9. while driving 35 mph the front wheels seized. the vehicle skidded and...	1 ~ 120000 miles
TIRES as i was driving my mazda cx-9 i heard a loud banging against the right back side of the vehicle....	1 ~ 53664 miles
MOTOR > REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2007 mazda cx9. while driving 55 mph a burning wire odor emitted in and outside...	1 ~ 180000 miles
VACUUM > POWER ASSIST > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC tl* the contact owns a 2011 mazda cx-9. the contact stated that while stopped at a stop light the accelerator...	1 ~ 66727 miles
ANTI-THEFT DEVICES > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT tl* the contact owns a 2011 mazda cx-9. while driving at 70 mph the vehicle stalled. the contact was unable...	1 ~ 74000 miles
TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE > TIRES so i was driving luckily on a back road and all of a sudden it felt like i hit something...	1 ~ 121000 miles
GLASS, SIDE/REAR > VISIBILITY rear window exploded when i took my foot off the brake? never even touched the accelerator. *tr...	1 ~ 3000 miles
FUEL RAIL > FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl* the contact owns a 2008 mazda cx-9. the contact stated that there was a strong odor of fuel when...	1 ~ 76000 miles
MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl* the contact owns a 2014 mazda cx-9. the contact stated that the dual exhaust muffler the bolts the clips...	1 ~ 800 miles
OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL > OTHER > EQUIPMENT 2008 mazda cx9 smart key after reprogramming ($350) new fobs ($100 each) and numerous battery replacing the smart key still...	1
TRAILER HITCHES trailer hookups for my cx9 don't work. have to pay a mechanic to re-wire. *tr...	1 ~ 70000 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE 11 year old son went to open the passenger door up front and the door handle broke off.(the dealership told	1 ~ 66546 miles
NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT this navigation system does not speak the street names making me look at the screen for the name of the	1 ~ 900 miles
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY the voice activated navigation feature on the vehicle shuts down and becomes inoperable when stopping or accelorating from a stopped...	1 ~ 338 miles
HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE > BODY > STRUCTURE safety issue: vehicle could not be safely driven. the power lift gate got stuck fully open and would not move...	1 ~ 38745 miles
MASTER CYLINDER > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC tl* the contact owns a 2008 mazda cx-9. the contact was driving 20 mph when the brakes were depressed and...	1 ~ 68000 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl*the contact owns a 2010 mazda cx-9. the contact stated that there was a loud ticking noise in the engine....	1 ~ 1500 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS my vehicle was involved in a front end crash that hit another vehicle on the front passenger side. my sustained...	1 ~ 22500 miles
TAIL LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING re: mazda corporate file number [xxx] i want to make a complaint that mazda usa and fremont mazda dealer declined...	1 ~ 30 miles
HEAD RESTRAINT > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS the front passenger and driver seat head rests bend too much forward causing neck pain. this bend cannot be adjusted....	1 ~ 1000 miles
AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT 2007 mazda cx9 shut off while driving. consumer states that dealer told him the problem was a fuse. consumer also...	1
FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2007 mazda cx9 shut off while driving. consumer states that dealer told him the problem was a fuse. consumer also...	1
WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY tl*the contact owns a 2008 mazda cx-9. while driving 45 mph the contact noticed a wave in the windshield. when...	1 ~ 860 miles

FAQ

What year Mazda CX-9 is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 14 years, Mazda CX-9 models of 2020, 2019, 2017 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Mazda CX-9?

Mazda CX-9 models of 2012 and 2008 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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