Mazda CX-9 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,492 owner complaints and 13 safety recalls on file for the Mazda CX-9, across 17 model years (2007–2023). The 2012 model year has the most complaints (221). The most reported problem area overall is service brakes.
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Mazda CX-9 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical CX-9 year: 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2012 CX-9: 221 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2010 CX-9: 195 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2008 CX-9: 172 complaints, 5 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2022 CX-9: 11 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2023 CX-9: 13 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2020 CX-9: 19 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mazda CX-9 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes problems | 428 | 16 | 22 |
| Engine problems | 365 | 15 | 3 |
| Power Train problems | 165 | 16 | 3 |
| Suspension problems | 158 | 14 | 9 |
| Air Bags problems | 147 | 14 | 20 |
| Electrical System | 86 | 16 | 1 |
| Steering | 62 | 15 | 6 |
| Wheels | 38 | 10 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 36 | 11 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 35 | 8 | 6 |
| Structure | 32 | 14 | 3 |
| Seats | 25 | 12 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 22 | 5 | 2 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 20 | 9 | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 | 8 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 17 | 12 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 16 | 9 | 0 |
| Visibility | 15 | 11 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 13 | 7 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 12 | 8 | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention | 11 | 6 | 3 |
| Tires | 11 | 9 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 | 8 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Mazda CX-9 problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2018: engine (76)
- 2016: engine (68)
- 2012: service brakes (139)
- 2011: service brakes (97)
- 2010: service brakes (88)
- 2008: suspension (55)
All Mazda CX-9 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 CX-9 | 13 | 0 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 CX-9 | 11 | 0 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2021 CX-9 | 40 | 1 | 5★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2020 CX-9 | 19 | 1 | 5★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2019 CX-9 | 53 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2018 CX-9 | 128 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2017 CX-9 | 61 | 0 | — | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2016 CX-9 | 107 | 0 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2015 CX-9 | 35 | 2 | 4★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2014 CX-9 | 54 | 3 | 4★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2013 CX-9 | 68 | 4 | 4★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2012 CX-9 | 221 | 4 | — | Service Brakes | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 CX-9 | 170 | 4 | — | Service Brakes | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2010 CX-9 | 195 | 6 | — | Service Brakes | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2009 CX-9 | 59 | 6 | — | Service Brakes | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2008 CX-9 | 172 | 5 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 CX-9 | 86 | 5 | — | Suspension | More complaints than other years |
More from Mazda: all Mazda models · Mazda VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda CX-9 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2008 (172), 2010 (195), 2011 (170), 2012 (221), 2018 (128) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical CX-9 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mazda CX-9?
Service Brakes, with 428 complaints across 16 model years.
How many recalls does the Mazda CX-9 have?
13 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.