Mazda CX-9 Engine Problems
Owners have filed 365 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Mazda CX-9 across 15 model years. The 2018 model year has the most (76). The words owners use most often: “cylinder head” (31% of reports).
- 365engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $6,450typical repair cost reported by owners
- 41%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Cylinder head: mentioned in 112 of 365 complaints (31%)
- Coolant leak: mentioned in 74 of 365 complaints (20%)
- Water pump: mentioned in 71 of 365 complaints (19%)
- Service bulletin: mentioned in 21 of 365 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Mazda CX-9 at $6,450, and half of them between $4,550 and $8,550.
Based on 46 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2014–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 104 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 365 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 2 a fire.
Mazda CX-9 engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 CX-9 | 21 | 53% | 51,093 |
| 2020 CX-9 | 5 | 26% | 2,200 |
| 2019 CX-9 | 23 | 43% | 43,878 |
| 2018 CX-9 | 76 | 59% | 39,500 |
| 2017 CX-9 | 43 | 70% | — |
| 2016 CX-9 | 68 | 64% | 35,200 |
| 2015 CX-9 | 17 | 49% | 83,874 |
| 2014 CX-9 | 19 | 35% | 91,675 |
| 2013 CX-9 | 17 | 25% | 88,950 |
| 2012 CX-9 | 25 | 11% | 65,000 |
| 2011 CX-9 | 15 | 9% | 81,000 |
| 2010 CX-9 | 23 | 12% | 85,401 |
| 2009 CX-9 | 4 | 7% | 105,344 |
| 2008 CX-9 | 6 | 3% | 120,000 |
| 2007 CX-9 | 3 | 3% | 105,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the Mazda CX-9. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
2021 Mazda CX-9 (VIN: [redacted] / 72,400 mi) Vehicle has suffered complete, sudden loss of motive power at high freeway speeds on four separate occasions. Without warning, the engine loses all propulsion, essentially stalling mid-traffic and forcing me to dangerously coast across active freeway…
We discovered the problem by accident -- pulled out of our garage and there was a coolant puddle on the garage floor. No dashboard warnings, no overheat messages, no visible symptoms before that. That's what makes this failure mode dangerous: it loses coolant silently, and you find out from a…
Cracked head cyclinder leaking. Unsafe to drive, coolant can leak into engine if not already. They are aware of it and extended a warranty for the issue in 2024. However people like me, my coolant didn't leak until this year 2026. There have been lawsuits on this issue, but they are still failing…
My car have a manufacturer engine defect that the company or corporation is not willing to fix. Only because I exceeded the warranty I call them (MAZDA) an told them that it wasn't under my control the these issues happened after the warranty expire. But they still refuse to help me.
While driving at highway speed in heavy rain the oil light suddenly came on followed within 30 seconds by an urgent need to immediately stop the car due to overheating. There was no radiator fluid left due to the sudden and catastrophic structural failure caused by a known manufacturing defect…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Mazda CX-9s have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 365 owner complaints about engine for the Mazda CX-9. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Mazda CX-9 engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Mazda CX-9?
Owners report a typical cost of $6,450 (half paid between $4,550 and $8,550), from 46 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Mazda CX-9?
The most frequent phrase is “cylinder head”, in 112 of 365 complaints, followed by “coolant leak” (74).
Other Mazda CX-9 problems
- Service Brakes problems (428)
- Power Train problems (165)
- Suspension problems (158)
- Air Bags problems (147)
See all Mazda CX-9 problems.