Mazda CX-9 Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 158 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the Mazda CX-9 across 14 model years. The 2008 model year has the most (55). The words owners use most often: “ball joint” (30% of reports).
- 158suspension complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 9mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 11%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.
- Ball joint: mentioned in 47 of 158 complaints (30%)
- Control arm: mentioned in 31 of 158 complaints (20%)
- Heard loud: mentioned in 14 of 158 complaints (9%)
- Front suspension: mentioned in 13 of 158 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 98 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 158 complaints, 9 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Mazda CX-9 suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 CX-9 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2021 CX-9 | 1 | 3% | 68,811 |
| 2019 CX-9 | 4 | 8% | 10,600 |
| 2018 CX-9 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2017 CX-9 | 4 | 7% | 28,750 |
| 2016 CX-9 | 2 | 2% | 49,000 |
| 2014 CX-9 | 5 | 9% | 69,395 |
| 2013 CX-9 | 9 | 13% | 48,000 |
| 2012 CX-9 | 9 | 4% | 36,000 |
| 2011 CX-9 | 8 | 5% | 120,000 |
| 2010 CX-9 | 16 | 8% | 125,000 |
| 2009 CX-9 | 6 | 10% | 70,000 |
| 2008 CX-9 | 55 | 32% | 110,000 |
| 2007 CX-9 | 37 | 43% | 94,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint; suspension:front:control arm:lower arm
Model years: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Problem: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2007-2014 CX-9 vehicles manufactured October 24, 2006, to December 28, 2013. The affected vehicles have front suspension ball joints that may corrode from water leaking into the fitting.
Risk: Over time, the ball joint corrosion may result in the front lower control arm separating from the ball joint, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace both the left and right lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began on September 14, 2015. The recall will begin with model year 2007-2009 vehicles registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The second phase will be for model year 2010-2014 vehicles in the same states. Finally, all remaining vehicles will be remedied. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 8515G.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Structural bolt (p#: 9-YA01-1401-A) connecting the lower control arm assembly to subframe has rusted apart. The head of the bolt was found in my driveway, otherwise there would be no indication of this potentially catastrophic failure. Vehicle is only 3 years old, was a cpo purchase, and has just…
The front driver-side lower ball joint suffered a catastrophic structural failure and sheared completely apart while moving. This vehicle was previously serviced under Safety Recall Campaign 15V451000 / Mazda Recall 8515G for this exact defect. The recall remedy part failed a second time…
Front suspension broke while my husband was driving back from a fire as he is a volunteer firefighter. He states car did not have any lights on dash to report there was a problem. The next thing he knew he heard a loud squealing noise and lost control of the vehicle taking him off road in a small…
The contact owns a 2013 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the lower control arm needed to be…
I am reporting a serious safety issue involving a defective suspension part (lower control arm) manufactured by Dorman and purchased from an online auto parts retailer. On October 7, 2024, I ordered a Dorman lower control arm for my vehicle and had it professionally installed on November 7, 2024 at…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Mazda CX-9s have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 158 owner complaints about suspension 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 suspension?
Yes: 1 safety recall list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the Mazda CX-9?
The most frequent phrase is “ball joint”, in 47 of 158 complaints, followed by “control arm” (31).
Other Mazda CX-9 problems
- Service Brakes problems (428)
- Engine problems (365)
- Power Train problems (165)
- Air Bags problems (147)
See all Mazda CX-9 problems.