At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. Confirm by VIN that the repair was completed before driving or buying this car. The fix is free at a dealer.
Recalls
Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.
Airbags recall
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V356 and 17V012.
- Status
- Do not drive until repaired. A dealer fixes this free of charge.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Airbags recall
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.
- Status
- Do not drive until repaired. A dealer fixes this free of charge.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Airbags recall
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on August 30, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F. Note: This recall supersedes recall 16V356 and all vehicles that were not remedied under that campaign are now covered by this one.
- Status
- Do not drive until repaired. A dealer fixes this free of charge.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Suspension recall
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.
- Remedy
- 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.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Owner complaints by system
Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.
Engine & powertrain
35
Most reports here involve fluid leaks. Of these, 1 mention a crash.
Read full complaint
The contact owns a 2011 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle at a slow speed in the driveway, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration, lurched forward, and crashed into a tree before coming to a stop. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle during the sudden unintended acceleration. During the failure the vehicle sustained front end damages, but no air bags had deployed. No injuries were reported. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that twice in the day before the unintended acceleration, the vehicle jerked forward in traffic however, the contact attributed the issue to the brake pedal not being firmly depressed or the clutch not properly engaged while shifting gear. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 173,000.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11677734 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Electrical & infotainment
4
Most reports here involve electrical shorts.
Read full complaint
OUR VEHICLE HAS WATER DRAINS OR "WEEP" LINES FOR THE SUNROOF. WE RECENTLY HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STOP/START, DASH LIGHTS REMAIN ON CONSTANTLY AFTER SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY DURING THE RAIN. WE LEARNED THAT IF THE DRAINS BECOME BLOCKED THAT WATER LEAKS INTO THE CABIN DIRECTLY ONTO THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM). BECAUSE THE BCM IS NOT IN A SEALED OR WATER-PROOF CASE, YET IS SOAKED IN THESE CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE AS A RESULT. REPLACING THE BCM COSTS ABOUT $1,000. WHEN WE STARTED THE CAR THE DASH LIGHTS THAT WARN OF AN ISSUE WITH MANY OF THE VEHICLES SAFETY SYSTEMS REMAINED ON. OTHERS WENT OFF AND SOFT OF FLASHED. WE COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THERE WAS REALLY AN ISSUE WITH ALL OF THE COMPONENTS FLASHING ON THE DASH SO WE DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT. OUR VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY (THANK GOD). WE WAITED FOR A WHILE AND WERE ABLE TO LEAVE FOR HOME, BUT THIS CONDITION IS CLEARLY A HUGE SAFETY RISK.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11165496 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Brakes
98
Most reports here involve loss of braking. Of these, 4 mention a crash.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11620856 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Steering, suspension & tires
10
Most reports here involve loss of steering.
Read full complaint
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, collapsing the front wheel assembly, ripping the CV axle completely out of the transmission casing, causing a hazardous transmission fluid spill, and leaving the vehicle stranded and immobilized in the middle of a live roadway in the dark
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11747329 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Airbags & seat belts
19
Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 2 mention an injury.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11673826 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Structure & body
2
Most reports here involve fluid leaks.
Read full complaint
The front door windows no longer work. Most recently, the drivers side back door will NOT open. The lock is completely jammed - will not open or shut, which is a safety hazard for my child. The plastic parts in this car are failing and putting my family at risk.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11480657 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Other systems
2
Most reports here involve other issues.
Read full complaint
THE A/C EVAPORATOR TANK CONDENSATION DRAIN CLOGS. OURS HAS CLOGGED TWICE AND THE FIRST TIME THE WATER IN THE TANK WOULD SLOSH AROUND AND HEAR IT WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. EVENTUALLY IT RUINED THE BLOWER MOTOR TO THE A/C, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW 19 MONTHS LATER, WE HEARD THE WATER AGAIN AND TOOK IT IN RIGHT AWAY AND IT WAS CLOGGED AGAIN AND THE BLOWER MOTOR HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. THERE SHOULD BE A BETTER DRAIN SYSTEM. CLEARLY THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE MAZDA CX-9 MODEL IN SEVERAL YEARS BECAUSE THERE ARE VIDEOS OF HOW TO UNCLOG THE A/C DRAIN.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11255039 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
How does it compare with other years? The 2011 has 170 complaints on file, more than the 2010 (162) and fewer than the 2012 (221). Of the 14 model years of the Mazda CX-9 we cover, the 2012 has the most (221). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.