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2011 Mazda CX-9: engine and transmission complaints

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
26%
38 of 145 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2011 Mazda CX-9. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 26% of relevant complaints.

Better than 77% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 25 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 22%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
38
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
170
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
7 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES100 · 59%
POWER TRAIN25 · 15%
AIR BAGS22 · 13%
ENGINE15 · 9%
SUSPENSION8 · 5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5 · 3%

The years either side

2010
28%
49 of 195
2011
26%
38 of 170
2012
21%
40 of 221
2013
39%
22 of 68
2014
47%
24 of 54
2015
63%
19 of 35
2016
74%
72 of 99
2017
80%
49 of 61
2018
68%
82 of 126
2019
47%
25 of 53
2020
too few complaints
2021
61%
22 of 38
2022
too few complaints
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN06/30/2026
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 ass…
POWER TRAIN12/20/2024
I had an issue with the AWD not engaging and the 4x4 light illuminating when driving on snow and ice. No indicators when driving under normal conditions. I had no traction and had difficulty maintaining control of the vehicle while driving at speeds less than 25 mph. I had difficulty gettting momentum from a stop as th…
ENGINE09/26/2023
Driving kids to school a few months ago. Car started to smell like burning rubber. I thought it was the garbage truck ahead of us. As we turned the corner 2 blocks later, the car dead stopped and we all went flying forward. It jerked so hard, we are lucky our necks didn't snap. I put the car in park and turned it off. …

Three of 38 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (4)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia…
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2007-2012 CX-7, CX-9, and 2009-2012 Maza6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag infla…
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2011 Mazda6, and 2007-2011 CX-7 and CX-9 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag infl…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2011 Mazda CX-9

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.