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2013 Mazda CX-9: engine and transmission complaints

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
39%
22 of 56 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

39% of relevant owner complaints on the 2013 Mazda CX-9 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 55% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 12 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 32%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
22
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
68
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
3 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE17 · 25%
SERVICE BRAKES16 · 24%
SUSPENSION9 · 13%
AIR BAGS9 · 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER9 · 13%
POWER TRAIN5 · 7%

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.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other midsize SUVs with no elevated signal in 2013

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

ENGINE04/14/2026
Engine throwing a code after dying at intersection. Found that it isa known issue for this vehicle and repair costs are astronomical. Diagnostic Summary: 2013 Mazda CX-9 (3.7L V6)Issue: Faulty Crankshaft/Camshaft Correlation (Code P0016)Current Mileage: 160,000 miles Reported Symptoms: Extended cranking (long start), …
SUSPENSION,ENGINE03/05/2026
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 replaced. The vehicle was…
ENGINE03/09/2023
The engine in my Mazda blew with no warning. I got in my car after warming it up and noticed my check engine light on, which wasn’t unusual because it has came on before with a loose gas gap warning, so I put it in gear and drove less than 50 ft before it started making noises. I immediately turned around and came stra…

Three of 22 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…
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
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 vehicle…
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2013 Mazda6 and CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia…

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

Before you buy a 2013 Mazda CX-9

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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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.