Mazda CX-9: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Mazda CX-9 problems by model year, from 1,165 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2017 (80%, 49 drivetrain complaints), 2016 (74%, 72 drivetrain complaints) and 2018 (68%, 84 drivetrain complaints). 8 of the 11 Mazda CX-9 years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 5 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2012 (21%), 2011 (26%) and 2010 (28%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2012 (21%) to 2013 (39%), up 18 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2018 drew the most drivetrain complaints (84 of 445 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2022 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Mazda CX-9 year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 CX-9 | no elevated signal | 28% | 49 | 195 | 9/11 | 6 |
| 2011 CX-9 | no elevated signal | 26% | 38 | 170 | 10/11 | 4 |
| 2012 CX-9 | no elevated signal | 21% | 40 | 221 | 11/11 | 4 |
| 2013 CX-9 | elevated | 39% | 22 | 68 | 8/11 | 4 |
| 2014 CX-9 | high | 47% | 24 | 54 | 7/11 | 3 |
| 2015 CX-9 | very high | 63% | 19 | 35 | 4/11 | 2 |
| 2016 CX-9 | very high | 74% | 72 | 99 | 2/11 | 0 |
| 2017 CX-9 | very high | 80% | 49 | 61 | 1/11 | 0 |
| 2018 CX-9 | very high | 68% | 84 | 128 | 3/11 | 2 |
| 2019 CX-9 | high | 47% | 25 | 53 | 6/11 | 2 |
| 2020 CX-9 | too few to score | – | 8 | 19 | – | 1 |
| 2021 CX-9 | very high | 62% | 23 | 39 | 5/11 | 1 |
| 2022 CX-9 | too few to score | – | 1 | 10 | – | 0 |
| 2023 CX-9 | too few to score | – | 0 | 13 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Mazda CX-9 years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Mazda CX-9 fuel system recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the Mazda CX-9 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 12 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2021 | 21V875000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018–2019 |
11 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2010 | 10V051000 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2010 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V451000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint | 2010–2014 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V203000 | steering | 2013–2015 |
| Jun 2017 | 17V429000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V457000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2012 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V018000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Oct 2018 | 18V717000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2015 |
| May 2019 | 19V403000 | electrical system: wiring | 2018 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V770000 | tires: tread/belt | 2019 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V782000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Sep 2021 | 21V750000 | seats: mid/rear assembly | 2021 |
What the free pages leave out on the Mazda CX-9
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Mazda CX-9
What are the worst years for the Mazda CX-9?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Mazda CX-9 years are the 2017 (80% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2016 (74% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2018 (68% of relevant complaints, very high). 8 of 11 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Mazda CX-9?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Mazda CX-9 years are the 2012 (21%), the 2011 (26%) and the 2010 (28%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Mazda CX-9 have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 11 scored years, 445 of 1,023 relevant NHTSA complaints (43%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021.
Is the Mazda CX-9 reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 8 of 11 Mazda CX-9 years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 43% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Mazda CX-9?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Mazda CX-9 years we track, out of 12 in total: 21V875000 (Nov 2021, 2018–2019). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.