2011 Mazda CX-9

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Mazda CX-9 has 207 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (48% of all complaints), specifically: i had my cx-9 gt driving on the road. this happened while i drove on street and stepped on brake the pedal to stop for a red light. i almost hit the car in front of me, because my brake at this time, all of sudden, took longer stopping distance as i expected. it was a close call to hit the car in fr. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 8 crash reports 2 injuries

207

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

100 complaints

48%

• I HAD MY CX-9 GT DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I DROVE ON STREET AND STEPPED ON BRAKE THE PEDAL TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT. I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BECAUSE MY BRAKE AT THIS TIME, ALL OF SUDDEN, TOOK LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE AS I EXPECTED. IT WAS A CLOSE CALL TO HIT THE CAR IN FR
• POWER BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE. *TR
• APPROACHING A RED LIGHT ON A DRY SUNNY DAY, MY BRAKES FAILED HALFWAY THROUGH COMING TO A STOP. AT FIRST MY VEHICLE (2011 MAZDA CX-9 SPORT WITH 56,000 MILES) WAS SLOWING DOWN NORMALLY AND THEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS GRINDING/CRUNCHING NOISES AND DESPITE PRESSING THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER STOP

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“I HAD MY CX-9 GT DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I DROVE ON STREET AND STEPPED ON BRAKE THE PEDAL TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT. I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BECAUSE MY BRAKE AT THIS TIME, ALL OF SUDDEN, TOOK LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE AS I EXPECTED. IT WAS A CLOSE CALL TO HIT THE CAR IN FR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

25 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSFER CA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSFER CA
• 2011 MAZDA CX-9. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FIRE CAUSED BY TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, IT WAS PUT OUT BEFORE ANY EXCESSIVE DAMAGE WAS DONE. THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSFER CA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

22 complaints

11%

• MY SON AGE 13, WEIGHS 105 POUNDS. WHEN HE SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG HAS BEEN DISABLED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE RECOMMENDED MINIMUM AGE AND WEIGHT FOR THE FRONT SEAT IS 12 YEARS AND 80LBS RESPECTIVELY. THE MAZDA DEALE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,00
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-9. ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS IDLING. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND BOTH FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTOBODY SH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“MY SON AGE 13, WEIGHS 105 POUNDS. WHEN HE SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG HAS BEEN DISABLED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE RECOMMENDED MINIMUM AGE AND WEIGHT FOR THE FRONT SEAT IS 12 YEARS AND 80LBS RESPECTIVELY. THE MAZDA DEALE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

15 complaints

• WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 77, NORTH BOUND, AT 55MPH, OTHER MOTORISTS INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE UNDERNEATH. THERE WERE NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS OR SIGNALS THAT CAME ON IT LIGHT UP AS A WARNING SIGN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE PUT OU
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AT NIGHT, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FLICKERING LIGHT COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FLAMES ENGULFED THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT E
• SAME ISSUE AS EVERYONE ELSE HISSING WHEN BRAKES ARE COMPRESSED -OR CAR IS STOPPED AND BAD OR LAGGING IN BRAKING. MY BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR KEPT SLOWLY TRYING TO ROLL. I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES. OR PUT THE CAR IN PARK. WHEN I LET THE BRAKES GO NO HISSING

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 77, NORTH BOUND, AT 55MPH, OTHER MOTORISTS INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE UNDERNEATH. THERE WERE NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS OR SIGNALS THAT CAME ON IT LIGHT UP AS A WARNING SIGN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE PUT OU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

7 complaints

• THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON MY CX9 COMES ON AND STAYS ON, EVEN IN DRY CONDITIONS IN WHICH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM IS NOT NEEDED. ALSO THE TCS SYSTEM LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND THE TCS OFF LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. *TR
• WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED THERE WAS A HISSING SOUND AND THE BRAKES WERE HARD TO PRESS. REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE I APPLIED TO THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT REACT AND IT TOOK THE VEHICLE LONGER TO SLOW DOWN EVEN AT VERY LOW SPEEDS (5-10 MPH) OR FASTER. THIS CAME ON SUDDENLY AND CAU
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND STATE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON MY CX9 COMES ON AND STAYS ON, EVEN IN DRY CONDITIONS IN WHICH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM IS NOT NEEDED. ALSO THE TCS SYSTEM LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND THE TCS OFF LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 207 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: I HAD MY CX-9 GT DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I DROVE ON STREET AND STEPPED ON BRAKE THE PEDAL TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT. I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BECAUSE MY BRAKE AT THIS TIME, ALL OF SUDDEN, TOOK LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE AS I EXPECTED. IT WAS A CLOSE CALL TO HIT THE CAR IN FR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSFER CA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: MY SON AGE 13, WEIGHS 105 POUNDS. WHEN HE SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG HAS BEEN DISABLED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE RECOMMENDED MINIMUM AGE AND WEIGHT FOR THE FRONT SEAT IS 12 YEARS AND 80LBS RESPECTIVELY. THE MAZDA DEALE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 77, NORTH BOUND, AT 55MPH, OTHER MOTORISTS INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE UNDERNEATH. THERE WERE NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS OR SIGNALS THAT CAME ON IT LIGHT UP AS A WARNING SIGN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE PUT OU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)