2015 Mazda CX-9

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Mazda CX-9 has 45 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (40% of all complaints), specifically: we bought this vehicle in june of 2015 and about 2 or 3 moths after i noticed that the rear driver side rotor had a deep scratch on it. they fixed it by sanding the rotor insted of replacing the rotor. next time i brought was an oil leak on the front side of the motor about 4000miles. they said that.

1 crash report 5 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

18 complaints

40%

• WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2015 AND ABOUT 2 OR 3 MOTHS AFTER I NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE ROTOR HAD A DEEP SCRATCH ON IT. THEY FIXED IT BY SANDING THE ROTOR INSTED OF REPLACING THE ROTOR. NEXT TIME I BROUGHT WAS AN OIL LEAK ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE MOTOR ABOUT 4000MILES. THEY SAID THAT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING 68-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, SMOKE WAS DETECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY, AND OIL WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP BLEW UP AN
• WHILE DRIVING MY 2015 MAZDA CX-9 ON A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DRIVER PANEL. I WAS TRAVELING WITH MY VERY YOUNG CHILDREN, AGES 4 AND 20 MONTHS. APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES LATER, I STARTED HEARING A RATTLING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, MY CAR STALLED OU

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

“WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2015 AND ABOUT 2 OR 3 MOTHS AFTER I NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE ROTOR HAD A DEEP SCRATCH ON IT. THEY FIXED IT BY SANDING THE ROTOR INSTED OF REPLACING THE ROTOR. NEXT TIME I BROUGHT WAS AN OIL LEAK ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE MOTOR ABOUT 4000MILES. THEY SAID THAT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

9 complaints

20%

• I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW ON SEPTEMBER 18,2015. HAVING THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT 3 TIMES. I GOT HOME THE FIRST DAY AND THE BELT WAS NOT REGISTERING AND WAS MAKING NOISE WHEN I HAD IT ON. THE LAST 2 TIMES I CONTINUE TO HEAR NOISE COMING FROM THE CAR. THE NOISE IS HEAR
• BEARINGS IN FRONT OF VEHICLE MAKES MUCH NOISE. THE NOISE HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL.
• THE SUNROOF EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE GLASS COMPLETELY SHATTERED AND FELL INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE A/C WAS ON AND WINDOWS WERE ALL CLOSED.

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

“I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW ON SEPTEMBER 18,2015. HAVING THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT 3 TIMES. I GOT HOME THE FIRST DAY AND THE BELT WAS NOT REGISTERING AND WAS MAKING NOISE WHEN I HAD IT ON. THE LAST 2 TIMES I CONTINUE TO HEAR NOISE COMING FROM THE CAR. THE NOISE IS HEAR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

3 complaints

• WE HAVE 2015 MAZDA CX-9 WITH 8400 MILES THAT HAS A LEAK ON THE BREAK MASTER CYLINDER. WHICH THE DEALERSHIP WAS DENYING TO BE A LEAK BECAUSE THEY SAW AN OLD DRY DEBRIS ON TOP OF THE FLUID DEPOT. BUT HAVE IT CHECKED TO AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HAVING A SHIMMY PROBLEM WHEN BRAKING FOR
• THE FRONT BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN REPEATEDLY APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEN GOING DOWNHILL OR SLOWING REPEATEDLY FROM SPEEDS OF 65 OR SO. I BELIEVE THE BRAKE PARTS BECOME HOT AND CREATE SOMETHING GOOGLE SEARCHES CALL "JUDDER". I HAVE HAD THE STEERING WILL START SHAKING AS WELL. AFTER REPEATED
• MY BRAKE PEDDLE BEGAN HISSING AND MY VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO STOP WHEN IN MOTION, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE BRAKE BOOSTER WHICH IS A PROBLEM MAZDA HAS BEEN HAVING, BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE YEARS SPECIFIED IN THE WARRANTY EXTENTION. THE DEALERSHIP STATED

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

“WE HAVE 2015 MAZDA CX-9 WITH 8400 MILES THAT HAS A LEAK ON THE BREAK MASTER CYLINDER. WHICH THE DEALERSHIP WAS DENYING TO BE A LEAK BECAUSE THEY SAW AN OLD DRY DEBRIS ON TOP OF THE FLUID DEPOT. BUT HAVE IT CHECKED TO AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HAVING A SHIMMY PROBLEM WHEN BRAKING FOR ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

3 complaints

• THE TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY WOULD MAKE A CLUNK SOUND WHEN SHIFTING FROM N TO D. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT.
• I was driving into the highway and my vehicle just shut off. I was in the car with my children and I was scared that we were going to be rear ended. I had my mechanic look at the car and he advised me that the water pump leaked and the coolant leaked into the oil. I’m having another mechanic provide
• We have a 2015 Mazda CX-9 Touring with All-Wheel Drive (AWD). The issue that has been happening is a flashing check engine light (CEL) indicator showing up in the gauge cluster. This issue originally started in October of 2023. I was on the highway doing at least 55 miles per hour (mph). Before the

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

“THE TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY WOULD MAKE A CLUNK SOUND WHEN SHIFTING FROM N TO D. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

2 complaints

• WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CAR AT MINIMUM GOING 40MPH WHILE PROPELLED MY CAR INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE ENTIRE FRONT AND BACK ENDS OF MY CAR ARE SMASHED IN/HANGING ON AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AUTOBODY SHOP INDICATED THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF WITH THA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS NOT ACTIVATED DESPITE AN OPERATING IN THE SEAT. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS VERIFIED THAT THE AIR BAGS WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS WERE IN FACT BEING ME

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CAR AT MINIMUM GOING 40MPH WHILE PROPELLED MY CAR INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE ENTIRE FRONT AND BACK ENDS OF MY CAR ARE SMASHED IN/HANGING ON AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AUTOBODY SHOP INDICATED THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF WITH THA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 45 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2015 AND ABOUT 2 OR 3 MOTHS AFTER I NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE ROTOR HAD A DEEP SCRATCH ON IT. THEY FIXED IT BY SANDING THE ROTOR INSTED OF REPLACING THE ROTOR. NEXT TIME I BROUGHT WAS AN OIL LEAK ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE MOTOR ABOUT 4000MILES. THEY SAID THAT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW ON SEPTEMBER 18,2015. HAVING THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT 3 TIMES. I GOT HOME THE FIRST DAY AND THE BELT WAS NOT REGISTERING AND WAS MAKING NOISE WHEN I HAD IT ON. THE LAST 2 TIMES I CONTINUE TO HEAR NOISE COMING FROM THE CAR. THE NOISE IS HEAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: WE HAVE 2015 MAZDA CX-9 WITH 8400 MILES THAT HAS A LEAK ON THE BREAK MASTER CYLINDER. WHICH THE DEALERSHIP WAS DENYING TO BE A LEAK BECAUSE THEY SAW AN OLD DRY DEBRIS ON TOP OF THE FLUID DEPOT. BUT HAVE IT CHECKED TO AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HAVING A SHIMMY PROBLEM WHEN BRAKING FOR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: THE TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY WOULD MAKE A CLUNK SOUND WHEN SHIFTING FROM N TO D. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)