Total Complaints
35 filings
MAZDA CX9 · model year
35 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2010MAZDACX9 carries 35 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2010 CX9 is service brakes with 15 filings, followed by air bags (6) and engine (6). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 21 investigation files overlapping the 2010 CX9, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
35 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | 15 |
| AIR BAGS | 6 |
| ENGINE | 6 |
| SUSPENSION | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| TIRES:VALVE | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA CX9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THEIR SON WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WATER PUMP FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE ENGINE OIL AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO QUIRK MAZDA (99 MCGRATH HWY, QUINCY, MA 02169, (617) 773-8000) WHO CONFIRMED THE PREVIOUS DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. VIN NOT AVAILABLE
Mileage: 108,000
BRAKE BOOSTER WENT OUT. ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE BRAKES WENT STIFF. I ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS ISN'T A RECALL. I GUESS IT TAKES A SERIOUS INJURY OR LAWSUIT TO BECOME A LAWSUIT. I WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC TI HAVE TO HAVE REPAIRS AT DEALER. DEALER IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A HOLD OF FOR AN APPOINTMENT. I TOLD THEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP AND THEY BOOKED ME A WEEK OUT!! SO UPSET I DROVE AND SUDDENLY BRAKES STIFFNESS. COULD BARELY APPLY PRESSURE
Mileage: 100,000
AS NOTED BY MANY ON THIS SITE, I EXPERIENCED A SCARY BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWERED BRAKES WHICH PUT MY WHOLE FAMILY IN DANGER. THIS IS A FAMILY CAR AND I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN SO THIS IS APPALLING THAT MAZDA WOULD NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I SEE THAT THERE WAS A TSB AND ASSOCIATED EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD FOR THIS ISSUE BUT AS MANY HAVE NOTED ON THIS SITE, THE TRUE FAILURE TENDS TO OCCUR AFTER THE 7 YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. I ACTUALLY STARTED NOTICING SOME ISSUES WITH THE BRAKING ON THIS VEHICLE YEARS AGO, BUT ASSUMED THAT IT JUST NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AS THE CAR WAS GETTING OLDER. IF I HAD RECEIVED SOME TYPE OF COMMUNICATION FROM MAZDA OR NHTSA, THEN I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THE TRUE ISSUE DURING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I ONLY HAVE 77,000 MILES ON THIS CAR, BUT SINCE IT IS OLDER THAN 7 YEARS... MAZDA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OR TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS QUALITY DEFECT. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR MYSELF. MAZDA HAS LOST A LOYAL CUSTOMER. SHAME ON
Mileage: 77,700
AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM THE POWER BOOSTER BRAKING SYSTEM IS HAVING MALFUNCTIONS I OWN THE VEHICLE FOR 8 MONTHS LOOKING INTO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE IT SHOWS THAT THEY WERE DOING RECALLS ON THIS SYSTEM FOR THIS CAR APPROXIMATELY 4 YEARS AGO AND NOW I BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT IS OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS BEFORE I PURCHASE THE CAR I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT IT IT SEEMS TO BRAKE BOOSTER SEEMS TO HAVE A CRACKED THAT SEEMS TO LEAK AIR WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT I FEEL THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION AT HAND HERE AND THAT I NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS THE ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A PROBLEM THAT THE BAD FACTION DOES NO DOES EXIST AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR FEES AND SERVICE
Mileage: 65,000
ON JAN 12, 2019 WE WERE DRIVING HOME AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SPIKED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE STOPPED AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. I LOOKED TO SEE THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. I WAS ABLE TO REFILL IT, THINKING POSSIBLY THERE WAS A LEAK. IT GOT US HOME SAFELY. THE NEXT DAY, ENROUTE TO THE RADIATOR SHOP; THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AFTER A TOW HOME, THEN A TOW TO THE RADIATOR SHOP AND EVENTUALLY A TOW HOME, IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A WATER PUMP FAILURE AND NOW A NEW ENGINE IS THE ANSWER FOR THE REPAIR. THERE WAS ABSOLUTLY NO WARNING TO THIS HAPPENING AND THE WATER PUMP IS INTERNAL. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PUMP CAN/WILL WEAR OUT. I GET IT. WHERE IT'S LOCATED IS A JOKE AND I'VE READ IT'S AT LEAST A $1500 - $2000 FIX, JUST FOR THE PUMP REPLACEMENT. THE MAIN ISSUE IS THE NO WARNING WHATSOEVER!
Mileage: 110,000
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V717000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN IT WOULD ARRIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TT CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO FAILURE. *JB
I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 MAZDA CX9 WHEN A LOUD BANG HAPPENED. I WAS ON A SIDE ROAD AND STOPPED IMMEDIATELY, I COULD NOT VISIBLY SEE ANY ISSUES. I BEGAN TO DRIVE SLOWLY AND WITH EVERY ROTATION THE NOISE CONTINUED. LUCKILY I WAS NEXT A A GARAGE AND THEY DETERMINED IT WITH THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT (CASE). THEY HAD TOLD ME THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AND THAT MAZDA EVEN KNEW OF THIS ISSUE BUT NEVER HAD A RECALL PLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING AND SEEING MULTIPLE YEARS OF THIS ISSUE FOR THE CX 9 AND EVEN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE MAZDA. BASICALLY THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE (OR POWER TRANSFER UNIT, PTU) IS TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND GETS HEATED UP MORE THAN USUAL. THE GEAR LUBRICANT INSIDE GETS DETERIORATED A LOT FASTER AND BECOMES SLUDGE. IN THEORY GEAR LUBRICANT IN FRONT TRANSFER CASE、REAR DIFFERENTIAL、AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAN BE "LIFE-TIME" LUB UNDER A SUITABLE ENVIRONMENT, HENCE MAZDA AND FORD DON'T SPECIFY ANY RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE INTERVAL FOR GEAR L
Mileage: 145,000
BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED AT 90K MILES. PEDAL IS EXTREMELY HARD TO PUSH AND HAS LITTLE BRAKE FORCE. ALONG WITH A LOUD HISSING NOISE FROM BRAKES. MAZDA SAID IT WAS PART THEIR SPECIAL SERVICE WARRANTY AND WOULD CHARGE FULL RATE TO FIX.
Mileage: 89,700
CAR WAS ALWAYS SERVICED REGULARLY. ONE DAY I WAS ABOUT TO GET ON A BUSY HIGHWAY INTO BOSTON JUST BEFORE RUSH HOUR, WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND THEN THE CAR SHUT OFF. NO LIGHTS EVER CAME ON BEFOREHAND AND NO LEAKING OF FLUIDS EVER HAPPENED BEFORE INCIDENT. HAD IT TOWED TO MAZDA DEALER, WHO AT FIRST TOLD ME THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO EVEN LOOK AT IT FOR 6 DAYS. FRIEND WORKED THERE AND GOT MECHANICS TO LOOK AT IT RIGHT AWAY. THEY SAID THE WATER PUMP WAS GONE AND IT WOULD COST $3500 TO FIX IT. THE WORST PART OF IT WAS, THAT ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS A FLAW WITH WHERE THE WATER PUMP IS LOCATED IN THE ENGINE, AND THAT BECAUSE OF THIS THE ENGINE WAS MOST LIKELY GONE AS WELL. IN THEIR WORDS, THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY WATER PUMPS IN THESE SAME SITUATIONS OVER THE YEARS, AND ONLY ONE CAR DIDN'T NEED A NEW ENGINE. THEY RECOMMENDED FIXING THE WATER PUMP, THEN PUTTING IN A NEW ENGINE--$10,000 WORTH OF W
Mileage: 108,000
THE ENGINE COMPLETELY LOST POWER. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IN DOWNTOWN AREA / TRAFFIC, CAUSING FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET. WARNING AND IMMEDIATE FAILURE WHEN IN MOTION IN BUSY DOWNTOWN MIDDAY TRAFFIC.
Mileage: 106,000
THIS IS REGARDS TO THE MAZDA BRAKE BOOSTER ISSUE FOR THE 2010-2011 CX-9. THIS ISSUE REVOLVES AROUND CUSTOMER NOTIFICATIONS. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY TIME IS 7 YEARS OR 90,000 MILES. MAZDA MAILED OUT A SINGLE LETTER TO OWNERS. MAZDA STIPULATED THAT THE EXTENSION WAS TRANSFERABLE, HOWEVER THEY MADE NO EFFORT TO NOTIFY ANY OF THE NEXT OWNERS, NOT A LINK ON THEIR WEBSITE EVEN. THIS MEANS THAT OWNERS WHO DID NOT GET NOTIFIED WILL NOT KNOW OF THIS ISSUE AND MAY SPEND ABOUT $600-800 TO FIX THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH IT IS COVERED (OUTSIDE A DEALER). DUE TO THIS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE WITH BRAKES NOT PERFORMING AS EXPECTED DURING NORMAL USE, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. ANY SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF BRAKING POWER DURING NORMAL USE WILL CAUSE ANY NORMAL HUMAN TO PANIC. THE NHTSA ISSUED THIS WHILE THINKING AS ENGINEERS, NOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT HOW THE HUMAN FEELS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR THAT IS NOT STOPPING. THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF PEOPLE NEARLY GETTING INTO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS AT HTTPS://WWW.CARCO
Mileage: 92,500
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN THE TRANSFER CASE ON MY 2010 CX9 BROKE AT 109.000 MILES AND SPLINE GEAR IS WORN OUT. OVERWHELMING OIL SMELL COMING BACK INTO CAR ALONG WITH HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE. TOOK TO MY MAZDA DEALER, MAZDA WASN'T SURE IF THEY COULD FIX, SUGGESTED REPLACING TRANSMISSION. MAZDA TRIED TO FIX THE TRANSFER CASE ISSUE, BUT COULD HAVE HUMMING NOISE. INSTEAD OF HUMMING NOISE, AFTER ONE DAY OF RECEIVING MY CAR BACK, TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. ALREADY PUT $2200 INTO THIS REPAIR, BUT WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE AFTER I PUT MY CAR IN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ALL THE TIME AND TAKE GREAT CARE OF MY CAR.
Mileage: 109,000
HELLO! THIS MORNING ON 19 DECEMBER 2017, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN A CITY STREET GETTING READY TO CROSS A MAJOR INTERSECTION. THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW AND SHE BEGAN TO BRAKE. AT FIRST THEY FELT NORMAL, BUT THEN THE PEDAL WENT DOWN AND THE BRAKES FELT REALLY HARD AND THE HISSING STARTED, ALMOST RUNNING INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. SHE PULLED OVER AND CALLED ME. WHEN I ARRIVED, I COULD HEAR A HISSING SOUND AS IF AIR WAS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE NEAR THE BRAKE BOOSTER. I AM AN AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT MECHANIC AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON MY OWN CARS FOR OVER 40 YEARS. I SEARCHED ALL OVER THINKING THAT A HOSE MIGHT HAVE TORN OR PULLED OUT OF THE CHECK VALVE, BUT I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING OBVIOUS. THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL WAS FINE, SO I DROVE THE CAR HOME AND BEGAN TO SEARCH THE INTERNET. I FOUND THIS WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.MAZDAPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/BRAKE-BOOSTER-FAILURE/ AND FOUND OUT THAT MAZDA HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE ISSUE FOR YEARS. I'M REALLY UPSET THAT THEY WOULD NOT MAKE A RE
Mileage: 92,000
TAKATA RECALL I HAVE BEEN PROMISED A REMEDY AND NOTHING HAD HAPPENED YET. I WAS EVEN ASKED TO GET IN FOR A MAINTENANCE AND THEY'VE TOLD ME (2CE THAT DAY) WERE GOING TO CHANGE THE PART BUT NOTHING HAD HAPPENED YET. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
TAKATA RECALL I HAVE A MAZDA CX9 2010, I GOT NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY WATER PUMP. THE CARE DID NOT OVER HEAT, IT DID NOT STALL AND I WAS NO STEAM COMING FROM THE CAR. I DROVE MY VEHICLE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WATER MORE THAN 20 MILES FROM MY HOME, SO THAT I COULD GO TO WORK. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE PHARMACIST AT MY JOB I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IN MY CAR AND DROVE OFF. HE NOTICE A PUDDLE UNDER MY CAR AND ASKED ME TO COME OUTSIDE SO HE COULD INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION FURTHER. HE SAW WHERE THE FLUID WAS COMING FROM AND WENT UNDER THE CAR TO TOUCH THE FLUID AND FOUND THAT IT WAS MY ANTI-FREEZE. IF I KNEW I HAD A PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE NEVER DRIVEN THE CAR THAT FAR FROM HOME. I GOT A QUOTE FROM THE DEALER THAT IT WOULD COST ME $2050 TO REPAIR THE WATER PUMP. AS I DID RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GOES ON WITH THESE VEHICLES AND THERE IS NO REAL WAY AROUND HAVING TO PAY THE DEALER THAT TYPE OF MONEY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE PUMP IS PLACED
Mileage: 15,600
WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT GETS HARD TO PUSH LIKE PRESSURE IS BUILT UP AND YOU CAN'T STOP. WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, YOU HEAR A HISSING SOUND AS IF AIR WAS LETTING AIR OUT OF THE TIRES. THE RESPONSE FOR SLOWING TO A STOP [WAS] MUCH LONGER AND UNLESS YOU PRESS THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, THE VEHICLE ROLLS. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE
Mileage: 130,000
MY VEHICLE IS AT ABOUT 87000 MILES, THE BREAKS STARTED MALFUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TEXAS 35 I HAVE TO PRESS HARD ON THE PEDALS IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO STOP[ I DO HEAR KIND A LIKE A ZIZZLE WHEN I PRESS ON THE BREAKS BUT EVEN IF I PRESS HARD THE PEDAL TO STOP IT STILL KEEPS GOING FOR ABOUT 3 TO 4 FEET.
Mileage: 87,000
UPON STOPPING, BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD TO DEPRESS AND CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE EFFECTIVELY. BRAKING ACTION BECAME DEGRADED, TIME FRAME WAS ONE DAY. IT WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT WOULD NOT STOP EFFECTIVELY CREATING A HAZARD. UNABLE TO JUDGE STOPPING DISTANCE DUE TO BRAKE DEGRADATION. TOOK TO MECHANIC WHO REPLACED BRAKE BOOSTER, SAID MOST LIKELY A VACUUM ISSUE. SAID THIS IS A RECALL ITEM ON SAME PART FOR FORD ESCAPE 2010 AND LINCOLN MKZ. FORD OWNS MOST OF MAZDA AND THE CX-9 USES FORD MADE PARTS. UPON RESEARCH, MAZDA AND NHTSA BOTH KNOW OF THE ISSUE, BUT HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE. FORD HAS WARRANTIED THE SAME PART FOR 150,000 MILES, MAZDA HAS NOT ISSUED RECALL FOR SAME PART WITH SAME PROBLEM AND RISK. UPON RESEARCH OF ONLINE BOARDS REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REPAIRS BY MAZDA OWNERS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS FAILURE ON MY CAR IS AT 98,000. WITH THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET REPLACED AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER PROBLEM, PRESENTS SIGNIFICANT HAZARD TO MA
Mileage: 98,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA CX9. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. MAZDA OF NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY BRAKE BOOSTER ON THE VEHICLE THAT WAS UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
Mileage: 114,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA CX9. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V451000 (SUSPENSION) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedy
Inadvertent Curtain Air Bag Deployment
Front Subframe Corrosion
Lower ball joint separation
Brake Booster Failure
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.