Mazda CX-9 Reliability: Best and Worst Years

The Mazda CX-9 is a three-row midsize crossover SUV that Mazda sold in the U.S. from the 2007 to the 2023 model year. It was Mazda's largest vehicle in the U.S. during that time, offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The CX-9 was replaced by the CX-90 for the 2024 model year. Below, each Mazda CX-9 model year from 2010 to 2023 sits on the same scale, which makes the noisy years and the quiet years easy to spot.

Why these years stand out

2016: most complaints. The 2016 Mazda CX-9 scored 667 complaints per 100,000 sold, 2.1 times the model average. Of its 107 complaints, 80 involve the engine or transmission, and the parts named most often are engine (68), electrical system (14) and service brakes (11). There is no recall for this model year.

2020, 2022 and 2023: fewest complaints. The 2020 drew 19 complaints, or 69 per 100,000 sold; The 2022 drew 11 complaints, or 32 per 100,000 sold; The 2023 drew 13 complaints, or 74 per 100,000 sold. These years have been on the road at least three years, which gives owners time to report problems, so a low count means something.

What Mazda CX-9 owners report most

Brakes complaints lead for the Mazda CX-9, at 33% of all complaints for 2010-2023. Engine and transmission reports together make up 42%. One complaint can name more than one system, so the bars can add up to more than the total.

When problems are reported: mileage

595 Mazda CX-9 complaints list the odometer reading at the time of the problem. 38% were reported before 50,000 miles and 20% after 100,000. The reports are spread across the mileage range rather than bunched at one point.

Mazda CX-9 compared with other midsize suvs

In 10 of 14 model years the Mazda CX-9 drew fewer complaints per 100,000 sold than the average midsize suv we track for the same year. For 2023, the Mazda CX-9 scored 74 against a class average of 141. The class average only uses models with clean, published sales figures.

Mazda CX-9 generations

• 2007-2015
  First generation

  3.5L V6 (2007); 3.7L V6 (2008-2015) · 6-speed automatic

  The 3.5L V6 was used only in the first year before the 3.7L became standard.

• 2016-2023
  Second generation

  2.5L turbo four · 6-speed automatic

  The redesign replaced the V6 with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

First-generation CX-9 models received refreshes for the 2010 and 2013 model years. The second generation is shorter overall than the first but rides on a longer wheelbase. The 2023 model year was the last for the CX-9 in the U.S.

Mazda CX-9 fuel economy

The 2023 Mazda CX-9 is rated at 23 MPG combined by the EPA, depending on the setup. Every year and engine will be on its own MPG page.

Crash test stars

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave the Mazda CX-9 these overall ratings (out of 5) for the model years it tested: 2013: 4, 2014: 4, 2015: 4, 2018: 5, 2019: 5, 2020: 5, 2021: 5, 2022: 5, 2023: 5. Ratings can differ between body styles and drive types of the same year.

Questions