2017 Mazda CX-9 Problems & Owner Complaints

Engine 43

“this is covered under csp11. the problem is my car is a 2017 and they only allow a warranty up to 120,000 miles mine is at 158000 and they will not fix the problem now even thought we just started having problems.”
NHTSA complaint #11743458, 2026

“I took our vehicle into Mazda due to a coolant leak that could not be located. It had my wife stranded due to the vehicle overheating. Everything lined up with CSP11. The dealership is now stating that the vehicle has a blown gasket and needs an engine replacement. This is the issue covered by CSP11 except that the crack is in the wrong location. They haven't found the Crack but are denying the warranty due to the covered location not being the source. The vehicle only has 93000 miles on it.”
NHTSA complaint #11688886, 2025

“I was driving the vehicle on the highway when the vehicle started to overheat, lights started blinking, the car was smoking, losing power and acceleration. This car has a recall on the cyclindwr head which when cracks causing the car to loose coolant and oil. If it cracks while you’re driving especially on the highway the car will immediately loose coolant and oil thus causing a very dangerous driving condition. There was no indicator prior to the failure that there was anything wrong with the car. No check engine lights, no coolant lights nothing. Prior to this happening I smelled coolant in…”
NHTSA complaint #11650724, 2025

Unknown Or Other 9

“Vehicle experienced coolant leak also oil leak from rear of engine. Broken cylinder head due to turbo too close to head”
NHTSA complaint #11636395, 2025

“My Mazda 2017 CX 9 apparently had a coolant leak. When we had our oil changed, we were told it looked like it was leaking from behind the turbo booster. As I was driving it yesterday, the car slowed to an almost complete stop on the interstate and a warning sign on the screen showed that it was overheating to a dangerous level. I immediately pulled over and allowed the car to cool down. I checked the coolant level and it was not very low at all, although I did add some coolant at that time. It continued to overheat and even blew tons of smoke out through the exhaust, so I had AAA tow to my hom…”
NHTSA complaint #11601259, 2024

“SUNROOF EXPLODED. NOTHING HIT THE CAR JUST SPONTANEOUS EXPLOSION WHILE DRIVING. SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT IT WAS SO LOUD.”
NHTSA complaint #11594619, 2024

Fuel/Propulsion System 6

“Engine running rough. Check Engine Light illumination. Difficulty starting or a no-start condition. Noticeable loss of power during acceleration Check engine light P0192”
NHTSA complaint #11742350, 2026

“This is the second time my car mazda -2017 had problem with fuel pump. I only saw recall for 2019 Mazda CX-9 in internet. Before the fuel pump fail, I smelled gas inside the car which I was told my mechanic later from the shop where I bought my car for immediate diagnose was considered dangerous. The first time happened 2 years ago when we were on the trip 250 miles from where we live. This time we were about 200 miles away. So the fuel pump it seemed became the problem for Mazda. When we asked Mazda about it they said it is not the same with recall for 2019. If those car has the problem wi…”
NHTSA complaint #11603669, 2024

“My Mazda 2017 CX 9 apparently had a coolant leak. When we had our oil changed, we were told it looked like it was leaking from behind the turbo booster. As I was driving it yesterday, the car slowed to an almost complete stop on the interstate and a warning sign on the screen showed that it was overheating to a dangerous level. I immediately pulled over and allowed the car to cool down. I checked the coolant level and it was not very low at all, although I did add some coolant at that time. It continued to overheat and even blew tons of smoke out through the exhaust, so I had AAA tow to my hom…”
NHTSA complaint #11601259, 2024

Power Train 4

“I was driving the vehicle on the highway when the vehicle started to overheat, lights started blinking, the car was smoking, losing power and acceleration. This car has a recall on the cyclindwr head which when cracks causing the car to loose coolant and oil. If it cracks while you’re driving especially on the highway the car will immediately loose coolant and oil thus causing a very dangerous driving condition. There was no indicator prior to the failure that there was anything wrong with the car. No check engine lights, no coolant lights nothing. Prior to this happening I smelled coolant in…”
NHTSA complaint #11650724, 2025

“Coolant leak cylinder head. It was running and i could smell coolant on the minifalda and it shout down.”
NHTSA complaint #11633063, 2024

“There was a coolant leak on my Mazda CX9 Signature with a 2.5T engine, and when driving the engine temperature started increasing slightly before taking off and turning red. I had to pull off to the side of a busy interstate road very quickly and shut the vehicle down before it overheated any more. Once I got the vehicle to the dealership, they told me it was a cracked cylinder head leaking coolant, and that it was an extremely common problem for the 2.5T mazda engines around about 60k miles, and they were actively working on one in the shop where I was for the same problem. Mazda is not curre…”
NHTSA complaint #11589218, 2024

Suspension 4

“I purchased this vehicle with 19K miles on July 31, 2020. I noticed on April 12, 2022, that there was a knocking noise coming from the left front suspension after leaving a Mazda dealership for an oil change. I called Mazda service and was told they only did an oil change. I have put 4 brand new tires and have replaced the front/back brakes, rotors and still hear noise going over uneven pavement. I brought it to my own mechanic twice and he hears the noise but informed me that he cannot order any suspension parts at all for Mazda CX9. He said Mazda are forcing Mazda customers to go to a Mazda…”
NHTSA complaint #11474277, 2022

“I BOUGHT A USED 2017 MAZDA CX-9 FROM WEST SHORE HONDA IN TAMPA IN JULY OF 2020. THEY SCREWED ME FINANCIALLY AND I'LL HANDLE THAT SEPARATELY. THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE THE FIRST FEW DAYS AFTER BUYING THE CAR. I'VE COMPLAINED MULTIPLE TIMES VIA EMAIL AND PHONE. I'VE BEEN TRYING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT COUNTLESS TIMES. THEY KEEP STATING IT'S A TIRE ISSUE. TO THE POINT THEY HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES 3 TIMES. AFTER THE SECOND TIME I HAD ALREADY DECIDED IT'S NOT TIRES. THE CAR HAS A VERY ROUGH RIDE WHEN I'M MOTION. ONCE YOU GOT 80 IT WOBBLES. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS THE WOBBLE CAN BE FELT AT LO…”
NHTSA complaint #11402740, 2020

“EVERY TIME I STOP I HEAR A CLUNK SOUND FROM FRONT SUSPENSION AND ALSO WHEN I'M AT A DEAD STOP THEM I GO I HEAR THE CLUNK SOUND .I ALSO HERE THAT NOISE IN THE REAR SUSPENSION I'M WORRIED CAUSE I DON'T WANT SOMETHING BAD HAPPEN TO MY WIFE AND MY 8MONTH OLD DAUGHTER AND 9 YR OLD DAUGHTER WHILE I'M DEPLOYED”
NHTSA complaint #11157180, 2018

Electrical System 2

“My vehicle has several issues related to a water pump failure in which the check engine light did not remain on. The vehicle began to over heat and slow down on the highway/ roads despite having my foot on the gas. My vehicle is now at Heritage Mazda Catonsville and unable to be read by the OBD reader which may be related to a weak wiring harness reported by other owners of the CX9. It also my be why my check engine light is not on despite having an engine issue. Many others have reported a failed water pump which caused cracks in the head which causes the car to over heat and slow down witho…”
NHTSA complaint #11509961, 2023

“The first sign of an issue was an oil pressure indicator on the dashboard, but upon inspection, the oil levels seemed completely normal. The dashboard light went away shortly after that. A day later, I was on my lunch break and parked my car in a garage for 45 minutes. On the drive there, I did not notice any issues and was able to operate the vehicle fine for the short distance that I drove. When I returned to my parked car, there was a large puddle of oil underneath. I immediately had a mechanic take a look at the car. The mechanic was able to identify a cracked cylinder head, which led to w…”
NHTSA complaint #11492830, 2022

Forward Collision Avoidance 2

“My vehicle has several issues related to a water pump failure in which the check engine light did not remain on. The vehicle began to over heat and slow down on the highway/ roads despite having my foot on the gas. My vehicle is now at Heritage Mazda Catonsville and unable to be read by the OBD reader which may be related to a weak wiring harness reported by other owners of the CX9. It also my be why my check engine light is not on despite having an engine issue. Many others have reported a failed water pump which caused cracks in the head which causes the car to over heat and slow down witho…”
NHTSA complaint #11509961, 2023

“On several occasions, the system would activate the panic braking while driving at low speeds in a few different situations. One situation is while pulling into a 2 car garage with objects along the garage walls, i.e. shelves in front of vehicle, lawn equipment on the side, grill on opposite side. While entering the garage the system would engage well before the front of vehicle is close to the shelving. Another occasion happened in a parking lot while driving at low speeds with no other vehicles or objects near the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11461594, 2022

Steering 2

“The car was jump start due to a bad battery it cold and the light was left on. Right after the jump start a check engine light can on. When I put the vehicle in drive to turn the steering wheel it violently snapped bad and broken one of my finger nail. I tried aging in disbelief it happened aging this shouldn't be happening it could've broke my fingers.”
NHTSA complaint #11704433, 2025

“I was driving the vehicle on the highway when the vehicle started to overheat, lights started blinking, the car was smoking, losing power and acceleration. This car has a recall on the cyclindwr head which when cracks causing the car to loose coolant and oil. If it cracks while you’re driving especially on the highway the car will immediately loose coolant and oil thus causing a very dangerous driving condition. There was no indicator prior to the failure that there was anything wrong with the car. No check engine lights, no coolant lights nothing. Prior to this happening I smelled coolant in…”
NHTSA complaint #11650724, 2025

Wheels 2

“I BOUGHT A USED 2017 MAZDA CX-9 FROM WEST SHORE HONDA IN TAMPA IN JULY OF 2020. THEY SCREWED ME FINANCIALLY AND I'LL HANDLE THAT SEPARATELY. THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE THE FIRST FEW DAYS AFTER BUYING THE CAR. I'VE COMPLAINED MULTIPLE TIMES VIA EMAIL AND PHONE. I'VE BEEN TRYING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT COUNTLESS TIMES. THEY KEEP STATING IT'S A TIRE ISSUE. TO THE POINT THEY HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES 3 TIMES. AFTER THE SECOND TIME I HAD ALREADY DECIDED IT'S NOT TIRES. THE CAR HAS A VERY ROUGH RIDE WHEN I'M MOTION. ONCE YOU GOT 80 IT WOBBLES. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS THE WOBBLE CAN BE FELT AT LO…”
NHTSA complaint #11402740, 2020

“BODY PAINT IS VERY THIN AND IS CHIPPING. WHEELS COATING IS PEELING OFF AND CHIPPING. AND THE SEAT HEATERS ARE VERY HOT, ALMOST BURNING EVEN ON THE LOWEST SETTING.”
NHTSA complaint #11299462, 2020

Back Over Prevention 1

“My infotainment screen goes black 10-12 times a year, and therefore I lose access to my backup cameras. I have to turn the car off, and then back on, in order for the screen to function again. This has been happening for the full 8 years I have owned the car. I also have video of this happening, but the file is too large to attach so including photo only.”
NHTSA complaint #11674499, 2025

Seats 1

“BODY PAINT IS VERY THIN AND IS CHIPPING. WHEELS COATING IS PEELING OFF AND CHIPPING. AND THE SEAT HEATERS ARE VERY HOT, ALMOST BURNING EVEN ON THE LOWEST SETTING.”
NHTSA complaint #11299462, 2020

Structure 1

“BODY PAINT IS VERY THIN AND IS CHIPPING. WHEELS COATING IS PEELING OFF AND CHIPPING. AND THE SEAT HEATERS ARE VERY HOT, ALMOST BURNING EVEN ON THE LOWEST SETTING.”
NHTSA complaint #11299462, 2020

Visibility 1

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE SUN ROOF GLASS FRACTURED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND CONFIRMED THAT THE FRACTURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY AN IMPACT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTOBARN MAZDA OF EVANSTON (1015 CHICAGO AVE, EVANSTON, IL 60202, (888) 699-9643) WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILU…”
NHTSA complaint #11388797, 2021