2022 Mazda CX-9 Problems and Complaints

The Mazda CX-9 is the Japanese carmaker’s most successful offering which has sold in good numbers in its current generation. Packing in a luxurious package and driver-centric details, the CX-9 has been highly rated by many journos as a “Driver’s SUV”. The range for the CX-9 starts at $35,280 which puts it in the crosshairs of the Chevrolet Traverse, the Toyota Highlander, and the Ford Explorer. 

The Japanese carmaker is known for its dependability but still, the SUV had its fair share of recalls and owner complaints in its current generation. The owners have raised issues regarding the electrical system and the transmission. In this time the SUV has also seen itself being recalled 4 times for various reasons. Let’s see what all the most common issues were and gain some insight on the recall history as well. 

Mazda CX-9 Issues

The Mazda CX-9 has been in the market for a considerable amount of time and has seen a fair share of ups and downs. It has thousands of happy customers around the country but there have been a few issues as well. The CX-9’s early model years were notorious for electrical issues while people also faced issues with the transmission and brain. Let’s take a deeper dive into the most common issues as described by the owners: 

Electrical issues:

1. Backup camera issues: The backup camera in the 2016 Mazda CX-9 was reported to go blank. Owners reported that the screen would show nothing when the SUV was shifted to reverse. This impacted rearward visibility and increased the risk of a collision.
2. Spontaneous stalling: Many CX-9 owners have reported the SUV’s electrical system to shut off and stall the vehicle. Some complainants were stranded because the SUV would not start and had to be towed to the nearest dealership. Some people reported the SUV to start up fine after being shifted to park.
3. Heated seats issues: Some 2017 CX-9 owners have reported the heated seats in the SUV to malfunction. This caused some areas of the seats to not heat at all while causing the other areas to overheat, causing discomfort. 
4. Brake light malfunction: The issue is reported across several model years of the CX-9, especially in the colder regions. The brake light of the SUV malfunctions and does not light up while braking. This increases the chances of a rear-end collision since the trailing vehicle will not be warned in advance.

Mechanical issues:

1. Engine unresponsiveness: People have reported that the Mazda CX-9 becomes unresponsive and fails to accelerate. The issue is reported to be very spontaneous and has also resulted in collisions. Owners have also reported that a power surge launched the SUV forward and cause a loss of control.
2. No “low fuel” warning: Some people have reported that the fuel gauge malfunctions and does not accurately show the level of fuel in the tank. Sometimes the gauge shows less than the actual capacity which leads to premature filling. In some cases, the gauge shows more than the actual capacity. This has caused the SUV to run out of fuel and leave people stranded.
3. Unintentional rolling on a slope: Many people have reported the CX-9 to roll off a slope unintentionally. There were no warning chimes/warnings for the people if the ignition was not turned off in park.
4. Transmission issues: Many people have reported the Mazda CX-9 transmission to jerk at low speeds and cause a temporary loss of power. The issue is most prominent in the 2016 and the 2017 model years. Some people have also reported the same in the newer transmissions as well. 
5. Suspension issues: Many 2018 CX-9 owners have reported the front suspension to give a clunking noise. This issue props up whenever the SUV goes over an uneven patch of road. People have also complained of a clunking noise from the rear suspension whenever the SUV is stopping or moving from a standstill.

Exterior issues:

1. Exploding sunroof: Many CX-9 owners report that the sunroof in their SUV exploded without any impact. The complainants claim that the mishap happened at varying speeds and was spontaneous. The shattered glass entered the cabin and injured the occupants as well.
2. Wiper issues: Some 2016 CX-9 owners have reported the wiper blades to disconnect from their arm and detach. This causes a potential hazard for the other vehicles on the road. 

Safety features issue:

1. Radar failure: Many owners have reported the radar in the CX-9 to malfunction and cause issues. People have reported that this malfunction disables all the linked driver assistance features. Disablement of such features makes driving dangerous.
2. Vehicle Speed Control (VSC) issues: The VSC on the CX-9 is reported to give issues and decelerate the SUV’s speed without warning. This has caused some cars to lose speed on highways and cause collisions. In some cases, the VSC engaged the automatic emergency braking (AEB) without any object in proximity.

Mazda CX-9 Recalls

The Mazda CX-9 had seen its fair share of complaints in its current generation but the SUV was recalled 4 times by the Japanese manufacturer. The 2018 Mazda CX-9 was recalled a couple of times while the 2019 and the 2020 model year were recalled once. The latest recall for the SUV was on September 27, 2021 with NHTSA Campaign Number 21V750000.

Mazda North American Operations recalled 8,648 units of the CX-9 that were fit with the 60/40 bench second-row seats. The left side of these seats may slide forward and transfer excessive force onto the occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. These affected units also failed to comply with FMVSS number 210, “Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages”. A summary of the other recalls is mentioned below:

S. No.	Date	NHTSA Campaign Number	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks
1.	May 30, 2019	19V403000	Electrical System	Disablement of the passenger-side frontal airbag, turn signal, and/or starting system may increase the risk of injury/crash.
2.	October 28, 2019	19V770000	Tires	Incorrect rubber compound in the tires may separate/detach the tires and affect handling. This increases the risk of a crash.
3.	November 12, 2021	21V875000	Fuel System	Cracking and deformation of the impeller in the low-pressure fuel pump may cause fuel pump failure. This may stall the engine and increase the risk of a crash.

Model Years	Electrical System	Fuel System	Seats	Tires
2016	0	0	0	0
2017	0	0	0	0
2018	1	1	0	0
2019	0	1	0	1
2020	0	0	1	0
2021	0	0	1	0
2022	0	0	0	0

What model year of the Mazda CX-9 should you avoid?

The Mazda CX-9 has been a pretty solid offering from the Japanese carmaker and has seen massive success in the segment. It outsells many of its rivals with a posh cabin, tech-loaded trim line-up, and a very driver-centric approach. As with all cars, the sunny side is limited and the SUV has been on the receiving end of criticism as well. Considering all the issues, we’d avoid the 2016 CX-9 because of its newness back then. The Japanese carmaker had improved on a year-on-year basis but the 2016 CX-9 had to face the brunt of the changes.

Should you buy the 2022 Mazda CX-9?

The 2022 Mazda CX-9 is one of the, if not the, best SUVs in its segment and caters to its target segment well. The Japanese carmaker cracked the code for a successful recipe and had delivered the same flawlessly to the American consumers. The CX-9 is a very handsome and practical SUV that is bound to make the driver happy on curvy roads without scaring the occupants. The SUV is a pretty good buy in the pre-owned market as well. If someone is looking for a used CX-9, a 2018 model year and above will be a compelling choice.

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