KnownCarProblems2013 Mazda CX-9 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Mazda CX-9, most often about the engine (25% of complaints, typically around 89,000 miles). It is 8th of 17 CX-9 model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2013 Mazda CX-9 problems
Engine
17 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 89,000 miles.
The power steering and power breaking suddenly failed while traveling at about 40mph. The check engine light had gone on a few minutes before the car had this incident. With considerable force on the brake I was able to get the car to the side of the road. It was towed to a garage where they told me a 'water line had…
The radiator failed internally with no warning, no leaks no engine light nothing, mixing antifreeze into the oil and destroying the engine. My machine informed me that there was no way of me knowing this was happening and its faulty the way they make the radiator it causes this to happen. Now my radiator is bad and my…
Brakes
16 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 58,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2013 Mazda CX-9. While driving 45 MPH, the contact heard a hissing sound when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to browning Mazda (18827 studebaker rd, cerritos, ca 90703, ([phone]) where it was diagnosed that the vacuum seals failed on the brake power booster, and the brake power…
The brake became very stiff and made a hissing sound when applied while driving. I brought my car to an independent mechanic and back to the dealer where I brought the car and they both confirmed that I needed to replace the brake booster. That the hissing sound was leakage.
Air bags
9 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 25,000 miles. Parts named most often: air bag/restraint control module.
Lost control of vehicle coming down a ramp in a parking garage, causing me to strike pole in garage, or would have careened over 6th fl railing down 6 stories to street. Vehicle in motion.
While driving on the highway at a normal highway speed, the side air bags suddenly inflated for no apparent reason, both the driver and passenger sides.
Other or unspecified
9 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles.
I was driving on the highway when my sunroof exploded, showering glass inside the car. I did not see anything hit it. The breakage seemed to be spontaneous.
The radiator failed internally with no warning, no leaks no engine light nothing, mixing antifreeze into the oil and destroying the engine. My machine informed me that there was no way of me knowing this was happening and its faulty the way they make the radiator it causes this to happen. Now my radiator is bad and my…
Suspension
9 complaints · 13%The contact owns a 2013 Mazda CX-9. While driving approximately 10 MPH, the contact heard a loud abnormal noise under the vehicle. The vehicle stopped independently. The contact noticed that the front passenger tire twisted into the wheel well. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front…
I had just come out of a traffic circle and entered a straight stretch when I heard a loud crunching sound. I would estimate my speed to be between 15mph and 20 MPH .the vehicle shook but I was able to move forward but had difficulty steering and could not brake. The car sputtered to a stop then I heard a hissing…
Transmission
5 complaints · 7%Purchased this car new, went to have oil change and there was oil underneath. The right pion seal was out. Had car towed and I contacted the dealership I found out the transfer case is out. Prior to this I smelled something like burning oil, but when I contacted the dealership I was told it was probably the…
I was driving down the interstate and my Mazda cx9 caught fire! I didn't realize it since it was under the car and the car beside informed me of it. This was due to the transfer case issues that Mazda had to extend the warranty on them because of so many issues with them. They are covered for 90 thousand miles or 7…
Body and structure
4 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: body.
The contact owns a 2013 Mazda cx9. The contact stated that the metal above the drivers door chrome strip had a sharp edge that cut the contact below the left eye, while he exited the vehicle. The contact inspected the passenger side front, and the rear doors, and also found the defected chrome with the sharp edge. The…
Lost control of vehicle coming down a ramp in a parking garage, causing me to strike pole in garage, or would have careened over 6th fl railing down 6 stories to street. Vehicle in motion.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 Mazda CX-9 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began november 9, 2018. Owners may contact mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317f.
Full defect summary
Mazda north american operations (mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 mazda cx-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, unless covered in "zone a," mazda is recalling certain 2011-2013 mazda6, 2011-2012 cx-7, and 2011-2015 cx-9 sold, or ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, west virginia and the district of columbia, or "zone b." additionally, unless covered in zone a or zone b, mazda is recalling certain 2010-2013 mazda6, 2010-2012 cx-7, and 2010-2015 cx-9 vehicles eve
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began march 2, 2018. Owners may contact mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317f.
Full defect summary
Mazda north american operations (mazda) is recalling certain 2013 mazda6 and cx-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, unless covered in "zone a," mazda is recalling certain 2010 mazda6, cx-7 and cx-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, and west virginia or "zone b." additionally, unless covered in zone a or zone b, mazda is recalling certain 2009 mazda6, cx-7, and cx-9 vehicles ever registered in the states of alaska, colorado
Steering
Risk: If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower mounting nuts and bolts that secure the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle. If the bolts are loose, they will be replaced and then correctly tightened, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin may 20, 2016. Owners may contact mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9316d.
Full defect summary
Mazda north american operations (mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 cx-3 vehicles manufactured june 1, 2015, to december 2, 2015, 2013-2014 mazda2 vehicles manufactured july 3, 2013, to august 8, 2014, 2014-2016 cx-5 vehicles manufactured january 19, 2013, to december 2, 2015, and 2013-2015 cx-9 vehicles manufactured december 6, 2012, to july 31, 2015. The lower mounting nuts and bolts that attach the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle may loosen, allowing the steering knuckle to separate.
Suspension: lower ball joint
Risk: Over time, the ball joint corrosion may result in the front lower control arm separating from the ball joint, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace both the left and right lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began on september 14, 2015. The recall will begin with model year 2007-2009 vehicles registered in connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, washington d.c., west virginia, and wisconsin. The second phase will be for model year 2010-2014 vehicles in the same states. Finally, all remaining vehicles will be r
Full defect summary
Mazda north american operations (mazda) is recalling certain model year 2007-2014 cx-9 vehicles manufactured october 24, 2006, to december 28, 2013. The affected vehicles have front suspension ball joints that may corrode from water leaking into the fitting.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Inadvertent curtain air bag deployment
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this preliminary evaluation (pe19-006) on may 2, 2019 to investigate two vehicle owner questionnaires (voqs) and early warning reporting data related to allegations of inadvertent deployment (iad) of side curtain airbags in model year (my) 2010 through 2013 mazda cx-9 vehicles. Odi sent an information request (ir) to mazda north america operations, llc. To gather information about the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. In the 20 months since opening the pe, odi has received three additional voqs. To date, there have been a total of 11 iad incidents within the identified population of 104,360 vehicles. Of the 11 incidents, no serious injur
Lower ball joint separation
Summary
In an july 7,2015 letter to NHTSA, mazda identified a safety defect that could result in lower ball joint separation in approximately 193,484 model year (my) 2007 through 2014 mazda cx-9 vehicles (NHTSA recall no. 15v-451,mazda 8515g).mazda indicated that damage to the ball joint boot may allow water to enter the front suspension ball joint fitting during use which may result in premature ball joint wear and a progressively looser joint.in january 2014, mazda implemented redesigned lower control arms in production vehicles to improve the durability of the lower ball joints.the redesign involved changing the shape of the top surface of the ball joint boot cover and adding a suspension plate t
Questions about the 2013 Mazda CX-9
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mazda CX-9?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (17 complaints, typically around 89,000 miles); brakes (16 complaints, typically around 58,500 miles); air bags (9 complaints, typically around 25,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Mazda CX-9 have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 12, 2018 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2013 a bad year for the Mazda CX-9?
- It is 8th of 17 CX-9 model years by number of complaints, with 68 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.