Mazda · NHTSA safety record
Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.
103
Complaints
3
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Owners of the 2016 Mazda CX-9 have filed 103 safety complaints with NHTSA between August 2016 and April 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 64 of them (62%). The typical failure was reported at 40,000 miles, the median across the 29 complaints that gave an odometer reading.
No recall campaign was matched to this year, make and model. That is not the same as a clean vehicle: recalls are issued against production ranges, and the only reliable check is your own VIN.
Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 103.
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2024 at 26.
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.
2 injured · crash · towed · 49,000 miles
I WAS T-BONED ON PASSENGER SIDE OF MY MAZDA CX9 AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK ON MY MAZDA.OTHER VEHICLE AIR BAGS DID GO OFF.I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN OTHER CAR PLOWED INTO MINE.
NHTSA complaint 11149815. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
1 injured · 26,000 miles
DRIVER STOPPED VEHICLE IN A DRIVEWAY WITH MINIMAL SLOPE, SHIFTED THE VEHICLE IN PARK, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND EXITED. DRIVER PROCEEDED TO REAR PASSENGER DOOR TO RETRIEVE 1 YEAR OLD FROM CAR SEAT. AFTER RETRIEVING CHILD FROM CAR SEAT, DRIVER FELT REAR PASSENGER DOOR PUSHING INTO HER LEG, BACK AND HEAD. VEHICLE PROCEEDS TO ROLL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY BACKWARD WHILE IN PARK. DRIVER AND CHILD ESCAPE VEHICLE'S REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, WHICH IS PUSHING THEM ALONG IN THE VEHICLE'S PATH TOWARD RESIDENTIAL STREET. VEHICLE CONTINUES ROLLING IN PARK BACKWARD DOWN RESIDENTIAL STREET, THROUGH A 3-WAY STOP INTERSECTION, UP A CURB, THROUGH A YARD AND INTO A BUSH ON A PRIVATE PROPERTY. A WITNESS WHO
NHTSA complaint 11268666, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
fire
My seat warmer caught fire and burnt a hole through the seat.
NHTSA complaint 11582514. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
crash · towed · 5,500 miles
AFTER A MINOR REAR END ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER FRONT SEAT NOW ROCKS SIDE TO SIDE AND IS DISTRACTING AND UNSAFE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP THAT PROVIDED AN INSPECTION AND SAID THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT. THEY STATE THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THEIR SEATS TO ROCK SIDE TO SIDE. HOW UNSAFE AND FRIGHTENING. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTATION FROM THE DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint 10926822. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
The cylinder head (which involves the engine cooling system) has a known manufacturer defect that affects all year/models of the Mazda CX-9 with turbo. The manufacturing defect poses a risk to motor vehicle safety in a group of vehicles or equipment of the same design and/or manufacturer. Specifically, the overheating and failure of the engine can occur at any time, without warning. This puts my family at risk of being stranded on a roadway, particularly because my car is often driven in rural areas. The manufacturing defect is significant and is acknowledged by Mazda: Mazda has offered owners a voluntary, limited, warranty extension (CSP11) of 10 years or 120,000 miles. The voluntary
NHTSA complaint 11734209, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
I own a 2016 Mazda CX9 Touring FWD (180k miles). Today my car was diagnosed with cracked cylinder head, resulting in coolant and oil leak from the head gasket. While there is a class action settlement about it where Mazda accepted the manufacturing defect, they do not cover the engine repair/cylinder head replacement because my car's mile is over 120k. If it is a manufacturing defect, why year/mile make a difference on the responsibility of the manufacturer? Mazda obviously sold defect vehicles to their customers, and driving these vehicles under this condition is very dangerous! Now, they are expecting me to pay more than $10,000 for a vehicle priced around $6,000!
NHTSA complaint 11706610. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
In June of 2022 I started having a strong antifreeze/engine coolant smell inside the cab of my vehicle and also outside the vehicle. I had the car checked for a radiator leak, but there wasn’t one. I took my car into my local Mazda where they found that the engine coolant was leaking into the heads of the engine. Mazda kept my car for 5 months and repaired the problem, it cost me $4000 and they had added a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty for the parts. My car is a 2016 Mazda cx-9 at the time of the repair it had 70,430 miles on it. Now a few years later I am having the same issue with the coolant smell inside the cab and outside my vehicle, it goes into the shop for diagnosis on Monday
NHTSA complaint 11697196, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
Cylinder head crack. Combustion gasses leaking into coolant causing overheat. Combustion gasses bleeding into oil causing excessive crankcase pressure.
NHTSA complaint 11695620. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
148,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45-50 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power with white smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact was able to get to the side of the road to inspect the vehicle and became aware that there was coolant splattered all over the engine compartment. The failure had occurred twice. The “WRENCH” symbol was displayed with the “Service Vehicle” message displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the coolant pump and water pump were leaking, and the radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The
NHTSA complaint 11687565, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
Smart City Break Malfunction warning light appears while driving. Simultaneously the tire pressure warning appears. Also, at the same time, the temperature reads -20 to -40 degrees. Yes, vehicle is available for inspection. Fearful that car could randomly break while driving putting myself and family in danger since there is a malfunction. Mazda service center says the problem can’t be reproduced so there’s nothing they can do. The problem seems to appear when the outside temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
NHTSA complaint 11656449. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 37 | 1 | — |
| 2020 | 19 | 1 | — |
| 2019 | 52 | 2 | — |
| 2018 | 126 | 2 | — |
| 2017 | 61 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 35 | 2 | — |
| 2014 | 54 | 3 | — |
| 2013 | 68 | 4 | — |
| 2012 | 221 | 4 | — |
| 2011 | 170 | 4 | — |
| 2010 | 195 | 6 | — |
Every Mazda on this site — 81 vehicles, 161 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
Compiled and maintained by guarledes
Independent developer and analyst