2023 Mazda Cx-9 problems
The Mazda CX-9 is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by Mazda in Japan since 2006 through two generations With three-row seating, it was Mazda's largest passenger vehicle until the arrival of the CX-90.
Despite being built in Japan at Mazda's Ujina #1 plant in Hiroshima Prefecture, the CX-9 was never offered in the Japanese domestic market. The shorter and narrower Mazda CX-8 was offered in Japan instead.
First generation (TB; 2006)
The first generation CX-9 was originally fitted with a 3.5 L Ford V6 engine, but, in 2008, the engine was changed to a 3.7 L unit producing 204 kW (274 hp) and 366 N⋅m (270 lb⋅ft) of torque. The updated engine was introduced in June 2007 and it was now built by Mazda themselves. This engine was coupled with a six speed automatic transmission. The first generation is based on the Ford CD3 platform that is shared with many Ford and Mazda models; the Ford Edge is its close mechanical sibling. It was launched at the 2006 New York International Auto Show.
Standard safety equipment included blind spot monitoring, backup camera, electronic stability control, traction control, roll stability control, front side impact airbags, and three row side curtain airbags.
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Common 2023 Mazda Cx-9 problems
The 2023 Mazda CX-9 is a popular midsize SUV known for its quality, dependability, and overall reliability. Here are the details of these issues:
These common problems should be considered when inspecting a used 2023 Mazda CX-9. It is essential to ensure that all safety features are functioning correctly and that the braking system is in good working order. Additionally, potential buyers should be aware of the possibility of software glitches and driveline vibration issues related to the driveshaft or axle.
Is the 2023 Mazda CX-9 reliable?
We expect the 2023 CX-9 will have about average reliability when compared to the average new car. This prediction is based on data from 2021, 2022, and 2023 models, plus the Mazda brand scores.
Do Mazda CX-9 have issues?
Mazda CX-9 Reliability Problems. CX-9 owners have made 226 complaints over 14 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 14th in overall reliability out of 19 Mazda models , with real brakes and engine concerns.
Is there a recall on the Mazda CX-9 2023?
There are 0 recalls that may affect your 2023 Mazda CX-9.
Road Safety RisksOpen recalls can be dangerous for you and your family. Mail DelaysOlder or used cars can be more difficult for manufacturers to locate.
What is the best year of the Mazda CX-9 to buy?
Best First Generation Models
When it comes to the first-generation models, many agree that the best years to consider are: 2007, 2009, 2013, 2014, and 2015. While the 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012 models can still be quality models, they do have more recorded issues than the others.
2023 Mazda Cx-9 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Mazda Cx-9 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Unknown or other problems
- Structure problems
- Steering problems
- Air bags problems
- Forward collision avoidance problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2023 Mazda Cx-9 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2023 Mazda Cx-9 complaints
The NHTSA has received 5 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2023 Mazda Cx-9.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-12-22
- VIN: JM3TCBDY2P0
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? **Automated liftgate failure with risk of crushing. When pressing the automatic liftgate button, if there is an obstruction, the liftgate has unreliable/ineffective sensors ("jam-safe equipment") to prevent items and body parts from being crushed. In my instance, items in the trunk were crushed until the fuse blew for the liftgate. I believe this could have caused serious harm if a body part was accidentally wedged between the liftgate and preventing it from closing. **The fuse has been replaced and liftgate is now operational. It is available for inspection upon request. **Upon inquiring with Mazda, the dealer stated that "Mazda does not publish any data pertaining to your question “what strength of resistance is the specification for the Jam-safe equipment”. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? **Liftgate automatic closure fails to sense items/body parts in pathway or stop upon contact/resistance, crushing them until fuse blows. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? **Fuse was replaced and dealer indicated it was operating normally, however Mazda allegedly has NO TEST / SPECIFICATION for Jam-Safe equipment! Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? **Mazda dealer. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? **No.
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-11-27
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JM3TCBCY1P0
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2023 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH, the steering wheel was seized and the brake pedal stiffened. The contact stated as a result of the failure, the vehicle crashed into a ditch and crashed into a tree. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that his wife was a passenger in the vehicle and was seated in the front passenger seat. There were no injuries sustained. The front driver's side of the vehicle was damaged during the crash. No police or fire report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's vacation home in Wisconsin. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been serviced by the dealer on four occasions due to a failed software update. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 12,100.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-31
- VIN: JM3TCBDY3P0
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: While driving down a 55mph highway with no cars around, our sunroof imploded with a loud crashing sound and spreading glass shards all over our car over all of the occupants including children. It was a cloudy day and the temperatures were in the low 70’s and our sliding fabric cover was open at the time. The dealer has the car as of today but claims that anything glass is not typically covered under warranty.
AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-03-31
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JM3TCBAY4P0
- Components: AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: I was approaching Breezewood, Pa coming south on 70 into town from Hagerstown. Traffic comes to a stop awaiting a light that stops the highway traffic before allowing people to proceed through Breezewood and then continue on 70 out of town. I had plenty of warning as traffic slows first from 55 to 45, then to 35 before the light. As I applied pressure to the brakes the vehicle would not slow down. I released them once and reapplied and it felt as if they were doing nothing to slow me down. There were a lot of cars ahead of me and around me and the car did hold its lane thank goodness, but I ended up colliding with a stopped pickup/trailer (Ram with a car carrier/flatbed trailer). None of the vehicles collision avoidance warnings or safety features seemed to assist in the warning of the impending collision or deployed upon contact. No air bags, beeping of warning light - nothing. The vehicle is only months old - and tires are even newer than the vehicle as I had winter tires on it up until about two weeks before this trip. The weather was gray, it had rained lightly for several hours before - but it was 50 degrees.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-02-24
- VIN: JM3TCBCY9P0
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: This vehicle does not have a Traction Control Device switch to manually turn off. In snowing conditions and trying to ascend a grade, the TCD activates and eventually you become disabled in the roadway. I looked into the car manual and it does locate where the switch should be located, however my vehicle switch button is a blank button. I phoned my Dealership and reported the problem. They advised other vehicles in their lot did not have the switch as well. No other advice was explained. I reached out to Mazda Customer Car, and they advised me to contact the dealership. Problem remains un resolved.
Negative 2023 Mazda Cx-9 car reviews
Positive 2023 Mazda Cx-9 car reviews
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Congratulations on your new CX-9! It sounds like you got a great deal on the sport edition. The extra room will definitely come in handy for your hunting trips. It's good to hear that the rear view camera and cross track warning are helpful features. While the driver comfort may not be perfect, it's great that you're enjoying the pick up speed on the highway. Thanks for the tip about putting nitrogen in the tires for the Florida heat. Enjoy your new ride!
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Congratulations on your new purchase! It's great to hear that you upgraded to a slightly used 2023 CX9 Touring Plus. The clean looking interior, ventilated leather seats, and black wheels of the touring plus model are definitely eye-catching. It's good to know that the car drives nicely, quietly, and handles well. Although the gas mileage is not the best at around 16-18mpg around town, it's understandable since you're not driving that many miles. It's also great that you're able to use the extra room for hauling equipment, mulch, and other supplies. It sounds like the CX9 is just the right amount of space for you. Thank you for sharing your experience and we hope you enjoy your new ride!
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I recently had some issues with my Chevy Equinox, so I decided to sell it and purchase a brand new Mazda CX-9 off the lot. The third row is perfect for when my grandkids come to visit, and with the back seats down, there is even more interior space. Although WeatherTech does not offer floor liners for this version, I was able to repurpose another liner I had for the trunk, which does the job just fine. The power is impressive, but the gas mileage could be better, as I can only get around 300 highway miles on a full tank before needing to refuel. Unfortunately, this trim level does not come with XM/Sirius, but for just $5 a month, I can run XM off my iPhone. The back-up camera and side warning alerts are great features, and I appreciate the left or right turn indicators on the side mirrors. I also added a hitch, which allows me to tow up to 3,000 pounds. Overall, the car is very comfortable and sits high enough to provide a clear view all around. It's a shame they don't offer the Sport edition, which I purchased for $33k off the lot with only 5 miles on it.
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Very comfortable and peppy! It's great to hear that you're getting almost 30mpg on your daily commute. Although, it's understandable that you only got 21mpg on a long road trip with a big rooftop brick full of luggage. After removing the vacation brick, the fuel economy returned to normal. Keep on zooming!
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After researching a variety of SUV vehicles, I ultimately chose the Mazda CX-9. I was looking for a practical, sporty, and classy vehicle without the hefty price tag of a luxury car. Mazda's reputation for pushing the luxury envelope without the premium price convinced me to give it a try. I'm happy to say that the Mazda CX-9 exceeded all my expectations. In fact, after driving it home for 100 miles, I realized that it outperformed even the BMW X2 that I rented for the trip. Despite taking it easy on the throttle for engine break-in, the CX-9's performance, comfort, and features were superior. I'm only 400 miles into my Mazda experience, but I'm already in love with my new vehicle!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2023 Mazda Cx-9 problems:
My review of the 2023 CX-9 after one month of ownership : r ...
Feb 9, 2023 ... It is too tall/wide and leaves the driver feeling very cramped. If you "man spread" while driving the console prevents the ability to lay your ...
Buying my first Mazda (2023 CX-9). Looking for the Forum's ...
May 19, 2023 ... Also there are no glaring issues with the 2023 CX-9. The only major problem was the engine cylinder head cracking, but Mazda says that they ...
2021 CX-9 Reliability Issues? : r/MazdaCX9
Nov 17, 2022 ... I just purchased a 2023 CX-9 grand touring. I've owned a few Toyotas, Acura and a Lexus with no issues. I'm not feeling this Mazda will hold up ...
Can't be more disappointed. | Mazda CX-90 Forum
Oct 30, 2023 ... #9 · Oct 31, 2023 ... Mazda would take care of any issue for repair or recalls. ... CX-90s to the dealership and avoid potential problems that are ...
Other years of Mazda Cx-9
Are you having problems with your 2023 Mazda Cx-9?
Garnett Waelchi 2025-11-07
Hey there! I wanted to share my experience with my new 2022 CX-9 grand touring that I bought last month. It's been a month now and I've put about 1,000 miles on it. I'm really taking good care of it, trying all types of gas and keeping the tires perfectly inflated. I'm happy to say that I'm now getting 18MPG combined, up from 14MPG in the first couple of weeks. My mix is 80% highway and 20% city. I was considering a Yukon, but my dad's 2022 AWD gas version was only getting 19mpg, so I decided against it. I'm really happy with my CX-9, even though it has a smaller engine (2.5 T) and less HP. I hope this review helps you in your search. Take care!
Deven Schulist 2025-09-21
Our CX-9 experienced an issue where it burned a quart of oil between oil changes, which unfortunately led to misfiring and violent shaking while driving. Despite there being a service bulletin, the dealer did not acknowledge the problem or offer a solution. As a result, we had to trade it out. It's important to be aware of this issue with Mazda vehicles.
Arnaldo Reynolds 2025-05-08
Car is OK, fun to drive. However, it gets worse gas mileage than expected, around 19 mpg instead of the 26 mpg that Mazda claims. Additionally, I've experienced some issues with the electrical system.
Chaz Dickens 2025-01-04
The car rides beautifully. However, after only 1900 miles, the brakes became soft and would slowly go to the floor when at a light. Despite the dealer replacing the master cylinder, the problem persists. The car has been in the shop for almost two weeks as they work to identify the issue.
Andres Nolan 2024-09-28
The ride is smooth, but unfortunately, the shortness is also very obvious. The mileage is even 20% worse than my 2013 Edge, which has a 3.5L V6 engine. Additionally, there is no easy entry/exit with memory seat, and the remote start won't activate climate control. The lane keeping feature could use some improvement, as it doesn't seem to work as well as it should. Lastly, while the outside of the car is big, the inside is quite small, with a small glove box and storage box.