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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The title says it all! Congratulations on finding and purchasing a CPO 2023 CX-9 Signature. With the exception of 2 recalls with the prior 3, they never went back to the dealership for maintenance issues. I hope you enjoy similar reliability with the new one. Although I'm not a fan of the CX-90, I believe Mazda will correct the drive train issues. If you're interested, grab a CX-9 while you can. ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM from a Porsche 911 owner.
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About to buy my second CX9. Looked at all the new stuff (Pathfinder 23, Pilot 23 and Jeep GC). But the Mazda just makes more sense if you don’t need the third row regularly. It’s not the most powerful, but the interiors are really great and the ride and handling are both terrific. Yeah, the CX90 is attractive but getting spendy. The older CX9 is excellent value.
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I purchased the Sport model during the COVID-19 pandemic when only the Touring and Sport models were available. I absolutely love the cloth seats, as I am not a fan of leather. However, the black color shows dirt and pet hair quite easily, so it may not be the best choice for those with pets or who live on dirt roads. The Sport model handles corners beautifully and has a luxurious feel. Although, I do wish I had opted for the Touring PLUS trim level, which I noticed car magazines kept mentioning as the best value. It includes features such as a heated steering wheel, keyless entry, and memory seats, which would be very convenient for my husband and I. What really sold us on this car, besides its great attributes, is that Mazda offers all of their safety features (except for one) on all of their cars. This spoke volumes to us, as we couldn't find any other car company that offered all the safety features without having to purchase an expensive, high trim level. Additionally, Mazda's reliability ratings were just slightly higher than Toyota's, which is impressive. I value reliability over anything else when it comes to purchasing a vehicle. Overall, Mazda has done an excellent job!
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During the negotiation process, I was able to bring the price down to $33k for the Sports Edition, which included some add-ins that I didn't find useful. Although the gas cap is old-style and requires hitting a switch under the steering wheel to open, I find the car to be spacious and powerful for a 4 cylinder. It also has a nice 3rd row that provides more passenger space than the Equinox, making it a great fit for my twins' baby seats. While the keyless feature is not as easy to use as the Equinox, I was able to stream Sirius/XM to my iPhone at a cheaper price. Currently, I am getting 21 MPG.
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You've got a great SUV there, and it's well-equipped too. I understand that you needed a bigger SUV to haul around your grandkids.
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?
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.
Percy Koch 2024-06-24
I have been a proud owner of a 2022 Signature for 7 months now. Although there are some areas that could be improved, let me start by highlighting the positives. The seating material is impressive, the large screen is a great feature, and the soft touches over the panels add a luxurious feel. The first drive is surprisingly smooth, with a quiet interior and a torque kick that might make you smirk. The shiny black panels add to the overall luxury environment. The Bose system is pretty good, and you'll never forget you have a Bose because their decision to place a reflective trim around the tweeter on the dash will ALWAYS reflect - day and night. The heated steering wheel heats strictly at the 3 and 9 positions, with some warmth spilling over to 2, 4, 8 and 10. That would be acceptable, except that 3 and 9 are taken up by the steering wheel pillars. No previous car I've owned with heated steering warmed up so little of the steering. Although there are some areas that could be improved, I would like to highlight the positives of this car. Thank you for considering my feedback.I've owned two cars before this one that also scuffed up easily, but the CX-9 takes it to a whole new level of delicacy. Although it wasn't in my top 5 when I was shopping, I was impressed after researching it and finding out it was among the most reliable cars out there, not to mention all the features it had to offer. However, I later found out that its reliability has less to do with it not having problems and more to do with service centers not fixing things or attributing problems to 'normal behavior'. Additionally, the features that put it on par with luxury brands are not executed as well as they are in actual luxury brands. They're all thrown in there almost to appear competitive and get you to buy it. After putting some miles and time into it, I've noticed that the CX-9 has more shortcomings than features. In my opinion, it's best to move on to the next car on your list.
Jeremie Windler 2024-02-11
The key design of my Mazda has caused me to be robbed 3 times already, despite having a silicone cover on it to prevent accidental button pushing. It unlocks my doors multiple times a day and the lift gate about 2-3 times a day. Even when parked in a garage, it opens the lift gate by itself and damages it against the concrete walls. This has resulted in me losing over $1500 worth of equipment. Unfortunately, Mazda has not provided any alternatives for these terrible key fobs. Due to this issue, I have decided to sell my Mazda after months of frustration. In fact, I have been robbed 2 more times since my initial post. I have given up on using this car and will never purchase a Mazda again.
Albert Bernier 2024-01-28
It's great to hear that you enjoy driving it! It's definitely one of the more affordable options out there that can compete with German cars. However, some owners have reported engine issues around 80-100K miles (you can easily find more information online). Unfortunately, this is a known issue and Mazda hasn't taken any action to address it. If you don't have warranty coverage, you may be looking at a costly engine replacement of around 8K. Additionally, some owners have reported issues with the infotainment system. Despite these issues, I've always been a fan of the Mazda brand and have owned many Mazdas myself.