MODELYEARINDEX

Which Mazda CX-9 years to avoid

Across 11 scored model years, the 2012, 2011 and 2010 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Mazda CX-9 Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2012 vs model median 2.4×
Model median3× median
Brakes 76
Engine 9
Drivetrain 6
Avoid

2011 · 2012

Best

2015 · 2017

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
1.40× 66 D
2011
1.45× 62 D
2012
2.44× 121 F
2013
0.82× 36 C
2014
0.46× 24 B
2015
0.31× 17 B
2016
1.11× 42 B
2017
0.16× 11 A
2018
1.01× 42 C
2019
0.62× 38 B
2021
1.00× 40 B
2022 P
0.26× 13 A
2023 P
0.60× 17 A

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2011 D 62 reports · median 50,060 mi

  1. Brakes 39

    I had my cx-9 gt driving on the road. This happened while I drove on street and stepped on brake the pedal to stop for a red light. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Drivetrain 7

    The contact owns a 2011 mazda cx-9. The contact stated that there were fuel fumes inside the cabin of the vehicle. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Airbags & Restraints 6

    Attempted to latch the driver seatbelt, but the latch would not receive the belt. After several attempts to latch the belt by inserting it into the latch mechanism, I was able to latch the belt by first pushing down the… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

6 crash · 5 fire · 2 injuries

2012 F 121 reports · median 39,500 mi

  1. Brakes 76

    Our 2012 mazda CX9 sport FWD lost all brake boost on several occasions. My wife complained the vehicle would not stop when backing. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 9

    The contact owns a 2012 mazda cx-9. The contact stated that the vehicle would consume excessive oil without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was unable to be replicated. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Drivetrain 6

    As I was driving home, the vehicle began to slow down and soon came to a complete stop, even as I continued to press the accelerator pedal, all as the engine continued to run. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

8 crash

The best year for the CX-9

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2017 is the best-scoring CX-9 model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 96 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2017 0.16× 11 A
2015 0.31× 17 B
2019 0.62× 38 B

Recalls

12 campaigns on record, 5 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
17V429000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010, 2011 205,377
15V451000 SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT 2010–2014 193,484
18V717000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2015 155,436
21V875000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2018, 2019 121,038
17V457000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2012 79,402
18V018000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010, 2013 70,227
19V782000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2012 69,879
10V051000 SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER 2010 12,300
21V750000 SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY 2021 8,648
19V403000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING 2018 7,854
16V203000 STEERING 2013–2015 578
19V770000 TIRES:TREAD/BELT 2019 146

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2012 were reported at a median of 39,500 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Mazda CX-9 years should you avoid?
2012, 2011, 2010 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Mazda CX-9 model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Mazda CX-9?
2017 is the best-scoring Mazda CX-9 model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 96 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Mazda CX-9 have?
12 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Mazda CX-9 model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2012 CX-9
Complaints in window
121
Severity-weighted
167.5
Model median (weighted)
69
vs model median
2.44×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
10
Open investigations
0
Score 23.9 F