2008 Mazda CX-9 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
172 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
101,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 127 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 54 of 172 complaints (31.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 39 | 22.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 11.6% |
| Steering behavior | 17 | 9.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 54 |
| Air Bags | 27 |
| Power Train | 25 |
| Service Brakes | 23 |
| Steering | 18 |
| Wheels | 16 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
Suspension: 54; Air Bags: 27; Power Train: 25; Service Brakes: 23; Steering: 18; Wheels: 16; Electrical System: 13; Unknown Or Other: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 50 |
| 150,000 and above | 14 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 50; 150,000 and above: 14
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (50). 45 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 39 |
| 2016 | 27 |
| 2017 | 25 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2008: 3; 2009: 3; 2010: 7; 2011: 4; 2012: 8; 2013: 6; 2014: 9; 2015: 39; 2016: 27; 2017: 25; 2018: 11; 2019: 13; 2020: 6; 2021: 5; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 20 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10314043 · 2010-02-25 (February 25, 2010)
THE ELECTRONIC SEAT POSITIONING CONTROL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT KEEPS ADJUSTING ON IT'S OWN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IT JUST STARTED TODAY AND SEEMED TO DO IT AT ANY SPEED, TOO INCLUDE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. I ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME ACTION AFTER I HAD PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10314043 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10395204 · 2011-04-07 (April 7, 2011)
2008 CX-9 MAZDA WITH 25,644 MILES APPEARS TO HAVE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS RECALLED TOYOTAS IN THAT THE DRIVER'S CX-9 ORIGINAL RUBBER FLOOR MAT MOVES UP TOWARDS FRONT OF VEHICLE WITH USE & LODGES UNDER THE PLASTIC PANEL ON THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF THE FOOT WELL, (PHOTOGRAPHS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST). WHEN THE FLOOR MAT LODGES UNDER PLASTIC PANEL IN THIS MANNER, IT CAUSES BOTH THE TCS INDICATOR LIGHT AND THE TCS OFF LIGHT TO PERMANENTLY ILLUMINATE. TCS / BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM CEASES TO FUNCTION & CANNOT BE OVERRIDDEN WITH TCS ON/OFF BUTTON. VEHICLE I…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10395204 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454468 · 2012-04-08 (April 8, 2012)
THERE HAVE BEEN A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS ON THE VEHICLE (TWO SETS OF BRAKES, TIEROD, ELECTRICAL OVERHAUL VACUUM HOSES...) THE MAJOR ISSUE HAS BEEN OIL LEAKING. THIS PAST SUMMER (2011) THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. THE DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE DIAGNOSING THAT IT WAS THE REAR MAIN SEAL. THE SEAL WAS REPLACED (CAR WAS AT DEALER FOR NEARLY TWO WEEKS.) THIS FALL (2011) OIL WAS STILL LEAKING. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS THE DEALER CONTACTED MAZDA CORPORATE AND THEY SUGGESTED REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION, CLAIMING IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON. THE DEALER …
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454468 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10567965 · 2014-03-08 (March 8, 2014)
MY WIFE PULLED THE VEHICLE SHIFTING GEAR IN REVERSE WITH HER PURSE WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE BRAKES PEDAL. AFTER THE FACT, I DOUBLE AND TRIPLE CHECKED IT, AND THIS VEHICLE CAN SHIFT GEAR WITHOUT ENGAGING THE BRAKES PEDAL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 122,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10314124 · 2010-02-25 (February 25, 2010)
2007, 2008 & 2009 MAZDA CX9 HAS STEERING PROBLEMS. WHEN YOU DON'T HOLD IT TIGHTLY, THE CAR WILL VEER TO THE LEFT 80% OF THE TIME AND 20% TO THE RIGHT. THE CAR WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT AT ANY SPEEDS AND ON EVEN PAVEMENTS SUCH AS A CAR PARK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10314124 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10315808 · 2010-03-02 (March 2, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX9. AFTER DRIVING 200 MILES THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CONTACT STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 22 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED TO THE LEFT 80% OF THE TIME WITHOUT HIM TOUCHING IT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND AFTER INSPECTING IN, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR IT. THE CONTACT DROVE A 2009 MODEL AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD THE IDENTICAL STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER H…
Owner-reported narrative. 70 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10583695 · 2014-04-19 (April 19, 2014)
2008 MAZDA CX9 SMART KEY, AFTER REPROGRAMMING ($350) NEW FOBS ($100 EACH) AND NUMEROUS BATTERY REPLACING THE SMART KEY STILL WILL NOT FUNCTION AS PROMISED, WIRELESSLY UNLOCKING, LOCKING AND STARTING THE VEHICLE. HERE IS ONLY ONE KEY HOLE ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH CASES HE OWNER/ DRIVER/ USER TO CONSTANTLY WALK AROUND THE VEHICLE TO LOCK/ UNLOCK AND/OR START THE CAR. IT ALSO GREATLY INCREASES THE RISK OF LOOSING THE ONLY HARD COPY OF THE KEY COSTING ANOTHER $350 IN PROGRAMMING AND CUTTING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10583695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10452771 · 2012-03-23 (March 23, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE REMOTE KEY WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452771 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10653804 · 2014-11-10 (November 10, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX9. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 142,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10653804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11140819 · 2018-10-17 (October 17, 2018)
LETTER TO MAZDA OF AMERICA ENGINEERING 10/2/2018 SUBJECT: SHARED DESIGN FLAW OF 2008 CX-9 AND 2008 FORD EDGE STAMPED STEEL FUEL TANK (FORD HAS RECALLED THIS TANK) MAZDA ENGINEERING, I HAVE LOOKED AT TWO DESIGNS TO SECURE TANKS. 1) TANK IS BOLTED AND ONE WHERE THE TANK IS BOLTED DIRECTLY TO A FRAME THROUGH THE SEALING FLANGE. (CURRENT CASE WITH CX-9 AND FORD EDGE -2008) 2) TANK IS SECURED USING TRADITIONAL TANK STRAPS THE FORD EDGE TANK (THE SAME AS CX-9) WAS RECALLED IN CASE 1 BECAUSE THE BOLTED FLANGE IS PART OF THE TANK. AFTER REPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11140819 at NHTSA ↗