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2013 Mazda CX-9: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

68 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

55,011 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 44 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 68 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2232.4%
Steering behavior45.9%
Transmission and shifting34.4%
Engine operation34.4%

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.

Engine
17
Service Brakes
16
Suspension
9
Unknown Or Other
9
Air Bags
8
Power Train
5
Structure:Body
4
Seat Belts
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine17
Service Brakes16
Suspension9
Unknown Or Other9
Air Bags8
Power Train5
Structure:Body4
Seat Belts2

Engine: 17; Service Brakes: 16; Suspension: 9; Unknown Or Other: 9; Air Bags: 8; Power Train: 5; Structure:Body: 4; Seat Belts: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
12
25,000 to 49,999
8
50,000 to 74,999
12
75,000 to 99,999
6
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00012
25,000 to 49,9998
50,000 to 74,99912
75,000 to 99,9996
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 24 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.

2013
6
2014
4
2015
5
2016
11
2017
5
2018
7
2019
6
2020
8
2021
7
2022
3
2023
2
2024
1
2025
1
2026
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20136
20144
20155
201611
20175
20187
20196
20208
20217
20223
20232
20241
20251
20262

2013: 6; 2014: 4; 2015: 5; 2016: 11; 2017: 5; 2018: 7; 2019: 6; 2020: 8; 2021: 7; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 2

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10505485 · 2013-04-03 (April 3, 2013)

THE VOICE ACTIVATED NAVIGATION FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AND BECOMES INOPERABLE WHEN STOPPING OR ACCELORATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE VOICE ACTIVATED FEATURE ONLY WORKS WHILE IN ONE LONG CONTINUOUS MOTION WHICH DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF THE HANDS-FREE VOICE ACTIVATED NAVIGATION AND MAKES USING THE SYSTEM DIFFICULT IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS. THIS CONCERN WAS VOICED TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND SALES STAFF WHO COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING THIS WAY AND ADVISED THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIX IT. NO REMEDY WAS AVAILAB…

Owner-reported narrative. 338 miles reported. Look up ODI 10505485 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10534909 · 2013-08-12 (August 12, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE METAL ABOVE THE DRIVERS DOOR CHROME STRIP HAD A SHARP EDGE THAT CUT THE CONTACT BELOW THE LEFT EYE, WHILE HE EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT, AND THE REAR DOORS, AND ALSO FOUND THE DEFECTED CHROME WITH THE SHARP EDGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION THE DEALER ADVISED THAT PLASTIC SHARPNESS WAS INDEED A DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10534909 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10537524 · 2013-08-27 (August 27, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE ENGAGED AND FAILED TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD BEYOND 5 FEET. THE FAILURE RECURRED MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN DRIVING ON A MOUNTAINOUS ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150.

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10537524 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10550171 · 2013-10-30 (October 30, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEACTIVATED WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A PASSENGER OCCUPYING THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING UP TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 600.

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550171 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10552780 · 2013-11-18 (November 18, 2013)

PASSENGER SAS ( AIRBAG,SIDEAIR BAG,SEATBELTPRETENSIONER ) WITHOUT REASON TURNS OFF AND ON. MY WIFE ( 96 LB ) IS NOT A CHILD AS DEFINED BY THEIR LITERATURE ( 66 LB ). MY WIFE IS CONSEQUENTLY RENDERED PROTECTED AND THEN WITHOUT REASON, UNPROTECTED BY THE SAS SYSTEM BUILT INTO THE VEHICLE. MAZDA'S POSITION IS THAT SHE SHOULD SIT IN THE BACK SEAT. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE FOR HER. MAZDA WILL DO NOTHING BUT OFFER ME PLATITUDES, BUT NO SOLUTION TO THIS UNSAFE SITUATION. THIS IS CLEARLY BAD ENGINEERING AND DESIGN, PUTTING MANY PEOPLE IN HARMS WAY. …

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552780 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10552858 · 2013-11-19 (November 19, 2013)

PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW, WENT TO HAVE OIL CHANGE AND THERE WAS OIL UNDERNEATH. THE RIGHT PION SEAL WAS OUT. HAD CAR TOWED AND I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP I FOUND OUT THE TRANSFER CASE IS OUT. PRIOR TO THIS I SMELLED SOMETHING LIKE BURNING OIL, BUT WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY THE UNDERCOATING THAT IS USED TO SHIP THESE CARS OVER THE OCEAN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552858 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10595603 · 2014-06-02 (June 2, 2014)

WHILE DRIVING MY 2013 CX9 I NOTICED THE BRAKES REQUIRED EXTREME FORCE TO ENGAGE AND I HEARD A HISSING SOUND WHEN I ENGAGED MY BRAKES. SINCE I HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 MODEL, I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY REPAIRING THE BRAKES UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10595603 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10599038 · 2014-06-17 (June 17, 2014)

NOTICED A HISSING SOUND ON MY 2013 MAZDA CX-9 UPON BRAKING -ONLY BECAUSE RADIO WAS OFF. BRAKES BEGAN REQUIRING EXTRA FORCE IN ORDER TO STOP. WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND REALIZED VEHICLE SLIGHTLY ROLL FORWARD. PERIODICALLY BRAKES WOULD BECOME TIGHT AND FEEL LIKE CAR HAD TURNED OFF ESPECIALLY UPON PARKING AND BACKING UP. EXPLAINED SYMPTOMS TO SERVICE TECH AT MAZDA AND SCHEDULED TO HAVE VEHICLE LOOKED AT. UPON DRIVING TO DEALERSHIP (DURING MORNING TRAFFIC) I WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES WHICH IN IT'S MOST IMPORTANT MOMENT…

Owner-reported narrative. 13,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10599038 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

15V451000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm

Reported: 2015-07-20 (July 20, 2015)

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2007-2014 CX-9 vehicles manufactured October 24, 2006, to December 28, 2013. The affected vehicles have front suspension ball joints that may corrode from water leaking into the fitting.

Consequence: Over time, the ball joint corrosion may result in the front lower control arm separating from the ball joint, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace both the left and right lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began on September 14, 2015. The recall will begin with model year 2007-2009 vehicles registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The second phase will be for model year 2010-2014 vehicles in the same states. Finally, all remaining vehicles will be remedied. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 8515G.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
16V203000 · Steering

Reported: 2016-04-11 (April 11, 2016)

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014, 2014-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2013, to December 2, 2015, and 2013-2015 CX-9 vehicles manufactured December 6, 2012, to July 31, 2015. The lower mounting nuts and bolts that attach the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle may loosen, allowing the steering knuckle to separate.

Consequence: If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower mounting nuts and bolts that secure the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle. If the bolts are loose, they will be replaced and then correctly tightened, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9316D.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
18V018000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2018-01-09 (January 9, 2018)

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2013 Mazda6 and CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, unless covered in "Zone A," Mazda is recalling certain 2010 Mazda6, CX-7 and CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, unless covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2009 Mazda6, CX-7, and CX-9 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
18V717000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2018-10-12 (October 12, 2018)

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, unless covered in "Zone A," Mazda is recalling certain 2011-2013 Mazda6, 2011-2012 CX-7, and 2011-2015 CX-9 sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Mazda6, 2010-2012 CX-7, and 2010-2015 CX-9 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.

NHTSA campaign record ↗