2018 Mazda CX-9: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
126 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
26,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 74 of 126 complaints (58.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 10.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 4.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 74 |
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Power Train | 13 |
| Service Brakes | 11 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
Engine: 74; Unknown Or Other: 19; Electrical System: 15; Power Train: 13; Service Brakes: 11; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 3; Steering: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 111 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 21 |
| 2023 | 39 |
| 2024 | 30 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 10 |
2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 5; 2020: 3; 2021: 5; 2022: 21; 2023: 39; 2024: 30; 2025: 10; 2026: 10
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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 11053492 · 2017-12-08 (December 8, 2017)
I PURCHASED A NEW MAZDA CX-9 IN SEPT 2017 BECAUSE IT HAD THE HIGHLY TOUTED SMART CITY BRAKING SYSTEM FOR WHICH I PAID THOUSANDS EXTRA. I HAD HAD A PREVIOUS REAR END COLLISION AND WANTED TO BE SURE THIS SYSTEM WOULD AT LEAST WARN ME. I SET UP SOME CARDBOARD BOXES WRAPPED IN ALUMINUM FOIL. I SLOWLY (10 MPH) DROVE THE CAR INTO THEM WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN OR WARN ME.(I TRIED SENDING A VIDEO TO YOU FROM MY IPHONE WHICH MAY NOT GO THROUGH) I MADE AN APPOINT TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUS FACTORY DEFECT AND SIGN…
Owner-reported narrative. 946 miles reported. Look up ODI 11053492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11111474 · 2018-07-15 (July 15, 2018)
ON FRIDAY (JUNE 29TH, 2018) AROUND 9:29 PM, MY CAR BROKE DOWN WHILE MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING FROM ROCHESTER NY TO BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND MY CAR JUST STARTED TO SLOW DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER IN TIME AND CALLED MAZDA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE BECAUSE AFTER THE CAR STOPPED, IT WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON. SINCE WE WERE ON A RESTRICTED HIGHWAY, MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND WE WERE TAKEN TO A SAFER LOCATION. WHEN THE CAR WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,816 miles reported. Look up ODI 11111474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11142801 · 2018-10-26 (October 26, 2018)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CAR TO AN ABRUPT STOP AND I HAD NO CONTROL. THE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH ALL TYPES OF WARNINGS AND HEAT WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,352 miles reported. Look up ODI 11142801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11192600 · 2019-03-30 (March 30, 2019)
THIS VEHICLE IS HAS BEEN ON LEASE FOR 1 YEAR AND HAS LESS THAN 4000 MILES ON IT. INITIALLY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THAT HAD BEEN PARKED OVERNIGHT IT GAVE THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS: - KEYLESS ENTRY MALFUNCTION - CHARGING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION - VEHICLE OVERHEATING - BATTERY MALFUNCTION THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL I HELD THE START/STOP BUTTON IN FOR ROUGHLY 20SECS. THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER TOOK THE CAR AND TOLD US THE BATTERY HAD A LOW CHARGE, CHARGED IT AND RETURNED IT. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11192600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11207796 · 2019-05-15 (May 15, 2019)
CPSC: THE MANUFACTURER SELLS A SMART CAR SEAT. *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE CYBEX SIRONSAFE 2.0 CAR SEATS PLUG INTO THE VEHICLES OBD PORTS. THE CAR SEATS BOTH INDIVIDUALLY DRAINED THE BATTERY OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11207796 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11232824 · 2019-07-17 (July 17, 2019)
I WAS WAITING IN A STATIONARY POSITION, AT A RED LIGHT, BEHIND SOME OTHER VEHICLES, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LURCH FORWARD AS IF SOMEONE HAD STEPPED HARD ON THE GAS PEDAL! I WAS STRUGGLING TO KEEP THE CAR STILL BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER, BUT IT WOULDN'T STOP THE CAR. I HAD TO PUT IT IN PARK AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE TO STOP THE FORWARD THRUST OF THE VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11232824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11233692 · 2019-07-21 (July 21, 2019)
CAR SHOWED IGNITION ON WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. SAME DAY WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CAR ENGINE REVVED FOR NO REASON. ALSO WHEN SOMEONE GOT OUT OF PARKED CAR IT SAID NO KEY DETECTED BUT CAR WAS STILL TURNED ON AND KEY WAS RIGHT BESIDE ME.
Owner-reported narrative. 18,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11233692 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11243501 · 2019-08-13 (August 13, 2019)
TAKATA RECALL - WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH 3 OTHER CARS INVOLVED, ALL CARS WERE TOTALED AND ALL OF THE OTHER CARS' AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MINE AND I WAS INJURED AS A RESULT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11243501 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V403000 · Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 2019-05-30 (May 30, 2019)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 CX-9 vehicles. The wiring harness may disrupt electrical communications and disable the passenger frontal air bag, turn signals, and/or engine starting system.
Consequence: The passenger frontal air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury. Inoperable turn signals prevent the driver from signaling to other drivers, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3419E.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V875000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2021-11-12 (November 12, 2021)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.
NHTSA campaign record ↗