Does the Mazda CX-9 Have Known Problems?

The Mazda CX-9 is getting close to its retirement. Its substitute, the CX-90, will arrive on the market in 2023 with promises of heightened luxury and technology, even under the hood. Now, should you wait for it or buy a CX-9?

We’ve already answered that question in a previous article, but let’s dwell on the following: does the CX-9 have known problems you should worry about? We’re not talking about little flaws or weaknesses like its lack of space or its towing capacity that’s lower than the competition’s … we mean real issues—mechanical or other—that CX-9 owners have been faced with.

First of all, you must know that Mazda’s three-row SUV is among the most reliable models in the industry. This was said by the American magazine Consumer Reports, after many tests and surveys with hundreds of consumers. The current generation has been around since model year 2016 and has not shown any major issue up until now.

In addition, while a third of all midsize SUVs have failed the new side collision tests created in the United States by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the CX-9 was among those with a “good” global score and a “Top Safety Pick+” mention.

Now, let’s talk about Mazda's well-known Soul Red crystal metallic paint, which has become their trademark. On various discussion forums, owners with regrets are not rare. Broadly, the paint in question is so thin that it doesn’t absorb sunlight well enough and flakes off easily. In addition, the Soul Red paint’s complex composition makes touch-ups difficult.

Note that this problem seems to impact mainly 2017-2018 models, and consumer complaints have significantly decreased since 2019. Still, if you choose that colour, consider having a protective film installed on a good portion of the vehicle’s front end. And expect a visit to a specialist for touch-ups after a few years.

According to the site Car Complaints, one of the CX-9's main flaws is linked to the braking system in the first-generation models, especially the years 2008 to 2012. The brake booster can fail after 100,000 km, which will greatly increase the vehicle’s braking distance.

A good amount of older CX-9 owners have also seen their engine fail around 160,000 km. This is a rare occurrence, but a very expensive one too, because a complete engine replacement is often necessary.

Finally, we can’t ignore the water pump issue that, again, involves first-generation CX-9s with approximately 160,000 km of mileage. It can cause cooling fluid leaks, damage to the engine, and even engine failure.

In a nutshell, it’s better to avoid 2008-2012 Mazda CX-9s with high mileage. But you can buy the other models with confidence … after a mechanical inspection of course!