Carlexica

2008 Mazda CX-9: problems, recalls and reliability

6 recalls and 172 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is suspension (25% of complaints); the 2007 and 2009 model years look more trouble-free.

Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2019

6
recalls
172
owner complaints
0
fire reports
104,000
typical failure mileage, mi

All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.

No fire reportsProblems tend to appear late (median 104,000 mi)Weak spot: suspension (25%)

Common problems

Computed from 172 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

Suspension (shocks, springs, ride quality)25% · 42 complaints
Air Bags (airbags and crash sensors)16% · 26 complaints
Service Brakes (brakes)13% · 22 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)13% · 22 complaints
Steering (steering wheel, rack, power assist)7% · 11 complaints
Wheels (wheels, lug nuts, bearings)5% · 8 complaints
Knock or hard shift in park as well as in reverse keeps burning oil had everything flushed replaced all fluids valve cover gaskets spark plugs etcOwner report · Suspension · Mar 2021
Lost control brakes failing and steering and wheel lc about to fall off dealerships saying recall was completed but it's definitely notOwner report · Steering · Mar 2021
My control arms bearings and joints are rusted and the dealership says they aren't covered they were fixed 5 years ago and they are definitely separated and hazardousOwner report · Suspension · Mar 2021
Show 7 more owner reports
Sometimes the blind signal works sometimes it doesn't sometimes it blinks on the screen and when switching lanes, brakes keeps going out ball joint keeps popping hard shift or knock in reverse and when placed in park had repair done several times. Dvd wires keeps going out/shortage m. Sometimes seat belt blinker work and sometimes it doesn'tOwner report · Service Brakes · Feb 2021
Known issue of transfer case mechanical failure in all cx-9 models from 2007-2015. Transfer case is too close to exhaust causing the oil to dry up. Transfer case explodes causing the vehicle to lock up while driving. Known issue that has cause many accidents.Owner report · Power Train · Sep 2020
I was driving and all of a sudden I lost the pressure on my brake and my car wont stop. I had to depressed the brake so hard. Then I started hearing a hissing noise while stepping on the brake.Owner report · Service Brakes · Sep 2020
I noticed in the last almost year a strange vibration in the suv when I turn, as time went on it got louder. I had couple other parts replaced throughout this time thinking that was the issue. I than find out recently it was the read repeller shaft and another part which connects to the engine also part of the drive shaft. Noise occurs with driving I noticed after searching it is common with this suvOwner report · Power Train · Aug 2020
Car make weird vibration noise in the back end . Went to different mechanics and it's a transfer case and driveshaft issue. . Looks the problem is in design. Mazda recalled the transfer case from 2010 model and later but not before. Since the same part is used in earlier models requesting recall on earlier models too. I went to 4 different transmission shops and everyone told me that each and every mazda cx-9 comes to them has same issue. Called dealership and they said the extended warranty is after 2010. They have same parts and I or other owners can't afford the repair and it's a manufacturing fault. Looking forward to get help from NHTSAOwner report · Power Train · Jul 2019
Tire sensor failure has twice now caused blow out of tires while driving, luckily no injury since going at low speed in neighborhood. Also keep having issues with loosing tire pressure. Now I see this is a known problem with this vehicle make model and yearOwner report · Wheels · May 2019
The airbags warning light just came on a couple days for my car and I took it the mazda dealer to diagnose and they said the passenger airbags and the sas module need to be replaced but warranty safety is only up to 60000 miles. My car has 76998 miles. But this is a safety issue and mazda has lots problem with airbags recalls.Owner report · Unknown Or Other · May 2019

When filing, owners marked a crash in 10 of these complaints and injuries in 5 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.

Recalls - 6 campaigns

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE19V782000 · Oct 2019

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2007-2012 CX-7, CX-9, and 2009-2012 Maza6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V356 and 17V012.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE17V429000 · Jun 2017

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2011 Mazda6, and 2007-2011 CX-7 and CX-9 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on August 30, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F. Note: This recall supersedes recall 16V356 and all vehicles that were not remedied under that campaign are now covered by this one.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE17V457000 · Jul 2017

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2012 CX-7, CX-9 and Mazda6 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 included in "Zone A" above, Mazda is recalling certain 2009 CX-7, CX-9 and Mazda6 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 included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Mazda is recalling certain 2007-2008 CX-7 and CX-9 sold, or 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. 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 rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F. Note: This recall supersedes recall 17V-012.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM15V451000 · Jul 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.

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH09V066000 · Feb 2009

MAZDA IS RECALLING 30,600 MY 2007-2009 CX9 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER ADJUSTABLE SEAT WITH POSITION MEMORY FUNCTION. THE SEAT HARNESS ROUTED UNDERNEATH THE SEAT CUSHION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE FRONT COVER BRACKET WHICH IS ATTACHED ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE SEAT CUSHION. DUE TO THIS THE COVERING OF THE SEAT HARNESS MAY BE DAMAGED, THE CORE WIRE OF THE HARNESS MAY TOUCH WITH THE BRACKET AND RESULT IN SHORT CIRCUIT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT HARNESS AND FASTEN THE SEAT FRAME WITH A CABLE TIE. THE HARNESS COVERING WILL BE REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 16, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

EQUIPMENT09E011000 · Apr 2009

THULE, INC. IS RECALLING 2,323 OWNER-INSTALLED ROOF-MOUNTED FIT KITS, MODELS 3068 AND 3069, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2009 THAT ARE USED WITH THULE PODIUM FOOT PACKS, MODELS 460 AND 460R. THESE FIT KITS WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BOLT(S) USED TO SECURE THE FOOT TO THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED TO A HARDNESS THAT MAY CAUSE THE BOLT(S) TO BE BRITTLE AND POTENTIALLY BREAK UNDER STRESS.

Remedy: THULE WILL MAIL A RETRO FIT KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS TO OWNERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 13, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THULE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-238-2388.

Trouble codes owners mention

OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.

Specifications

Factory options offered for the 2008 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.

FuelGasoline
Drive type4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 · 4x2
Body stylesSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]

How other years compare

Check your exact CX-9 by VIN

Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.

Open VIN decoder

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Mazda CX-9 reliable?

NHTSA has 172 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2008 Mazda CX-9. The most complained-about area is suspension (25% of complaints).

At what mileage do 2008 Mazda CX-9 problems usually appear?

Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 104,000 miles or less.

Does the 2008 Mazda CX-9 have open recalls?

6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.