2016 Mazda CX-9: problems, recalls and reliability
0 recalls and 103 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (56% of complaints); the 2014 and 2015 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly
0
recalls
103
owner complaints
1
fire reports
40,500
typical failure mileage, mi
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
No recall campaignsWeak spot: engine (56%)1 fire report
Common problems
Computed from 103 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
Engine (engine mechanics)56% · 55 complaints
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)9% · 9 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)6% · 6 complaints
Service Brakes (brakes)6% · 6 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System (fuel pump, tank, lines)5% · 5 complaints
Structure (body, frame, doors, rust)3% · 3 complaints
“I own a 2016 Mazda CX9 Touring FWD (180k miles). Today my car was diagnosed with cracked cylinder head, resulting in coolant and oil leak from the head gasket. While there is a class action settlement about it where Mazda accepted the manufacturing defect, they do not cover the engine repair/cylinder head replacement because my car's mile is over 120k. If it is a manufacturing defect, why year/mile make a difference on the responsibility of the manufacturer? Mazda obviously sold defect vehicles to their customers, and driving these vehicles under this condition is very dangerous! Now, they are expecting me to pay more than $10,000 for a vehicle priced around $6,000!”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2025
“Cylinder head crack. Combustion gasses leaking into coolant causing overheat. Combustion gasses bleeding into oil causing excessive crankcase pressure.”Owner report · Engine · Oct 2025
“Vehicle failed to turn off the engine while in park and I was unable to lock vehicle while engine was still running. The ignition button failed to work.”Owner report · Electrical System · Oct 2024
Show 7 more owner reports
“Sudden and dramatic loss of engine coolant. Received a warning that engine was overheating, and to shut off engine. Quickly obeyed the prompt and found that most of the engine coolant had been lost due to a catastrophic failure of either the head gasket or head itself.”Owner report · Engine · Oct 2024
“Head gasket leaking and caused major engine issue at 89,000 miles. Mazda has known of this issue, but refuses to recall it.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2024
“The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started shuddering and overheating. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the failure was related to a cracked head gasket. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure with the Technical Service Bulletin: 01-03/21; however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jun 2024
“Smart City Break Malfunction warning light appears while driving. Simultaneously the tire pressure warning appears. Also, at the same time, the temperature reads -20 to -40 degrees. Yes, vehicle is available for inspection. Fearful that car could randomly break while driving putting myself and family in danger since there is a malfunction. Mazda service center says the problem can't be reproduced so there's nothing they can do. The problem seems to appear when the outside temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2024
“Vehicle had a horrible coolant leak at the rear of the engine to find out the engine has a weak cylinder head and is known to break and leak coolant. The vehicle will need a new cylinder head or engine replacement.”Owner report · Engine · May 2024
“Vehicle "surges" at idle. 300-500 RPMS at a time. Sometimes the brakes hold and sometimes not. Have nearly been in 3 collisions the last 2 days because of this issue. The ECM codes indicate throttle body or TPS issue, both of which have been unfounded. Vehicle has 63,000 miles. Researching this topic online found that many others have had this issue with no associated safety recalls noted. I am hoping to bring light to this so someone doesn't have to be injured or killed to have this rectified.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Mar 2024
“The car started to overheat so we added coolant and then the car started to stall had our mechanic look at it and he said the head gasket needs to be replaced. How is this not a recall”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2023
When filing, owners marked a crash in 3 of these complaints and injuries in 3 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2016 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
Engines2.5L
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 decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Mazda CX-9 reliable?
NHTSA has 103 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record for the 2016 Mazda CX-9. The most complained-about area is engine (56% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2016 Mazda CX-9 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 40,500 miles or less.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.