IllustrationWHILE PULLING A SMALL TRAILER THE CAR STOPPED UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THE TRANSFER CASE SHATTERED INTO PIECES
2009 Mazda CX-9
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2009 Mazda CX-9 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 61.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all CX-9 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
825–50K
850–75K
375–100K
16100–150K
2150K+
39 reports with mileage · 20 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Power Train complaints
6 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE ROAD SHOULDER TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE ROAD SHOULDER TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
CAR DANGEROUSLY SHUDDERS AND HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING & AT CERTAIN HIGHWAY SPEEDS INCREASINGLY FOR LAST TWO YEARS DUE TO FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER DESIGN PER TWO TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSTICS DONE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO THE RANDOM NATURE OF THE SHUDDER AND HIGH COST TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION IS PROHIBITIVE FOR MANY PEOPLE DRI…
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CAR DANGEROUSLY SHUDDERS AND HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING & AT CERTAIN HIGHWAY SPEEDS INCREASINGLY FOR LAST TWO YEARS DUE TO FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER DESIGN PER TWO TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSTICS DONE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO THE RANDOM NATURE OF THE SHUDDER AND HIGH COST TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION IS PROHIBITIVE FOR MANY PEOPLE DRIVING CX9S AT RISK
THERE WAS FIRST A WHINING SOUND FROM THE TRANSMISSION ESPECIALLY DURING COASTING. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE MAKING A METALLIC CLUNKING SOUND. DEALER SAYS IT IS A BAD TRANSFER CASE (PTU) WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY SSP92. OTHERWISE THIS REPAIR WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY MAZDA. REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $1315.
I HAVE MAINTAINED MY 2009 MAZDA CX9 TO DATE AND ONLY HAVE 48,000 MILES. I STARTED HEARING A WEIRD NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEEL (HUMMING) IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE . NOW MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL IS GOING. THIS HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT DUE TO THE LOW MILEAGE AND THE UPKEEP OF THIS VEHICLE. ASSISTANCE WIT…
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I HAVE MAINTAINED MY 2009 MAZDA CX9 TO DATE AND ONLY HAVE 48,000 MILES. I STARTED HEARING A WEIRD NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEEL (HUMMING) IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE . NOW MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL IS GOING. THIS HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT DUE TO THE LOW MILEAGE AND THE UPKEEP OF THIS VEHICLE. ASSISTANCE WITH THIS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. IN ADDITION, I'VE LOOKED ONLINE AND SEE THAT OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE.
WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I NOTED WITH THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE FRONT, WHEELS WHERE SQUEALING AND SKIRTING AS YOU TURN THE CORNER AT LOW SPEED, THEY SEEM TO WEAR QUICKLY AS WELL SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE (2012) AND HAVE HAD THEM REPLACED TWICE AND REALIGNED, ALSO THE FOLLOWING YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, WHEN IT SNOWED FREQUENT…
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WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I NOTED WITH THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE FRONT, WHEELS WHERE SQUEALING AND SKIRTING AS YOU TURN THE CORNER AT LOW SPEED, THEY SEEM TO WEAR QUICKLY AS WELL SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE (2012) AND HAVE HAD THEM REPLACED TWICE AND REALIGNED, ALSO THE FOLLOWING YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, WHEN IT SNOWED FREQUENTLY, THE ABS LIGHT STAYED ON CONSTANTLY AND SEEMED TO FEEL REALLY GRITTY WHILE PUMPING THE BREAKS IN THE SNOW, CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO BREAK EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS, THERE IS A RATTLING EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THAT BECAME ASSOCIATED AFTER THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, WHICH IS ON TO THIS DAY ALONG WITH THE TCS LIGHT, THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSED A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IN 2014 AS IT BEGAN TO WHINE AND EVENTUALLY LOCKED UP ON ME AS I DROVE TO WORK, THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS THINKING THAT IT WAS ALSO A PROBLEM BUT WHEN I TOWED IT BACK TO THEM HE CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE, HE REPAIRED IT THIS YEAR BUT MAZDA SAYS ITS LEAKING AGAIN AND IT SMELLS LIKE OIL. MY CAR ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 80K MILES AND I'VE RESEARCHED COMPLAINTS ON THE TRANSFER CASE AND MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP. THESE THREE ISSUES MAY BE RELATED TO EACH OTHER IF SOMEONE REALLY TOOK THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE. NO WAY A CAR SHOULD HAVE CONCERNS LIKE THIS CONSISTENTLY UNDER 80K MILES. I WORK ONLY 18 MINUTES FROM MY JOB AND DO NOT TRAVEL THAT MUCH TO WEAR THIS VEHICLE.
Official recalls
619V782000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Oct 31, 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
18V018000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 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 & remedy
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.
17V457000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jul 18, 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
17V429000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jun 29, 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
15V451000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Jul 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 & remedy
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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
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.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
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.
09V066000 · Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash
Feb 23, 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVERS WILL EXPERIENCE CERTAIN FUNCTIONS THAT ARE UNCONTROLLABLE WHICH WILL CAUSE SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES IN DRIVING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE15022 · Lower Ball Joint Separation
Opened Jun 9, 2015 · Closed Aug 20, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
In an July 7,2015 letter to NHTSA, Mazda identified a safety defect that could result in lower ball joint separation in approximately 193,484 model year (MY) 2007 through 2014 Mazda CX-9 vehicles (NHTSA Recall No. 15V-451,Mazda 8515G).Mazda indicated that damage to the ball joint boot may allow water to enter the front suspension ball joint fitting during use which may result in premature ball joint wear and a progressively looser joint.In January 2014, Mazda implemented redesigned lower control arms in production vehicles to improve the durability of the lower ball joints.The redesign involved changing the shape of the top surface of the ball joint boot cover and adding a suspension plate to the undersurface of the knuckle.Mazda's recall will replace the defect lower control arms with the redesigned parts.ODI's analysis of information collected during PE15-022 identified a total of 62 ball joint separation incidents, including 34 identified in ODI complaints and 31 identified in Mazda complaints and field reports (3 of the Mazda records involve vehicles/incidents that were also reported to ODI).When Mazda's design change was implemented, most of the field experience related to lower ball joints involved complaints of noise and premature wear-out.Only 1 of the ODI and 6 of the additional Mazda separation complaints identified in ODI's analysis were reported prior to January 2014.Significant increases in the number and trend in separation complaints were observed in 2015, when 30 of the ODI complaints and 16 of the additional Mazda complaints were reported.The report trend appears to be accelerating, with 29 of the reports received after ODI opened PE15-022 on June 9, 2015.There has been one crash reported to ODI related to the alleged defect (VOQ 10746510). This investigation is closed based on Mazda's recall.The 34 VOQs associated with this investigation are: 10747358, 10746510, 10744897, 10743509, 10736229, 10735938, 10734763, 10734302, 10734290, 10733813, 10732578, 10732217, 10732154, 10731850, 10730736, 10730280, 10730143, 10730114, 10726622, 10726480 10726448, 10726168, 10725839, 10725567, 10725488, 10725427, 10725390, 10717510, 10714469, 10695142, 10668978, 10648429, 10640541, 10546535