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2021 Mazda CX-9

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2021 Mazda CX-9 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 61.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Limited mileage data: 4 of 39 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Engine. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Forward Collision Avoidance. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

39 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2023
Wheels

I was driving approximately 75-80 mph (speed limit for I-90 is 80 mph) on I-90 Eastbound in South Dakota (approximately 5-8 miles from Sioux Falls, SD) in the left-hand lane (passing lane with a minimal shoulder) when I heard a terrible noise that sounded like I had a flat tire and the car began to pull to the left. I immediate…

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I was driving approximately 75-80 mph (speed limit for I-90 is 80 mph) on I-90 Eastbound in South Dakota (approximately 5-8 miles from Sioux Falls, SD) in the left-hand lane (passing lane with a minimal shoulder) when I heard a terrible noise that sounded like I had a flat tire and the car began to pull to the left. I immediately slowed down and steered the vehicle onto the small shoulder on the left-hand side of the interstate. It was at this point I looked out my window (driver's window) and saw the entire left front wheel (not just the rubber tire) rolling by (west in the grassy median of I-90). The vehicle did not roll over, hit another vehicle, or get hit by another vehicle. After coming to a safe stop, I got out of the vehicle and saw that the left front (driver's side) wheel (not just the rubber tire) was gone. There were two (2) other passengers in the vehicle at the time that the wheel fell off who exited the vehicle out of danger of passing cars/trucks/semi tractor trailers on I-90. The vehicle was towed and to my knowledge has not been inspected by the manufacturer. The Hertz rental vehicle was only "inspected" by PurCo claims specialist via pictures as they did not have the vehicle in their possession. There were no warning messages, lamps, lights, or other symptoms prior to the wheel falling off. The wheel fell off on 7/8/2023 on Interstate 90 in South Dakota. After the wheel fell off, it rolled down the median of I-90 bounced up onto the westbound lane of I-90 and struck another vehicle causing that vehicle's airbags to deploy. There were four (4) occupants in that vehicle.

NHTSA ODI #11542823

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2023
Electrical System

The oil light keeps coming on before your initial oil change. Also, the oil is actually low. They have already changed it and I'm having the same problem in less than 2 months.

NHTSA ODI #11537195

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2023
Air BagsCrash

2021 Mazda CX-9 Frontal collision at a speed between 10-20 mph. Car shut down after collision and was not drivable. Concern is the driver side airbag did not deploy. (Neither did passenger but there was no person in the passenger seat)

NHTSA ODI #11523765

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2023
Engine

Oil light came on, vehicle has ~15,000 miles.

NHTSA ODI #11523489

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2023
Engine

the vehicles experience excessive oil consumption because the defective valve stem seals allow engine oil to leak into the combustion chambers. This concern usually occurs when the mileage reaches approximately 2,000 – 3,000 miles (5,000 - 7,500km) and may also occur again after replacing or topping off the engine oil.

NHTSA ODI #11517004

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2023
Engine

2021 Mazda CX-9 Low Oil Light came on at around 18,900 miles (2/10/2023 and 2/11/2023). Took to Mazda, and they said there was defective valve stem seals that can allow oil to leak into the engine’s combustion chamber. Vehicle is currently with Mazda service department to be fixed.

NHTSA ODI #11506904

49,000 miles · Feb 6, 2023
Engine

The contact owns a 2021 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH or exceeding 60 MPH, the vehicle would lose motive power and stall without warning. The contact stated that he would coast to the side of the road and the vehicle would restart after 2-3 attempts and regain normal functionality. The vehicle had n…

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The contact owns a 2021 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH or exceeding 60 MPH, the vehicle would lose motive power and stall without warning. The contact stated that he would coast to the side of the road and the vehicle would restart after 2-3 attempts and regain normal functionality. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000.

NHTSA ODI #11505764

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2022
Service BrakesCrash

The driver side airbag did not deploy in a front end collision on the drivers side. When approaching a vehicle that had come to a sudden and complete stop, the brakes were applied hard to the Mazda CX-9 in order to stop, but after about 1 second they just totally let go and there was no braking at all and the Mazda continued to…

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The driver side airbag did not deploy in a front end collision on the drivers side. When approaching a vehicle that had come to a sudden and complete stop, the brakes were applied hard to the Mazda CX-9 in order to stop, but after about 1 second they just totally let go and there was no braking at all and the Mazda continued to move forward until it slammed into the vehicle that was stopped. The MyMazda app sent a message that stated that there was a Brake System Malfunctiom which is exactly what occurred and caused the accident.

NHTSA ODI #11495745

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2022
Engine

A LOT OF ENGINE OIL CONSUPTION, 1 QUART PER 2500 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11494001

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2022
Engine

My 2021 Mazda CX-9 uses excessive engine oil as reported in the Mazda "M-Tip" bulletin MT-005/20 and this manufacturer's defect is reportedly caused by defective valve stem seals as claimed in the class action lawsuit U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division: [XXX] v. Mazda Motor of America, …

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My 2021 Mazda CX-9 uses excessive engine oil as reported in the Mazda "M-Tip" bulletin MT-005/20 and this manufacturer's defect is reportedly caused by defective valve stem seals as claimed in the class action lawsuit U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division: [XXX] v. Mazda Motor of America, Inc. The valve stem seal problems allegedly cause excessive oil consumption between regular oil change intervals, which increases the risk of engine damage and failure. I believe Mazda must address this issue as soon as possible and repair my affected vehicle before I suffer catastrophic engine failure or long-term engine damage. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11493358

Official recalls

1

21V750000 · Seat Belts:rear/other; Seats:mid/rear Assembly

Sep 27, 2021

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CX-9 vehicles equipped with 60/40 split bench second-row seats. The left-side second-row seat may unexpectedly slide forward during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A seat that slides forward during a crash can transfer excessive force onto a belted occupant, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the internal parts of the affected second-row seats, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5221I.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seats:mid/rear Assembly

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CX-9 vehicles equipped with 60/40 split bench second-row seats. The left-side second-row seat may unexpectedly slide forward during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Consequence: A seat that slides forward during a crash can transfer excessive force onto a belted occupant, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the internal parts of the affected second-row seats, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5221I.

Seat Belts:rear/other

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CX-9 vehicles equipped with 60/40 split bench second-row seats. The left-side second-row seat may unexpectedly slide forward during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Consequence: A seat that slides forward during a crash can transfer excessive force onto a belted occupant, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the internal parts of the affected second-row seats, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5221I.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.