Vehicles · Insights

2018 Mazda Cx-9

2018 Mazda CX-9: engine complaints dominate owner reports

Across 124 owner complaints to NHTSA, engine problems lead by a wide margin at 72 reports (58%), with owners describing the car suddenly lurching forward on its own. The remaining reports are spread across the electrical system (15, 12%), power train (13, 10%), service brakes (11, 9%), and fuel/propulsion system (5, 4%). Most categories report no crashes, fires, or injuries; the exceptions are 1 fire tied to the electrical system and 2 crashes plus 1 injury tied to the brakes.

Most reported areas

Engine0 58%
By far the most-reported area: 72 complaints (58%), with no crashes, fires, or injuries reported. Owners describe the vehicle suddenly lurching forward as if the gas pedal had been pressed.
Electrical System safety 12%
15 complaints (12%), including 1 fire. Owners report clusters of warning messages on startup, such as keyless entry, charging system, and overheating malfunctions.
Power Train0 10%
13 complaints (10%), with no crashes, fires, or injuries reported. Owners describe a loud rattling noise, slipping gears, and hard jerking when shifting.
Service Brakes safety 9%
11 complaints (9%) but the biggest safety risk here: 2 involved a crash and 1 an injury. Owners report a hard brake pedal with no give and the car failing to stop.
Fuel/Propulsion System0 4%
Fewest reports: 5 complaints (4%), with no crashes, fires, or injuries. Owners describe the check engine light coming on and the car slowing down or breaking down while driving.

Source: NHTSA owner complaints · 124 complaints

Track maintenance, recalls, and costs for your Mazda — and see this inside the app.

Get Vehicle Story Maintenance schedule

General information compiled from public NHTSA complaint data, for reference only — not professional advice and not reviewed by automotive experts. Verify before acting; Team AM is not responsible for decisions made from it.