2008 Mazda CX-9 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2008 Mazda CX-9 has a complaint index of 81, ranking 4th worst out of 17 model years, and earns an Avoid verdict. Suspension problems (36% of complaints) and three do-not-drive airbag recalls drive the rating.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 81/100
- #4 of 17 CX-9 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 172
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- 3 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 10
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 5
- Top issue
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17.5
- 15.5 city / 21.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
Top 2008 Mazda CX-9 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires62 (36%)
- Brakes34 (20%)
- Airbags28 (16%)
- Transmission & Powertrain27 (16%)
- Steering19 (11%)
- Electrical System13 (8%)
- Other11 (6%)
- Engine10 (6%)
- Structure & Body9 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Front suspension ball joints corrode and fail, sometimes causing the wheel to detach or turn sideways while driving at low speed.
- Steering can suddenly become stiff or feel loose, with owners reporting loss of control during turns.
- Brakes have failed to stop the vehicle properly on multiple occasions, including one case of the vehicle shifting into reverse without the brake pedal engaged.
- Passenger frontal airbag inflators are subject to recall replacement, with some owners reporting airbags did not deploy in a crash or deployed with excessive force.
- Some owners report that dealers inspected suspension components under the recall campaign and found no issue, despite continued noise and looseness.
2008 Mazda CX-9 recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V782000Oct 31, 2019Airbags69,879 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 17V457000Jul 18, 2017Airbags79,402 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 17V429000Jun 29, 2017Airbags205,377 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
Risk: 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.
2008 Mazda CX-9 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15.5 MPG
- Highway
- 21.5 MPG
- Combined
- 17.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,700
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other CX-9 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Mazda CX-9 reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2008 CX-9 has a complaint index of 81, the 4th highest among 17 model years, with 172 complaints, 5 recalls, and an Avoid verdict relative to other CX-9 years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2008 Mazda CX-9?
- Suspension, wheels, and tires account for 36% of complaints (62 of 172), including ball joint corrosion that has caused wheel detachment, with a median failure mileage of 108,650 miles.
- Does the 2008 Mazda CX-9 have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2008 CX-9, and 3 of them are do-not-drive recalls covering passenger frontal airbag inflators that could deploy improperly.
- How does the 2008 CX-9 compare to other CX-9 years?
- The 2008 model's complaint index of 81 is worse than most CX-9 years but slightly lower than 2010 (100), 2012 (94), and 2011 (88), all of which also carry Avoid verdicts.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Mazda CX-9?
- EPA rates the 2008 CX-9 at 17.5 mpg combined (15.5 city, 21.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700.