2011 Mazda CX-9 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2011 Mazda CX-9 ranks 3rd worst out of 17 model years with a complaint index of 88 and an Avoid verdict. Brakes drove 59% of its 170 complaints, with 4 recalls including 3 do-not-drive airbag inflator campaigns.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 88/100
- #3 of 17 CX-9 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 170
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- 3 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 7
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Brakes
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16.5 city / 23 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2011 Mazda CX-9 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes101 (59%)
- Transmission & Powertrain25 (15%)
- Airbags22 (13%)
- Engine18 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (6%)
- Electrical System7 (4%)
- Other6 (4%)
- Steering4 (2%)
- Seat Belts2 (1%)
- Structure & Body2 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Brakes reportedly fail to fully engage during normal stops, sometimes with grinding or crunching noises before the pedal loses effectiveness.
- Owners describe brake failure occurring specifically while turning, leading to collisions or evasive maneuvers.
- Some drivers report the brake pedal feeling unusually hard to depress right before rear-ending another vehicle.
- Transmission or transfer case failures have been linked to underbody vibration followed by fire in at least one case.
- Passenger frontal airbags reportedly failed to deploy in head-on crashes, and front seat belts did not retract.
- Underhood or engine-area fires have started while driving at highway speed with no dashboard warning lights.
2011 Mazda CX-9 recalls
4 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 18V717000Oct 12, 2018Airbags155,436 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda 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 2011-2013 Mazda6, 2011-2012 CX-7, and 2011-2015 CX-9 sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Mazda6, 2010-2012 CX-7, and 2010-2015 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.
Risk: 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 November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.
- 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.
2011 Mazda CX-9 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16.5 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 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.
2011 compared with other CX-9 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Mazda CX-9 reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2011 CX-9 a complaint index of 88, the 3rd worst of 17 model years for this model, with an Avoid verdict relative to other CX-9 years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2011 Mazda CX-9?
- Brakes are the top problem area, accounting for 101 of 170 complaints (59%) with a median failure mileage of 74,000 for the vehicle overall and 71,224 for brake complaints specifically.
- Does the 2011 Mazda CX-9 have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for this year, including 3 do-not-drive airbag inflator campaigns and one for corroding front suspension ball joints.
- How does the 2011 CX-9 compare to other years?
- Its complaint index of 88 is worse than most other CX-9 years except 2010 (100) and 2012 (94); years like 2020 and 2022 score much lower with indexes of 6 and 0.