2011 Mazda CX-9 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
85/100
#3 most-complained of 14 CX-9 years
The 2011 Mazda CX-9 has 170 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 85, and ranks 3rd worst of 14 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. Brakes account for 59% of complaints, with 4 crashes reported, and 3 of its 4 recalls are do-not-drive airbag recalls.
- Complaints
- 170
- Recalls
- 4
- incl. Do Not Drive
- Crashes / fires
- 7 / 3
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16.5 city / 23 hwy
Top 2011 Mazda CX-9 problems
NHTSA owner 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%)
What owners report
- Brakes reportedly fail to engage or lose stopping power suddenly, sometimes with grinding noises, at speeds ranging from slow parking-lot maneuvers to normal driving.
- Some owners report the vehicle would not stop in time and struck another vehicle, a curb, or a barrier despite pressing hard on the brake pedal.
- Transmission or transfer case failures were reported alongside vibration and a fire underneath the vehicle before it stopped moving.
- Engine fires have occurred underneath the vehicle while driving at highway speed, in some cases without any dashboard warning.
- Electrical flickering near the front end was reported before flames appeared around the engine.
- Frontal airbags reportedly failed to deploy and seat belts failed to retract during head-on collisions.
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?
- Compared with other CX-9 model years, the 2011 ranks 3rd worst out of 14 years tracked, with a complaint index of 85 and an Avoid verdict based on NHTSA complaints and recalls.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2011 Mazda CX-9?
- Brakes are the top problem area, making up 59% of the 170 complaints filed, with a median failure mileage of 71,224.5 and 4 reported crashes.
- Does the 2011 Mazda CX-9 have a recall?
- Yes, it has 4 recalls, including 3 do-not-drive airbag recalls covering passenger frontal airbag inflators, plus a suspension recall for corroding front ball joints.
- How does the 2011 CX-9 compare to other years?
- Its complaint index of 85 is lower than the 2012 (100) and 2010 (92) but higher than most later years such as 2017 (15) and 2020 (0), which rank among the best.