YearToAvoid

2011 Mazda CX-9 Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 101 brake complaints for the 2011 Mazda CX-9, 59% of all complaints filed for that year, with 4 crashes reported. No related recall is listed in NHTSA data. Median mileage at failure was 71,224.5 miles.

Brakes complaints
101
59% of 170
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
71,225 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe brakes failing to engage or losing stopping power suddenly while approaching a stop, sometimes with grinding or crunching noises.
  • Multiple owners report a hissing sound when pressing the brake pedal, followed by reduced braking effectiveness at slow speeds.
  • Some drivers say the brake pedal became hard to depress and required much more force than normal to stop the vehicle, with one owner told the brake booster needed replacement.
  • Several complaints describe increased stopping distance or mushy pedal feel, leading to near-misses or rear-end collisions.
  • One owner reported the traction control and TCS warning lights staying on even in dry conditions with no need for the system to activate.

When 2011 Mazda CX-9 brake complaints were filed

First complaint May 26, 2011, latest Oct 20, 2024.

2011 Mazda CX-9 brakes complaints: complaints filed per quarter72011 Q22014 Q12015 Q22016 Q32017 Q42019 Q22020 Q3
101 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q2 to 2024 Q4; peak 2014 Q2 (7).

Brakes recalls for the 2011 Mazda CX-9

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by CX-9 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201093 (48%)
  2. 2011101 (59%)
  3. 2012144 (65%)
  4. 201316 (24%)
  5. 20149 (17%)
  6. 20153 (9%)
  7. 201611 (10%)
  8. 20170 (0%)
  9. 201811 (9%)
  10. 20192 (4%)
  11. 20202 (11%)
  12. 20214 (10%)
  13. 20221 (10%)
  14. 20232 (17%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are brake complaints on the 2011 Mazda CX-9?
NHTSA lists 101 brake complaints for the 2011 CX-9, which is 59% of the 170 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2011 Mazda CX-9 brakes?
NHTSA's data provided here shows no related recall listed for this brake issue on the 2011 CX-9.
At what mileage do CX-9 brake problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure among complaints in this data is 71,224.5 miles.
Did the brake issues cause crashes?
Yes, NHTSA complaint data records 4 crashes and 0 fires or injuries tied to brake complaints on the 2011 CX-9.
How does 2011 compare to other CX-9 model years for brake complaints?
The 2011 CX-9 shows 59% share of brake complaints, lower than the 2012 model's 65% but higher than the 2010 model's 48%, based on NHTSA's this_area_by_model_year data.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.