YearToAvoid

2011 Mazda CX-9 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 18 engine complaints for the 2011 Mazda CX-9, 11% of its 170 total complaints for the year. Median mileage at failure was 81,000 miles. There are no related recalls tied to this engine complaint data.

Engine complaints
18
11% of 170
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
81,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report engine fires starting near the front of the vehicle or underneath it while driving at highway or moderate speeds, in some cases with no dashboard warning before flames appeared.
  • Some describe the engine stalling or failing to accelerate at a stop, with warning indicators flashing right before the stall.
  • Several owners report power transfer unit (PTU) or transfer case failures, sometimes showing up as a dark oily leak under the engine, with one case noting ground-down transfer case components and transmission rust.
  • Owners describe undetected water pump leaks that cause the engine to overheat and eventually fail, with the check engine light coming on as the car halts.
  • A few report sudden surging or lurching motion even when the gas pedal was not engaged, tied to an accompanying oil leak.

When 2011 Mazda CX-9 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 17, 2014, latest Aug 1, 2025.

2011 Mazda CX-9 engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Nov 2014Jan 2016Feb 2018Jun 2019Aug 2021Sep 2023
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2014 to Aug 2025; peak Mar 2019 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2011 Mazda CX-9

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by CX-9 model year

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

  1. 201035 (18%)
  2. 201118 (11%)
  3. 201232 (14%)
  4. 201317 (25%)
  5. 201420 (37%)
  6. 201518 (51%)
  7. 201670 (67%)
  8. 201743 (70%)
  9. 201878 (61%)
  10. 201923 (43%)
  11. 20205 (26%)
  12. 202121 (54%)
  13. 20220 (0%)
  14. 20230 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2011 Mazda CX-9?
NHTSA lists 18 engine complaints for the 2011 CX-9, which is 11% of the 170 total complaints filed for that model year.
At what mileage do 2011 CX-9 engine problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this engine complaint group is 81,000 miles.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Mazda CX-9 engine?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint category on the 2011 CX-9.
What specific engine failures do owners report?
Owners report engine fires, stalling at stops, power transfer unit or transfer case failures, water pump leaks causing overheating, and unexplained surging tied to oil leaks.

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.