YearToAvoid

2014 Mazda CX-9 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

31/100

#10 most-complained of 14 CX-9 years

The 2014 Mazda CX-9 has a complaint index of 31 and ranks 10th worst out of 14 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other CX-9 years. It has 54 NHTSA complaints, 3 recalls, and its top problem area is the engine.

Complaints
54
Recalls
3
incl. Do Not Drive
Crashes / fires
1 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
19
16.5 city / 23 hwy

Top 2014 Mazda CX-9 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine20 (37%)
  2. Brakes9 (17%)
  3. Other9 (17%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain7 (13%)
  5. Fuel System5 (9%)
  6. Structure & Body5 (9%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (9%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers4 (7%)
  9. Airbags3 (6%)
  10. Steering3 (6%)

What owners report

  • Brakes fail to slow the vehicle when pressed hard, leading to a collision in stop-and-go city traffic.
  • Transmission emits a rattling noise, releases white smoke, and loses acceleration, followed by fire underneath the vehicle.
  • Dual exhaust muffler, bolts, clips, and assembly show rust shortly after purchase, at very low mileage.
  • Rear window or sunroof glass has spontaneously shattered or blown outward while driving, scattering glass inside the cabin.
  • Side mirror vibrates noticeably while driving, with the dealership unable to identify a fix.
  • Fuel system produces a strong sulfur or gasoline odor inside the cabin during driving, or fuel spews out when refueling.
2014 Mazda CX-9 complaints: complaints filed per month4Oct 2014Oct 2016Jun 2018Aug 2019Apr 2020Nov 2021Jan 2023Mar 2024
72 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2014 to Nov 2024; peak Feb 2015 (4).

2014 Mazda CX-9 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 16V203000Apr 11, 2016Steering578 vehicles

    Steering

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014, 2014-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2013, to December 2, 2015, and 2013-2015 CX-9 vehicles manufactured December 6, 2012, to July 31, 2015. The lower mounting nuts and bolts that attach the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle may loosen, allowing the steering knuckle to separate.

    Risk: If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower mounting nuts and bolts that secure the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle. If the bolts are loose, they will be replaced and then correctly tightened, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9316D.

  3. NHTSA 15V451000Jul 20, 2015Suspension, Wheels & Tires193,484 vehicles

    Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2007-2014 CX-9 vehicles manufactured October 24, 2006, to December 28, 2013. The affected vehicles have front suspension ball joints that may corrode from water leaking into the fitting.

    Risk: Over time, the ball joint corrosion may result in the front lower control arm separating from the ball joint, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace both the left and right lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began on September 14, 2015. The recall will begin with model year 2007-2009 vehicles registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The second phase will be for model year 2010-2014 vehicles in the same states. Finally, all remaining vehicles will be remedied. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 8515G.

2014 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.

2014 compared with other CX-9 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2012Avoid1002214 !19
2013Caution62684 !19
2014Good31543 !19
2015Good46352 !19
2016Caution69105023.5

All Mazda CX-9 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Mazda CX-9 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2014 CX-9 has a complaint index of 31 and ranks 10th worst out of 14 model years, giving it a "Good" verdict compared to other CX-9 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Mazda CX-9?
NHTSA complaints show the engine is the top problem area with 20 complaints (37% share), followed by brakes with 9 complaints (17%) and transmission/powertrain issues with 7 complaints (13%).
Does the 2014 Mazda CX-9 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2014 CX-9, including a do-not-drive recall for a front passenger airbag inflator, plus recalls for steering strut mounting hardware and corroding front suspension ball joints.
How does the 2014 CX-9 compare to other CX-9 model years?
The 2014 CX-9 has fewer complaints (54) and a lower complaint index (31) than years like 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2018, which are all rated "Avoid."
What is the fuel economy of the 2014 Mazda CX-9?
The 2014 CX-9 gets an EPA-rated 19 mpg combined (16.5 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400.

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.