YearToAvoid

2016 Mazda CX-9 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

69/100

#5 most-complained of 14 CX-9 years

The 2016 Mazda CX-9 has a Caution verdict, ranking 5th worst out of 14 model years with a Complaint Index of 69. NHTSA logged 105 complaints, mostly engine-related (70 complaints, 67% share), with no recalls filed for this year.

Complaints
105
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
3 / 1
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
23.5
21.5 city / 27 hwy

Top 2016 Mazda CX-9 problems

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

  1. Engine70 (67%)
  2. Electrical System14 (13%)
  3. Brakes11 (10%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain9 (9%)
  5. Fuel System8 (8%)
  6. Structure & Body7 (7%)
  7. Other6 (6%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (6%)
  9. Airbags2 (2%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (2%)

What owners report

  • Automatic emergency braking or radar system falsely triggers a sudden hard stop at 35-50 mph, throwing loose items in the car.
  • Backup camera and infotainment screen goes blank on startup and stays out until shutoff.
  • Sunroof reportedly shattered while driving at about 40 mph with no overhead object contact.
  • Smart brake and front radar systems display malfunction warnings while the car shakes as if the parking brake engaged during driving.
  • Rear wheel hub overheats and smokes after a TPMS warning, with metal pinging noises as it cools.
  • Steering makes a cranking noise at slow speeds when turning or reversing, sometimes recurring after a related recall repair.
2016 Mazda CX-9 complaints: complaints filed per quarter142016 Q32018 Q22019 Q42021 Q12022 Q32023 Q42025 Q2
139 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2022 Q3 (14).

2016 Mazda CX-9 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2016 Mazda CX-9 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21.5 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
23.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,750
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.

2016 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
2014Good31543 !19
2015Good46352 !19
2016Caution69105023.5
2017Best1561023.5
2018Avoid77128223.5

All Mazda CX-9 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Mazda CX-9 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2016 CX-9 carries a Caution verdict with a Complaint Index of 69, ranking 5th worst among 14 model years covered.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Mazda CX-9?
Engine issues dominate, accounting for 70 of 105 complaints (67% share), with a median failure mileage of 40,000 for the model year overall and 50,000 for the engine category specifically.
Does the 2016 Mazda CX-9 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2016 model year, unlike several other CX-9 years such as 2010 through 2015, which had multiple recalls each.
How does the 2016 CX-9 compare to other years?
The 2016 model's Complaint Index of 69 is worse than 2013 (62), 2014 (31), and 2017 (15, rated Best), but better than 2012 (100) and 2010 (92), both rated Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Mazda CX-9?
EPA rates the 2016 CX-9 at 23.5 mpg combined (21.5 city / 27 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,750.

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.