2018 Mazda CX-9 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2018 Mazda CX-9 has a complaint index of 75, ranking 5th worst out of 17 model years, with 128 complaints and an Avoid verdict. Engine problems dominate at 61% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 72,000 miles, plus two recalls covering the fuel system and a wiring harness issue.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 75/100
- #5 of 17 CX-9 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 128
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 4
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 23.5
- 21 city / 27 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2018 Mazda CX-9 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine78 (61%)
- Other20 (16%)
- Electrical System16 (13%)
- Transmission & Powertrain13 (10%)
- Brakes11 (9%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras7 (5%)
- Fuel System7 (5%)
- Steering3 (2%)
- Structure & Body3 (2%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners report unintended sudden acceleration or lurching forward while stopped with the foot on the brake, requiring the vehicle to be shifted to park and shut off.
- Electrical faults have caused the dashboard to light up with multiple warnings while driving, sometimes accompanied by heat coming from the front of the car and a sudden stop.
- Owners describe the ignition showing on when the car is off, along with unexplained engine revving and a no-key-detected message while the key is nearby.
- Brake pedals have reportedly gone hard with little to no stopping power, in one case causing a vehicle to roll over a curb and down stairs before hitting a railing.
- A warning light has appeared along with the car losing acceleration and the brake lights failing to activate, nearly causing a rear-end collision.
- A backup camera failed to activate and displayed a 'check your surroundings' message, followed later by a complete loss of electrical power in the vehicle.
2018 Mazda CX-9 recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V875000Nov 12, 2021Fuel System121,038 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.
- NHTSA 19V403000May 30, 2019Electrical System7,854 vehicles
Electrical system:wiring
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 CX-9 vehicles. The wiring harness may disrupt electrical communications and disable the passenger frontal air bag, turn signals, and/or engine starting system.
Risk: The passenger frontal air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury. Inoperable turn signals prevent the driver from signaling to other drivers, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3419E.
2018 Mazda CX-9 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 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.
2018 compared with other CX-9 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Mazda CX-9 reliable?
- Compared with other CX-9 model years, 2018 ranks 5th worst out of 17 years tracked, with a complaint index of 75 and an Avoid verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2018 Mazda CX-9?
- Engine complaints make up 61% of all reports for this year, 78 out of 128 complaints, with a median failure mileage of 72,000 miles.
- Does the 2018 Mazda CX-9 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2018 CX-9: one for a fuel pump impeller that may crack and deform, and one for a wiring harness that can disrupt electrical systems including airbags, turn signals, and engine starting.
- What year Mazda CX-9 should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA data, 2010, 2012, 2011, 2008, and 2018 all carry Avoid verdicts, with 2010 having the highest complaint index at 100 among the years reviewed.
- How does the 2018 CX-9 compare to the 2017 and 2019 models?
- The 2017 CX-9 has a much lower complaint index of 19 and a Best verdict, while 2019 has an index of 38 and a Good verdict, making 2018 a notably higher-complaint year in between.