YearToAvoid

2018 Mazda CX-9 Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 16 electrical system complaints for the 2018 Mazda CX-9, 13% of all 128 complaints for the year. One fire was reported, no crashes or injuries, and a wiring harness recall (19V403000) covers this system.

Electrical System complaints
16
13% of 128
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
10,352 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Infotainment/LCD screens develop spider-web cracking or discoloration in a corner, obscuring the map, backup camera, and controls.
  • Vehicles have shown ignition-on warnings with the engine off, unexpected engine revving on the highway, and 'no key detected' alerts while the key was inside the car.
  • Some owners reported the vehicle going completely dead with no power after the backup camera failed to activate and showed a 'check your surroundings' message.
  • A passenger seat heater reportedly had a grounding issue or short that caused smoldering and a fire, destroying the seat.
  • Owners reported a 'Smart System Brake Malfunction' warning followed by the vehicle braking on its own without driver input, along with forward sensing camera failures.

When 2018 Mazda CX-9 electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 26, 2018, latest Mar 18, 2026.

2018 Mazda CX-9 electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2018May 2019May 2021Dec 2022Mar 2023Jul 2025Sep 2025Mar 2026
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2018 to Mar 2026; peak Sep 2025 (2).

Electrical System recalls for the 2018 Mazda CX-9

  1. 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.

Electrical System complaints by CX-9 model year

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

  1. 20076 (7%)
  2. 200813 (8%)
  3. 20092 (3%)
  4. 20109 (5%)
  5. 20117 (4%)
  6. 20128 (4%)
  7. 20132 (3%)
  8. 20142 (4%)
  9. 20153 (9%)
  10. 201614 (13%)
  11. 20172 (3%)
  12. 201816 (13%)
  13. 20197 (13%)
  14. 20204 (21%)
  15. 20211 (3%)
  16. 20223 (30%)
  17. 20231 (8%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical complaints does the 2018 Mazda CX-9 have?
NHTSA lists 16 electrical system complaints for the 2018 CX-9, which is 13% of the 128 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Mazda CX-9 electrical system?
Yes. Recall 19V403000, reported May 30, 2019, covers a wiring harness that may disrupt electrical communications and disable the passenger frontal air bag, turn signals, and/or the engine starting system. Mazda dealers repair the wiring harness free of charge.
At what mileage do electrical problems show up on the 2018 CX-9?
The median mileage at failure among reported electrical complaints is 10,352 miles.
Did the 2018 CX-9 electrical issues cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records show 0 crashes and 0 injuries tied to electrical system complaints for this year, though 1 fire was reported.
How does 2018 compare to other CX-9 model years for electrical complaints?
The 2018 CX-9's electrical complaint share is 13%, the same as 2019, while 2016 was also elevated at 13% and 2022 reached 30%, though on a much smaller complaint count of 3.

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.