YearToAvoid

2021 Mazda CX-9 Engine Problems

Engine complaints make up 21 of 39 total complaints (54%) for the 2021 Mazda CX-9, with a median mileage at failure of 51,093 miles. No engine-related recall has been issued for this model year.

Engine complaints
21
54% of 39
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
51,093 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the low oil warning light coming on repeatedly, often every 3,000 to 4,000 miles, with the engine found to be about a quart low each time.
  • Multiple owners describe excessive oil consumption tied to what dealers identified as defective valve stem seals allowing oil to leak into the combustion chambers.
  • One owner reported the engine losing power and stalling without warning while driving at or above 60 MPH, requiring several restart attempts before it would run normally again.
  • One owner described the vehicle unexpectedly accelerating forward while parked and running with the A/C on, causing a crash into a garage, which the owner linked to a reported TCU system failure.
  • Some owners noted the oil consumption issue appeared soon after purchase, with low-oil warnings occurring well before the vehicle's first scheduled oil change.

When 2021 Mazda CX-9 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 9, 2022, latest Sep 12, 2026.

2021 Mazda CX-9 engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Jun 2022Aug 2022Nov 2022Apr 2023Jan 2024Aug 2024Jun 2026Aug 2026
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2022 to Sep 2026; peak Jun 2022 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2021 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 2021 Mazda CX-9?
NHTSA lists 21 engine-related complaints out of 39 total complaints for the 2021 CX-9, meaning engine issues account for 54% of all complaints filed for this model year.
Is there a recall for the 2021 Mazda CX-9 engine oil consumption issue?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2021 CX-9, even though owners report excessive oil consumption as a recurring issue.
At what mileage do 2021 CX-9 engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for engine complaints on the 2021 CX-9 is 51,093 miles.
Were there any crashes linked to engine complaints on the 2021 CX-9?
NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires or injuries among the engine complaints filed for the 2021 CX-9.
How does the 2021 CX-9 compare to other years for engine complaints?
Engine complaints made up 54% of all complaints for 2021, higher than 2020's 26% but lower than 2017's 70% and 2018's 61%, based on NHTSA complaint data across CX-9 model years.

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.