Page 4 of 4 · complaints 151–172 of 172

2008 Mazda CX-9 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2008 record →

Power Train
Filed Apr 8, 201250,000 milesMA

THERE HAVE BEEN A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS ON THE VEHICLE (TWO SETS OF BRAKES, TIEROD, ELECTRICAL OVERHAUL VACUUM HOSES...) THE MAJOR ISSUE HAS BEEN OIL LEAKING. THIS PAST SUMMER (2011) THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. THE DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE DIAGNOSING THAT IT WAS THE REAR MAIN SEAL. THE SEAL WAS REPLACED (CAR WAS AT DEALER FOR NEARLY TWO WEEKS.) THIS FALL (2011) OIL WAS STILL LEAKING. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS THE DEALER CONTACTED MAZDA CORPORATE AND THEY SUGGESTED REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION, CLAIMING IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. WINTER/SPRING 2012 OIL STILL LEAKING, CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER - CLAIMING IT IS THE REAR MAIN SEAL. AGAIN? WOULDN'T THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH THE NEW TRANSMISSION? *TR

Electrical System
Filed Mar 23, 201236,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE REMOTE KEY WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master CylinderCrash
Filed Mar 19, 201268,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY, AND CRASHED INTO A GATE. THE CRASH CAUSED NO INJURIES AND THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE SAME FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT BOTH THE MASTER CYLINDER AND POWER BOOSTER WERE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,200. UPDATED 04/26/12*LJ ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR INVOICE, THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS LEAKING DUE TO CORROSION FROM BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER INTO THE BOOSTER. THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/27/12

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 23, 201278,175 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PARTIALLY DEPRESSED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO KEEP PUMPING THE BRAKE IN ODER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VACUUM BOOSTER FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO THE BOOSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND HE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,175.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 4, 201246,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFECT COULD POSSIBLY BE CONTRIBUTED TO AN INTERNAL BRAKE FLUID LEAK. CURRENTLY, THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE11026 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Aug 17, 201147,000 milesMI

LATELY, MY CX-9 DOES NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHIN THE EXPECTED DISTANCE (STOP SIGN OR SIGNAL), FOR THE USUAL BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL. I HAD TO LIFT MY FOOT AND BRAKE HARD TO BRING IT TO STOP. OTHERWISE, CX-9 REMAINS A PLEASANT VEHICLE TO DRIVE AND RIDE. *KB

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Apr 20, 2011SC

RUSTY DOOR HINGE BOLTS ON 2008 MAZDA CX-9. THERE ARE FOUR BOLTS ON EVERY HINGE AND TWO HINGES PER DOOR. HALF OF THE BOLTS ARE PAINTED AND PROTECTED, THE OTHER HALF ARE NOT AND THEY ARE RUSTING. ALL OF THE BOLTS THAT SECURE THE DOOR SHOULD BE COATED---IN THIS CASE HALF ARE AND ONE HALF ARE NOT. THIS COULD LEAD TO A HINGE FAILURE. *TR

Traction Control System
Filed Apr 7, 201118,000 milesCT

2008 CX-9 MAZDA WITH 25,644 MILES APPEARS TO HAVE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS RECALLED TOYOTAS IN THAT THE DRIVER'S CX-9 ORIGINAL RUBBER FLOOR MAT MOVES UP TOWARDS FRONT OF VEHICLE WITH USE & LODGES UNDER THE PLASTIC PANEL ON THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF THE FOOT WELL, (PHOTOGRAPHS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST). WHEN THE FLOOR MAT LODGES UNDER PLASTIC PANEL IN THIS MANNER, IT CAUSES BOTH THE TCS INDICATOR LIGHT AND THE TCS OFF LIGHT TO PERMANENTLY ILLUMINATE. TCS / BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM CEASES TO FUNCTION & CANNOT BE OVERRIDDEN WITH TCS ON/OFF BUTTON. VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR SAME ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME THE TCS SYSTEM WAS "RE-SET" BY COMPUTER & WAS ADVISED BY SERVICE TECH. THAT VEHICLE WAS NOW FINE, (FLOOR MAT INVOLVEMENT UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME). THE SECOND TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT BACK IN, (LESS THAN 5,000 MILES AFTER FIRST TIME IT WAS BROUGHT IN), AS THE TCS INDICATOR LIGHT / TCS OFF LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED AND TCS BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERATING AND SERVICE TECH SPENT MOST OF MORNING WITH VEHICLE. AT THE END OF THIS VISIT, THE SERVICE TECH. ADVISED THAT HE HAD DETERMINED INCIDENTS WERE CAUSED BY FLOOR MAT MOVING UP UNDER BRAKE / GAS PEDAL & THAT MAT WAS "INTERFERING WITH THE BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM IN THAT IT WAS PREVENTING IT FROM COMPLETING THE CIRCUIT". I WAS ADVISED TO REMOVE THE FLOOR MAT FROM THE VEHICLE. CLIPS TO SECURE THE MAT WOULD PREVENT THESE INCIDENTS. NOTE: WHEN THE FLOOR MAT BECOMES LODGED WHILE DRIVING, I CANNOT PHYSICALLY DISLO

Traction Control System
Filed Mar 5, 201125,505 milesOH

THIS COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO HOW THE 2008 MAZDA CX9 HANDLES WHEN THE ROAD CONDITIONS HAVE A LAYER OF SNOW OR ICE. WHEN DRIVING ON A FLAT SURFACE THE CAR IS FINE. WHEN DRIVING UP A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE, THE CAR DOES NOT PERFORM. THE TIRES THAT ARE PUT ON THIS CAR FROM FACTORY ARE NOT GOOD, WHICH CAUSES THE TRACTION CONTROL TO ENGAGE FREQUENTLY. THE PROBLEM ARISES WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL IS ON. PER THE MANUAL, THE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON TO REDUCE RPM. WE HAVE FOUND THAT WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL IS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER - IT FEELS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL - THERE IS NO ENGINE SOUND WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THIS LEAVES THE DRIVER STUCK WITH ABSOLUTELY NO POWER TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THERE IS NO POWER TO MOVE OUT OF OTHER DRIVERS WAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH BOTH DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES. WE HAVE REQUESTED SOMEONE DRIVE WITH US SO WE CAN REPLICATE THE SITUATION. THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET US AN APPOINTMENT RIGHT AWAY. THE LAST REQUEST TO MAZDA SERVICE WAS FEB. 2011, IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT WE WANTED TO BRING THE CAR IN SO SOMEONE COULD DRIVE IT IN THE SNOWY CONDITIONS. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL US WHEN THEY COULD FIT US IN. WE DID NOT RECEIVE A CALL FOR 3 DAYS. WE HAD TO CALL THEM. THE ROADS WERE CLEAR WHEN WE FINALLY GOT AN APPOINTMENT AND COULD NOT REPLICATE THE SITUATION. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR

SteeringCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 19, 201033,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX9. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE BODY DAMAGE. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO MAKE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT READILY AVAILABLE AND ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Steering
Filed Mar 21, 2010100 milesMO

FROM DAY 1 THE CAR HAS BEEN ROAD-CRAZY...YOU HAVE TO CONTINUALLY CORRECT TO LEFT AND RIGHT...DEALERSHIP SAYS FROM "CROWN IN THE ROAD"....HAVE HAD IT RE-ALIGNED NUMEROUS TIMES..HAS 25K NOW AND FRONT TIRES ARE NEARLY WORN OUT...HAS 20" WHEELS (WHICH THEY NO LONGER OFFER AS OPTION). *TR

Seats
Filed Mar 3, 2010CA

CURRENT RECALL WHERE HEATED SEAT TENDS TO OVERHEAT, BUT MY MODEL YEAR ISN'T INCLUDED. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO THE DEALER BEFORE I WAS EVEN AWARE OF THE CURRENT RECALL. *TR

Steering
Filed Mar 2, 201070 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX9. AFTER DRIVING 200 MILES THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CONTACT STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 22 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED TO THE LEFT 80% OF THE TIME WITHOUT HIM TOUCHING IT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND AFTER INSPECTING IN, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR IT. THE CONTACT DROVE A 2009 MODEL AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD THE IDENTICAL STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THIS FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

Seats
Filed Feb 25, 201023,000 milesTX

THE ELECTRONIC SEAT POSITIONING CONTROL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT KEEPS ADJUSTING ON IT'S OWN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IT JUST STARTED TODAY AND SEEMED TO DO IT AT ANY SPEED, TOO INCLUDE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. I ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME ACTION AFTER I HAD PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. *TR

Steering
Filed Feb 25, 2010100 milesOH

2007, 2008 & 2009 MAZDA CX9 HAS STEERING PROBLEMS. WHEN YOU DON'T HOLD IT TIGHTLY, THE CAR WILL VEER TO THE LEFT 80% OF THE TIME AND 20% TO THE RIGHT. THE CAR WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT AT ANY SPEEDS AND ON EVEN PAVEMENTS SUCH AS A CAR PARK. *TR

Tires › Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems
Filed Jan 12, 201016,000 milesNJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-9. WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD THE FRONT PASSENGER RIGHT TIRE LOST PRESSURE AND INCREASED FROM 32 PSI TO 25 PSI. HE REPLACED THE TIRE ON ONE OCCASION AND THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. AIR WAS ADDED TO THE TIRE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BY A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY AND ON TWO OCCASIONS BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR VALVE MONITOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAS CAUSED THE TIRE TO LOSE PRESSURE. THE ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR VALVE MONITOR WAS $300.00. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED REPORT NUMBER 127407340. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE COST TO REPLACE THE TIRE SENSOR MONITOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 36,000.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Dec 29, 200922,500 milesMD

MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH THAT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. MY SUSTAINED ENOUGH FRONT END DAMAGE TO KNOCK THE ENGINE OFF ONE OF ITS MOTOR MOUNTS AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. 08 MAZDA CX-9. *TR

Suspension
Filed Jul 5, 200914,350 milesLA

MY 2008 MAZDA CX-9 HAS LEAKING STRUTS AND SHOCKS. THE CAR IS ONE YEAR OLD AND HAS A LITTLE OVER 14,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER STATED THAT WAS SEEPAGE DUE TO BEING OVER FILLED AT THE FACTORY, BUT IF YOU WIPE OFF THE EXCESS FILM THE FLUID CONTINUES TO FORM. SEEPAGE OR LEAKAGE, DOESN'T MATTER IT SHOULDN'T DO EITHER ESPECIALLY ON THE FRONT OF A VEHICLE. THE BUSINESS WHERE I HAVE MY OIL CHANGED AND TIRES ROTATED HAVE CHECKED THE STRUTS AND SHOCKS STATING THE PROBLEM IS LEAKING NOT SEEPING. THE DEALER SAYS THEY CALLED THE MAZDA FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FOR THIS AREA AND THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND STILL MAINTAIN IT'S SEEPING BECAUSE OF BEING OVERFILLED AT FACTORY. HOW LONG SHOULD SEEPING OCCUR? I'M CONCERNED ABOUT STRUT FAILURE OR SHOCK FAILURE WHILE I'M DRIVING. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 14, 2009150 milesWA

MY NEW 2008 MAZDA CX-9 AWD HAS GAS PEDAL RESONANT VIBRATING ISSUE WHEN ENGINE IS RIGHT AROUND 2000 RPM WHEN I PUSH GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING UPHILL OR TURNING. *TR

Seats › Front Assembly › Head Restraint1 injured
Filed Sep 18, 20081,000 milesCA

THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEAT HEAD RESTS BEND TOO MUCH FORWARD CAUSING NECK PAIN. THIS BEND CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. MAZDA SAYS THAT THE HEADREST SPECIFICATIONS WERE DICTATED TO THEM BY GOVERNMENT STANDARDS. HOWEVER, NONE OF THE OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE SEEN HAS THIS MUCH BEND. IF THE VEHICLE HEAD REST SPECIFICATIONS WERE DICTATED TO THEM BY THE GOVERNMENT THEN THERE IS SOME SERIOUS ERRORS IN GOVERNMENT SPECS SINCE THIS UNUSUAL BEND (HAVEN'T SEEN THIS MUCH BEND ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE) IS CAUSING NECK PAIN. NOTE THAT I AM 6' TALL AND WEIGH 180 LBS AND WILL FALL IN TO AVERAGE CONSUMER PHYSICAL CATEGORY AND THERE IS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT ME. I DID NOT HAVE ANY NECK PAIN PRIOR TO PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 24, 20081,750 milesNY

DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE ON 2008 MAZDA CX9 1,750 MILES, DRIVE SHAFT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED, ACCORDING TO DEALER NOT THE FIRST ONE THEY HAVE SEEN (RAMSEY MAZDA NJ) DRIVE SHAFTS SHOULD NOT FAIL ON NEW CARS, CAN BE DANGEROUS. *TR

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Mar 11, 2008860 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A WAVE IN THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN HE PASSES OTHER OBJECTS, THE WAVES APPEAR TO RIPPLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO MAKE ANOTHER REPLACEMENT. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 860. UPDATED 4/2/08 *CN UPDATED 04/02/08 *TR

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2008 Mazda CX-9 → · Every CX-9 year → · How the figures are calculated →