NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 128 owner complaints for the 2018 Mazda CX-9. Most complaints involve engine (76) and electrical system (15). The EPA rates it 23–24 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
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.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each CX-9 model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 86 |
| 2008 | 172 |
| 2009 | 59 |
| 2010 | 195 |
| 2011 | 171 |
| 2012 | 221 |
| 2013 | 68 |
| 2014 | 54 |
| 2015 | 35 |
| 2016 | 99 |
| 2017 | 61 |
| 2018 | 128 |
| 2019 | 53 |
| 2020 | 19 |
| 2021 | 40 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 13 |
“While driving at highway speed in heavy rain the oil light suddenly came on followed within 30 seconds by an urgent need to immediately stop the car due to overheating. There was no radiator fluid left due to the sudden and catastrophic structural failure caused by a known manufacturing defect. Mazda calls it csp-11. They did NOT do a recall even though a situation such as this is clearly life-threatening. They offer an extended warranty to fix the problem fully up to 120,000 miles. Our car has 124,000 miles. Two months ago it would have been fully repaired at no cost but now they want in excess of 11 THOUSAND DOLLARS. I have spoken to more than 6 people in customer service, 2 supervisors, and they are ADAMANT they will not cover one single penny of repair even though this was not due to wear and tear, but due to a known and recognized manufacturing defect which they have since corrected in newer cars. First, this should have been a full recall since having this happen with no warning is without a doubt life threatening. If an inexperienced teenager had been driving and their engine suddenly seized, they likely would have died, and taken adjacent cars with…”
“The liftgate (trunk) opens sporadically. The system keeps trying to open the truck and it's causing a parasitic drain on my battery. I was stranded 2 hours from my home due to this. My trunk would sporadically beep three times, that is the only warning I received. There are safety recalls for other year of Mazda cx-9 but not my specific even though I am having the same issue.”
“My 2018 Mazda CX-9 with the SKYACTIV-G 2.5T engine has been diagnosed with a cracked cylinder head, cracked exhaust manifold, and cracked turbocharger at approximately 88,000 miles. This is a known design defect documented in Mazda TSB 01-002/23 and addressed by Customer Service Program CSP11, which extended the powertrain warranty to 10 years/120,000 miles for coolant leaks at the cylinder head. The TSB identifies exhaust manifold deformation and residual production stress as root causes of the cylinder head cracking. In my vehicle, the failure has extended to the exhaust manifold and turbocharger, both directly mounted to the cylinder head in the same high-stress zone. The turbocharger on this engine is a coolant-cooled unit. As coolant leaks from the cracked cylinder head, the turbocharger is deprived of its cooling supply, leading to excessive heat buildup and eventual cracking of the turbo housing. The turbo damage is a direct consequence of the cylinder head defect Mazda has already acknowledged. CSP11 covers the cylinder head but does not address consequential damage to the exhaust manifold and turbocharger caused by the same defect. I am requesting the…”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CX-9 2WD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 28 | 24 | $2,700 | 362 |
| CX-9 4WD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel Drive | 20 | 26 | 23 | $2,800 | 391 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
2 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 128 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (76), electrical system (15), power train (13). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2018 Mazda CX-9 at 23–24 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2018 Mazda CX-9 5 out of 5 stars overall.