Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Mazda CX-9, and it carries 7 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 16 | 27% |
| Service brakes | 15 | 25% |
| Suspension | 5 | 8% |
| Power train | 5 | 8% |
| Tires | 3 | 5% |
| Engine | 3 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 2% |
| Visibility | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2009 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle it was discovered that the locking mechanism for both the 3 row driver side and passenger side seat belts locking mechanisms was no
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
The contact owns a 2009 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The contact stated the brake pads and rotors were repl
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
October 2021 purchase 2 Cooper Evolution H/T All-Season 245/60R18. With less than 8k miles, both tires developed deformities/bulging on upper sidewal/tread,line intersect, causing vehicle to shimmy. The dot #'s of both
NHTSA complaint: Tires
The contact owns a 2009 Mazda CX9. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the hot engine temperature warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and added coolant to the reservoir and waited for
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL, DRY CONDITIONS ON HIGHWAY 540 IN NORTH CAROLINA, MY RIGHT REAR COPPER CS5 ULTRA TOURING TIRE CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED AND SEPARATED THE TREAD COMPLETELY FROM THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE ON MY 2009
NHTSA complaint: Tires
WHILE PULLING A SMALL TRAILER THE CAR STOPPED UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THE TRANSFER CASE SHATTERED INTO PIECES
NHTSA complaint: Power train
MY BRAKES STARTED FEELING SPONGY BUT HARD TO PUSH WHEN I WOULD TRY TO COME TO A STOP. IT FELT AT TIMES LIKE MY CAR WASN'T GOING TO STOP. I STOPPED DRIVING IT AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS REPLACED. AT THAT TIME, I LOST BRAKE
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. IT WORKS FOR AWHILE AND THEN STOPS WORKING. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKE LIGHT MAY OR MY NOT COME ON AND THAT IS WHILE SITTING STILL OR WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING. I H
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2009 Mazda CX-9. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2007-2012 CX-7, CX-9, and 2009-2012 Maza6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant deg
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2011 Mazda6, and 2007-2011 CX-7 and CX-9 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, fre
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2013 Mazda6 and CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan),
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2012 CX-7, CX-9 and Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Sa
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator,
| Reliability raw | 70 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 80 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 87 | excellent |
| Performance | 69 | good |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 16 of them (27%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 70/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.