VehicleVerdict

2010 Mazda CX-9 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 229 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.9 times the median CX-9 year — the 2010 model ranks #3 of 17 CX-9 years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

The trouble concentrates in one system: brakes issues account for 40% of all reports (92 of 229), far ahead of engine at 28.

229

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

3

Investigations

8

Crash-involved

5

Fires reported

7

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2010 compare to other CX-9 years?

See all CX-9 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2010 Mazda CX-9 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes9240%
Engine2812%
Transmission2310%
Airbags188%
Suspension167%
Electrical System104%
Speed Control94%
Body & Structure63%
Other52%
Tires & Wheels52%
Lighting42%
Steering42%
Seats31%
Visibility & Wipers21%
Fuel System21%
Seat Belts10%
Latches & Locks10%

Does the 2010 Mazda CX-9 have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

19V782000AirbagsOctober 31, 2019 · 69,879 units

Defect

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 degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

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 of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V356 and 17V012.

18V717000AirbagsOctober 12, 2018 · 155,436 units

Defect

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda 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), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, unless covered in "Zone A," Mazda is recalling certain 2011-2013 Mazda6, 2011-2012 CX-7, and 2011-2015 CX-9 sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Mazda6, 2010-2012 CX-7, and 2010-2015 CX-9 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.

18V018000AirbagsJanuary 9, 2018 · 70,227 units

Defect

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), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, unless covered in "Zone A," Mazda is recalling certain 2010 Mazda6, CX-7 and CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, unless covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2009 Mazda6, CX-7, and CX-9 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

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 service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.

17V429000AirbagsJune 29, 2017 · 205,377 units

Defect

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 event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

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, free of charge. The recall began on August 30, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F. Note: This recall supersedes recall 16V356 and all vehicles that were not remedied under that campaign are now covered by this one.

15V451000SuspensionJuly 20, 2015 · 193,484 units

Defect

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2007-2014 CX-9 vehicles manufactured October 24, 2006, to December 28, 2013. The affected vehicles have front suspension ball joints that may corrode from water leaking into the fitting.

Consequence

Over time, the ball joint corrosion may result in the front lower control arm separating from the ball joint, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace both the left and right lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began on September 14, 2015. The recall will begin with model year 2007-2009 vehicles registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The second phase will be for model year 2010-2014 vehicles in the same states. Finally, all remaining vehicles will be remedied. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 8515G.

10V051000SeatsFebruary 19, 2010 · 12,300 units

Defect

MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CX-9 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRICALLY HEATED FRONT SEATS. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY UNDER EXTREMELY COLD CONDITIONS FOR THE SEAT HEATER CONTROL CIRCUIT TO OVERHEAT AND FAIL DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL GROUNDING.

Consequence

THIS MAY CAUSE BURN DAMAGE OF THE SEAT CUSHION SURFACE, OR A RISK OF SMOKE/FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL GROUND HARNESS ON THE SEAT HEATER CONTROL SYSTEM. THE SEAT HEATER CONTROL CIRCUIT WILL BE REPLACED IF NECESSARY AND/OR THE SEAT WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

DRIVING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS; BRAKES FAILED TWICE WHEN I APPLIED LIGHT PRESSURE. FIRST TIME, THE BRAKES SHUDDERED, BUT THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED AFTER I APPLIED HARD PRESSURE; THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, THE BRAKES SHUDDERED, AND NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I FIRST APPLIED HARDER PRESSURE. EVENTUALLY THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · December 26, 2013 · crash

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A BUSY STREET WHEN SUDDENLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE AC STOPPED COMING OUT COLD, AND THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING WOULD ONLY GO UP TO 20 MPH, THE CAR STARTED MAKING RATTLING NOISES AND I DROVE BY TO THE NEAREST PLACE TO STOP AND WATER FELL OUT OF THE FRONT BOTTOM…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · March 26, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE HAD A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · September 23, 2015 · fire

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED AND WE [XXX] [XXX] PEOPLE ON BACK OF DRIVER SEATS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT....[XXX] HAD A SURGERY FACE WA OPEN 7/3 OF AND INCH ON FACE [XXX] HAD A TBI TO HEMATOMA SURGERY OF THE BRAIN ECT WILL SEND YOU PAPER WORK ON BOTH SURGERYS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · March 9, 2019 · crash · fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA CX9. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V451000 (SUSPENSION) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · June 27, 2016

2010 Mazda CX-9 — common questions

Is the 2010 Mazda CX-9 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 229 complaints put the 2010 model at #3 of 17 CX-9 years. It is one of the CX-9 years to avoid.

What are the most common 2010 CX-9 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (92 complaints), engine (28 complaints), transmission (23 complaints).

Does the 2010 Mazda CX-9 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2010 Mazda CX-9. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2010 Mazda CX-9 under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 3 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Mazda CX-9 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the CX-9 years to avoid are 2012, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2018, 2016, 2007. The cleanest record among CX-9 years belongs to 2022.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.