VehicleVerdict

2012 Mazda CX-9 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 263 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 3.4 times the median CX-9 year — the 2012 model ranks #1 of 17 CX-9 years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 10 injuries in total across these filings.

The trouble concentrates in one system: brakes issues account for 54% of all reports (143 of 263), far ahead of engine at 26.

263

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

2

Investigations

14

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

10

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2012 compare to other CX-9 years?

See all CX-9 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2012 Mazda CX-9 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes14354%
Engine2610%
Airbags239%
Transmission187%
Speed Control114%
Suspension93%
Electrical System83%
Steering73%
Other62%
Fuel System42%
Lighting31%
Visibility & Wipers21%
Seat Belts21%
Body & Structure10%

Does the 2012 Mazda CX-9 have recalls?

4 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.

17V457000AirbagsJuly 18, 2017 · 79,402 units

Defect

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 (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Mazda is recalling certain 2009 CX-7, CX-9 and Mazda6 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 included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Mazda is recalling certain 2007-2008 CX-7 and CX-9 sold, or 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. 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 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 front passenger side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 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 17V-012.

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

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

I HAD AN INCIDENT YESTERDAY RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. MY ACCELERATOR STUCK, MY ENGINE KEPT REVVING, AND I COULD NOT STOP. I KEPT APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT IT FELT AS IF EVERYTHING LOCKED UP. I REARENDED THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME NO DAMAGE TO THEIR CAR AND ONLY MINOR TO MINE. I AM NOW AFRAID TO…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · January 21, 2013 · crash

I HAD AN INCIDENT YESTERDAY RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. MY ACCELERATOR STUCK, MY ENGINE KEPT REVVING, AND I COULD NOT STOP. I KEPT APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT IT FELT AS IF EVERYTHING LOCKED UP. I REARENDED THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME NO DAMAGE TO THEIR CAR AND ONLY MINOR TO MINE. I AM NOW AFRAID TO…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 21, 2013 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · January 23, 2014 · crash

I'VE PURCHASED 2012 MAZDA CX-9 AWD IT LATE NOVEMBER OF 2011.RECENTLY I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER-ASSISTED BRAKES FAILURE INCIDENT .I WAS IN A MINOR FENDER BENDEER. THANK GOD THE DRIVER INFRONT WAS VERY NICE AND DIDNT FILE ANY CLAIM AGAINST MY INSURANCE. WHEN I BROUGHT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · June 2, 2014 · crash

I HAD AN INCIDENT YESTERDAY RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. MY ACCELERATOR STUCK, MY ENGINE KEPT REVVING, AND I COULD NOT STOP. I KEPT APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT IT FELT AS IF EVERYTHING LOCKED UP. I REARENDED THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME NO DAMAGE TO THEIR CAR AND ONLY MINOR TO MINE. I AM NOW AFRAID TO…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · January 21, 2013 · crash

2012 Mazda CX-9 — common questions

Is the 2012 Mazda CX-9 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 263 complaints put the 2012 model at #1 of 17 CX-9 years. It is one of the CX-9 years to avoid.

What are the most common 2012 CX-9 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (143 complaints), engine (26 complaints), airbags (23 complaints).

Does the 2012 Mazda CX-9 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2012 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 2012 Mazda CX-9 under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 2 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.