Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Mazda CX-9, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine21
- Unknown or other6
- Power train5
- Forward collision avoidance4
- Service brakes4
- Vehicle speed control3
- Air bags2
- Electrical system2
- Back over prevention2
- Steering1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 10 2021 CX-9 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2021 Mazda CX-9 failed the safety check 0.76% of the time — 19% less often than the average 2021 passenger car (0.95%). Median odometer at inspection: 20,868 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
964 2021 cars are on the New Zealand register; 1% arrived as used imports, 99% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 2 variants; 2 of 2 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Mazda CX-9 SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 15.9 % |
| 2021 Mazda CX-9 SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | 15.1 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Standard
- Lane departure warning
- Standard
- Best overall rating
- 5 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 10.5 L/100 km (about 22 mpg US), CO₂ 244 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| CX-9 4WD · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 11.6 | 9.1 | 10.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2021 Mazda CX-9.
| 2021591 24 Sept 2021 | Seats And Restraints Issue: On certain vehicles, the forward/backward slide mechanism for the left side of the second-row seat may allow the seat to slide forward in a crash. No… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CX-9 vehicles equipped with 60/40 split bench second-row seats. The left-side second-row seat may unexpectedly slide forward during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mazda told its dealers about the 2021 Mazda CX-9: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011141 | Some customers may report concerns with interior upholstery surface stains particularly on high contact areas (e.g.: seats, steering wheel, door panels, shifter...etc.). This may be caused by skin oils or chemicals such as hand lotions. |
| 11011140 | When the Telematics Control Unit (TCU) replacement is necessary due to a failure, use MDARS to activate the new TCU after replacement. Use the information in this service alert to initialize the new TCU until the procedure on MGSS is updated. |
| 11011138 | Some customers may complain about any of the following: 1. Infotainment Center Display does not provide the Authorization Code (OTP) during the MyMazda App Connected Vehicle enrollment. 2. Remote function(s) inoperative. Engine Start / Stop Door Lock / Unlock Lights ON / OFF Climate Control 3. MAZDA CONNECT connected vehicle reception strength icon shows "X" or "\". |
| 11009663 | SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM - SSPD5 - WARRANTY EXTENSION - MULTI-MODEL - VALVE STEM SEALS CLASS ACTION In conjunction with a Class Action Settlement, Mazda Motor Corporation has decided to conduct an extension of the Engine powertrain warranty related to excessive oil consumption. In addition, there is a Reimbursement Program, for limited qualifying out-of-pocket expenses (prior oil changes and additional oil purchased before the normal oil change interval due to oil consumption concerns) on certain CX-9, CX-5, Mazda6, Mazda3, and CX-30 vehicles equipped with a 2.5L turbocharged engine with the af |
| 11009654 | The SKYACTIV-DRIVE FW6A-EL AT uses Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) Type: FZ. Only use ATF-FZ to fill or top off the fluid level. ATF-FZ is specially designed for use in the SKYACTIV-DRIVE series AT. It is a low viscosity formula with less friction for better fuel economy. NOTE: ATF-FZ is colored blue for easy identification. |
| 11009644 | Some vehicles exhibit brake related concerns such as brake noise, brake judder or brake dragging. If you encounter a customer complaint for any one of these symptoms, refer to the following information to understand why symptoms may occur, and to better assist the customer in resolving their specific brake concern. |
| 11009634 | Some customers may complain that the power liftgate (PLG) may open unintentionally while the vehicle is parked or stopped. Due to the shape of the 7th generation remote transmitter, the power liftgate button may be long pressed unintentionally in a pocket or a bag. To eliminate this concern, the keyless control specification has been modified. The button press time has been increased from 0.5 seconds to 1 second. |
| 11008580 | Mazda Connect Services - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) |
| 11008579 | Mazda Connect Services - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) |
| 11008578 | When the Telematics Control Unit (TCU) replacement is necessary due to a failure, use MDARS to activate the new TCU after replacement. Use the information in this service alert to initialize the new TCU until the procedure on MGSS is updated. |
| 11008577 | Some customers may complain about scratches on the instrument cluster lens. |
| 11008576 | Qi Wireless Charger symptom troubleshooting. |
| 11008575 | Some customers may complain about the Active Driving Display not displaying turn by turn (TBT) travel direction or navigation information. |
| 11008574 | Some customers may experience a Connected Vehicle failure. The MyMazda App may display an Error Code. This document provides Error Code description and recovery information to assist with repairs. |
| 11008573 | Some customers may complain about any of the following: 1. Infotainment Center Display does not provide the Authorization Code (OTP) during the MyMazda App Connected Vehicle enrollment. 2. Remote function(s) inoperative. Engine Start / Stop Door Lock / Unlock Lights ON / OFF Climate Control |
| 11008571 | Customers having MAZDA CONNECT concerns should have their vehicle repaired using the following repair procedure. |
| 11008568 | Some customers may experience a Telematics Malfunction message in the instrument cluster with DTC U3000:00-TCU (Emergency call unit/telematics communication unit internal malfunction) or U3000:04-TCU (Telematics communication unit internal malfunction) stored in memory. This is caused by improper control software of the telematics communication unit (TCU). To eliminate this concern, the control software of the TCU has been modified. |
| 11007029 | For improvement of electrical diagnosis, the SKYACTIV Wiring Terminal Test Kits has been delivered all the dealers. The terminal test kit enables you: To check pin fit drag of all PCM terminals used in SKYACTIV vehicles and compare suspect terminal drag with a known good terminal. To measure the voltage/resistance avoiding any terminal damage. |
| 11007022 | Some vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.) when parked near a glass building or Low-E windows. This may be caused by the sun's reflection. |
| 11007019 | If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. Aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical concern. Below are a few examples of unusual electrical concerns caused by aftermarket devices. |
| 11007018 | Interior parts made of resin have antistatic coating to prevent dust from sticking on the surfaces, and depending on the conditions of use, the antistatic components may crystallize slightly, giving an appearance of white stains on the surface. To remove the stains, wipe the stained surface with a towel soaked with water mixed with a small portion of a neutral detergent. If the white stains reappear again, simply wipe them again in the same way. |
| 11007013 | Auxiliary key blank cutting procedure. There are currently 2 methods for cutting a new auxiliary key blank. A. Auxiliary Key Trace Cut Method B. Auxiliary Key Code Cut Method |
| 11007010 | Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle is parked. For this concern, inspect the vehicle for any trace of a fluid or oil leak and use the following examples as a guide to determine if it is severe enough to require a repair, or just to clean the area and monitor it at the next service. |
| 11007009 | Some vehicles exhibit brake related concerns such as brake noise, brake judder or brake dragging. If you encounter a customer complaint for any one of these symptoms, refer to the following information to understand why symptoms may occur, and to better assist the customer in resolving their specific brake concern. |
| 11006995 | Customers having MAZDA CONNECT concerns should have their vehicle repaired using the following repair procedure. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)