What 68 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Mazda CX-9

Engine throwing a code after dying at intersection. Found that it isa known issue for this vehicle and repair costs are astronomical. Diagnostic Summary: 2013 Mazda CX-9 (3.7L V6)Issue: Faulty Crankshaft/Camshaft Correlation (Code P0016)Current Mileage: 160,000 miles Reported Symptoms: Extended cranking (long start), rattle upon startup, and rattle under light acceleration. The 2013 Mazda CX-9 is KNOWN for a serious issue where the internal water pump fails, allowing coolant to leak into the oil, which causes timing chain failure and potential engine destruction. I wish I knew this years ago...

NHTSA ODI 11731017

The contact owns a 2013 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the lower control arm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact had not received documentation of the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was repaired under an undisclosed recall. The failure mileage was approximately 188,000.

NHTSA ODI 11722285

I was pulling into a parking spot in Brooksville, Florida. It was the last parking spot on the block. As I pulled in, I went to hit my brake so that I could back up and the car did not stop. My foot was pressed all the way down to the floor and it kept going, and I hit the car parked in front of me. At that point, a warning came up on my odometer stating “Brake Malfunction “. . Thank goodness no one was hurt. I called the police. When the officer arrived, I explained what happened. He did see the odometer warning. He advised me to take a picture of it which I did. My car was towed to Crash Champions in Wesley Chapel. I explained to them what happened. They repaired my car and told me that They couldn’t find anything wrong with the brakes and everything was calibrated properly. I then asked Mazda to please check the brake system as I was not comfortable driving in this car anymore. I had just gotten off the Suncoast Parkway and thank goodness it didn’t happen on the parkway or I and my sister may have been killed. Mazda checked out the car and told me the same thing “ everything calibrates properly”. They were unable to help me exchange cars without a large sum of money so I had to take it back. I will not drive anywhere except locally and keep a good distance between me and the person in front of me. Again, last week, I was driving on a residential street in Lutz FL there was no cars in front of me and no cars behind me and my odometer lit up “BRAKE” which is what happens when I am too close to the car in front of me. But there was no car in front of me. I called Mazda to speak to the service manager and explained to the receptionist what had happened and he has not responded. It’s been almost a week. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11689655

Niece was driving home from college on July 24, 2024 around 7:30 PM. She heard a pop when she was 1 mile away from the house. Side airbags exploded on passenger and driver side for no reason. She called me. We drove the car home since it was less than 1 mile away. No injuries. A couple of days later took to body shop to assess damage.

NHTSA ODI 11611055

The engine in my Mazda blew with no warning. I got in my car after warming it up and noticed my check engine light on, which wasn’t unusual because it has came on before with a loose gas gap warning, so I put it in gear and drove less than 50 ft before it started making noises. I immediately turned around and came straight home and turned the car off. It started up and all but wouldn’t hold power. I got multiple opinions and no one could tell me why it my engine gave out with no warning. It was current with oil changes and all. I did purchase it used from Beardmore and didn’t have it for a full 2years.

NHTSA ODI 11511035

Water pump is cracked and leaking through weep hole, to no fault of the driver. The vehicle has over 214k miles on it and the mechanic informed us that this is common in this vehicle of this age with that many miles on it. Luckily we caught it before the leaky coolant mixed in with the engine oil and caused the engine to seize up, which after doing my research I'm realizing is a common issue with this make and model of vehicle. No mechanic in our town will fix it since the entire engine has to be taken out in order to get to the water pump. It's just too risky apparently. The only reason I'm reporting is because after doing my research I've found that water pumps breaking is a common issue with 2013 Mazda CX-9s.

NHTSA ODI 11502039

Car began shuddering/shaking and check engine light went on. Booked appointment at Mazda dealer. Upon inspection they found a significant amount of coolant had leaked into engine and timing was jumping. Was advised it should not be driven as the engine could freeze at any moment without warning. The technician provided a video inspection of car showing large amount of coolant inside car's engine. An oil change had been performed less then 2 months earlier (5/19/2022) and no issues were noted.

NHTSA ODI 11473807

I was sitting in the car rider line and my engine started making this loud noise. I looked down at the temperature gage and it started over heating. I went to go pull it over and I noticed that the check engine light came on that's when I was turning in the parking place the engine stalled and i turned the car off. I took it to a local shop and he told me that I need a new engine, because apparently whoever made the car decided it was a grand idea to put the water pump in with the engine. A engine cost about $4,000. Because the water pump is in with the engine it costs about the same as replacing the engine. Thank god I was driving down the main road whenever it happened because me and my daughter could have gotten hurt. Insurance won't pay for it. I don't know how I am going to pay for it.

NHTSA ODI 11466604

Headed out to the store and engine was running rough and CEL was on. Thought it was bad gas because I just put a few dollars in. Added gas treatment and topped off tank and continued to store. Stopped at Advanced Auto near the grocery store so they could pull the code. It was a P0016 - cam position sensor. If that was bad it would explain rough idle. Leaving to come home engine was a bit rougher and realized there was no heat blowing. Only 4 miles from home so kept driving figuring thermostat was broke but was concerned 2 things bad at once. About a mile up the street complete loss of engine power, power everything was on. Had no power steering or brakes. Managed to coast into a parking lot. Shut off engine, and waited. Restarted engine, notice temp gauge starting to go higher - pulled back onto street but again lost power steering and brakes. Managed to pull into parking log of auto repair shop and left vehicle there. Contacted Mazda next day - they agreed it was mostly the water pump failure and could possible fix it. Arranged for tow later in the week. Mazda inspected and said they could not repair. Needs new engine $5000-6000.

NHTSA ODI 11451430

Brakes failed while driving. Mazda dealer did not fix this known defect under recall SSP93

NHTSA ODI 11437888

Trans seems to slip going in and out of 4th gear. Just bought this car 3 days ago and it has been a consistent problem that didn't start until an hour after the purchase once it warmed up. Looks like it's the transfer case, this suv only has 106k on it ! This is absolutely ridiculous, Mazda needs to offer a recall for this issue so those who have the issue don't have to fork out MORE money for an issue that Mazda is well aware of with their vehicles

NHTSA ODI 11432651

I turned in to a parking lot, as I went over a speed bump, the side curtain air bags randomly deployed. Luckily, I was going very slow and was not injured. Had I been on the road I woudl not have been able to see and it could have been very dangerous. The car is at the Mazda service center and they have yet to let us know what is going to happen, if it can be repaired or what they plan to do.

NHTSA ODI 11423422

The water pump went out with no notice or warning, flushed all the coolant/water into the engine and failed. Over a $2K repair for a known engine defect with active lawsuits out. A Mazda water pump lawsuit alleges 2007-2016 Mazda CX-9 and 2009-2013 Mazda6 vehicles are equipped with pumps that suddenly fail and cause catastrophic engine failures. The proposed class action lawsuit alleges the vehicles lose engine power and fail to accelerate and maintain speed. The vehicles also allegedly can't readily control steering and cannot fully engage the brakes. The plaintiffs claim the vehicles are at risk of serious crashes because Mazda has failed to disclose the alleged water pump defects. Please investigate for a recall asap!

NHTSA ODI 11423136

WATER PUMP FAILED AND IMPACTED MY ENGINE AS WELL. I JUST BROUGHT MY CAR IN AS WELL 10/20/2020 NO MENTION OF THIS ISSUE. BEGINNING IN 2007 AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE 2016 MODEL YEAR, MAZDA HAS INCORPORATED ITS MZI CYCLONE ENGINE (THE 'CYCLONE ENGINE') INTO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES, WHICH INCLUDE THE CX-9 FOR MODEL YEARS 2007 THROUGH 2016 AND THE MAZDA 6 FOR MODEL YEARS 2009 THROUGH 2013. THE CYCLONE ENGINE CONTAINS AN INTERNAL CHAIN-DRIVEN WATER PUMP, WHICH MEANS THE TIMING CHAIN IS CONNECTED TO THE WATER PUMP AND PROVIDES THE POWER THE WATER PUMP NEEDS TO CIRCULATE COOLANT THROUGH THE ENGINE WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE CHAIN-DRIVEN WATER PUMP IS LOCATED INTERNAL TO THE CYCLONE ENGINE, BEHIND NUMEROUS ENGINE COMPONENTS, INCLUDING THE TIMING CHAIN COVER. UNBEKNOWNST TO PURCHASERS AND LESSEES OF THESE VEHICLES, THE CYCLONE ENGINE CONTAINS A DEFECT IN DESIGN, MANUFACTURING, MATERIALS AND/OR WORKMANSHIP THAT CAUSES THE WATER PUMP TO SUDDENLY AND PREMATURELY FAIL WELL-BEFORE THE END OF THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE ENGINE, WHICH LEADS TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE OR A COSTLY REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE WATER PUMP'S INACCESSIBLE PLACEMENT IN THE ENGINE. WHEN THE WATER PUMP PREMATURELY FAILS WITHOUT WARNING, COOLANT IS ABLE TO LEAK FROM THE WATER PUMP INTO THE OIL PAN AND/OR OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS, ALLOWING IT TO MIX WITH THE ENGINE'S OIL. THE MIXTURE OF ENGINE OIL AND COOLANT CIRCULATES THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE, LEADING TO DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE. DESPITE HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF THIS DEFECT, MAZDA CONTINUED SELLING DEFECTIVE VEHICLES, FAILED TO DISCLOSE THE DEFECT TO OWNERS AND LESSEES, HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL, AND HAS NOT REMEDIED THE ISSUE AND/OR COMPENSATED OWNERS AND LESSEES OF THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11413454

THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BREAKING SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD GONE ON A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR HAD THIS INCIDENT. WITH CONSIDERABLE FORCE ON THE BRAKE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE WHERE THEY TOLD ME A 'WATER LINE HAD BROKE RESULTING IN THE ENGINE BECOMING SUDDENLY FILLED WITH COOLANT'.

NHTSA ODI 11403483

I WAS DRIVING TO GET A CUP OF COFFEE, I WAS PULLING OUT AND DRIVING THROUGH THE COMPLEX WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FROM NOWHERE, THE AIRBAGS WERE THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. AT THE TIME OF THE DEPLOYMENT T MY CAR WAS STATIONARY, I WAS SITTING WITH MY LEFT BLINKER ON READY TO TURN.

NHTSA ODI 11390465

THE RADIATOR FAILED INTERNALLY WITH NO WARNING, NO LEAKS NO ENGINE LIGHT NOTHING, MIXING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE OIL AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. MY MACHINE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO WAY OF ME KNOWING THIS WAS HAPPENING AND ITS FAULTY THE WAY THEY MAKE THE RADIATOR IT CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN. NOW MY RADIATOR IS BAD AND MY ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING AND SUDDENLY A NOISE STARTED THEN POWER WENT AND PULLED OVER AND WOULDN'T START AGAIN. NO WARNING NOTHING. NO LEAKS NO ENGINE LIGHT PRIOR.

NHTSA ODI 11383969

THE BRAKE BECAME VERY STIFF AND MADE A HISSING SOUND WHEN APPLIED WHILE DRIVING. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE I BROUGHT THE CAR AND THEY BOTH CONFIRMED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THAT THE HISSING SOUND WAS LEAKAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11349740

I BOUGHT MY CX-9 NEW IN 2013, CAR NOW HAS 102,000 MILES. CAR STARTED TO SHUTTER WHEN GETTING OFF THE EXIT FROM A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED WITH THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT. PICTURE INDICATES HEAVY SPLINE WEAR AND CORROSION. TRANSMISSION SPLINE ALSO HAS CORROSION AND WEAR. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THERE'S NO MAINTENANCE REQUIRED BY MAZDA FOR THE PTU OR THE TRANSMISSION. MAZDA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON BOTH THE PTU AND THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MAZDA AND DISCUSSED ON MANY INTERNET FORUMS.

NHTSA ODI 11338892

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATOR HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SANDY SANSING MAZDA LOCATED AT 6105 PENSACOLA BLVD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,022. *BF THE CONSUEMNR STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.*AS

NHTSA ODI 11329606

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO HOLIDAY MAZDA LOCATED AT 416 N ROLLING MEADOWS DR, FOND DU LAC, WI 54937, (920) 322-2550, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,500.

NHTSA ODI 11325986

BRAKE BOOSTER HISSING WHEN APPLYING BREAKS WHILE TRAVELING AND STOPPED.

NHTSA ODI 11322326

IN 2011 WE LEASED A CX9 AND WE ENJOYED IT SO MUCH THAT WE DECIDED TO PURCHASE A CX9 IN 2013. JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I HAD AN EXPERIENCE THAT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING. I WAS DRIVING AND REALIZED THE HEAT WAS NOT COMING ON AND THAT WAS UNUSUAL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SOON AFTER THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. I AM FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. I NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND WE HAD IT BROUGHT TO MAZDA IN DANBURY, CT. WE FOUND OUT THE NEXT DAY THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE WERE SHOCKED AND THEN VERY UPSET TO FIND OUT THAT IT WOULD COST 10,000 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. WE HAVE HAD OUR CAR SERVICED REGULARLY BY COLONIAL MAZDA IN DANBURY, CT. NOW WE HAVE A CAR THAT IS WORTH NOTHING. NOW WE ARE PUT IN A POSITION TO REPLACE OUR CAR AND HAVE NOTHING TO TURN IN TO DEFER THE COST. WITH RESEARCH WE HAVE FOUND THAT DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE MANY MAZDA CX9 HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO THE WATER PUMP LEAKING, THE TRANSFER CASE LEAKING, AND ANTIFREEZE GOING INTO THE ENGINE. IN OUR OPINION, AND APPARENTLY TO MANY CASES WE HAVE READ ONLINE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED IN TO FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ON A SIDE ROAD, SOMEONE ELSE MAY NOT BE AS FORTUNATE. THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE IF FLAWED AND IS MORE THAN LIKELY WHY MAZDA IS NOT HAVING A RECALL, BECAUSE IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 11318576

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND MY MAZDA CX9 CAUGHT FIRE! I DIDN'T REALIZE IT SINCE IT WAS UNDER THE CAR AND THE CAR BESIDE INFORMED ME OF IT. THIS WAS DUE TO THE TRANSFER CASE ISSUES THAT MAZDA HAD TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THEM BECAUSE OF SO MANY ISSUES WITH THEM. THEY ARE COVERED FOR 90 THOUSAND MILES OR 7 YEARS. MY TRANSFER CASE WAS ALREADY REPLACED ONCE AND DO TO ISSUES AND NOW SINCE MY CAR IS PAST THE 7 YEARS BUT ONLY HAS 60 THOUSAND MILES THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT. EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSFER CASE THEY REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO SHOULD STILL BE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SITUATION COULD OF BEEN A LOT WORSE AND THANK GOODNESS MY CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR WITH ME.

NHTSA ODI 11316715

WATER PUMP CAUSED ANTIFREEZE TO MIX WITH MOTOR OIL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO HAVE TO BE REPLACE ON THREE OCCASIONS WITHIN 6 MONTHS

NHTSA ODI 11280993