Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Mazda CX-9 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the contact saw a raccoon and veered off the road causing the contact to hit a tree. The air bags deployed with extreme force causing the contact to have a migraine. A police report was filed. The contact sustained a chest contusion and received medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to a junkyard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 20V035000 (air bags). Oak lawn Mazda (6750 w 95th st, oak lawn, il 60453) was contacted and informed the contact that the recall was already performed prior to the contact owning the vehicle and that they could not further assist. The manufacturer had been informed of failure and informed the contact that they could not assist. The failure mileage was 93,000.
Received initial recall notice (0717a) of the potentially fatal Takata airbag in February 2017 and instructed not to let anyone ride in the passenger side of the car, and was told airbag replacement parts were not available. It is now September, 2017 - over 6 months later - the airbag replacement parts are still not available, we are still having to use a potentially deadly defective automobile but only part of the vehicle since we cannot use the front passenger side, and Mazda has not offered a replacement vehicle. We cannot even sell the car for fair value do to this potentially fatal and at this time, un-repairable, defect. The last recall notice (1317f) instructed us to notify the administrator of the NHTSA if Mazda did not repair the defect within a reasonable amount of time. Over 6 months is not a reasonable period of time.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mazda CX-9. The contact received NHTSA campaign number 17V457000 (air bags). The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the battery became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the battery was replaced. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called the local dealer greiner Ford of casper 3333 cy ave, casper, wy 82604 [phone] who stated that the remedy parts were not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 145,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that the air bag indicator was illuminated. While driving 20 MPH, the steering wheel was loose and pulled while making turns. Additionally, the passenger side of the vehicle shook. The vehicle was taken to cj wilson Mazda (8910 w 159th st, orland park, il 60462) where it was diagnosed that a wheel alignment was needed and a tie rod replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The failure mileage was 237,000.
My vehicle was involved in a front end crash that hit another vehicle on the front passenger side. My sustained enough front end damage to knock the engine off one of its motor mounts and was a total loss but the air bags never deployed. 08 Mazda CX-9.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mazda CX-9. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V451000 (suspension) and 17V012000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the local dealer that was contacted was no longer in business. Additionally, the contact stated that he was unable to reach anyone in Mazda customer service operations. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available for NHTSA campaign number: 17V012000 (air bags). Parts distribution disconnect for NHTSA campaign number: 15V451000 (suspension).
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag warning light remained illuminated when a passenger was not occupying the seat. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnostic. The dealer could not find a problem with the air bag and could not identify why the passenger side air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact called the manufacturer regarding the air bag failure and the manufacturer called the dealer for more information. The dealer stated they could not determine the cause of the air bag light being illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 17,700.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Mazda CX-9. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V429000 (air bags); however, the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called flagship Mazda de la kennedy (marginal ave. Kennedy, km 2.1, urb. Industrial bechara, pueblo viejo, san juan, 00920, puerto rico) and was informed that the part was not available for the repair. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Mazda CX-9. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V451000 (suspension) and 16V356000 (air bags). The part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the vehicle would receive the recall repair. Parts distribution disconnect the contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 05/09/17
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16V356000 (air bags) was received in June of 2016. After contacting the dealer (ladd hanford of labadon, pa) and the manufacturer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed for the recall remedy were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be provided. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
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.
Airbag complaints in other CX-9 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2008 Mazda CX-9?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the air bags of the 2008 Mazda CX-9, 16% of the model year's 172 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Mazda CX-9 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-782 (inflator module, Oct 31, 2019); NHTSA recall 17V-457 (inflator module, Jul 18, 2017); NHTSA recall 17V-429 (inflator module, Jun 29, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2008 Mazda CX-9 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 120,000 miles, and 29% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.