Most common 2011 Mazda CX-9 problems
Share of the 170 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda CX-9 complaints by model year
Best CX-9 years: 2015, 2022, 2020. Years to avoid: 2012, 2011, 2018, 2008, 2010. Compare all years →
2011 Mazda CX-9 recalls (4)
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 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.
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.
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.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2011 Mazda CX-9:
Inadvertent Curtain Air Bag Deployment
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE19-006) on May 2, 2019 to investigate two Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) and Early Warning Reporting data related to allegations of inadvertent deployment (IAD) of side curtain airbags in Model Year (MY) 2010 through 2013 Mazda CX-9 vehicles. ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Mazda North America Operations, LLC.
Lower ball joint separation
In an July 7,2015 letter to NHTSA, Mazda identified a safety defect that could result in lower ball joint separation in approximately 193,484 model year (MY) 2007 through 2014 Mazda CX-9 vehicles (NHTSA Recall No. 15V-451,Mazda 8515G).Mazda indicated that damage to the ball joint boot may allow water to enter the front suspension ball joint fitting during use which may result in premature ball joint wear and a…
Brake Booster Failure
In March 2014, Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda) initiated Special Service Program SSP93 to extend the warranty coverage for a specific brake booster fault condition on model year (MY) 2007-2013 Mazda CX-9 vehicles.According to Mazda's dealer communication for SSP93, the subject vehicles may exhibit a condition were the brake pedal is harder than usual to depress.
What 2011 Mazda CX-9 owners say
Brakes all 99 →
The contact owns a 2011 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the brakes. The contact stated that the brake pedal was firm and difficult to depress while attempting to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 67,000.
Braking trouble recent in weeks in 2011 Mazda CX-9 vehicle. Had mechanic (Euro Motorsports in Chagrin Falls OH) check it out. Turned out to be a faulty Brake Booster. Mechanic test drove car; braking failed and he almost rear-ended another vehicle. He found on line a Mazda service notice dating from April 4, 2014 called SSP93. Mazda issued an extended warranty of 7 years or 90,000 miles, whichever came first, to have defective part replaced by an improved part. But we were never informed by Mazda of Bedford, where we bought the vehicle. Currently, our vehicle has about 83,000 miles. Never knew there was a problem until recent trouble with the braking. There are thousands of CX-5, Cx-7, and Cx-9 vehicles in operation in U.S. right now; probably many owners have no idea there is a brake defect in their vehicles that could cause a serious accident, potentially fatal. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 25 →
I had an issue with the AWD not engaging and the 4x4 light illuminating when driving on snow and ice. No indicators when driving under normal conditions. I had no traction and had difficulty maintaining control of the vehicle while driving at speeds less than 25 mph. I had difficulty gettting momentum from a stop as the tires were spinning and engaging tracion. I took the car into a Mazda dealership for a full circle inspection and found that the 4x4 light was illuminating due to worn-out splines connecting the transfer case. The technician was able to spin the driveshaft, indicating the splines are damaged and need to be replaced. Recommendations were to replace the transmission and transfer case with a repair estimate of $5469.61. …
The front driver-side lower ball joint suffered a catastrophic structural failure and sheared completely apart while moving. This vehicle was previously serviced under Safety Recall Campaign 15V451000 / Mazda Recall 8515G for this exact defect. The recall remedy part failed a second time, collapsing the front wheel assembly, ripping the CV axle completely out of the transmission casing, causing a hazardous transmission fluid spill, and leaving the vehicle stranded and immobilized in the middle of a live roadway in the dark
Air bags all 22 →
The contact owns a 2011 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle at a slow speed in the driveway, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration, lurched forward, and crashed into a tree before coming to a stop. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle during the sudden unintended acceleration. During the failure the vehicle sustained front end damages, but no air bags had deployed. No injuries were reported. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that twice in the day before the unintended acceleration, the vehicle jerked forward in traffic however, the contact attributed the issue to the brake pedal not being firmly depressed or the clutch not properly engaged while shifting gear. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Mazda cx9. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 13 MPH and attempting to slow down, the brake pedal was harder than usual to depress. As a result, the driver rear ended the vehicle in front causing a five vehicle collision at a traffic light. None of the frontal air bags deployed. The police were present and a police report was filed. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot where the insurance company was scheduled to have an inspector inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA action number: pe14005 (service brakes, hydraulic). The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.
2011 Mazda CX-9 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 16 / 22 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Mazda CX-9 a good car?
Based on 170 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 CX-9 rates avoid: 2.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the CX-9 at the same age. It is one of the CX-9 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Mazda CX-9?
The brakes — 99 complaints, 58% of all complaints for this model year, most often about power assist › vacuum. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (25) and air bags (22).
How many recalls does the 2011 Mazda CX-9 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2011 Mazda CX-9, the most recent from October 31, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda CX-9?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2022 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2011, 2018, 2008 and 2010. See the full Mazda CX-9 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Mazda CX-9 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 74,000 miles; 21% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.