Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2021 | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 5% | 130,000 miles |
| 2018 | 2 | 2% | 28,000 miles |
| 2016 | 2 | 2% | 49,000 miles |
| 2015 | 2 | 6% | 7,000 miles |
| 2014 | 3 | 6% | 23,000 miles |
| 2013 | 9 | 13% | 30,000 miles |
| 2012 | 23 | 10% | 75,000 miles |
| 2011 | 22 | 13% | 105,000 miles |
| 2010 | 12 | 7% | 70,000 miles |
| 2009 | 16 | 27% | 146,000 miles |
| 2008 | 28 | 16% | 120,000 miles |
| 2007 | 11 | 16% | 70,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Takata recall according to your airbag recall list website (http://www.safercar.gov/rs/Takata/takatalist.html), the 2014 Mazda CX-9 is part of the Takata recall, however when you use the look-up tool, it is not listed as under recall (https://www.NHTSA.gov/recalls). Please confirm whether my vehicle is under recall. When will Mazda update their info on this and begin notifications?
Takata recall my complaint is that I have received several notices referencing the Takata airbag problem. Mazda has still not initiated a recall. I have supplied my email address to the tkrestucturing.com/ppic in reference to the chapter 11 case no. 17-11375 (bls). My complaint specifically is against Mazda and why they are dragging their feet in initiating recalls for the affected airbags. We have not had an issue yet, but do fear what could happen if a vehicle crash would deploy the airbags. Injuries and even death could happen. Mazda needs to begin issuance of the recall notices asap. I am using today's date below since a date is required to continue.
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.
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.
My driver and passenger side curtain airbags randomly deployed without a collision. Thankfully I was at a stop sign when this happened. If it happened while I was driving, I'm sure I would have wrecked and could possibly be dead. It was loud! I thought I'd been shot or that I'd driven over a bomb. We did take the car to someone that's certified in airbags and it was stated that this was due to a manufacturer's defect. I also have lots of pictures. There was no warning when the airbags deployed. Mazda is refusing any responsibility due to the car being outside of the warranty.
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Mazda CX-9. While driving 2 MPH, a pick up truck rear ended the contact's vehicle. In turn, the contact crashed into a third vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.
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.
Related recalls (5)
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 American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2013 Mazda6 and 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 March 2, 2018.
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.
NHTSA investigations
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda CX-9 years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (28), 2012 (23), 2011 (22), 2009 (16) and 2010 (12) model years. Airbag complaints make up 16% of all complaints for the 2008.
Is there a recall for Mazda CX-9 airbag problems?
Yes — 5 recalls, including 19V-782 (inflator module, Oct 31, 2019); 18V-717 (inflator module, Oct 12, 2018); 18V-018 (inflator module, Jan 9, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mazda CX-9 airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles; 43% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (1 mentions), followed by the air bag/restraint control module (1).
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.