Steering complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 15% | 12,000 miles |
| 2022 | 1 | 9% | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 3% | 4,000 miles |
| 2019 | 2 | 4% | 11,000 miles |
| 2018 | 3 | 2% | 4,000 miles |
| 2017 | 2 | 3% | — |
| 2016 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2015 | 1 | 3% | 8,000 miles |
| 2014 | 3 | 6% | 40,000 miles |
| 2012 | 7 | 3% | 18,000 miles |
| 2011 | 4 | 2% | 70,000 miles |
| 2010 | 4 | 2% | 128,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 3% | 74,000 miles |
| 2008 | 19 | 11% | 104,000 miles |
| 2007 | 8 | 12% | 90,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
the cars engine makes loud rattling noise and slips gear. the vecicle jerks hard and feels as if transmission is slipping. car hesitates when i shift into gear, followed by a jerking and jolting into gear. my brakes are replaced frequently. mazda at 65643 miles on car found excess operating noise coming from engine coolant/water pump due to internal bearing failing. they replaced the water pump. software (pyd8-18881-f) replaced. the vehicle has 74000 miles and has same problem. when stopped at a traffic signal it lunges forward at times. and shifts slow to fast gears. this problem is not resolved. the first time it was allegidely fixed was 22Dec2021 it is now 05Oct 2022
Steering makes knocking noises when turning. It happened suddenly with no damage to car to cause it. It was fine prior to parking, when the car was restarted and the wheel was turned knocking noise started. Mechanic found there is a tsb for this problem but no recall.
I purchased the car with 7,000 miles and since the beginning there has been a humming noise every time I turn the steering wheel to either side. I took it to the dealer and they told me it was a piece of plastic stuck to the control arm. The car continued making the noise only audible on a quiet night and now the car has 30,000 and humming is more pronounced day and night with only slight turn angle. The other issue is the drivers seat has a little play, felt during turns. And the last issue is the USB just stopped working
1) when left parked for 2-3 days, Mazda CX-9 (mine is 2013) consistently drains the battery 2) on my grand touring the steering has a shake at above 60 MPH the above problems are common on all Mazda CX-9 and consumers are spending $$$ on these manufacturer issues
After hearing low rumbling sound and smelling burnt oil, car was taken to dealer for check up. They informed me of known issue, front PTU leaking oil due to design flaw that put the PTU so close to the exhaust. I am seeing that other owners of this model are also reporting fires due this same exact problem, apparently unbeknownst to me Mazda has provided extended warranty up to 90k miles but not actually informed the owners of this as a potential catastrophic problem. my personal review has informed me that fire seem to be most common between 110,000 and 130,000 mile ranges.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Mazda CX-9. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle jerked to the left without warning and crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 17,804.
The power steering assist failed and it was impossible to back the car out of a parking space. After moving the car back and forth and slightly turning the steering wheel the power assist came back. It is impossible to make a turn without the power assist. This problem persists and happens at low speed or when I am stopped and trying to make a turn. As long as I am moving the power assist seems to work.
As I was driving my car on a city street, I lost all steering and braking ability. The first time it happened - mazada thought it was a suction from the brake and a tube that was broken. However it just happened again as I was reversing in a parking lot. The car is now with mazada being looked at...
Related recalls (1)
Steering
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014, 2014-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2013, to December 2, 2015, and 2013-2015 CX-9 vehicles manufactured…
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower mounting nuts and bolts that secure the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda CX-9 years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (19), 2007 (8) and 2012 (7) model years. Steering complaints make up 11% of all complaints for the 2008.
Is there a recall for Mazda CX-9 steering problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 16V-203 (steering, Apr 11, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mazda CX-9 steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles; 42% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the linkages › tie rod assembly (2 mentions).
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.