Most common 2010 Mazda CX9 problems
Share of the 33 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda CX9 complaints by model year
What 2010 Mazda CX9 owners say
Brakes
Upon stopping, brake pedal became hard to depress and car would not brake effectively. Braking action became degraded, time frame was one day. It was intermittent, but would not stop effectively creating a hazard. Unable to judge stopping distance due to brake degradation. Took to mechanic who replaced brake booster, said most likely a vacuum issue. Said this is a recall item on same part for Ford escape 2010 and Lincoln mkz. Ford owns most of Mazda and the cx-9 uses Ford made parts. Upon research, Mazda and NHTSA both know of the issue, but have not issued a recall notice. Ford has warrantied the same part for 150,000 miles, Mazda has not issued recall for same part with same problem and risk. Upon research of online boards regarding the same problem, there have been several repairs by Mazda owners for the same problem. This failure on my car is at 98,000. …
This is regards to the Mazda brake booster issue for the 2010-2011 cx-9. This issue revolves around customer notifications. The extended warranty time is 7 years or 90,000 miles. Mazda mailed out a single letter to owners. Mazda stipulated that the extension was transferable, however they made no effort to notify any of the next owners, not a link on their website even. This means that owners who did not get notified will not know of this issue and May spend about $600-800 to fix the issue even though it is covered (outside a dealer). Due to this being a safety issue with brakes not performing as expected during normal use, this should have been a recall. Any significant loss of braking power during normal use will cause any normal human to panic. …
Air bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Mazda CX9. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V356000 (air bags); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the vehicle's indicators showed that all systems were functioning correctly; however, the air bags and seat belts were malfunctioning. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the contact struck a barrel and the front end of the vehicle became detached. The contact struck the steering wheel and dashboard. The air bags did not deploy. The contact received injuries to the head and chest, but did not require medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the air bag repair was not provided due to parts unavailability. …
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2010 Mazda CX9. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16V356000 (air bags) was received in June of 2016. After contacting the dealer 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.
Engine & cooling
On jan 12, 2019 we were driving home and without warning the temperature gauge spiked and the check engine light came on. The engine stopped and I was able to get the vehicle off the road. I looked to see the coolant reservoir was empty. I was able to refill it, thinking possibly there was a leak. It got us home safely. The next day, enroute to the radiator shop; the same thing happened. After a tow home, then a tow to the radiator shop and eventually a tow home, it was diagnosed as a water pump failure and now a new engine is the answer for the repair. There was absolutly no warning to this happening and the water pump is internal. I understand that the pump can/will wear out. I get it. Where it's located is a joke and I've read it's at least a $1500 - $2000 fix, just for the pump replacement. The main issue is the no warning whatsoever!
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Mazda CX9. The contact stated that while their son was driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled without any warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the water pump failed causing coolant to mix with the engine oil and damaged the engine. The contact then took the vehicle to quirk Mazda (99 mcgrath hwy, quincy, ma 02169, [phone]) who confirmed the previous diagnosis. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the repair was not covered under warranty or recall. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000. VIN not available
2010 Mazda CX9 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Mazda CX9 a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the CX9 to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 Mazda CX9?
The brakes — 15 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (6) and engine & cooling (6).
How many recalls does the 2010 Mazda CX9 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2010 Mazda CX9. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
At what mileage do 2010 Mazda CX9 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 98,000 miles; 17% 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.