Skip to content
KLUNK
KLUNK

2008 Mazda Cx-9

The Verdict

60 Solid Pick

The 2008 Mazda Cx-9 has 172 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (73 complaints) and electrical (36 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 60/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Mazda Cx-9, consider the 2022 model year which has 94% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2022 has 94% fewer complaints

View the 2022 Mazda Cx-9 dashboard →

60

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 1

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

09V066000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

MAZDA IS RECALLING 30,600 MY 2007-2009 CX9 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER ADJUSTABLE SEAT WITH POSITION MEMORY FUNCTION. THE SEAT HARNESS ROUTED UNDERNEATH THE SEAT CUSHION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE FR...

Risk

DRIVERS WILL EXPERIENCE CERTAIN FUNCTIONS THAT ARE UNCONTROLLABLE WHICH WILL CAUSE SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES IN DRIVING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT HARNESS AND FASTEN THE SEAT FRAME WITH A CABLE TIE. THE HARNESS COVERING WILL BE REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 16, 2009. ...

Reported Apr 10, 2026

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2008 Mazda Cx-9. No spam, no marketing.

Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20074362098
2008732936925
200914161856
20103487242921
20111395241622
201223130282713
2013191610175
20141794222
2015934181
20169810675
20171200472
201821813784
20192017212
202052471
2021843172
202241301
202382200

By Category

Body
73
Electrical
36
Brakes
29
Transmission
25
Engine
9

By Severity

1
72
2
87
3
3
4
10

Worst Problems

Complaints

Brakes 1

While driving the vehicle the brakes became hard to depress and a hissing came from my steering column, the car would not stop or respond to stop. I had to downshift to Neutral to get the speed slow enough to stop - and had passed through an intersection while in failure. I had also had symptoms I did not know at the time may be related which was at a stop at dunkins or a drive through at a stopped position - where the car would run rough the last few weeks. I thought the rough idle was gas related. I can no longer drive the vehicle and am told this is brake booster/pump issue / that other of the same parts in fords and other manufacturers are now extending customer sat programs like 13N02 because of faulty parts in the brake booster. the vehicle can be towed or seen for this problem. The vehicle has no existing coverage of the faulty brake booster. This is a car insured for my son [XXX][ to drive and It is a safety risk that this went while driving, i'm happy it was myself driving that day. Problem has been confirmed as a brake booster pump/booster failure by a service professional. No warning lights - just not able to stop the car when stepping on the brake. Thanks INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

25mo ago
Transmission 2

Once you get to 70mph it starts shaking like if a the wheels will fall off.

33mo ago
Body 1

It acting like it doesn’t want to hold air. I have to air up my wheels every morning. It’s only the back wheels.

33mo ago
Body 2

In 2017 had my front control arms replaced after the driver side CV arm came off of the axle due to a recall. 5 years later (about 30k miles) the same exact situation happened now with the passenger side making a left turn. Thankfully both times I didn’t cause an accident but came close due to the wheel coming off of the axle. Brought to dealership, they had to get approval from corporate for the repair. Got a call 6 days later saying corporate denied the goodwill repair due to being “normal wear and tear” and they told me to call corporate. Just called corporate and they say that the dealership makes that decision. I shouldn’t have to pay for something that was recalled, repaired, and happened again 100% in the same fashion. Normal wear and tear on a CV arm is not 20-30k miles.

45mo ago
Brakes 2

The contact owns a 2008 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, he noticed that the brakes felt loose and the braking distance had become extended while attempting to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that he heard a hissing sound while depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the brakes failed completely while attempting to stop for a traffic signal and the vehicle rolled into the intersection. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the brake booster was malfunctionin,g and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

48mo ago
Body 1

To whom it concern. Leaking water in my passenger seat, at the beginning we though that was the blower motor, we change it, but then got wet again and it went bad again, but I found out that was a malfunction factory the problem with the air conditioning compressor. I took my car to 3 different shops, where the first two, drained my A/C I give up because I was paying money for nothing. I took the car to Mazda dealer, They told me that my car have a malfunction Factory and was about the a/c system. I talk to Mazda and ask them to replace it, because this was a factory problem. They refuse to do it. I found a recall for Mazda cx5 with the same problem but not my car that is Mazda cx9. Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

54mo ago
Engine 2

KNOCK OR HARD SHIFT IN PARK AS WELL AS IN REVERSE KEEPS BURNING OIL HAD EVERYTHING FLUSHED REPLACED ALL FLUIDS VALVE COVER GASKETS SPARK PLUGS ETC

64mo ago
Brakes 1

SOMETIMES THE BLIND SIGNAL WORKS SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T SOMETIMES IT BLINKS ON THE SCREEN AND WHEN SWITCHING LANES, BRAKES KEEPS GOING OUT BALL JOINT KEEPS POPPING HARD SHIFT OR KNOCK IN REVERSE AND WHEN PLACED IN PARK HAD REPAIR DONE SEVERAL TIMES. DVD WIRES KEEPS GOING OUT/SHORTAGE M. SOMETIMES SEAT BELT BLINKER WORK AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T

64mo ago
Electrical 4

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.

65mo ago
Body 4

LOST CONTROL BRAKES FAILING AND STEERING AND WHEEL LC ABOUT TO FALL OFF DEALERSHIPS SAYING RECALL WAS COMPLETED BUT IT'S DEFINITELY NOT

65mo ago
Brakes 2

MY CONTROL ARMS BEARINGS AND JOINTS ARE RUSTED AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY AREN'T COVERED THEY WERE FIXED 5 YEARS AGO AND THEY ARE DEFINITELY SEPARATED AND HAZARDOUS

65mo ago
Transmission 1

KNOWN ISSUE OF TRANSFER CASE MECHANICAL FAILURE IN ALL CX-9 MODELS FROM 2007-2015. TRANSFER CASE IS TOO CLOSE TO EXHAUST CAUSING THE OIL TO DRY UP. TRANSFER CASE EXPLODES CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. KNOWN ISSUE THAT HAS CAUSE MANY ACCIDENTS.

70mo ago
Brakes 2

I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST THE PRESSURE ON MY BRAKE AND MY CAR WONT STOP. I HAD TO DEPRESSED THE BRAKE SO HARD. THEN I STARTED HEARING A HISSING NOISE WHILE STEPPING ON THE BRAKE.

71mo ago
Transmission 2

I NOTICED IN THE LAST ALMOST YEAR A STRANGE VIBRATION IN THE SUV WHEN I TURN, AS TIME WENT ON IT GOT LOUDER. I HAD COUPLE OTHER PARTS REPLACED THROUGHOUT THIS TIME THINKING THAT WAS THE ISSUE. I THAN FIND OUT RECENTLY IT WAS THE READ REPELLER SHAFT AND ANOTHER PART WHICH CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE ALSO PART OF THE DRIVE SHAFT. NOISE OCCURS WITH DRIVING I NOTICED AFTER SEARCHING IT IS COMMON WITH THIS SUV

72mo ago
Transmission 2

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE A SEVERE SHUDDERING VIBRATION AND LOUD NOISE EMANATED FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE, AS IF FRONT AXEL WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. HAPPENED THREE TIMES SO FAR. ONCE TO MY WIFE, ONCE TO ME, AND ONCE TO THE MECHANIC. VERY FRIGHTENING EACH TIME, CAUSING DRIVERS TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF VEHICLE. THEN VEHICLE DRIVES OK FOR A WHILE. HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT FORWARD. MECHANIC STATES IT IS A FAILED POWER TRANSFER UNIT. MECHANIC'S RESEARCH INDICATED IT IS A BIG PROBLEM IN MAZDA CX-9 VEHICLES, AND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED AND RESULTED IN A SETTLEMENT. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THAT SETTLEMENT DOES NOT COVER MY VEHICLE YEAR (2008), AND IS LIMITED TO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AFTER 2010, AND WHICH MEET CERTAIN SPECIFICATIONS. MECHANIC ESTIMATES REPAIR WILL RUN IN THE $1100-$1500 RANGE. WONDERING IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH REGARD TO THIS PROBLEM AND THE FACT THAT IT SEEMS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT RATHER THEN NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *TR

73mo ago
Electrical 2

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 (307) 462-4090 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.

78mo ago
Body 2

WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR WITHIN 30 DAYS THE AXLE BROKE THEY FIXED IT BUT I HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR FOR 4 MONTHS AND NOW THE TRANSFER CASE IS CRACKED THEY WANT ME TO PAY 800 DOLLARS TO FIX IT BUT I DID NOTHING WRONG HE HASN'T FIXED MY KEY AFTER HE SAID HE WILL HE STATED AFTER THE AXLE WAS FIXED THAT HE NEEDED TO ADD TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH HE DID NOT EVER ADD AND NOW MY TRANSFER CASE IS BROKE I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A LARGE BOOM I THOUGHT THE AXLE BROKE AGAIN AND THE 4WD LIGHT CAME ON SO I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT BACK AND NOW THEY TELLING ME IT'S MY FAULT THAT IT HAPPENED I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BUT DRIVE THE CAR I BROUGHT THE CAR SEPTEMBER 5TH 2019 I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK BECAUSE THE SEAT WOULDN'T WORK THE AXLE BROKE NOW THE OTHER ISSUE

79mo ago
Engine 2

MAZDA CX-9 PROBLEM 130,000 MILES-ON NOVEMBER 25TH, AS I WAS DROPPING MY CHILDREN TO THEIR SCHOOLS, THE DEFROST SUDDENLY STOPS WORKING. I TRY TO TURN THE FAN/HEATER ALL THE WAY, BUT TO NO AVAIL. I HAD TO USE A TOWEL TO WIPE THE WINDSHIELD. AS I PULLED INTO A CURVED SIDE, THE ENGINE TURNS OFF, I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY TO OFF, THEN STARTS THE ENGINE AGAIN, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I PULLED OUT AND DROVE ABOUT SIX HUNDRED FEET AND PARKED. I CALL A MECHANIC AND I DROVE IT AGAIN FOR A MILE TO THE SHOP. HE OPENS UP THE HOOD AND POUR IN SOME COOLANT AND ALL THE COOLANT WERE ON THE FLOOR. HE IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME THAT COOLANT LEAKS AND OIL IS PROBABLY MIXED AND CAUSES THE ENGINE FAILURE. HE TOLD ME I HAD TO CHANGE THE ENGINE, BECAUSE FIXING IT WILL COST ME OVER TEN GRAND. I DROVE IT HOME, THEN THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I TOOK TO A DIFFERENT SHOP, THEY DID THE DIAGNOSIS AND RELATE THE SAME STORY THAT CHECK CODES SHOWED THREE CODES: P0016, CRANK POSITION SENSOR CORRELATION BANK ONE SENSOR A. 1285 CYLINDER HEAD OVER TEMPERATURE, 1299 CYLINDER HEAD TEMP PROTECTION. THE CODES INDICATE AN OVERHEAT SCENARIO THAT RESULTED IN ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THEY CHECK OIL AND FOUND MILKY SUBSTANCE INSTEAD OF OIL. PRESSURE CHECK FOR COOLANT LEAK PUSHED MILKY OIL OUT OF DIPSTICK TUBE. HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING AND THE COOLANT HAS CONTAMINATED THE ENGINE OIL. THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, ASSEMBLY AND FLUSH COOLING SYSTEM. THEIR TOTAL ESTIMATE IS $10,900. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS SERVICE REPAIR. I CANNOT EVEN SPEND THAT MUCH OF MONEY ON ANOTHER CAR. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR THINKING THAT IT WILL TAKE US FOR SOME TIME BEFORE WE'LL NEED ANOTHER CAR. I CONTACTED MAZDA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS, "WISH THERE WERE NEVER PART FAILURES", NOW, I'M STUCK. SO THIS IS MY STORY!!! SAFETY ISSUES: SUDDEN ENGINE SHUT OFF, DEFROST MALFUNCTION AND STEERING WHEEL.

80mo ago
Transmission 1

WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES MAYBE 10-15 AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS HAD TIME TO WARM UP, AS I AM APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL AND IT IS SHIFTING INTO GEARS (USUALLY INTO GEARS 3,4, & 5) THE VEHICLE IS SHOWING THAT IT IS INTO THE NEXT GEAR BUT YOU FEEL IT SHIFT AFTER THE FACT SO IT IS DELAYED AND AS ACCELERATING IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS LAGGING AND TRYING TO SHIFT BUT CAN'T FULLY RIGHT AWAY. I AM ONLY SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I KNOW A COUPLE OTHERS WITH THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE BUT DIFFERENT YEARS AND THEY STATED THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLE AS WELL

82mo ago
Electrical 1

ONE DAY, MY KEYLESS DON STOPPED WORKING. THE NEXT DAY THE DOOR KEPT LOCKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ALMOST EVERY TIME I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. THEN THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULDN'T UNLOCK, WHEN I MANUALLY UNLOCKED THE DOOR IT WAS HARD TO DO. I LUCKILY HAD THE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN, GOT OUT THE VEHICLE AND AS SOON AS I SHUT THE DOOR I HEAR THE DOOR LOCK AND MY TWO YEAR OLD WAS IN THE BACKSEAT! AGAIN LUCKILY I HAD THE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN OTHERWISE SHE MIGHT'VE BEEN STUCK! THEN THE ALARM KEPT GOING OFF AND WOULDN'T TURN OFF UNTIL I UNHOOKED THE BATTERY. IMAGINE MY FRUSTRATION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHO SAID IT WAS THE DOOR LATCH/ACTUATOR. UPON PAYING HEFTILY WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR, THE CLICKING OF THE DOOR LOCKS HAD STOPPED BUT THE UNLOCK BUTTON STILL WOULDN'T WORK AND THE ALARM WAS ONCE AGAIN GOING OFF! NOW THE CAR IS STILL AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND HAD ITS BCM/BCU REPLACED FOR A SUPPOSED 'FIX', I'M SUPPOSE TO PICK IT UP TOMORROW. SO I GUESS WE'LL SEE. THE APPARENT PROBLEM FROM ALL OF THIS? MY CX9 HAS A SUNROOF, WHICH MAZDA KNOWS THESE VEHICLES DON'T DRAIN PROPERLY WHICH CAUSES WATER TO GO TO THE BCM SHORTING IT OUT! THIS IS INEXCUSABLE AND COULD VERY WELL COST SOMEONE'S CHILD THEIR LIFE BECAUSE OF THE DOORS CONSTANT LOCKING AND UNABLE TO UNLOCK SOMETIMES MANUALLY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SEEN IT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND MAZDA COMPANY HAS EVEN ADMITTED THIS FAULT! SO WHY IS THERE NO RECALL?!

83mo ago

172 total

1/ 9
Report a Klunk