The best and worst Mazda CX-9 years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Mazda CX-9s old enough to judge (2007–2021), the 2015 and 2019–2021 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2016 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2021 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2008 Mazda CX-9 · 63.6 per 10,000 sold (2.2× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Control arms, ball joints and bushings, typically around 112,000 miles; then airbags, seatbelts and restraints.
2010 Mazda CX-9 · 67.5 per 10,000 sold (2.3× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Master cylinder and booster, typically around 86,524 miles; then cooling system: radiator, water pump, thermostat, fan.
2012 Mazda CX-9 · 83.5 per 10,000 sold (2.9× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Master cylinder and booster, typically around 56,622 miles; then airbags, seatbelts and restraints.
2016 Mazda CX-9 · 66.7 per 10,000 sold (2.3× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Head gasket and cylinder head, typically around 120,000 miles; then body control and other modules.
Years with the fewest complaints
2015 Mazda CX-9 · 19.4 per 10,000 sold (0.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Cooling system: radiator, water pump, thermostat, fan, typically around 83,874 miles.
2019 Mazda CX-9 · 19.7 per 10,000 sold (0.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Head gasket and cylinder head, typically around 62,756 miles.
2020 Mazda CX-9 · 6.9 per 10,000 sold (0.2× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Driver-assist cameras, radar and calibration.
2021 Mazda CX-9 · 11.9 per 10,000 sold (0.4× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Oil consumption and leaks.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Mazda CX-9 year: 29.2 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Mazda CX-9?
Among Mazda CX-9s old enough to judge (2007–2021), the 2012 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 83.5, about 2.9× a typical Mazda CX-9 year. The 2008, 2010 and 2016 also stand out.
What is the best year for the Mazda CX-9?
The 2020 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Mazda CX-9s from 2007–2021: 6.9, against 29.2 for a typical year. The 2015, 2019 and 2021 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2012 Mazda CX-9?
The most-reported problem on the 2012 Mazda CX-9 is master cylinder and booster, typically around 56,622 miles.
Why aren't the newest Mazda CX-9 years ranked?
The 2022–2023 haven't been on the road long enough. Newer cars have fewer complaints mainly because they're newer, so ranking them would flatter them.
Looking at a specific Mazda CX-9?
See what it’s likely to cost you over the next 3 years from its year and mileage.
Open the cost estimator → Full Mazda CX-9 reportCompare the Mazda CX-9 with
Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.