CarComplaints.com Notes: The only area of real concern for 2013 Mazda CX-9 owners is the brake booster.

In 2014, Mazda extended the warranty on the 2007-2013 CX-9 brake booster to 7 years / 90,000 miles. However this extended warranty has expired for most affected CX-9 owners, so buyer beware.

This Mazda CX-9 brake booster failure isn't terrible in terms of repair cost — it "only" costs $550 average to fix. However it is a safety issue when the brake booster fails as it increases stopping distance. Owners have reported having to stomp on the brake pedal, & crashes/injuries have been reported due to this CX-9 brake booster defect.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,280 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Mazda CX-9 brakes problems

brakes problem

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2013 Mazda CX-9 Owner Comments

problem #16

Oct 192021

CX-9

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Brakes failed while driving. Mazda dealer did not fix this known defect under recall SSP93

- Narragansett, RI, USA

problem #15

Aug 142020

CX-9

  • 66,000 miles
The brake became very stiff and made a hissing sound when applied while driving. I brought my car to an independent mechanic and back to the dealer where I brought the car and they both confirmed that I needed to replace the brake booster. That the hissing sound was leakage.

- Northbrook, IL, USA

problem #14

Mar 052020

CX-9

  • 107,000 miles
Brake booster hissing when applying breaks while traveling and stopped.

- Battleground, WA, USA

problem #13

Jun 102019

CX-9

  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Brakes pedal on my wife's car became hard when pressed on (regardless of speed) and noticed a hissing noise when applying brakes. The worst and scariest part is that the brakes didn't stop the car and felt as if I was applying the brakes on a car that was not turned on. Luckily we didn't get into any accident and stop driving the car. Had car towed to mechanic who informed me that the brake booster was bad and needed to be replaced. Checking online and this appears to have been an known issue with earlier CX9 cars.

- Commack, NY, USA

problem #12

Apr 222019

CX-9

  • miles
A faulty brake booster.

- Seabrook, TX, USA

problem #11

May 202018

CX-9

  • 99,000 miles
My brake pedal became very hard to press down to stop my vehicle. A hissing sound was coming from the pedal. Even at low speeds 20-30 miles per hour I was not sure if my car would stop. I was pressing down on brake pedal has hard as I could. Took it in for repair 5/22 I was told it was the brake booster assembly this was known to be faulty in this model Mazda but to recall was incorporated. Repair cost was $760 put of my pocket.

- Richfield, MN, USA

problem #10

Apr 072018

CX-9

  • 48,841 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2013 Mazda Cx-9 has 48,841 miles on it. Brakes recently started making a hissing noise then became hard to depress. I had a difficult time stopping the vehicle to avoid a collision on several occasions. Also, I was sitting at an intersection with construction and had to sit through several red lights, brakes were making the hissing noise and the vehicle's rpms started fluctuating and my car died. When I put the car in park, the rpms stopped fluctuating but as soon as I put it in drive with the brakes depressed, the rpms started fluctuating again. I researched the issue and found numerous online complaints regarding this issue mainly with 2012 Mazda Cx-9 brake power boost unit failure. I contacted the Mazda dealer to schedule service and they advised there is no known warranty extension or recall for this issue for my VIN.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #9

Feb 252018

CX-9

  • 51,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Mazda Cx-9. while driving 45 mph, the contact heard a hissing sound when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to browning Mazda (18827 studebaker rd, cerritos, ca 90703, (562) 924-1414) where it was diagnosed that the vacuum seals failed on the brake power booster, and the brake power booster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was informed that the issue was due to wear and tear. The manufacturer provided case number: 1-1231715620. The approximate failure mileage was 51,000.

- Fullerton, CA, USA

problem #8

Feb 092017

CX-9

  • 67,950 miles
Tried to stop the vehicle while driving and the brake pedal made a hissing sound as if air was escaping. The vehicle also kept moving even though the brake pedal was fully pressed to the floorboard. Took the vehicle in to the Mazda dealership the next day and it was confirmed that the brake booster had failed internally.

- Lake Elsinore, CA, USA

problem #7

Sep 172016

CX-9

  • 67,000 miles
Brake pedal became very difficult to depress, with hissing sound. Had to fully depress pedal to be able to stop from moderate speeds of 20-30mph. Research indicates the Cx-9 has experienced brake booster failure with this symptom in previous model years.

- Belmont, CA, USA

problem #6

Apr 292016

CX-9

  • 96,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

A truck swerved into my lane and I tried to brake. The pedal didn't immediately depress so I had to serve. Jumped a curb and hit a sign. More than $11,000 of damage. The brake is very difficult to depress quickly.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #5

Mar 122016

CX-9

  • 34,000 miles
Loss of braking power and hissing noise heard in the engine compartment. The first time you brake it felt okay but any subsequent braking it felt like there were no power brakes. Brake pedal had to be pushed really hard to get it to even stop. When stopped at a light facing down hill, brakes started to slowly loose grip and caused the car to roll forward. It felt like brake fluid was slowly being drained. I had to consider putting the car in park while stopped at a light so as to not run into the car in front of me. We took it to the dealer and they found that the brake booster was completely faulty and they replaced it. Brake problems have existed on other Mazda Cx-9 vehicles: 2008, 2010 & 2011. NHTSA already investigated the 2010-2011 Cx-9's and Mazda "extended the warranty" on those vehicles. What about the 2013 Cx-9's" why was the problem not yet remedied on the 2013? what good is a vehicle if you cannot stop" safety should be first priority and Mazda has failed miserably with the brakes. The brake booster was supposedly "fixed" under warranty, the next day the orange wrench mechanic light illuminated on the dashboard and cruise control broke failed to engage. It turns out the brake booster and braking switch was still faulty even after the dealer fixed it. The vehicle thought the brakes were continously being pushed so the cruise control would not engage, even though no brakes were being pushed and we were driving 55 mph down the interstate. We took it back and they have supposedly "fixed it this time". this is the 3rd major repair (also faulty and replaced or will be: Torque converter, transmission, lower control arms and ball joints) of this vehicle and it is now less than 3 years old! I do not think I would buy another Mazda again.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #4

Oct 082015

CX-9

  • 30,000 miles
Lost control of vehicle coming down a ramp in a parking garage, causing me to strike pole in garage, or would have careened over 6th fl railing down 6 stories to street. Vehicle in motion.

- Harahan, LA, USA

problem #3

Oct 062015

CX-9

  • 32,885 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Mazda Cx-9. while driving 40 mph, the brakes made a hissing sound when engaged. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 32,885.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #2

Jun 082014

CX-9 6-cyl

  • 13,800 miles
Noticed a hissing sound on my 2013 Mazda Cx-9 upon braking -only because radio was off. Brakes began requiring extra force in order to stop. Was at a stop light and realized vehicle slightly roll forward. Periodically brakes would become tight and feel like car had turned off especially upon parking and backing up. Explained symptoms to service tech at Mazda and scheduled to have vehicle looked at. Upon driving to dealership (during morning traffic) I was cut off by another vehicle and had to slam on brakes which in it's most important moment failed!! I ended up swerving into oncoming traffic and was completely blessed not to have hit or have been hit by another vehicle. Ironically this all happened right outside the doorsteps of the dealership. I was completely shaken up and very emotional. How do brakes on a brand new car fail to work"?? service tech said it was the brake booster that failed and stated "I was a very lucky girl". my car since has been fixed, however, I am fearful to drive it again. It would be one thing if it had been an isolated incident, I understand nothing in this world is perfect, however, this is not an isolated but yet common problem. I was told when the brake booster gets hot or overheats it causes a leak which in turn creates the brake failure. Really?" I live in Florida it's always hot! so basically even though the brake booster has been "fixed" there's a chance for it to happen again. I'm sorry but I'm not willing to take a chance on my life again! not sure why there hasn't been a recall yet. Perhaps someone has to be seriously injured or worse. Please, please be cautious if any of the symptoms mentioned arise and have the car towed and not driven to your dealership or mechanic.

- Ocoee, FL, USA

problem #1

May 302014

CX-9

  • 21,000 miles
While driving my 2013 CX9 I noticed the brakes required extreme force to engage and I heard a hissing sound when I engaged my brakes. Since I had the same issue with the brakes on my 2010 model, I immediately contacted the dealership where they are currently repairing the brakes under warranty.

- Booneville, AR, USA

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