Driving through light snow on an incline (paved surface) in Maine. After several miles, 4WD High Load indication pops up and rear wheels deactivate, leaving us with FWD only; start sliding down the hill. Had to turn CX-9 off and on again several times to continue up the hill and reset the warning. When we exited the car, we could smell a "hot" kind of odor coming from under the car.
Note, we were NOT pushing the vehicle that hard. This was a normal, paved road on an incline.
Took the vehicle to the dealer, found the 4WD High Load indication a result of the rear differential overheating. The tech and service department couldn't replicate the issue. I had read a theory online that Mazda took the CX-5 AWD system and put it on the CX-9 without beefing it up for the additional weight. Lead Tech said the parts look very similar, but unable to tell for sure.
Major concern that the AWD system in the CX-9 can't cope with prolonged usage. Unresolved.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Driving through light snow on an incline (paved surface) in Maine. After several miles, 4WD High Load indication pops up and rear wheels deactivate, leaving us with FWD only; start sliding down the hill. Had to turn CX-9 off and on again several times to continue up the hill and reset the warning. When we exited the car, we could smell a "hot" kind of odor coming from under the car.
Note, we were NOT pushing the vehicle that hard. This was a normal, paved road on an incline.
Took the vehicle to the dealer, found the 4WD High Load indication a result of the rear differential overheating. The tech and service department couldn't replicate the issue. I had read a theory online that Mazda took the CX-5 AWD system and put it on the CX-9 without beefing it up for the additional weight. Lead Tech said the parts look very similar, but unable to tell for sure.
Major concern that the AWD system in the CX-9 can't cope with prolonged usage. Unresolved.
- Ryan S., Quincy, MA, US