10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
18,769 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.

2016 Mazda CX-9 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2016 Mazda CX-9 Owner Comments

problem #11

Mar 232024

CX-9

  • miles

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

My seat warmer caught fire and burnt a hole through the seat.

- Milton, MA, USA

problem #10

Sep 192023

CX-9

  • miles
As I am accelerating to merge onto the highway from an on-ramp, while the gas pedal is depressed, I will get a series of sensor alerts simultaneously (city brake malfunction, park assist malfunction, lane assist malfunction, etc.) and my gas pedal becomes non-functional at 60-70mph. It is terrifying especially when there is other traffic around my vehicle. This exact issue has happened 6 times within the past 12-18 months at seemingly random intervals but always when I am accelerating onto the highway at 50-70mph. I typically pull off to the side of the highway and turn off the vehicle. After letting it sit off for ~30 seconds, I turn the vehicle back on and all of the sensor alerts have cleared and the vehicle functions properly including the gas pedal and I am able to rejoin the highway. I took the car to the Mazda dealership in my state of Vermont a few months ago to have them diagnose and address the problem. They had never heard of this issue and were unable to find the root cause or fix it. Please help, this is dangerous!

- Shelburne, VT, USA

problem #9

Jul 082021

CX-9

  • miles
UKNOWN-Seat Heating system in my car gets too hot to the skin where it burns the skin if not turned off. I-??m not able to use it often because even on low setting it gets extremely hot.

- Solvay, NY, USA

problem #8

Nov 012020

CX-9

  • 46,000 miles

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

- the car was purchased new from a Mazda dealer in May 2017 - the driver side cushion heater failed in March 2020. - the passenger side cushion heater failed in November 2020 - both sides exhibited the same problem despite the fact that the usage of the passenger side was about 25% of the driver - from the time the cushion heaters failed, we observed random overheating of the back heaters and recorded "hot spots" of up to 149 deg F (picture attached) - while the cushion heaters don't operate, the backs get too hot for occupants (attached picture of skin reaction) and at one point the passenger side partially melted a plastic shopping bag - Mazda responded to the complaint that the car was outside of the 3-year warranty (expired in May 2020) and there were no related recalls so the company was not interested in any testing or investigation of the problem attached: - picture #1: temperature ir readings - picture #2: effect of the overheating on one of the occupants

- Novi, MI, USA

problem #7

Dec 022019

CX-9

  • 67,000 miles
With no warning the smart brake system malfunction and the front radar system malfunction warnings come on and I am unable to use the cruise control. In addition the parking brake light comes on and the parking brake is not on as I am driving.

- Waxahachie, TX, USA

problem #6

Nov 162018

CX-9 4-cyl

  • 17,061 miles
11/16/18 towed for inoperabilty. Stuck fuel injector/ ruined engine. All panel lights came on. Kept car for 57 days. Fuel injector # 1 failed. We were driving onto interstate. While working on car, exhaust stud broke off into turbo charger housing. Drilled out and rethreaded took back to Mazda dealer to C/O about swooshing noise in R dash said they did not hear. This occurring with acceleration 2/7/19 while driving out of state on interstate, swooshing noise R dash lost acceleration while passing. St peters, mo dealership had to put back on the turbo hose & clamp 5/6/19 back home and again heard the swoosh noise on acceleration. Dealership replaced gasket to turbo charger / air leak with smoke test 9/14/19 again became inoperative while driving out of state immediately after passing large truck, lost acceleration with pedal to carpet. Was told in limp mode smelled something in car compartment. Stuck on narrow county road. Limped to turn off. On inspection by tow truck person, stated was pouring gasoline from front of car. 'this could have caught fire due to 90+ degree temp in tex. Fuel injector # 4 exploded mechanic on inspection told serv mgr this car was put back together in a shoddy manner. The hose to fuel injector had previously been routed wrong when engine replaced. Now waiting on malfunction of fuel injector 2&3. scared to drive car. C/O to Mazda customer rep. His response well U have warranty until 4/2024. That is B/C we took extended warranty. Hollingsworth Mazda in baton rouge, la closed reason unknown. Consumer stated error to vehicle speed instead of 10-15 mph.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #5

Jul 132019

CX-9

  • 30,400 miles

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

In 2017, my car shut off two times, without warning, one time at a stop light and again on the highway going 70mph. We were accelerating at the stop light when it shut off and then driving on the highway. Took the car to the dealership and 72 codes came up. They said it was the dvd players (that they sold and installed!!!) that were causing the issue. They supposedly 'fixed' the issue. Now in July 2019, the car shut off an additional five times. Three times while driving and twice in a parking lot. We were on a highway again when the car just shut off with no warning, lights on the dash started flashing, and the power steering went out one of the times. My husband had to put it in neutral, coast to the shoulder, come to a complete stop and then attempt to start it each time. Cars were dodging us every time and luckily we weren't hurt. My children were in the vehicle every single time. We had the car towed to the dealership where 68 codes came up. This time they're saying it's the fuel pump and that they can 'fix' it, but can't 100% guarantee it won't happen again. We were put in a life threatening situation every time, without warning, after giving the dealership a chance to fix it. The car is under three years old and only has 30,400 miles on it.

- Warrenton, VA, USA

problem #4

Jan 312019

CX-9

  • miles
Brake lights come up intermittently, especially when temperature is low. Also, front radar sensor system malfunction and smart brake system malfunction warnings come up also, . this is during the drive.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #3

Jun 052018

CX-9

  • 6,000 miles
Driving to work in the morning at 5:45am on 06/05/2018 going 65 mph and my car cuts engine power and starts lowly declining pressing gas did nothing and multiple notifications flashing such as vehicle system malfunction, forward smart city brake support malfunction, smart brake system malfunction. I had to pull off to the side of the highway I can't even say I can pull off safely because all power was cut. So let the car sit for 5 minutes while off and then restarted and was able to make it work. I took pictures as everything was happening because I know the dealer ship will say something like "welp it ain't happening here so your car is fine." I am very fortunate when I bought the car I decided to lease the vehicle so I can just take the car back. These malfunctions seem like a very severe problem and I do not want to hang on to the vehicle. Once 30K passes I will be super screwed! I called dealer ship and they are booked out 2 weeks so I cant even take the car in right away, plus they aren't even sure if they'll have a rental for me when I drop it off. Also to mention, ac unit already had to be replaced, and a suspension recall. Worse car I've had so far its sucks because Mazda used to be so great. Their service department sucks big time! I never had this type of service or issues this severe with my Chevy. 08/07/2018 I took care in again for same situation along with ac and all Mazda tells me is they are looking into and assure me it will be taken care of this time. (also said last time) I think that they do not know how to fix the issue! I called corporate to ask for a refund and give the car back and all the told me was to give dealership another chance to fix the issue. It is so unsafe to drive and have kids in the car, I am very fortunate to not have my baby nephew and nieces with me when these things were happening.

- Salinas, CA, USA

problem #2

Jun 012018

CX-9

  • 16,000 miles
The infotainment screen containing the backup camera goes blank. The car has 16000 miles on it and has had this problem since new. The dealer has the car multiple times and has not fixed the problem. Research on the internet reveals that there is a major issue with many Mazda vehicles. This problem happens on startup and will continue till shutoff. It may or may not come on upon restart

- Duncansville, PA, USA

problem #1

Dec 182017

CX-9

  • 24,000 miles
Immediately upon making a sharp right turn into a parking spot, the car suddenly accelerated at a very fast pace without me pushing the gas pedal. My immediate reaction was to press on the brake, but it did not stop. The car slammed into a planter in front of me. The car moved so quickly that it was lodged into the bushes and had to be pulled out by a tow truck. I immediately called the dealer service department and told them what happened. The service manager's immediate reaction was to scoff at the idea that the car accelerated on it's own. My husband met me at the dealer and had subsequently found information about a recall of Cx-9 models from 2012 for a similar malfunction. He showed it to the same manager who immediately knew the issue of the recall but was quick to mention it was the 2012 model, not the 2016. The dealer kept the car for a few days and told me it was driven twice and also some info from the computer was reviewed with Mazda tech support person. No data indicating any kind of malfunction in the car and the service guy did not have a problem with it in two short test drives, so they said come pick it up it's safe to drive. However, I will never drive this car again. This is the fully-loaded signature Cx-9 that they feature in all their ads. I loved this car at first sight and drove it over 24000 miles in less than 2 years. This experience scared me to the point that I will never drive this or another Mazda again. I have had over a week to process this experience and am just happy my kids weren't in the car or that I didn't hit someone. I have found several other instances of sudden unintended acceleration online and cannot believe that this happens in 2017. I hope that this documentation helps someone else in my shoes feel that they are not crazy and this does happen. Shame on Mazda for not fully addressing this issue.

- Fillmore, CA, USA

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