2018 Mazda CX-9

Typical pattern

3% of complaints about the 2018 Mazda CX-9 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2018 vehicle — around the middle of the 182 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.9 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (75 complaints), typically at 6.1 yr or about 11,000 miles.

Complaints: 168
Median age at failure: 5.9 yr
Median mileage: 18,500 n=25
Crash / fire / tow: 4.8% of reports
Safety recalls: 2

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

21V875000 2021-11-12

Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.

Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

19V403000 2019-05-30

Electrical system:wiring

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 CX-9 vehicles. The wiring harness may disrupt electrical communications and disable the passenger frontal air bag, turn signals, and/or engine starting system.

The passenger frontal air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury. Inoperable turn signals prevent the driver from signaling to other drivers, increasing the risk of crash.

In owners’ own words

Other 18,500 mi 1.8 yr in service

CAR SHOWED IGNITION ON WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. SAME DAY WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CAR ENGINE REVVED FOR NO REASON. ALSO WHEN SOMEONE GOT OUT OF PARKED CAR IT SAID NO KEY DETECTED BUT CAR WAS STILL TURNED ON AND KEY WAS RIGHT BESIDE ME.

Other mileage not reported 3.8 yr in service

Internal crack in center display. Mazda Mexico refuses to extend warranty since this model has not yet been called even though other previous models already have the warning

Other mileage not reported 4.1 yr in service

The Mazda connect touch screen has started cracking in the corners 3 so far the past 4 months. I cannot feel the cracks. They are spreading and I am concerned eventually I will not be able to use my navigation. System at all as I will not be able to read it. I am concerned the touch ability will be lost. I understand many other Mazdas have this same defect but my model is not covered under the extended warranty like the other Mazda owners were given - the extended warranty covers vehicles older than mine. It is the same defect.

Electrical system 10,352 mi 1.0 yr in service

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CAR TO AN ABRUPT STOP AND I HAD NO CONTROL. THE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH ALL TYPES OF WARNINGS AND HEAT WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR.

Other CX-9 model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2018 Mazda CX-9

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

Other CX-9 model years

How to read this