2012 Mazda CX-9

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

2012 Mazda CX-9
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

2012: 221 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
2007	67
2008	172
2009	59
2010	162
2011	170
2012	221
2013	68
2014	54
2015	35
2016	103
2017	61
2018	124
2019	51
2020	19
2021	34
2022	9
2023	12

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

SERVICE BRAKES 63%

63% of complaints: service brakes — 139 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

THE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. BRAKES WERE HARD AND COULD NOT BE DEPRESSED WHEN A VEHICLE STOPPED QUICKLY IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180313

I HAD AN INCIDENT YESTERDAY RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. MY ACCELERATOR STUCK, MY ENGINE KEPT REVVING, AND I COULD NOT STOP. I KEPT APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT IT FELT AS IF EVERYTHING LOCKED UP.

NHTSA ODI report, 20130122

I was driving normally when I started sowing down and noticed the brakes were harder to push. I finally stopped just before almost rear-ending a vehicle in front of me.

NHTSA ODI report, 20230929

ENGINE 11%

11% of complaints: engine — 25 distinct reports on file.

CRASH

Show complaint excerpts

I HAD AN INCIDENT YESTERDAY RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. MY ACCELERATOR STUCK, MY ENGINE KEPT REVVING, AND I COULD NOT STOP. I KEPT APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT IT FELT AS IF EVERYTHING LOCKED UP.

NHTSA ODI report, 20130122

AIR BAGS 10%

10% of complaints: air bags — 23 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

TAKATA RECALL" THIS IS IN RELATION TO CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYING WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED. TRAVELING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND THE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20190108

My driver and passenger side curtain airbags randomly deployed without a collision. Thankfully I was at a stop sign when this happened. If it happened while I was driving, Iâm sure I would have wrecked and could possibly be dead. It was loud!

NHTSA ODI report, 20250204

POWER TRAIN 8%

8% of complaints: power train — 18 distinct reports on file.

CRASH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5%

5% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 11 distinct reports on file.

CRASH

Show complaint excerpts

I WAS TURNING RIGHT INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE CAR DARTED FORWARD.

NHTSA ODI report, 20190510

I HAD AN INCIDENT YESTERDAY RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. MY ACCELERATOR STUCK, MY ENGINE KEPT REVVING, AND I COULD NOT STOP. I KEPT APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT IT FELT AS IF EVERYTHING LOCKED UP.

NHTSA ODI report, 20130122

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2012 — complaint volume: 221

I 20150609 — PE (closed 20150820)

Lower ball joint separation

R 20150914 — suspension

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2007-2014 CX-9 vehicles manufactured October 24, 2006, to December 28, 2013.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace both the left and right lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began on September 14, 2015.

Campaign 15V451000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20171004 — air bags

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2012 CX-7, CX-9 and Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico,...

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge.

Campaign 17V457000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20181109 — air bags

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American...

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4.

Campaign 18V717000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20190502 — PE (closed 20210115)

Inadvertent Curtain Air Bag Deployment

R 20191203 — air bags

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2007-2012 CX-7, CX-9, and 2009-2012 Maza6 vehicles.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019.

Campaign 19V782000 — check if this car was fixed