2010 Mazda CX-9 Powertrain (other) Problems

I had engine failure with a complete loss of power and a shuttering of the steering wheel while pulling into a parking lot and going less than 30 miles per hour. The temperature gauze went from cold to hot suddenly. There were no leaks of coolant or oil and no signs that the engine was out of water or that the water pump had "melted". On the final car repair trip we found out that the engine has an internal water pump that failed and resulted in oil & water getting into the engine. The engine light NEVER came on, I had complained about the tire pressure light blinking on and off in November 2021 and the deceleration issue I was having. The dealer did a coolant flush 11/2021. In early March 2022 the engine shut off as I was backing out of the driveway. I took it to a repair shop nearby they could not find anything wrong except that the car went into limp mode. They also did a coolant flush and radiator cap exchange since I forgot I had just done one on Nov. Less that a week later the engine failed again. We towed the car to the dealer for the third trip in less than four months. I am really disappointed that Mazda failed to recall the engine. I could have been seriously hurt if I had been traveling at high speeds. The CX9 had less than 135,000 miles at 12 years old.

NHTSA ID

11460271

Incident

Mar 15, 2022

The AWD system failed leaving the car dangerous to drive in rain and snowy weather. Car is still stuck in my driveway as the front wheels are spinning and no power to the rear wheels. My Mother's AWD with similar M+S tires drove out with no problems. Waiting for the snow to melt to be able to take my car into the shop. Reading online this seems like a known Mazda issue.

NHTSA ID

11445870

Incident

Dec 31, 2021

Driving on I-5, near Gold Hill, Oregon, when the traction control system light came on and the Vehicle slowed down. I had to push the gas pedal to the floor to get the car to move and I could not shift gears! It shuddered and the wheels seemed to lock up. I could smell burning rubber. I forced the car to the next exit, pulled off and shut it down. I sat there waiting for it to cool off. When I started it again it was a little rough at first but then seemed to get better and I was able to get home. I bought the car in June of 2020 from Lithia Motors in Medford, Oregon. I also bought a Power Train Warranty For $2,500 which was set to expire on 6/10/2021. I called Lithia and made an appointment to take it to them for repairs on June 1, 2021. I got as far as Grants Pass, OR, and it did the same thing I described above. I called a tow truck and had it towed to Lithia in Medford. When I got to Medford, the Service Manager told me I would have to take it to Crater Lake Ford. When I got to Crater Lake Ford I was told to take it to Crater Lake Mazda which I did. I described in detail what the car was doing to.the Service.Manager and told him I feared it was some kind of transmission problem. I also told him I had a power Train. Warranty the would expire on June10thso time was no the essence! I never suspected the brakes because we had the bakes repaired in November of 2020 at Lithia Motors. They were making a hissing sound. They replaced the.brake booster among other brake parts for $1,300 plus. That job was still under warranty. I got a call on June 15th telling me the problem was in the gear shift. He said it was now repaired and I could come and pick it up. I paid $674 for that repair. I got three miles from the dealership and the original problem occurred. I had it towed back to Mazda and it has been there ever since!! They replaced they're (traction control module), but that didn't fix it. After test driving it the original problem occurred! It's still at Mazda.

NHTSA ID

11429182

Incident

May 27, 2021

2010 MAZDA CX-9 AWD TOURING WITH UNDER 120,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A NOISE LIKE DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS IN THE ROAD, VIBRATING THE UNDERCARRIAGE. IT STARTED HAPPENING WHEN LIGHTLY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, TRYING TO MAINTAIN SPEED, NORMALLY AT 1500RPM THEN IT GRADUALLY GOT WORSE AND HAPPENED ALL THE TIME AND THE NOISE GOT LOUDER. SOMETIMES THERE WOULD BE A BURNING SMELL. I SPENT $1000+ ON "FIXES" BEFORE DISCOVERING IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE, ANOTHER $2,000+. SINCE MAZDA ALREADY KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND HAS PROVIDED 2 EXTENDED WARRANTIES FOR THIS ISSUE, THE TRANSFER CASE FOR THE DEFECTIVE YEARS/MODELS SHOULD BE ON THEM. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE HAVING TO REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASE MULTIPLE TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11400229

Incident

Mar 10, 2021

Mileage

119,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING, 40-45 MPH THE TRANSMISSION STARTS JERKING AND SHUTTERING. FINALLY MAKES IT TO 5TH GEAR. THEN DOES THE SAME THING WHEN SHIFTING FROM 5TH TO 6TH GEAR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ENTIRE SUV STARTS SHAKING AND JERKING. FEAR COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11331680

Incident

Apr 6, 2020

Mileage

102,438 mi

TRANSFER CASE FOR MY MAZDA CX-9 HAS GONE BAD FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. MOST RECENTLY THE TRANSFER CASE WAS BURNING CAUSING A POWERFUL SMELL WHICH WENT THROUGH MY ENTIRE HOUSE. THE SMELL WAS SO BAD THAT I ACTUALLY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO VERIFY I DID NOT HAVE NATURAL GAS LEAK. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CX-9 AND DEFECTIVE TRANSFER CASES. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS ASSISTED ME AND TRIED TO REDUCE REPAIR COSTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, MAZDA REFUSES TO FULLY COVER PART WHICH MOST LIKELY CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION FAILURE AS WELL IN AUGUST 2018.

NHTSA ID

11192495

Incident

Mar 15, 2019

THE TRANSFER CASE WAS REPLACED AT 34,000 MILES AND NOW WE ARE HAVING TO REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASE AGAIN. ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSION DAMAGE MAY HAVE OCCURRED. MAZDA REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND ADMIT TO A DESIGN FLAW. THE FIRST TRANSFER CASE SMELLED LIKE PROPANE. THE SECOND TRANSFER CASE HAD GEAR GRINDING NOISE

NHTSA ID

11165024

Incident

Dec 14, 2018

THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT. MAZDA HAD ISSUED A VOLUNTARY EXTENDED WARRANTY OF THIS PART BUT ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE IS WELL UNDER THE MILEAGE (90,000) MAZDA IS TELLING ME THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MAZDA ISSUED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PART AND THAT IT WAS A POOR OR DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ISSUE NOT A WAIT AND SEE WHEN IT FAILS AND HOPEFULLY IT IS OUTSIDE OF OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD.

NHTSA ID

11156376

Incident

Dec 5, 2018

Mileage

45,100 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 MAZDA CX9 WHEN A LOUD BANG HAPPENED. I WAS ON A SIDE ROAD AND STOPPED IMMEDIATELY, I COULD NOT VISIBLY SEE ANY ISSUES. I BEGAN TO DRIVE SLOWLY AND WITH EVERY ROTATION THE NOISE CONTINUED. LUCKILY I WAS NEXT A A GARAGE AND THEY DETERMINED IT WITH THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT (CASE). THEY HAD TOLD ME THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AND THAT MAZDA EVEN KNEW OF THIS ISSUE BUT NEVER HAD A RECALL PLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING AND SEEING MULTIPLE YEARS OF THIS ISSUE FOR THE CX 9 AND EVEN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE MAZDA. BASICALLY THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE (OR POWER TRANSFER UNIT, PTU) IS TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND GETS HEATED UP MORE THAN USUAL. THE GEAR LUBRICANT INSIDE GETS DETERIORATED A LOT FASTER AND BECOMES SLUDGE. IN THEORY GEAR LUBRICANT IN FRONT TRANSFER CASE、REAR DIFFERENTIAL、AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAN BE "LIFE-TIME" LUB UNDER A SUITABLE ENVIRONMENT, HENCE MAZDA AND FORD DON'T SPECIFY ANY RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE INTERVAL FOR GEAR LUBRICANT REPLACEMENT AND DON'T EVEN BOTHER TO DESIGN A DRAIN HOLE FOR IT! BUT SINCE THE GEAR LUB ACTUALLY GETS HEAT UP SO OFTEN, IT CAUSES PROBLEMS AND MAKES THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE EVENTUALLY FAILED DUE TO SLUDGE ISSUE. I HAVE READ 100'S OF COMPLAINTS AND STILL NO RESOLUTION EXCEPT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CLAIM THEY CALLED MAZDA DIRECTLY AND AFTER MONTHS OF COMPLAINTS WERE HANDLED INDIVIDUALLY. I HAVE BEEN A LIFETIME MAZDA OWNER FROM MY FIRST 1986 MAZDA 323 AND THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. A RECALL HAS TO BE MADE WITH THIS NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES. $3000 OUT OF POCKET FOR A KNOWN ISSUE WITH YOUR VEHICLE IS UNACCEPTABLE

NHTSA ID

11131702

Incident

Sep 24, 2018

Mileage

145,000 mi

THIS MAZDA CX-9 IS A 2010 WITH ABOUT 62000 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH 70 MPH. SUDDENLY, I HEARD NOISE AND CRACK. SHORTLY, AFTER, THE CAR LOST POWER AND IT WON'T GO FORWARD. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY FOUND THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT BROKEN. REPLACEMENT WAS $3000. WENT BACK TO MY PAPERWORK. FOUND THAT PTU IS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM INCLUDING ONLY 84 MONTHS OR 90000 MILES. I SENT REIMBURSEMENT TO THE MAZDA AND THEY REFUSED CLAIMING THAT THE CAR WARRANTY IS MORE THAN 84 MONTHS (WHICH IS NOT TRUE). IT IS REALLY DISAPPOINTING THAT I HAVE TO HIRE A LAWYER TO GET THIS FLAW IN MAZDA'S DESIGN REIMBURSED. THE WARRANTY DOES NOT START ON JAN 1ST OF THE MANUFACTURING YEAR. I HAD TO PULL THE CARFAX TO PROVE THAT THEY CAR WAS PURCHASED AFTER APRIL OF 2010 TO PROVE THE 84 MONTHS WINDOW IS VALID. THEY HAVE THIS INFORMATION BUT THEY DECIDED TO PLAY IGNORANT. IN ANY CASE, THIS A MAJOR FLOW IN THE CX-9 DESIGN FOR THE PTU. THEY HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH FLOW AND THEY NEED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR SUCH SLOPPINESS IN THEIR PRODUCT THAT ENDANGERS LIVES ON THE STREET. ALL THESE CARS SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE STREETS.

NHTSA ID

11093538

Incident

Mar 30, 2018

Mileage

62,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, A SMOKE ODOR ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE BEARING WAS BURNT DUE TO SLUDGE. THE CONTACT CALLED MAZDA OF MILFORD AT 866-981-2838 AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID

11073776

Incident

Dec 15, 2017

Mileage

137,000 mi

TRANSFER CASE FAILURE CABIN FILLING WITH ACID SMOKE FROM BEARING FAILURE IN TRANSFER CASE, CAR WAS DRIVEN TO LOCAL GARAGE FOR REPLACEMENT NOT COVERED EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NUMEROUS FAILURES WITH THIS CAR. MAZDA HAS MADE NUMEROUS CHANGES IN THIS DESIGN SO WHY ISNT THERE A RECALL . THIS HAPPENED WHEN MY CAR WAS AT A STOP SIGN.THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR THAT COULD LEAD TO SOMEONE TO PANIC WITH SUCH HORRIBLE SMELLING SMOKE.

NHTSA ID

11062879

Incident

Jan 2, 2018

Mileage

144,000 mi

CAR WAS MAKING GRINDING SOUNDS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN I TURNED LEFT/RIGHT AS WELL AS WHEN I WAS STOPPING THE VEHICLE. MOST NOTICEABLE ON CITY STREETS. NEEDED TO REPLACE TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID

10790609

Incident

Nov 9, 2015

Mileage

113,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE HAD A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,200. *CN

NHTSA ID

10778759

Incident

Sep 23, 2015

Mileage

77,200 mi

THIS CAR IS MAINTAINED TO MANUFACTURER'S REQUIREMENTS. SMOKE FILLED THE DRIVERS CABIN, COMING FROM OIL DRIPPING OUT OF THE FAILED POWER TRANSFER CASE, DRIPPING ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE AND RISING SMOKE INTO THE CABIN. THIS WAS UNSAFE AND THE CAR BECAME UNUSABLE OVER A FEW DAYS. I HAD THE TRANSFER CASE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1395.89, INCLUDING ASSOCIATED COST OF $136.36 FOR A RENTAL VEHICLE REPLACEMENT. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR WITH A PRIVATE EXTENDED WARRANTY, THAT WAS NOT PART OF MAZDA, TO PAY THE REPAIR SHOP. WHEN I APPLIED FOR REIMBURSEMENT UNDER MAZDA'S "SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM 92 (2010-2014 CX9 AWD POWER TRANSFER UNIT WARRANTY EXTENSION)", I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS DENYING ME REIMBURSEMENT, BECAUSE I PAID FOR THE REPAIR USING MY PERSONAL WARRANTY POLICY. SINCE I PURCHASED THIS PERSONAL WARRANTY POLICY, (NOT MAZDA), I BELIEVE I AM ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10650012

Incident

Nov 26, 2012

Mileage

62,593 mi

WHEN I AM AT A STOP AD START MY VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT MY ASSISTANCE, THIS HAPPENED ALSO WHILE BACKING UP AND MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586088

Incident

May 2, 2014

Mileage

80,801 mi

WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR, THE CHECK TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT WAS ON. STOPPED AT A SERVICE STATION AND HAD THE TIRES CHECKED: ALL WAS FINE. A FEW MILES LATER, THE CAR SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD WHINING NOISE AND THEN LOUD BANGING NOISES AND THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS SEIZING AND SHUDDERING. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING AMISS UNDER THE HOOD. RE-STARTED THE CAR AND HEADED HOME WITH THE LOUD WHINING NOISE UPON ANY ACCELERATION. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND HAD IT TOWED TO THEM AS I FELT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH AND NOTING THE SYMPTOMS WERE SIMILAR TO WHAT OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS HAD REPORTED AS A TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. UPON EXAMINATION THE DEALERSHIP DID SAY IT WAS A TRANSFER CASE FAILURE AND REPLACED IT THAT DAY. I PICKED UP MY CAR TODAY AND SO FAR IT IS DRIVING AND HANDLING FINE. SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE FAILURE I HAD NOTED A VERY, VERY FAINT WHINING NOISE WHEN MY SPEED WAS BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH. I HAD MY MECHANIC (NOT THE DEALER) TRY TO EXAMINE THE NOISE WHEN HE DID MY ROUTINE 30K MILE SERVICE. THE NOISE WAS SO FAINT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO DETECT IT. HE WASN'T ABLE TO FIND ANY MAZDA SERVICE BULLETINS THAT INDICATED A PROBLEM TO EXAMINE FURTHER. BESIDES THAT FAINT WHINING NOISE THERE WERE NO OTHER INDICATIONS SUCH A DANGEROUS VEHICLE FAILURE WAS GOING TO OCCUR, AND THE CAR CHECKED OUT FINE AT THAT 30K ROUTINE SERVICE. NOT SURE WHY THE CHECK TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE BUT THE DEALER SAID THEY "RESET" IT WHEN THEY REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE. THE DEALER WAS VERY PROMPT AND PROFESSIONAL IN THEIR RESPONSE AND TREATED US VERY WELL. BUT I DO FEEL THIS ISSUE IS SO SERIOUS WE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE FROM MAZDA WITH A REQUEST TO GET THE TRANSFER CASE EXAMINED EARLIER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546467

Incident

Sep 28, 2013

Mileage

32,760 mi

POWER TRANSFER UNIT LEAKING OIL, I MAY LOSE MY 4WD IF THIS IS NOT FIXED SOON. IT WILL COST $1150.00 TO FIX. THERE IS A HORRIBLE SMELL FROM THE LEAK THAT IS COMING INTO THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD 4WD VEHICLES FOR YEARS AND NEVER RAN INTO AN INCIDENT WHERE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALER MADE THIS SEEM LIKE THIS IS A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10520840

Incident

Jun 17, 2013

Mileage

76,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA CX9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN OVERPOWERING BURNING ODOR FROM THE VENTS. IN ADDITION, A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 26,900. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515703

Incident

Jun 3, 2013

Mileage

26,000 mi

I NOTICED A STRANGE SMELL IN THE VEHICLE. I DROVE A FEW BLOCKS TO HOME (LUCKILY). ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS SMOKING AS I PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THIS WAS DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC AS A CRACKED TRANSFER CASE. LEAKING FLUID FROM THE CASE WAS THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE; NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BY MAZDA NOR IS THERE A TSB FOR THE PROBLEM. A QUICK SEARCH SHOWED THAT TRANSFER CASE PROBLEMS ARE COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ROAD HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514349

Incident

May 25, 2013

Mileage

63,000 mi

TRANSFER CASE WAS FIRST REPLACED IN JULY 2012 WITH AN OEM PART AND NOW AGAIN 8 MONTHS LATER. LEAKING GEAR OIL, TERRIBLE SMELL COMING INTO COMPARTMENT OF CAR AND ALSO HAD CLUNKING SOUNDS IN FRONT DRIVER SIDE AXEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10505508

Incident

Jul 4, 2012

Mileage

29,000 mi

TELL US WHAT HAPPENED: TRANSFER CASE IS BAD. DEALER SAYS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT MAZDA HAS THIS ISSUE WITH CARS DIRECTLY FROM THE FACTORY. KNOWN ISSUES SHOULD BE RECALLED! I BRING MY VEHICLE IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BREAK DOWN WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR FOR A PROBLEM THAT MAZDA KNOWS MY CAR HAS! THE FAILURE IS SO WIDESPREAD THERE IS A NATION WIDE SHORTAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10492189

Incident

Jan 10, 2012

Mileage

98,000 mi