RoadVitals

2011 Mazda CX-9 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Sep 26, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 170 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Mazda CX-9 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Sep 26, 2023

Driving kids to school a few months ago. Car started to smell like burning rubber. I thought it was the garbage truck ahead of us. As we turned the corner 2 blocks later, the car dead stopped and we all went flying forward. It jerked so hard, we are lucky our necks didn't snap. I put the car in park and turned it off. I waited a few minutes as I was too worked up, and started the car again. We got about 50ft before a very loud noise began, almost as if something was dragging underneath. I stopped, and had it towed home. I then had it towed to mechanic. They said bad TRANSFER CASE & DRIVE SHAFT. - TRANS PAN GASKET. I am a single mom with no money to afford to have it fixed in fear of it going bad again. They quoted me 3,500 here in PA.

NHTSA ID
11546714
Incident
Apr 21, 2023
Engine
Filed Nov 10, 2021

Defective water pump located inside the engine that when failure occurs can cause coolant to leak into engine causing complete engine failure. This is a major safety hazard due to the fact that these cars with defective water pumps can break down with very little warning in the middle of a freeway! I have contacted Mazda who refuses to do anything due to it being outside warranty but will not acknowledge the safety concern sudden engine failure can cause on a perfectly maintained car. In California there is currently a lawsuit against Mazda for this issue and hundreds of other Ford and Mazda owners who have been caught in very dangerous situations due to this water pump failure issue. The situation we were involved in could have gone very differently and that was my family in the vehicle that Mazda seems to care about a couple thousand dollars more then the value of life... is just ridiculous! Please do the research yourself so no one has to loose their life over this.

NHTSA ID
11440057
Incident
Jul 14, 2021
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 12, 2021

When getting off highway engine began to knock. Engine stalled and would not restart. Upon inspection the water pump was found to have failed and leaked engine coolant into oil. This caused engine to have a complete failure. No check engine light illuminated but when car was scanned multiple codes were found. The car was also found to have a bad Transfer Case.

NHTSA ID
11432665
Incident
Sep 5, 2021
Engine
Filed Aug 6, 2021

The contact owns a 2011 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, upon approaching oncoming traffic, the vehicle unexpectedly shut-off. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and pulled the vehicle off to the shoulder. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. Due to the failure and the warning light, the contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. Upon inspection of the vehicle, the mechanic informed her that coolant had leaked into the oil cylinder and they referred her to a dealer for assistance. The contact then had the vehicle towed to the dealer where they diagnosed the vehicle with a defective water pump as well as engine failure. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and stated that the failure was caused due to poor maintenance. No further assistance was provided. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.

NHTSA ID
11428032
Incident
Jul 24, 2021
Mileage
144,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Mar 27, 2021

WATER PUMP LEAKING IN ENGINE MIXING WITH OIL

NHTSA ID
11405170
Incident
Jan 4, 2020
Mileage
89,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 13, 2020

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A HIGHWAY THE WATER PUMP BEARING FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK AND MIX WITH THE ENGINE OIL. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO MAKE A RATTLE NOISE AND SMOKE OR STEAM CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR WAS COVERED WITH COOLANT AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE OIL. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. ONCE AT THE MECHANIC THE TOOK THE ENGINE OUT TO GET TO THE WATER PUMP, ONCE EVERYTHING WAS PUT BACK TOGETHER IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VVT ACTUATER AND ALTERNATOR. THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY SHOT.

NHTSA ID
11374566
Incident
Oct 29, 2020
Mileage
126,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 12, 2019

I BOUGHT THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY UP TO 90,000 MILES, WHEN I BOUGHT TRUCK 2015 AND TOOK IN WE TOLD DEALER THAT THE WAS CAR LEAKING BLACK SUBSTANCE THEY SAID THEY DID NOT SEE ANYTHING . WE TOOK IT FOR A RECALL AND TOLD THE DEALER SAME THING THIS TIME OFF AND ON IT WOULD SMELL LIKE BURN RUBBER BY THIS TIME WARRANTY WAS NOT COVERED. THE ISSUE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED UNTIL WE TOOK IT TO FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND ROUTINE INSPECTION AT 108 SOMETHING MILES THE SMELL OF BURNT RUBBER IS MORE PERSISTENT THE MECHANIC TOLD US THERE IS A LEAK IT LOOKS LIKE TRANSMISSION OIL AND IT IS DRIPPING TO AXLE.WE TOOK IN TRUCK TO FIRST MECHANIC TO GET A QUOTE HE COULD ONLY GET PART AT THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT THE WHOLE POWER TRANSFER CASE WOULD NEED TO BE CHANGE NOT JUST THE SEALS. TOOK IT IN FOR SECOND OPINION THAT MECHANIC SAID THAT THOSE PARTICULAR MODELS AND YEAR HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN FOR SAME ISSUE AND END UP HAVING TO CHANGE POWER TRANSFER CASE BECAUSE IT WAS POORLY MANUFACTURED THAT THE EXHAUST IS TO CLOSE IT MELTS RUBBERS AND LEAKS TRANSMISSION OIL THEREFORE CHANGING SEALS WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE WHOLE THING NEEDS TO BE CHANGE. I HAVE 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND SMELL OF RUBBER IS CONCERNING IT UPSETTING THAT THERE IS MULTIPLE CARS FROM YEAR 2011 TO 2017 WITH THESE ISSUE'S AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL DOES A CAR NEED TO CATCH ON FIRE WITH KIDS IN IT. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA ID
11219466
Incident
May 22, 2019
Engine
Filed Mar 25, 2019

FAILURE OF THE POWER TRANSFER CASE / POWER TRANSFER UNIT ("PTU"). THE DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED WHEN A BLACK OIL LIKE SUBSTANCE WAS FOUND UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. OEM ADVISED THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PTU. OEM STATES THAT IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT. INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS THE BREADTH OF THE DEFECT. OEM STATES THAT LIMITED WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO 7 YEARS AND 100,000 MILES. SUBJECT VEHICLE HAS 71,000 MILES, BUT IS A FEW MONTHS OUTSIDE EXTENDED WARRANTY. OEM NEVER SENT NOTICE TO CONSUMERS ADVISING OF THE DEFECT. OEM NEVER ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE KNOWN DEFECT. OEM NEVER SENT NOTICE TO CONSUMERS ADVISING OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. OEM REFUSES TO COVER THE DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY. CONSUMER HAS PROMPTLY REMEDIATED ALL PRIOR KNOWN RECALLS DIRECTLY WITH OEM UPON RECEIPT OF NOTICE.

NHTSA ID
11191440
Incident
Mar 25, 2019
Mileage
71,000 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Mar 1, 2019

MAZDA CX-9 2011 HAS UN-DETECTED WATER PUMP LEAKS WHICH CAUSE TO ENGINE OVERHEAT AND EVENTUAL ENGINE DEATH. MAZDA CORPORATE IS UNWILLING TO CO-OPERATE. CAR SUDDENLY CAME TO A HALT SHOWING ENGINE LIGHT ON..AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE BOOSTER ALSO BECAUSE WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT TURN OFF ON ME EVERYWHERE AND I HAD TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET AND IM STILL PAYING FOR THIS VEHICLE RIGHT NOW MY VEHICLE IS IN A GARAGE BECAUSE IS NOT DRIVABLE

NHTSA ID
11183329
Incident
Jan 1, 2019
Mileage
130,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed May 13, 2018

CAR SURGES UNEXPECTEDLY EVEN WHEN GAS PEDAL NOT ENGAGED - CAN CAUSE A RUSHED FORWARD OR REVERSE MOTION, PUTTING PEDESTRIANS OR OTHER CARS AT RISK. THIS HAPPENS DAILY. PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED BY DEALERSHIP SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. THERE IS A RELATED OIL LEAK.

NHTSA ID
11093569
Incident
May 13, 2018
Mileage
69,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 6, 2018

MAZDA CX-9 2011 HAS UN-DETECTED WATER PUMP LEAKS WHICH CAUSE TO ENGINE OVERHEAT AND EVENTUAL ENGINE DEATH. MAZDA CORPORATE IS UNWILLING TO CO-OPERATE. CAR SUDDENLY CAME TO A HALT SHOWING ENGINE LIGHT ON.

NHTSA ID
11067353
Incident
Feb 5, 2018
Mileage
3 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 9, 2016

TRANSFER CASE - HAD UNUSUAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE TRANSFER CASE THAT LEAD ME TO LOSE STEERING AND DRIVING CAPABILITY WHEN DRIVING TO WORK. TOOK MY CAR TO CAR DEALER AND THE TRANSFER CASE WAS GROUND DOWN AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS RUSTING. HAD NO WATER DAMAGE AND COST OVER $4,000. SINCE HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT MANY MAZDA OWNERS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCES ISSUES WITH THEIR TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10934140
Incident
Dec 1, 2016
Mileage
81,000 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Jan 25, 2016

SAME ISSUE AS EVERYONE ELSE HISSING WHEN BRAKES ARE COMPRESSED -OR CAR IS STOPPED AND BAD OR LAGGING IN BRAKING. MY BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR KEPT SLOWLY TRYING TO ROLL. I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES. OR PUT THE CAR IN PARK. WHEN I LET THE BRAKES GO NO HISSING

NHTSA ID
10821959
Incident
Jan 23, 2016
Mileage
89,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 4, 2015
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AT NIGHT, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FLICKERING LIGHT COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FLAMES ENGULFED THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NEITHER THE CONTACT NOR THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID
10681222
Incident
Jan 31, 2015
Mileage
65,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 17, 2014
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 77, NORTH BOUND, AT 55MPH, OTHER MOTORISTS INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE UNDERNEATH. THERE WERE NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS OR SIGNALS THAT CAME ON IT LIGHT UP AS A WARNING SIGN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE PUT OUT THE FIRE AND THE CAR WAS TOWED. THE CAR IS QUITE NEW AND WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE. WELL MAINTAINED CAR. NO RECENT WORK OTHER THAN REGULAR OIL CHANGE. MAZDA DENIES ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10658607
Incident
Nov 15, 2014
Mileage
30,345 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .