2021 MAZDA CX-9 Problems

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Complaints Reported

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Complaints by Component

ENGINE

15 complaints

Car loses oil and coolant rapidly

Sep 08, 2024

Consumes over 2 quarts of oil between recommended oil changes. The dealer made excuses about needing to use a different oil but it has not improved the problem. The warning light for low oil went off after less than 3000 miles. It was 2 quarts down.

Jun 20, 2024

I just purchased this vehicle 2 months ago. Yesterday my oil light came on, I pulled over and checked the oil it was completely low. I had to put a quart of oil in it. After that I did some research and learned this seems to be an issue with some 2021 models the cx9 included. There needs to be a recall on this and Mazda needs to fix this issue. These cars cost way to much to have to put a quart of oil every month.

Jan 02, 2024

Oil light came on, vehicle has ~15,000 miles.

May 23, 2023

the vehicles experience excessive oil consumption because the defective valve stem seals allow engine oil to leak into the combustion chambers. This concern usually occurs when the mileage reaches approximately 2,000 – 3,000 miles (5,000 - 7,500km) and may also occur again after replacing or topping off the engine oil.

Apr 14, 2023

+ 10 more complaints for this component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 complaints

My MazdaCx9 engine consumes (burns) an excessive amount of oil, necessitating frequent top-offs between oil changes.This issue started after the first oil change and continued since then.

Dec 23, 2024

Please add the 2021 CX9 model to the following bulletin. [XXX] This is exactly what is happening with my car and is extremely frustrating that a recall has not been issued to fix the problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Oct 11, 2024

I was leaving for work when I put my personal items in the front passenger side first and then continued to walk around the car to get to the drivers side. Once I closed the passenger side door the car auto locked with all of my items in it including the key. Thankfully I had my cell phone in my pocket which has access to open the car via the Mazda app but it would not work. The spare key was not at the current location the car was at. We had to call someone out to unlock the car. This poses a safety problem because if I put my child in the back seat and close the door to get to the drivers side and it auto locks with them inside as well as my key I would have to resort to breaking the window to get them out. I reported this to Mazda and they deny that it’s a problem, and I have had the vehicle inspected by Mazda and they claim nothing is wrong with it and reset the computer. No warning prior to this happening and my key has never been locked inside before. The battery in the key is not old or dead.

Feb 10, 2024

SERVICE BRAKES

2 complaints

Hello, I have been to a Mazda dealer complaining of clicking and squeaky brakes for 2 years now. Dealer replaced both front and back breaks and rotors around 22k year ago and to my surprise the issues persist, currently vehicle is at 49k. There is a TSB( 04-001/22) out for my vin and year, so they know its a manufacturing defect and all they do is throw white break grease and a month later the noise is there again when breaking , backing up. I am not the only one, people of reddit confirm this and so does a general google search. Besides that i love the car and the dealer was super cool about it all but I'm sorry, this is unacceptable, Every time i go get an oil change i ask about a fix and nothing.

Oct 15, 2024

The driver side airbag did not deploy in a front end collision on the drivers side. When approaching a vehicle that had come to a sudden and complete stop, the brakes were applied hard to the Mazda CX-9 in order to stop, but after about 1 second they just totally let go and there was no braking at all and the Mazda continued to move forward until it slammed into the vehicle that was stopped. The MyMazda app sent a message that stated that there was a Brake System Malfunctiom which is exactly what occurred and caused the accident.

Dec 02, 2022

Crash: 1

BACK OVER PREVENTION

1 complaint

Backup camera shows three to four feet before red collision line is not accurate causing severe damage to my garage door.

Dec 10, 2025

Crash: 1

POWER TRAIN

1 complaint

My vehicle is part of Mazda's 2021-2022 Mazda Valve Stem Seal Settlement. The dealership had yet to call me in for the repair of said valve seal repair as I was on a list. The settlement is suppose to extend out the powertrain warranty on the vehicle 2 years/24,000 to 7 years/84,000. My vehicle has 60,083 miles on it. One of the cylinders on my vehicle lost compression. The dealership and Mazda both say they will not cover the cost for repair as they only are covering things in the powertrain relate to oil consumption. The cylinders are part of the powertrain and carbon buildup from excessive oil burning because of the defective seal causes valve damage or sticking which will cause compression loss. Mazda is actively denying what they agreed to in the settlement and costing people money for repairs that should be covered.

Jun 05, 2025

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

On [XXX], [XXX], [XXX] I was driving on an interstate highway with a 65 mph speed limit with no warning and received the following codes which slowed the vehicle to the limp mode. 1) Smart Brake Support and Forward Obstruction Warning 2) Activsense system malfunction 3) Front Radar Sensor Malfunction 4) Engine Malfunction 5) Dynamic Stability Control Malfunction I reported all three incidents to the dealer and no codes were left and the dealership had no solution for the problem. They suggested dirt, sunlight, or blowing debris caused it, but that was not the case. Luckily the first two incidents happened with little or no traffic around but the third was during rush hour and almost caused a major accident trying to get off the highway. I shut the car off, restarted and the problem resolved no lights left on or warnings appearing all three times. Contacted Mazda several times and all representatives at the dealership and California Headquarters claim no knowledge of this happening. I found a few others reporting the same issue and wanted to report this. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Nov 29, 2024

SUSPENSION

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2021 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and turning, there was a popping sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The front-end popping sound also occurred while driving over bumps in the roadway. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 68,811.

Oct 01, 2024

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2021 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that while accelerating quickly and entering the highway, there was no motive power to the vehicle. While crossing the highway in the right lane, driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle in front moved over; there was a parked vehicle. The contact was able to stop the vehicle before causing a crash. The driver was starting to accelerate, but there was no motive power when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The smart brake system malfunction message was displayed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, who scheduled an appointment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact to have the vehicle diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 53,186.

Aug 14, 2024

POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

I was in a parking lot and came to a stop and placed the car in reverse to back into a parking space. The back-up camera was on and I began to back into the parking space when the car suddenly lurched/jerked forward and accelerated on its own. The car jumped the parking lot median strip and I hit a tree head on. I had my seatbelt on and the airbag deployed. The car then reversed back off the median into the parking lot. I turned off the car. Insurance company will have it inspected. The vehicle is a total loss. I was injured with a large lower abdomen hematoma and airbag burns on arms, wrists, and chest as well as various bruising. I was fortunate to have not hit pedestrians who were walking in the lot or other vehicles that were parked in the lot. There were no warning lights, messages, sounds. The brake assist did not engage. It was frightening.

Oct 16, 2023

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

6/29/2023--Vehicle stopped suddenly with i-ACTIVESENSE system malfunction, Dynamic Stability Control malfunction, Engine malfunction, engine output reduced, Front radar sensor malfunction. Dealer said these faults due to bad battery--replaced battery per Service Manager [XXX] at Lakeland Mazda. 9/10/2023--Incident #2 with same faults as above with vehicle stopping suddenly at risk of creating a rear end collision. Lakeland Service Manager [XXX] now said that the faults are due to a faulty ERG valve. Lakeland Mazda and [XXX] are absolutely clueless as to the root cause of this problem and are releasing the vehicle back to the customer with the potential of causing a significant collision that can result in serious injury and/or death. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Oct 04, 2023

WHEELS

1 complaint

I was driving approximately 75-80 mph (speed limit for I-90 is 80 mph) on I-90 Eastbound in South Dakota (approximately 5-8 miles from Sioux Falls, SD) in the left-hand lane (passing lane with a minimal shoulder) when I heard a terrible noise that sounded like I had a flat tire and the car began to pull to the left. I immediately slowed down and steered the vehicle onto the small shoulder on the left-hand side of the interstate. It was at this point I looked out my window (driver's window) and saw the entire left front wheel (not just the rubber tire) rolling by (west in the grassy median of I-90). The vehicle did not roll over, hit another vehicle, or get hit by another vehicle. After coming to a safe stop, I got out of the vehicle and saw that the left front (driver's side) wheel (not just the rubber tire) was gone. There were two (2) other passengers in the vehicle at the time that the wheel fell off who exited the vehicle out of danger of passing cars/trucks/semi tractor trailers on I-90. The vehicle was towed and to my knowledge has not been inspected by the manufacturer. The Hertz rental vehicle was only "inspected" by PurCo claims specialist via pictures as they did not have the vehicle in their possession. There were no warning messages, lamps, lights, or other symptoms prior to the wheel falling off. The wheel fell off on 7/8/2023 on Interstate 90 in South Dakota. After the wheel fell off, it rolled down the median of I-90 bounced up onto the westbound lane of I-90 and struck another vehicle causing that vehicle's airbags to deploy. There were four (4) occupants in that vehicle.

Sep 06, 2023

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

The oil light keeps coming on before your initial oil change. Also, the oil is actually low. They have already changed it and I'm having the same problem in less than 2 months.

Aug 08, 2023

AIR BAGS

1 complaint

2021 Mazda CX-9 Frontal collision at a speed between 10-20 mph. Car shut down after collision and was not drivable. Concern is the driver side airbag did not deploy. (Neither did passenger but there was no person in the passenger seat)

May 25, 2023

Crash: 1

AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

REAR PASSENGER HANDLE AND HOOK ABOVE SEAT IN ROOF SPLINTERED INTO SHARP PROJECTILES FLYING THROUGH CABIN WHEN AIR BAG DEPLOPYED I SHOWED THE SHARP PIECES TO MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER THE POWER OF THE RIGHT CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT BROKE THE HANDLE TO PIECES AND IF ANYONE HAD BEEN IN THE BACK SEAT THEY COULD HAVE HAD AN EYE PUT OUT OR BEEN EMPLAILED BY THE SHARP PIECES

Oct 13, 2022

Crash: 1

VISIBILITY/WIPER,BACK OVER PREVENTION

1 complaint

On 4/30/2022 the rear door lift gate opened unexpectedly and hit the ceiling of a parking garage (The Summit at Las Calinas, Irving Texas) , the glass window shattered, glass fell in and outside the car. An unfamiliar beeping was heard before the accident, but the source could not be located prior to the impact with the ceiling. A lift gate ajar warning indicator light likely flashed on the dash but was not noticed. We surmised that the root cause was likely due to unintentional pressing of the rear lift gate key fob button (driver had put key fob in pants pocket). This unintentional and unexpected opening of the lift gate has happened on at least 4 prior occasions when the key fob lift gate button has been unintentional pressed. One time resulting in being hit in the head with the lift gate! Potential Risks: 1) People near the rear of the car can be struck when the lift gate unexpectedly opens, 2) Young children who are sitting in the third seat are exposed, 3) Trunk contents can spill out if not secured, 4) Valuables are exposed if lift gate opens while parked unbeknownst to the driver, 5) Damage to vehicle if rear lift gate opens in a home garage and hits the garage door, 6) other Mazda owners as reported on Reddit.(https://www.reddit.com/r/MazdaCX9/comments/mf3h5w/back_trunk_opening_by_itself/) Problem was reported to TOWN NORTH MAZDA dealer. Insurance claim not filed because cost of window replacement is below deductible. We were grateful that no one was hurt and that the car could be driven home.

May 03, 2022

STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWNHILL WITH MINIMAL SNOW ON THE GROUND, I TAPPED MY BRAKES ABOUT 7 TIMES BEFORE THEY LOCKED UP. I WENT TO TURN TO STAY ON THE ROAD AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T BUDGE CAUSING ME TO GO OFF THE ROAD, INTO AN EMBANKMENT. VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 5-10MPH WHEN THIS OCCURED ON A CITY STREET.

Feb 24, 2021

Crash: 1

4.2/5.0

77 reviews

Where to Find VIN for Problems Check

To check for problems and complaints on your 2021 MAZDA CX-9, you'll need the VIN number. Find your VIN in one of these 4 common locations.

Where to Find VIN Number on 2021 MAZDA CX-9 for Problems Lookup - Dashboard, Door Jamb, Engine Bay, Documents

Understanding VIN Structure for Problem Reports

Each character in your 2021 MAZDA CX-9 17-digit VIN helps identify specific complaints and problems affecting your vehicle model.

2021 MAZDA CX-9 VIN Structure for Complaint Verification - WMI, VDS, Check Digit, Model Year, Plant Code

How to Check 2021 MAZDA CX-9 Problems in 3 Steps

Locate Your VIN

Find the 17-character VIN on your 2021 MAZDA CX-9 dashboard (visible through windshield), door jamb, engine bay, or vehicle documents.

Review by Component

Browse owner-reported complaints organized by vehicle component (engine, transmission, brakes, electrical) to identify common issues and problem patterns for this model year.

Check Safety Issues

Review crash and fire incidents for each component to assess safety concerns. Contact your MAZDA dealer or report problems to NHTSA at SaferCar.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2021 MAZDA CX-9 have?

The 2021 MAZDA CX-9 currently has 33 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2021 MAZDA CX-9?

The most common problems reported for the 2021 MAZDA CX-9 are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2021 MAZDA CX-9 problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2021 MAZDA CX-9 comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.

How do I report problems with my 2021 MAZDA CX-9?

You can report safety problems with your 2021 MAZDA CX-9 directly to NHTSA at SaferCar.gov or call 1-888-327-4236. Your complaint helps identify patterns and may lead to recalls or investigations.

Where can I find my VIN to check problems?

Your 2021 MAZDA CX-9 VIN is located in 4 places: (1) Dashboard near windshield on driver's side, (2) Driver's door jamb sticker, (3) Engine bay, (4) Vehicle registration and insurance documents.

Is the 2021 MAZDA CX-9 reliable?

Reliability can be assessed by reviewing the number and severity of owner complaints for the 2021 MAZDA CX-9. Check complaints by component, crash reports, and fire incidents above to evaluate potential issues and problem patterns.