1st generation (TB) · Ford CD3 · 1,262 complaints, 921 with mileage
Owners filed 1,262 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2015 Mazda Cx-9, and 921 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 40,500 and 107,300 miles. The median is 72,246 miles.
The most-reported areas are the brakes (30.1% of complaints, typically around 63,000 miles), the suspension (10.8% of complaints, typically around 100,556 miles), the airbag system (10.0% of complaints, typically around 75,000 miles).
8 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 380 | 30.1% | 63,000 | 42,208–96,000 |
| Suspension | 136 | 10.8% | 100,556 | 73,900–120,000 |
| Air Bags | 126 | 10.0% | 75,000 | 22,500–120,000 |
| Power Train | 125 | 9.9% | 87,000 | 48,000–118,000 |
| Engine | 123 | 9.7% | 83,183 | 58,000–113,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 59 | 4.7% | 80,000 | 44,872–111,000 |
| Steering | 48 | 3.8% | 72,000 | 28,764–112,080 |
| Electrical System | 39 | 3.1% | 66,727 | 36,000–110,000 |
| Wheels | 31 | 2.5% | 113,738 | 74,000–126,157 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 | 2.1% | 50,400 | 24,500–69,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 98 | 72 |
| 2008 | 234 | 172 |
| 2009 | 66 | 44 |
| 2010 | 194 | 145 |
| 2011 | 209 | 167 |
| 2012 | 263 | 205 |
| 2013 | 80 | 51 |
| 2014 | 73 | 38 |
| 2015 | 45 | 27 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 72,246 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The brakes account for 30.1% of complaints (380 reports, 328 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 63,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,208 and 96,000 miles.
A single system taking 30.1% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The suspension accounts for 10.8% of complaints (136 reports, 88 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 100,556 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 73,900 and 120,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 10.0% of complaints (126 reports, 41 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 22,500 and 120,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 9.9% of complaints (125 reports, 101 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 87,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,000 and 118,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 9.7% of complaints (123 reports, 81 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 83,183 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 58,000 and 113,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 4.7% of complaints (59 reports, 35 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 44,872 and 111,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2012 model year drew the most — 263 complaints — while 2015 drew the fewest at 45. The median year sits at 98.
That makes 2012 an outlier: roughly 2.7 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
NHTSA records 8 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (5), the steering (1), the suspension (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 1,262 complaints filed against this generation, 58 reported a crash; 12 reported a fire; 32 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 4.6% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 40,500 and 107,300 miles, with a median of 72,246. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the brakes and the suspension are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The brakes in particular shows a median failure mileage of 63,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Internal water pump seal failure. The pump is chain-driven and located inside the timing cover, so when the seal fails coolant is dumped directly into the engine oil rather than leaking externally. There is often no visible drip and no warning until the oil is contaminated, bearings are starved and the engine is destroyed. Typically surfaces around 90,000-120,000 miles. Widely reported across the generation and the subject of owner class action activity.
Transmission control module failure on early cars causing harsh shifting, limp mode and no-start; Mazda extended warranty coverage on the TCM for the early model years.
Power transfer unit / transfer case failure on AWD models, presenting as whine, vibration and loss of drive to the rear axle.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 19V782000 | 2019-12-03 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 18V717000 | 2018-11-09 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 18V018000 | 2018-03-02 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 17V457000 | 2017-10-04 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 17V429000 | 2017-08-30 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 16V203000 | 2016-05-10 | Steering |
| 15V451000 | 2015-09-14 | Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint |
| 10V051000 | 2010-03-09 | Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler |