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Mazda CX-9.

The best Mazda CX-9 years are 2017, 2022, 2020. Years to avoid: 2012, 2010. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 79, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2007 to 2022.

79Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Better than average. Whole model, 2010-2022: 1.3× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2017 · Worst year 2012

Photo shows a 2012 Mazda CX-9. Ethan Llamas, Wikimedia Commons · CC0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

2007–few complaints 2008–few complaints 2009–few complaints 20101201.2× the complaints 2011821.2× fewer complaints 20122012× the complaints 2013851.2× fewer complaints 2017156.7× fewer complaints 2018561.8× fewer complaints 2019541.9× fewer complaints 2020313.2× fewer complaints 202193about average 2022166.2× fewer complaints

Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.

Best years to buy

2017.

2017156.7× fewer complaints than average 2022166.2× fewer complaints than average 2020313.2× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2012.

20122012× the average car's complaints 20101201.2× the average car's complaints

Quick answers.

Is the Mazda CX-9 a good car?

Yes, it draws fewer complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 79; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2017 and the worst is 2012.

What are the best Mazda CX-9 years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2017, 2022, 2020.

What Mazda CX-9 years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2012, 2010.

How many recalls does the Mazda CX-9 have?

43 safety recalls across the 13 model years we track. Most: 2009 (7), 2007 (6), 2008 (6). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Mazda CX-9 problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name brakes, engine and transmission & drivetrain most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table

Year	Index	Compared with average	Complaints	Top complaint	Recalls	Crash test	MPG
2007	–	too few complaints to score	8	steering (25%)	6	—	17–18
2008	–	too few complaints to score	17	steering (24%)	6	—	17–18
2009	–	too few complaints to score	4	lights (50%)	7	—	17–18
2010	120	1.2× the average car's complaints	38	brakes (39%)	6	—	17–18
2011	82	1.2× fewer complaints than average	33	brakes (79%)	4	—	19
2012	201	2× the average car's complaints	63	brakes (81%)	4	—	19
2013	85	1.2× fewer complaints than average	26	suspension (31%)	4	★★★★☆	19
2017	15	6.7× fewer complaints than average	4	suspension (50%)	0	—	23–24
2018	56	1.8× fewer complaints than average	16	brakes (38%)	2	★★★★★	23–24
2019	54	1.9× fewer complaints than average	15	electrical (33%)	2	★★★★★	23–24
2020	31	3.2× fewer complaints than average	8	engine (25%)	1	★★★★★	23–24
2021	93	about average	31	engine (52%)	1	★★★★★	23–24
2022	16	6.2× fewer complaints than average	7	automatic emergency braking (43%)	0	★★★★★	23

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Mazda CX-9 transmission problems by year →

Updated Nov 6, 2026

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data