This 2021 model shows good reliability, primarily driven by a below-average recall rate for the MAZDA brand.
Key Factor:below-average recall rate
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Standard Safety Record
The 2021 CX-9 maintains a standard safety record for MAZDA, with 1 recall documented.
1 recall for this vehicle1.1 avg. recalls per vehicle (brand)
๐Why This Matters
Understanding recall history helps predict future ownership costs. Each unaddressed issue represents potential repair expenses.
Insurance companies review vehicle reliability data when setting premiums. Models with elevated recall rates often see adjusted pricing.
Focus Area:general reliability
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Expert Analysis
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Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
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Primary Risk Area:Warning
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Vs Brand: Better than avg (1.1)
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Summary:
Safety & Reliability Score
90/100
Score Breakdown
Recall Impact-8
Complaint Impact-1.65
Investigation Impact-0
Technical Specifications
Key specifications for the 2021 MAZDA CX-9
Model Year2021
MakeMAZDA
ModelCX-9
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle
Safety History Timeline
Jan21
NEWProduction
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Feb21
ISSUEFirst Report
Consumer Complaint Analysis
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Most Reported Issue
8 complaints (24% of total)
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Complaint Trend
Stable
No trend data
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Safety Incidents
No critical incidents
Complaint Severity Distribution
Breakdown of 33 consumer complaints by severity level.
๐ High
4(12%)
๐กMedium
10(30%)
๐ขLow
19(58%)
Mileage Failure Analysis
โ๏ธEngineering Insight
Based on consumer reports, issues for this vehicle tend to peak around the 0-20k mileage range. The average reported failure mileage is 21,188 miles.
๐ Mileage data extracted from 14 of 33 complaints (42% coverage)
0-20k
10 reports (71%)
20k-40k
0 reports (0%)
40k-60k
2 reports (14%)
60k-80k
2 reports (14%)
80k-100k
0 reports (0%)
100k+
0 reports (0%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.
๐ ๏ธ DIY Diagnosis Center
Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).
Primary Risk Areas
SEATS
Official Safety Recalls (1)
Campaign: 21V750000
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
โผ
Summary
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CX-9 vehicles equipped with 60/40 split bench second-row seats. The left-side second-row seat may unexpectedly slide forward during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
Consequence
A seat that slides forward during a crash can transfer excessive force onto a belted occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the internal parts of the affected second-row seats, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5221I.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
NHTSA Investigations
0 investigations
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No active investigations for this vehicle.
Consumer Complaints
33 total complaints
Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2021 CX-9.
Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis
Warning24%
Burn12%
Accident9%
Noise6%
Acceleration Issues6%
Battery6%
Leak6%
Safety Systems๐ถ Medium
BACK OVER PREVENTION
Backup camera shows three to four feet before red collision line is not accurate causing severe damage to my garage door.
Engine/Powertrainโ ๏ธ High
POWER TRAIN
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.
Otherโ ๏ธ High
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Safety Systems๐ถ Medium
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
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)
Brakes๐ต Low
SERVICE BRAKES
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.
Other๐ต Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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)
Steering/Suspension๐ต Low
SUSPENSION
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.
Engine/Powertrain๐ต Low
ENGINE
Car loses oil and coolant rapidly
Engine/Powertrain๐ถ Medium
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
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.
Engine/Powertrain๐ต Low
ENGINE
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any recalls for the 2021 MAZDA CX-9?
Yes, the 2021 MAZDA CX-9 has 1 recorded recall from NHTSA. These recalls cover various components including SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY.
Is the 2021 MAZDA CX-9 safe to drive?
The 2021 MAZDA CX-9 has 1 recall. If you own this vehicle, check with your dealer to ensure all recall repairs have been completed. Most recalls have free remedies available.
Where can I check if my 2021 MAZDA CX-9 has open recalls?
You can check for open recalls by visiting NHTSA.gov and entering your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or by contacting your local MAZDA dealer.
๐Year-over-Year Context
โก๏ธStable Pattern
Compared to earlier years, the 2021 model shows stable reliability patterns. No meaningful structural change detected in recall frequency between adjacent model years.
๐ฏRisk Areas & Recommended Actions
Based on recall data, these components require verification:
1
Seats
Issue: increases crash or loss-of-control risk
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If you already own this vehicle: Contact your dealer immediately to confirm seats recall is complete. Recall repairs are always free.
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If you are evaluating a used example: Request VIN and verify all seats recalls are completed before purchase.
Campaign:21V750000
๐กVisit NHTSA.gov or contact your MAZDA dealer to verify recall completion status.
๐งญWhat This Means for You
Families with young passengers, pregnant drivers, or those with frequent highway commutes should prioritize this information.
If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.
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If You Own This Vehicle
Verify all 1 recalls have been completed using your VIN at NHTSA.gov or through your MAZDA dealer.
If any recalls are open, schedule service immediatelyโrecall repairs are always free.
Consider setting up VIN-specific alerts to receive notification of future recalls.
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If You're Buying Used
Request the VIN before purchase and verify recall status at NHTSA.gov.
This model year shows favorable reliability metrics compared to alternatives.