NHTSA (USA)CriticalDo Not Drive
This page covers 8 recalls, 161 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2010 Mazda CX-9.
17 mpg combined
13.8 L/100km
Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
Brakes dominate the complaint picture for the 2010 Mazda CX-9, accounting for the largest share of reports by a wide margin. Owners most commonly describe a sudden and dramatic increase in brake pedal stiffness, the pedal becomes very hard to press and the vehicle takes noticeably longer to stop or won't stop normally at all. This condition is frequently reported as appearing without warning, with no dashboard lights preceding it. Several owners describe having to steer off the road or onto a shoulder because normal braking wasn't possible. Powertrain complaints come in second, and suspension-related reports appear in smaller numbers, with a few owners describing control arm or ball joint failures that resulted in sudden handling changes.
161
Total Complaints
6
Crash-Related
5
Fire-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2010 Mazda CX-9 has 8 recalls, the most serious being a passenger-side frontal airbag inflator that can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, posing a risk of serious injury or death to occupants.
Multiple recalls address this same airbag inflator defect across different filing windows, including one that covers vehicles where a prior replacement was made using inflators of the same flawed design, meaning earlier repair attempts did not fully resolve the problem. The risk is consistent across all of them: an explosive rupture that throws sharp metal shrapnel toward the driver and passengers. Humidity and heat exposure over time make the inflator more prone to this kind of failure, so vehicles registered or sold in high-humidity states and territories face elevated concern.
On the chassis side, the front lower control arm ball joints can allow water to seep into the joint fitting, which corrodes the metal over time. If the corrosion progresses far enough, the ball joint can separate entirely from the lower control arm, which removes the driver's ability to steer the vehicle and significantly raises the chance of a crash.
There are also two recalls addressing the heated front seats on equipped vehicles. In very cold conditions, the seat heater control circuit can overheat because of insufficient electrical grounding. This can scorch or burn through the seat cushion surface, and in more serious cases it can produce smoke or an open fire inside the cabin.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator with a different design at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode during a crash. This happens because the inflator's propellant degrades after years of exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace your passenger front air bag inflator with a new one at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to heat and humidity.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a new one at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator can rupture during a crash due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash because the propellant degrades over time when exposed to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator with a new one at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water can leak into the front suspension ball joint fittings, causing them to corrode and potentially fail.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both the left and right lower control arms at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat heater control circuit can overheat and fail in extreme cold due to poor electrical grounding, potentially causing seat cushion burn damage, smoke, fire, or injury.
What the fix does
Dealers will install an additional ground harness to the seat heater control system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In extremely cold conditions, the electrically heated front seat control circuit may overheat and fail due to insufficient electrical grounding.
What the fix does
Dealers will install an additional ground harness on the seat heater control system and replace the circuit or repair the seat as needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
