2013 Mazda CX-9 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about two different things: a hard, hissing brake pedal that needs extra effort to stop the vehicle, and engine trouble tied to the internal water pump, which complaints say can let coolant into the oil and lead to major engine work. Other recurring themes are side curtain airbags deploying without a crash, front lower ball joint and control arm failures, and transmission/transfer case shudder or slip.

1. 1
   Engine

   Internal water pump failure and coolant in engine

   • 15 complaints (22%)
   • median 88,950 mi at 7.4 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe overheating, a sudden loss of power or stalling, and sometimes a check engine light or no heat before the engine stops. In many complaints a shop or dealer then reported that the internal water pump had failed and coolant had mixed with the engine oil, with several owners told the engine needed to be replaced. Complaints note the pump is driven internally and access requires major engine work. Mostly reported between about 57,000 and 190,000 miles, with several cases over 100,000 miles; some describe gradual coolant loss and others a sudden shutdown.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant level and the oil for a milky or frothy look or a coolant smell, and ask whether the water pump has ever been replaced. A pre-purchase inspection that includes coolant pressure testing is worth it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The power steering and power breaking suddenly failed while traveling at about 40mph. The check engine light had gone on a few minutes before the car had this incident. With considerable force on the brake I was able to get the car to the side of the road. It was towed to a garage where they told me a 'water line had broke resulting in the engine becoming suddenly filled with coolant'.”

   NHTSA complaint #11403483, filed 2021-03, 88,000 miles

   “The vehicle was being driven at the time on a busy city street. We noticed some noises which was sounding like metal clanking. This became louder immediately in the span of 5mins and the temperature sensor went off on the dashboard. The vehicle was becoming unresponsive to brakes in the middle of commute traffic. Luckily we got the vehicle stopped on the side of the shoulder without any injuries to anyone. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11151624, filed 2018-11, 79,900 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Hard brake pedal with hissing (brake booster)

   • 13 complaints (19%)
   • median 66,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2020

   Complaints describe a brake pedal that becomes very stiff and makes a hissing sound when pressed, so much more force is needed to slow the vehicle. Several owners say the vehicle kept rolling while the pedal was pressed to the floor, and some say a dealer or mechanic confirmed the brake booster (vacuum seals) had failed and needed replacement. A few report the problem came back after repair, and one owner says the manufacturer attributed it to wear. Reported from roughly 13,000 to 99,000 miles, often during normal driving and braking at low to moderate speeds.

   What to check: Press the brake pedal repeatedly with the engine running and listen for a hiss; the pedal should stay firm and not sink. Ask for service records showing whether the brake booster has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2013 Mazda CX-9 has 48,841 miles on it. Brakes recently started making a hissing noise then became hard to depress. I had a difficult time stopping the vehicle to avoid a collision on several occasions. Also, I was sitting at an intersection with construction and had to sit through several red lights, brakes were making the hissing noise and the vehicle's rpms started fluctuating and my car died. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11083790, filed 2018-04, 48,841 miles

   “While driving my 2013 cx9 I noticed the brakes required extreme force to engage and I heard a hissing sound when I engaged my brakes. Since I had the same issue with the brakes on my 2010 model, I immediately contacted the dealership where they are currently repairing the brakes under warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10595603, filed 2014-06, 21,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Side curtain airbags deploy without a crash

   • 7 complaints (10%)
   • median 28,700 mi at 2.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2013–2024

   Complaints describe the side curtain airbags on both sides inflating unexpectedly while driving or at low speed, in one case going over a speed bump. Owners say the deployment happened with no impact and no warning, and in some cases the vehicle was then taken to a dealer for assessment. A separate group of complaints is about the passenger airbag status light switching off with an adult seated there, or about whether the vehicle is covered by the airbag inflator recalls. Reported at a wide range of mileage, including some very low-mileage vehicles, and in everyday driving conditions.

   Recall 18V018000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 18V717000 · DO NOT DRIVE

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag inflator recalls have been completed for this VIN, and note during a test drive whether the passenger airbag status indicator behaves correctly with a passenger seated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving to get a cup of coffee, I was pulling out and driving through the complex when the airbags deployed from nowhere, the airbags were the side curtain airbags from both sides of the car. At the time of the deployment t my car was stationary, I was sitting with my left blinker on ready to turn.”

   NHTSA complaint #11390465, filed 2021-01, 152,000 miles

   “Niece was driving home from college on July 24, 2024 around 7:30 PM. She heard a pop when she was 1 mile away from the house. Side airbags exploded on passenger and driver side for no reason. She called me. We drove the car home since it was less than 1 mile away. No injuries. A couple of days later took to body shop to assess damage.”

   NHTSA complaint #11611055, filed 2024-08
4. 4
   Suspension

   Front lower ball joint / control arm failure

   • 9 complaints (13%)
   • median 48,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe a loud noise from the front end followed by loss of steering control or a wheel folding into the wheel well. Owners say a dealer or tow shop found a fractured front lower ball joint or a lower control arm needing replacement, and a few mention the work was done under a recall or that the recall remedy was already applied before the failure. Other complaints in this group are about availability of recall parts. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 50,000 miles, at low speed, sometimes shortly after a recall repair.

   Recall 15V4510003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the front lower control arm/ball joint recall has been performed and have a mechanic inspect the front ball joints and boots for corrosion or play before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2013 Mazda CX-9. Consumer writes in regards to front lower control arms recall notice and vehicle sun visor issues. The consumer stated the sun visor no longer stays in place.”

   NHTSA complaint #10852643, filed 2016-04

   “The contact owns a 2013 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the lower control arm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact had not received documentation of the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was repaired under an undisclosed recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11722285, filed 2026-03, 188,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, slip and transfer case wear

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the transmission slipping between gears, delayed upshifts, and jerking when slowing down, with one report of the vehicle dropping from a higher gear on the highway. Other complaints mention shuddering traced to the power transfer unit, with spline wear and corrosion found, and one report of a transfer case problem that led to a fire under the vehicle. Reported from about 11,000 up to 106,000 miles, often after the vehicle is warm and during highway or stop-and-go driving.

   What to check: During a test drive, feel for shudder or hesitation on gentle acceleration and gear changes, and ask whether the transfer case or transmission fluid has been serviced or the unit replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Purchased this car new, went to have oil change and there was oil underneath. The right pion seal was out. Had car towed and I contacted the dealership I found out the transfer case is out. Prior to this I smelled something like burning oil, but when I contacted the dealership I was told it was probably the undercoating that is used to ship these cars over the ocean.”

   NHTSA complaint #10552858, filed 2013-11, 11,000 miles

   “My vehicle seemed as if the transmission was slipping between gears on the highway it would take forever to switch into higher gears for higher speeds then when slowing down it would jerk and then finally stop or if I was in traffic where I didn't need to make a complete stop it would jerk to slow down and skip gears and jerk to speed back up while on the high way traveling at normal speed with cruise control set it went from 6th gear to 4th gear for no reason at all! …”

   NHTSA complaint #11013134, filed 2017-08, 53,000 miles

Buying note. This model year shows two patterns worth budgeting for: brake booster complaints and engine work tied to the internal water pump. Bring a mechanic to check the brake feel, coolant and oil condition, front suspension joints and transmission behavior, and confirm which open recalls apply to the specific VIN.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.