2016 Mazda CX-9 problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 87 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Mazda CX-9, most often about engine. There are 0 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
87
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Median mileage
55,000 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Engine is the most-reported problem area, named in 65 of 87 complaints (75%).
  • Transmission & Drivetrain (7) and electrical system (7) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 55,000 mi.
  • Owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries.
  • It ranks 2nd of 17 Mazda CX-9 model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
  • That is 335% more complaints than the 2015 model year (20).

2016 Mazda CX-9 problems by category

  • 65 complaints
  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    7 complaints
  • Electrical System
    7 complaints
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    5 complaints
  • Wheels & Tires
    4 complaints
  • Brakes
    4 complaints
  • Acceleration & Cruise Control
    3 complaints
  • Other / Unknown
    2 complaints
  • Body & Structure
    2 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
    2 complaints
  • Seats & Seat Belts
    2 complaints
  • Suspension
    1 complaints
  • Steering
    1 complaints
  • Visibility & Wipers
    1 complaints
  • Airbags
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Engine62
Electrical system7
Power train7
Fuel/propulsion system5
Service brakes4
Vehicle speed control3
Engine and engine cooling3
Wheels3

When problems happen (mileage)

Under 10k110k–30k630k–60k160k–100k3100k–150k150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2016 Mazda CX-9 complaints that list mileage.

2016 Mazda CX-9 recalls (0)

No recalls on file.

Recent 2016 Mazda CX-9 complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Oct 6, 2026COEngine
    We discovered the problem by accident -- pulled out of our garage and there was a coolant puddle on the garage floor. No dashboard warnings, no overheat messages, no visible symptoms before that. That's what makes this failure mode dangerous: it loses coolant silently, and you find out from a puddle or from an overheat, not from the car telling you. A Mazda dealership confirmed the failure during a multi-point inspection by one of their master technicians (September 2026):…
    NHTSA complaint #11769435 · source
  2. Filed Sep 30, 2026OHEngine
    Cracked head cyclinder leaking. Unsafe to drive, coolant can leak into engine if not already. They are aware of it and extended a warranty for the issue in 2024. However people like me, my coolant didn't leak until this year 2026. There have been lawsuits on this issue, but they are still failing to address this issue. They created another part to replace the defected part which costs around $6000-$7000. Yes, took it to a Mazda dealer and confirmed the issue and they can fix…
    NHTSA complaint #11768085 · source
  3. Filed Sep 21, 2026FLEngine
    My car have a manufacturer engine defect that the company or corporation is not willing to fix. Only because I exceeded the warranty I call them (MAZDA) an told them that it wasn't under my control the these issues happened after the warranty expire. But they still refuse to help me.
    NHTSA complaint #11765988 · source
  4. Filed Apr 28, 2026WAEngine
    The cylinder head (which involves the engine cooling system) has a known manufacturer defect that affects all year/models of the Mazda CX-9 with turbo. The manufacturing defect poses a risk to motor vehicle safety in a group of vehicles or equipment of the same design and/or manufacturer. Specifically, the overheating and failure of the engine can occur at any time, without warning. This puts my family at risk of being stranded on a roadway, particularly because my car is…
    NHTSA complaint #11734209 · source
  5. Filed Dec 22, 2025FLEngine
    I own a 2016 Mazda CX9 Touring FWD (180k miles). Today my car was diagnosed with cracked cylinder head, resulting in coolant and oil leak from the head gasket. While there is a class action settlement about it where Mazda accepted the manufacturing defect, they do not cover the engine repair/cylinder head replacement because my car's mile is over 120k. If it is a manufacturing defect, why year/mile make a difference on the responsibility of the manufacturer? Mazda obviously…
    NHTSA complaint #11706610 · source
  6. Filed Nov 3, 2025TXEngine
    In June of 2022 I started having a strong antifreeze/engine coolant smell inside the cab of my vehicle and also outside the vehicle. I had the car checked for a radiator leak, but there wasn’t one. I took my car into my local Mazda where they found that the engine coolant was leaking into the heads of the engine. Mazda kept my car for 5 months and repaired the problem, it cost me $4000 and they had added a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty for the parts. My car is a 2016 Mazda…
    NHTSA complaint #11697196 · source
  7. Filed Oct 25, 2025CAEngine
    Cylinder head crack. Combustion gasses leaking into coolant causing overheat. Combustion gasses bleeding into oil causing excessive crankcase pressure.
    NHTSA complaint #11695620 · source
  8. Filed Sep 16, 2025148,000 miFLEngine
    The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45-50 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power with white smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact was able to get to the side of the road to inspect the vehicle and became aware that there was coolant splattered all over the engine compartment. The failure had occurred twice. The “WRENCH” symbol was displayed with the “Service Vehicle” message displayed. The vehicle was…
    NHTSA complaint #11687565 · source

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology