Suspension, electrical system and powertrain issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
Three-row SUVs are the latest rage for family travel, and the 2018 Mazda CX-9 is one of the top choices. The newest lineup claims that it’s “never ordinary,” and owners couldn’t agree more, especially since the majority of vehicles aren’t dealing with a faulty electrical system, defective fuel system, a malfunctioning steering system or shoddy structure, as this one is.
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The car suspension consists of many components, including shock absorbers, springs, tires and linkages to ensure a smooth and safe ride. However, the CX-9 has some faults that must be addressed.
One NHTSA complaint states, “The contact owns a 2019 Mazda CX-9. While driving in Reverse in order to parallel park the vehicle, the front axle fractured and caused the front driver’s side tire to bend inwardly. The vehicle was towed to [dealership] where it was diagnosed that the tie rod failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided [case number]. The approximate failure mileage was 10,600.”
It turns out there are larger problems that must also be discussed. NHTSA Campaign Number 19V77000 discusses a defect to the tires that allows the tread to detach and separate. If this happens, customers could experience an unexpected blowout, leading to a serious accident. The problem stems from the automaker using the wrong rubber compound on the tires. One thing is true so far – this SUV is not “ordinary.”
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Electrical System | |
| Back Over Prevention | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
| Power Train | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Structure:body | |
| Suspension |
Whether it is used to run Bluetooth or to keep the engine operating efficiently, the electrical system plays a part in every component of the vehicle. Yet, the CX-9 showcases a dud of a system.
Here is one Edmunds review discussing some issues. “But the biggest complaint I have is with the Mobile Start app. It sucks. No other way to say it. It has extremely limited functionality. Most annoying though is that you have to both login and enter the PIN to operate it. No facial recognition? This is especially unforgivable because you pay extra to have it installed and on top of that there is a $65 annual subscription fee.”
There is an even larger electrical-system problem. Service Bulletin #SA-049-20 discusses how a battery parasitic draw might prevent the engine from starting. However, there is no solution to the problem. Instead, the automaker only states that it is “aware of the issue and is working on a solution.” In the meantime, many people are heading out to the garage to get to work on time and finding themselves in a difficult predicament. Hopefully, their bosses won’t fire them for someone more “ordinary.”
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Looking at the powertrain, we see the same level of defects as with the other systems.
Here is another Edmunds review, this time related to the transmission. “6 speed tranny is fine for driving around town but lacks on hwy…RPMs are way too high at 75-80 making for more noise and killing fuel economy.”
Mazda isn’t attempting to hide any issues. Service Bulletin #05-003-20-3725 discusses a Check Engine Light and Transaxle Warning Light that could be caused by a defective oil pressure switch. It turns out that this switch can get stuck because of contamination in the passage. To fix the problem, Mazda issues some changes to reduce contamination and improve engine logic. However, by the time that the issues are fixed, many customers have already dumped the SUV for something more “ordinary.”
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Mazda pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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