Head-to-head reliability
Mazda CX 9 vs FORD F 150
How the Mazda CX 9 and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mazda CX 9 vs FORD F 150: The CX-9 averages about 51 complaints per year, while the F-150 averages about 1,131. The F-150 also has 145 recalls versus 11 for the CX-9. Both have reported injuries, but the F-150's higher totals reflect its larger sales volume. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda CX 9 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mazda CX 9
The Mazda CX-9 is a three-row family SUV that, over the past decade, has generated about 51 complaints per year. The most common owner-reported trouble spots are engine problems, electrical glitches, and brake issues, with some complaints describing sudden power loss or a flashing check engine light. With 11 recalls and 15 injuries reported but no deaths, it appears to have a lower volume of complaints than some rivals, but the engine-related reports are worth noting.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that has accumulated over 11,000 complaints in ten years—roughly 1,131 per year. The dominant themes are transmission and electrical problems, with many owners reporting harsh shifting, sudden power loss, and warning messages. With 145 recalls and 287 injuries reported, it is a high-volume vehicle with a correspondingly high number of owner complaints.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda CX 9 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 506 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 22 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 50.6 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 15 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mazda CX 9
- 01ENGINE262
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER79
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM49
- 04POWER TRAIN47
- 05SERVICE BRAKES45
Owners frequently report a flashing check engine light, rattling sounds, and in some cases the engine shutting off while driving. Complaints mention water pump leaks that can lead to coolant loss and potential engine damage, which is a serious concern for a used buyer.
Reports include repeated 'Critical Vehicle Malfunction' alerts for parking brake and electric parking brake issues, as well as a seat warmer that caused a burn. These electrical gremlins can be annoying and costly to diagnose.
Some owners describe the vehicle shutting off unexpectedly while driving, often linked to water pump or coolant leaks. This can be frightening, especially with children in the car, and may indicate a broader powertrain vulnerability.
Brake-related complaints appear in the data, though specific patterns are not detailed in the sample. Buyers should still have the braking system inspected, as brake issues can affect safety.
“We have a 2015 Mazda CX-9 Touring with All-Wheel Drive (AWD). The issue that has been happening is a flashing check engine light (CEL) indicator showing up in the gauge cluster. This issue originally started in October of 2023. I was on the highway doing at l…”
“On December 14, 2015, I bought, a Mazda CX-9, at Sentry West Mazda located at 940 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury MA 01545. Unfortunately, the car's engine contains a defect in design, manufacturing, materials and/or workmanship that causes the water pump to sudd…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common complaint area, with owners reporting hard or delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power from the 10-speed automatic transmission. These symptoms can leave a driver stranded and are a major red flag for used F-150 shoppers.
Owners report warning messages such as 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available,' along with loud bangs or popping sounds from the transmission area. These electrical faults can disable safety features and are often difficult to fix.
Engine complaints are less frequent than transmission issues but still present, with some owners reporting problems that may relate to the engine itself. Given the high overall complaint volume, any engine noise or warning light should be taken seriously.
Headlight-related complaints are common enough to rank among the top components, suggesting issues like premature bulb failure or malfunctioning assemblies. This matters for visibility and safety, especially at night.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mazda CX 9 — 11 recalls
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan)…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. M…
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014, 2014-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2013, to December 2, 2015, and 2013-201…
The risk: If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower mounting nuts and bolts that secure the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle. If the bolts are loose, they will be replaced and then correctly tightened, free of charge.…
The defect: 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 S…
The risk: A seat that slides forward during a crash can transfer excessive force onto a belted occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: 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 th…
The defect: 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 S…
The risk: A seat that slides forward during a crash can transfer excessive force onto a belted occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: 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 th…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Mazda CX 9 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mazda CX-9 has far fewer complaints per year (about 51) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,131), meaning you are statistically less likely to encounter a reported problem with the Mazda. However, the F-150's higher volume reflects its much larger sales numbers, so the rate per vehicle may be closer. In practice, the Mazda may feel like a simpler, less troublesome used SUV, while the F-150 demands more vigilance, especially around its transmission.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over 20 times more complaints per year than the Mazda CX-9, with transmission and electrical issues dominating.
- Mazda CX-9 owners most often report engine problems like flashing check engine lights and water pump leaks, while F-150 owners report harsh shifting and sudden power loss from the transmission.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls versus 11 for the CX-9, indicating more frequent safety-related fixes over the decade.
- Both vehicles have reported injuries (15 for CX-9, 287 for F-150) and one death for the F-150, but the F-150's higher totals align with its larger population.
- Check for a flashing check engine light or stored engine codes, especially related to the water pump or coolant leaks, as these are common owner complaints.
- Test all electrical features, including the parking brake, seat warmers, and infotainment, for malfunction alerts or unusual behavior.
- Test-drive the truck extensively, paying attention to transmission shifts between gears—jerking, clunking, or delayed engagement are red flags.
- Look for warning messages on the dashboard such as 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available,' which indicate electrical issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for outstanding recalls on both models, especially the F-150's many recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Mazda CX-9 for coolant leaks, water pump condition, and any engine error codes.
- For the Ford F-150, have a transmission specialist check the 10-speed automatic for shift quality and any stored transmission codes.
- Test all electrical components, including lights, cameras, parking brake, and infotainment, on both vehicles.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and confirm that any recall repairs have been completed.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Mazda CX 9 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 9 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 38 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 19 | 33 |
| 2019 | 53 | 36 |
| 2018 | 126 | 56 |
| 2017 | 61 | 43 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mazda CX 9 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda CX 9 vs FORD F 150
- Mazda CX 9 total complaints
- 506
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Mazda CX 9 total recalls
- 11
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Mazda CX 9 avg complaints/year
- 50.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Mazda CX 9
- Mazda CX 9 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN