Head-to-head reliability
Mazda CX 9 vs Honda Accord
How the Mazda CX 9 and Honda Accord 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 Honda Accord: The CX-9 averages about 51 complaints per year with 11 recalls, while the Accord averages about 444 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The CX-9's issues often center on the engine, whereas the Accord's are spread across engine, electrical, and driver-assist systems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda CX 9 or Honda Accord 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 SUV that averages about 51 complaints per year over the past decade, with most issues centered on the engine. Owners frequently report a flashing check engine light that can lead to rattling sounds and power loss, often traced to internal engine problems like a failing water pump. Electrical glitches, such as false parking brake warnings, also appear. With 11 recalls and 22 crash-related complaints, it's a vehicle that demands attention to engine health and electrical quirks.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 444 per year—but that's partly because far more are on the road. The most common trouble spots are the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance features. Owners describe sudden warnings for braking, lane-keeping, and adaptive cruise control, plus occasional engine noises and electrical failures. With 38 recalls and 160 crash-related complaints, it's a car with advanced tech that can sometimes malfunction.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda CX 9 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 506 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 22 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 50.6 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 15 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 3 |
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 report a flashing check engine light, often followed by a rattling noise and power loss. In some cases, the water pump fails and leaks coolant into the engine, which can cause serious damage if not addressed quickly.
Multiple owners have received false 'Critical Vehicle Malfunction' alerts, including parking brake errors, through the Mazda app. These glitches can be distracting and may indicate underlying sensor or software issues.
Some drivers experience sudden vehicle shutdowns while driving, which is frightening especially with children in the car. A mechanic traced one case to a leaking water pump that caused coolant to enter the engine.
Brake-related complaints appear, though fewer than engine issues. Owners may notice unusual brake behavior or warnings, so it's wise to have the braking system checked thoroughly.
“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…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and multiple dashboard alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS) that can appear suddenly at highway speeds. These symptoms may point to sensor or software problems rather than mechanical failure.
Electrical gremlins include TPMS warnings that lead to tire failure, rodent damage to wiring harnesses, and other sensor faults. These issues can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
Many complaints involve the adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams showing error messages. The systems may shut off unexpectedly, reducing driver assistance when it's needed.
Brake system complaints are common, often tied to the ABS or traction control. Owners may see warning lights or experience reduced braking performance, so a thorough brake inspection is essential.
“I purchased this vehicle at 0 miles in July 2025 from Honda Accord in Pensacola Florida. I reported in July 2025 that there was a noise and I was unhappy with the vehicle and would like to exchange the vehicle within the 30 days months later, the noise got lo…”
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
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…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an…
The risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Mazda CX 9 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mazda CX-9 has far fewer complaints per year (about 51) compared to the Honda Accord (about 444), but the Accord sells in much higher numbers, so the rate per vehicle may be closer. In practice, the CX-9's issues tend to cluster around the engine, while the Accord's are spread across engine, electrical, and driver-assist systems. The difference means you're more likely to face advanced-tech glitches in the Accord, but engine problems in the CX-9 can be more severe.
Key differences
- The Mazda CX-9 averages about 51 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages about 444—but the Accord is far more common on the road.
- CX-9 owners most often report engine problems like flashing check engine lights and water pump failures; Accord owners report a broader mix including engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance issues.
- The Accord has 38 recalls versus 11 for the CX-9, covering items like hybrid software, spare tires, and brake control modules.
- Crash-related complaints are higher for the Accord (160 vs 22), but this may reflect its larger sales volume rather than a higher risk per vehicle.
- Check for a flashing check engine light or stored engine codes, especially related to the water pump or coolant leaks.
- Test all electrical functions, including the parking brake and any app-connected alerts, for false malfunction warnings.
- Scan for error messages related to adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams, as these are commonly reported.
- Inspect the wiring harness for rodent damage and check tire pressure monitoring system for accuracy, as failures have been reported.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
- Test drive the vehicle at highway speeds to check for sudden warnings or power loss.
- For the CX-9, specifically ask about water pump service history; for the Accord, check for software updates to driver-assist systems.
- Verify that all safety features (brakes, airbags, backup camera) are functioning correctly.
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 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 | 224 |
| 2022 | 9 | 238 |
| 2021 | 38 | 226 |
| 2020 | 19 | 355 |
| 2019 | 53 | 677 |
| 2018 | 126 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 61 | 534 |
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 Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda CX 9 vs Honda Accord
- Mazda CX 9 total complaints
- 506
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Mazda CX 9 total recalls
- 11
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mazda CX 9 avg complaints/year
- 50.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Mazda CX 9
- Mazda CX 9 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE