Head-to-head reliability
Mazda Mazda6 vs Mazda CX 9
How the Mazda Mazda6 and Mazda CX 9 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mazda Mazda6 vs Mazda CX 9: The Mazda6 averaged 53.9 complaints per year with 22 recalls, while the CX-9 averaged 50.6 complaints per year with 11 recalls. The CX-9's engine complaints (262) often involve water pump failures causing stalling, whereas the Mazda6's issues are more varied. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda Mazda6 or Mazda CX 9 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mazda Mazda6
The Mazda6 is a midsize sedan with a broad spread of complaints across electrical, engine, brake, and airbag systems. Over 10 years, it averaged 53.9 complaints per year, with 37 crash-related reports and 27 injuries. Owners describe issues like sudden downshifts, coolant control valve failures, and brake grinding after repairs. It's a car that demands attention to electrical and brake health.
Mazda CX 9
The Mazda CX-9 is a three-row SUV where engine problems dominate, especially water pump failures that can cause overheating and stalling. It averaged 50.6 complaints per year, with 22 crash-related reports and 15 injuries. Recalls cover airbags, steering, seats, and fuel pumps. The engine-related complaints are frequent and can be serious.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda Mazda6 | Mazda CX 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 539 | 506 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 | 11 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 37 | 22 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 53.9 | 50.6 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 27 | 15 Better |
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 Mazda6
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM101
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER89
- 03ENGINE79
- 04SERVICE BRAKES60
- 05AIR BAGS51
Owners report sudden high RPMs, unexpected downshifts, and multiple warning lights (traction control, check engine) coming on at once, sometimes causing loss of power. This can be frightening at highway speeds and may indicate sensor or wiring faults.
Complaints include overheating while driving and low oil pressure warnings shortly after oil changes. These can lead to engine damage if ignored, so a pre-purchase inspection should check for coolant leaks and oil pressure issues.
Some owners hear grinding noises after brake recall repairs, suggesting improper installation or premature wear. Brake problems affect stopping ability, so any grinding or soft pedal should be investigated immediately.
There are 51 airbag complaints, and a recall for the passenger-side frontal inflator module. A defective inflator may not deploy correctly in a crash, so buyers should confirm the recall was performed.
“THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE AND MAZDA HAS KNOWN FOR YEARS. THE DOOR SASH MOLDING HAS CAUSED ME PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE. AT AGE 43, I HAD TO RETIRE/DISABILITY DUE TO DEFECTS MAZDA KNEW OF AND JUST INFORM CONSUMER OF IN 2018? I WAS MAKING RIGHT HAND TURN, LEGALLY. SOME…”
“My RPM'S reaved up real high while driving 60mph and all the sudden the car down shifted and I had to put car in neutral in order maintain control. The traction control light and heck engine lights came on same time, lost power to the car the navigation and r…”
Mazda CX 9
- 01ENGINE262
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER79
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM49
- 04POWER TRAIN47
- 05SERVICE BRAKES45
The most common complaint is water pump failure, which can leak coolant into the engine, cause overheating, and lead to sudden stalling. Owners also report flashing check engine lights and rattling sounds. This is a major reliability concern that can strand a driver.
Owners describe multiple 'Critical Vehicle Malfunction' alerts, including parking brake and electric parking brake errors, sometimes with deceleration. These electronic glitches can be distracting and may indicate deeper issues.
Complaints include the vehicle shutting off while driving, often linked to water pump leaks. A sudden shutdown on the highway is dangerous, especially with children in the car, so any stalling history is a red flag.
There are 45 brake complaints, though fewer details are given. Brake issues on a heavy SUV can increase stopping distances, so a test drive should include checking for noises or softness.
“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…”
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 Mazda6 — 22 recalls
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
The risk: An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda6 and 2014-2016 Mazda3 vehicles. Water could possibly enter the brake caliper causing the parking brake actuator shaft to corrode and possibly bind.
The risk: If the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brake does not engage properly, the vehicle may move unexpectedly if it is parked on a slope, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will check the parking brake actuator shafts, replacing any that are corroded, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed Au…
The defect: Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured June 12, 2013, through December 18, 2013, and model year 2014-2015 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured May 20, 2013, through December 4, 2013, and both equipped with a 2.5L engine and a regenerative en…
The risk: Once the PCM assumes that the charging system has failed, the vehicle will stop charging and could result in poor acceleration, loss of steering assist and windshield wiper operation, and a possible engine stall, increasing the risk of a c…
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on May 19, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7314D.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured October 25, 2012, to October 10, 2014. If the pressures of four of the tires on an affected vehicle gradually drop at the same time, the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) may not warn…
The risk: A vehicle that is driven with under inflated tires may experience a sudden tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. The recall began on December 10, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500.
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…
Buyer analysis
Mazda Mazda6 or Mazda CX 9: which should you buy?
The Mazda CX-9 has slightly fewer complaints per year (50.6 vs. 53.9), but its engine problems are more concentrated and potentially severe, with water pump failures leading to stalling. The Mazda6 has a wider variety of issues, including electrical and brake complaints. In practice, the CX-9's engine risk may require more urgent attention, while the Mazda6's problems are more spread out.
Key differences
- The CX-9's top complaint is engine (262 reports), often water pump failures causing stalling; the Mazda6's top complaint is electrical (101 reports), with sudden downshifts and warning lights.
- The Mazda6 has more recalls (22 vs. 11) and more crash-related reports (37 vs. 22), but the CX-9's engine issues can lead to immediate loss of power.
- The CX-9 has fewer injuries reported (15 vs. 27), but its engine failures may pose a higher risk of a crash if they occur at speed.
- Both have airbag inflator recalls, but the Mazda6 also has recalls for parking brake and alternator, while the CX-9 has recalls for steering and fuel pump.
- Check for any signs of electrical gremlins: test all lights, infotainment, and look for stored trouble codes related to traction control or transmission.
- Inspect brake rotors and pads for uneven wear or grinding, especially if the car has had brake recall work done.
- Look for coolant leaks or low coolant levels, and listen for a rattling noise from the engine that could indicate water pump failure.
- Ask for service records to see if the water pump has been replaced; if not, budget for a preventive replacement.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls are fixed, especially airbag inflator and fuel pump recalls.
- Have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the engine (coolant and oil condition) and transmission for both models.
- Test drive at highway speeds to check for sudden downshifts, warning lights, or loss of power.
- For the CX-9, specifically ask the mechanic to pressure-test the cooling system and check for water pump leaks.
- For the Mazda6, check the operation of all electrical components and listen for brake noises during a test drive.
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 Mazda6 | Mazda CX 9 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17 | 38 |
| 2020 | 2 | 19 |
| 2019 | 6 | 53 |
| 2018 | 58 | 126 |
| 2017 | 60 | 61 |
| 2016 | 77 | 99 |
| 2015 | 60 | 35 |
| 2014 | 137 | 54 |
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 Mazda6 or Mazda CX 9 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda Mazda6 vs Mazda CX 9
- Mazda Mazda6 total complaints
- 539
- Mazda CX 9 total complaints
- 506
- Mazda Mazda6 total recalls
- 22
- Mazda CX 9 total recalls
- 11
- Mazda Mazda6 avg complaints/year
- 53.9
- Mazda CX 9 avg complaints/year
- 50.6
- More reliable overall
- Mazda CX 9
- Mazda Mazda6 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Mazda CX 9 top complaint area
- ENGINE