2007 Mazda CX-9: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2007 Mazda CX-9
On the 2007 Mazda CX-9, the failure owners report most often is control arm, ball joint or bushing failure, and the reports cluster around 95,000 miles. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 95,000 miles. Overall it scores 64 out of 100, high risk for a 2007.
High risk for a 2007 — 293rd riskiest of the 365 2007 vehicles we can rate. 98 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What owners report breaking
Owners have reported 27 named failure modes on the 2007 Mazda CX-9, and the three most-reported carry 37% of everything filed.
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure leads with 16 reports, about 0.7 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 83k to 120,000 miles.
Airbag inflator rupture follows with 10 reports, median 95,000 miles.
Other suspension problem follows with 10 reports, median 100,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into suspension (28), engine (16) and airbag (10).
At what mileage it happens
72 of the reports on the 2007 Mazda CX-9 came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 95,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 15% by 50,000 miles, 56% by 100,000 miles and 99% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 1 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 120,000 and 130,000 miles, which alone holds 18% of the dated reports.
13% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 27. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 1 report came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 3 mention a crash and 1 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.10, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: control arm, ball joint or bushing failure at $400–$2,200, airbag inflator rupture at $0–$0, other suspension problem at $350–$2,000 and misfire or rough idle at $250–$1,600. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
24% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 16 | 15 | 83k | 95k | 122k | 0.7 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 10 | 2 | — | 95k | — | 0.4 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 10 | 6 | — | 98k | — | 0.4 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 8 | 8 | 81k | 98k | 113k | 0.3 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 5 | 3 | — | 70k | — | 0.2 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 4 | 4 | — | 135k | — | 0.2 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Oil leak | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 124k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 3 | 1 | — | 104k | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 3 | 3 | — | 107k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 3 | 3 | — | 120k | — | 0.1 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 3 | 2 | — | 118k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 2 | 2 | — | 102k | — | 0.1 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Wheel, stud or lug nut failure | wheels | 2 | 2 | — | 75k | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,500 | Critical |
| Other engine problem | engine | 2 | 1 | — | 12k | — | 0.1 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 74k | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 2 | 2 | — | 128 | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 2 | 2 | — | 500 | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Water pump failure | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 200k | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,200 | High |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 61k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Wheel bearing or hub failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 46k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 90k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 128k | — | 0.0 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 68k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 1 | 1 | — | 52k | — | 0.0 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 74k | — | 0.0 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 1 | 1 | — | 30k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 6 | 2 | — | 80k | — | 0.2 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2007 Mazda CX-9 draws about 4.1 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 79th percentile of complaint rates among 2007 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 24,185 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2007 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure
The passenger front wheel disconnected from the lower control arm, resulting in immediate loss of control of the vehicle. Fortunately the vehicle was being driven thru a residential area at a low speed. Two months prior to the failure, the car had a front-wheel alignment, and the mechanic assured me that there was no detection of the imminent failure. I certainly do not wish to have this occur at highway speeds. I had both lower front ball joint/lower arm assemblies replaced. I still have the failed part in case you are interested. *js
While backing out of my driveway the right front ball joint separated and then the pulled wheel away from the vehicle, pulling the axle out. We had to remove the wheel, insert the axle and put the wheel back on before we could even move the car onto the tow truck.
Airbag inflator rupture
Takata recall: got letter stating no one should ride in front passenger seat until repair done. Yet repair may not be done for 10-15 years!!!!!!! I called russell mazda in catonsville, md & they concurred. This is ridiculous: I have five people needing to be in the car: how can we not use the front seat for 10-15 years?
Other suspension problem
Since the first day I had the new car it has pulled to the left, it has been in the shop 4 times to be fixed, each time I get the car back with the same pulling problem, on the final time it was in they tried to fix it 3 times unsuccessfully, they finally called me and told me there was nothing else they could do. Lemon mazda cx9 is a lemon. *tr
We have had our mazda cx-9 since 2007. At 58,000 miles we noticed a "humming" noise. We took the vehicle into the mazda dealership since it was still under warranty. We got the run around stating it was our tires; however, it turned out the front wheel bearings were bad. They replaced the bearings and one year later we are having to replace the rear bearings. Through research we are finding that mazda has a service bulletin issued 2/1/2008 about the rear bearings. Basically stating the noise is from an improper shape of the ABS sensor and this is only covered if there is still a warranty on the vehicle. My question is if they know this is a problem then why is this issue not recalled because a frozen bearing is and can be very dangerous. Mazda refuses to help replace our rear bearing since we are now at 74,000 mile and our warranty is out. All we keep getting is a run around by our local dealerships. We also have had problems with our driver side mirror. Mazda replace the mirror a few weeks after we bought of cx-9 but it still shakes.
Recalls on the 2007 model year
NHTSA has issued 5 recall campaigns covering the 2007 Mazda CX-9, affecting an estimated 52,362 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module and suspension:front:control arm:lower arm. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
69,879 vehicles 2019-10-31- Defect
- Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2007-2012 CX-7, CX-9, and 2009-2012 Maza6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Consequence
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V356 and 17V012.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
79,402 vehicles 2017-07-18- Defect
- Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2012 CX-7, CX-9 and Mazda6 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), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Mazda is recalling certain 2009 CX-7, CX-9 and Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana…
- Consequence
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F. Note: This recall supersedes recall 17V-012.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
205,377 vehicles 2017-06-29- Defect
- Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2011 Mazda6, and 2007-2011 CX-7 and CX-9 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- Consequence
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on August 30, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F. Note: This recall supersedes recall 16V356 and all vehicles that were not remedied under that campaign are now covered by this one.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
193,484 vehicles 2015-07-20- Defect
- Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2007-2014 CX-9 vehicles manufactured October 24, 2006, to December 28, 2013. The affected vehicles have front suspension ball joints that may corrode from water leaking into the fitting.
- Consequence
- Over time, the ball joint corrosion may result in the front lower control arm separating from the ball joint, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace both the left and right lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began on September 14, 2015. The recall will begin with model year 2007-2009 vehicles registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The second phase will be for model year 2010-2014 vehicles in the same states. Finally, all…
EQUIPMENT
2,323 vehicles 2009-04-02- Defect
- Thule, inc. Is recalling 2,323 owner-installed roof-mounted fit kits, models 3068 and 3069, manufactured between january 1, 2008 and february 28, 2009 that are used with thule podium foot packs, models 460 and 460r. These fit kits were sold as aftermarket equipment for use on the vehicles listed above. The bolt(s) used to secure the foot to the vehicle was manufactured to a hardness that may cause the bolt(s) to be brittle and potentially break under stress.
- Consequence
- This may result in the bolt(s) snapping off during use or without a load. The unsecured rack and load can then come loose while driving creating a potential road hazard, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Thule will mail a retro fit kit along with repair instructions to owners free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before april 13, 2009. Owners may contact thule toll-free at 1-800-238-2388.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2007 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2007 compares with the other years
High risk for a 2007 — 293rd riskiest of the 365 2007 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.
Across the 16 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2007 comes out best at 64 and 2018 worst at 82, with 2007 itself at 64.
No other year of this model scores meaningfully better than 2007, so if this generation is what you want, the year is not the lever.
Within the 2007–2015 generation specifically, 2007 is the strongest year at 64 and 2010 the weakest at 74.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2007-2015 generation, 2007 Mazda CX-9 scores best at 64 and 2010 Mazda CX-9 worst at 74.
What to look at before buying one
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: misfire or rough idle from about 81k and control arm, ball joint or bushing failure from about 83k.
On a 2007 Mazda CX-9 with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether misfire or rough idle has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
What this page cannot tell you
98 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 98 reports, 72 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 73% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Mazda CX-9?
The most-reported failures are control arm, ball joint or bushing failure (16 reports, median 95,000 miles), airbag inflator rupture (10 reports, median 95,000 miles) and other suspension problem (10 reports, median 100,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2007 Mazda CX-9 problems start?
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 95,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 85,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 95,000 miles.
Is the 2007 Mazda CX-9 reliable?
It scores 64 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 293rd riskiest of the 365 2007 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2007 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Mazda CX-9 is best?
Within the 2007–2015 generation, 2007 scores best at 64 out of 100 and 2010 worst at 74. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed