2013 Mazda CX-9: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2013 Mazda CX-9
On the 2013 Mazda CX-9, the failure owners report most often is water pump failure, with 7 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 52,500 miles. Overall it scores 72 out of 100, high risk for a 2013.
High risk for a 2013 — 147th riskiest of the 284 2013 vehicles we can rate. 80 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2013 Mazda CX-9
Owners have reported 29 named failure modes on the 2013 Mazda CX-9, and the three most-reported carry 26% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Water pump failure leads with 7 reports and about 0.3 per 1,000 vehicles.
Master cylinder or brake booster failure follows with 7 reports, median 70,000 miles.
Other suspension problem follows with 7 reports, median 30,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into brakes (15), cooling (10) and engine (10).
At what mileage it happens
52 of the reports on the 2013 Mazda CX-9 came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 52,500 miles.
Cumulatively, 48% by 50,000 miles, 88% by 100,000 miles and 96% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 30,000 and 40,000 miles, which alone holds 15% of the dated reports.
40% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
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 29. 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 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
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 6 mention a crash, 1 a fire and 3 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 4.71, 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: water pump failure at $500–$2,200, master cylinder or brake booster failure at $450–$2,200, other suspension problem at $350–$2,000 and other brake problem at $300–$1,800. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
33% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water pump failure | cooling | 7 | 4 | — | 107k | — | 0.3 | $500–$2,200 | High |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 7 | 6 | — | 69k | — | 0.3 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 7 | 1 | — | 30k | — | 0.3 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 6 | 6 | — | 41k | — | 0.2 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 5 | 4 | — | 53k | — | 0.2 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 4 | 2 | — | 73k | — | 0.2 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 4 | 4 | — | 11k | — | 0.2 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 2 | 2 | — | 97k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 2 | 1 | — | 14k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 2 | 1 | — | 20k | — | 0.1 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 2 | 2 | — | 53k | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 2 | 2 | — | 118k | — | 0.1 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 2 | 1 | — | 70k | — | 0.1 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 75k | — | 0.0 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 11k | — | 0.0 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Overheating | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 25k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Torque converter failure | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 34k | — | 0.0 | $1,100–$3,200 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 37k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 1 | 1 | — | 102k | — | 0.0 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 1 | 1 | — | 31k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 1 | 1 | — | 150 | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 338 | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 9 | 7 | — | 23k | — | 0.4 | — | 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 2013 Mazda CX-9 draws about 3.3 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 83rd percentile of complaint rates among 2013 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 2013 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.
Master cylinder or brake booster failure
Brake pedal became very difficult to depress, with hissing sound. Had to fully depress pedal to be able to stop from moderate speeds of 20-30mph. Research indicates the cx-9 has experienced brake booster failure with this symptom in previous model years.
Tried to stop the vehicle while driving and the brake pedal made a hissing sound as if air was escaping. The vehicle also kept moving even though the brake pedal was fully pressed to the floorboard. Took the vehicle in to the mazda dealership the next day and it was confirmed that the brake booster had failed internally.
Other suspension problem
I had just come out of a traffic circle and entered a straight stretch when I heard a loud crunching sound. I would estimate my speed to be between 15mph and 20 MPH .the vehicle shook but I was able to move forward but had difficulty steering and could not brake. The car sputtered to a stop then I heard a hissing sound. When I got out of the vehicle I saw the right front wheel at a right angle to the fender and fluids leaking onto the pavement. The wheel was no longer attached. The tow driver reported that it took him one hour to load the vehicle onto a flatbed because the axle kept popping out when he tried to move the vehicle. Ridgeway towing transported the vehicle to ingram park mazda, san antonio, texas. The tow driver took photos before loading the vehicle but I do not have them. The left and right lower control arms had been replaced in july 2016 under recall 8515g.
Recalls on the 2013 model year
NHTSA has issued 4 recall campaigns covering the 2013 Mazda CX-9, affecting an estimated 44,983 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, steering 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.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
155,436 vehicles 2018-10-12- 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), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, unless covered in "Zone A," Mazda is recalling certain 2011-2013 Mazda6, 2011-2012 CX-7, and 2011-2015 CX-9 sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky…
- Consequence
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- 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. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
70,227 vehicles 2018-01-09- Defect
- Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2013 Mazda6 and 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), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, unless covered in "Zone A," Mazda is recalling certain 2010 Mazda6, CX-7 and CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky…
- Consequence
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.
STEERING
578 vehicles 2016-04-11- 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 2013-2015 CX-9 vehicles manufactured December 6, 2012, to July 31, 2015. The lower mounting nuts and bolts that attach the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle may loosen, allowing the steering knuckle to separate.
- Consequence
- If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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 recall is expected to begin May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9316D.
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…
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 2013 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 2013 compares with the other years
High risk for a 2013 — 147th riskiest of the 284 2013 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
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 2013 itself at 72.
If the model year is negotiable, 2007, 2023 and 2009 score lower than 2013 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
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.
The limits of complaint data
80 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 80 reports, 52 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 65% 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".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
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 2013 Mazda CX-9?
The most-reported failures are water pump failure (7 reports, median 105,000 miles), master cylinder or brake booster failure (7 reports, median 70,000 miles) and other suspension problem (7 reports, median 30,000 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.
Is the 2013 Mazda CX-9 reliable?
It scores 72 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 147th riskiest of the 284 2013 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2013 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