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ProblemsByVin File / 2010-MAZDA-CX-9 NHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Mazda

2010 Mazda CX-9 problems

The 2010 Mazda CX-9 has 4 critical safety recalls on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 195 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.

The 2010 Mazda CX-9 has 195 NHTSA owner complaints and 6 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is brakes at 81 complaints, typically surfacing around 84,244 miles (~$450 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Mazda CX-9 owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2007 CX-9 86 5
2008 CX-9 172 6
2009 CX-9 59 7
2010 CX-9 (this page) 195 6
2011 CX-9 170 4
2012 CX-9 221 4
2013 CX-9 68 4
2010 Mazda CX-9
Photo: Alexander Migl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · representative photo of the Mazda CX-9
0 5 10
Reliability score
4.6 / 10

Below average for the segment. Multiple systems have recurring complaints.

4
Critical
2
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2010 CX-9?
High-risk ownership

Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

Buying a used 2010 Mazda CX-9? Check these first

Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.

What to inspect on this specific car

⚠ The one to take seriously: brakes is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 84,244 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 6 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 4.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.

We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.

See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2010 Mazda CX-9

A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.

Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.

Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.

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Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

brakes
81 reports · fails ~84,244 mi · avg $450
severe
powertrain
23 reports · fails ~80,516 mi · avg $2,500
severe
engine
21 reports · fails ~86,510 mi · avg $3,100
moderate
airbags
18 reports · fails ~57,200 mi · avg $1,100
severe
suspension
15 reports · fails ~110,333 mi · avg $900
moderate
cruise control
6 reports · fails ~19,767 mi · avg $600
moderate
body
5 reports · fails ~63,073 mi · avg $1,500
moderate
electrical
4 reports · fails ~44,856 mi · avg $850
moderate

Your road ahead on this 2010 Mazda CX-9

When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.

  1. ~77,200 mipowertrain~$2,500
  2. ~86,524 mibrakes~$450
  3. ~108,000 miengine~$3,100

"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.

Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2010 CX-9's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2010 CX-9?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2010 CX-9 · brakes
Having braking issues while driving on the highway as well as city streets the brake pedal is gets hard to depress and braking diminishes almost completely. According to research Mazda has already identified the problem exists with the power brake booster. There is a defect in…
12/29/2018 · at 99,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11164034.0 · see brakes pattern →
2010 CX-9 · engine
The contact owns a 2010 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated while conducting a routine check, he noticed that the coolant and the oil levels were low. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the coolant was leaking into the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. An unknown dealer was…
12/27/2022 · at 160,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11499001.0 · see engine pattern →
2010 CX-9 · airbags
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2010 Mazda cx-9. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v356000 (air bags). However, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the…
2010 CX-9 · brakes Crash
Driving in snowy conditions; brakes failed twice when I applied light pressure. First time, the brakes shuddered, but the car finally stopped after I applied hard pressure; the second time it happened, the brakes shuddered, and nothing happened when I first applied harder…
12/26/2013 · at 38,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10557358.0 · see brakes pattern →
View all 195 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2010 Mazda CX-9? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 3 of 6

critical NHTSA 19V782000 October 31, 2019

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2007-2012 CX-7, CX-9, and 2009-2012 Maza6 vehicles

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: 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.
critical NHTSA 18V717000 October 12, 2018

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

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.
critical NHTSA 18V018000 January 9, 2018

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

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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 March 2, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.
View all 6 recalls →

Common questions

Is the 2010 Mazda CX-9 reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 4.6 out of 10 based on 195 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Mazda CX-9 has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

Should you avoid the 2010 Mazda CX-9?

The 2010 Mazda CX-9 is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Brakes: 81 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 52,000–101,000 mi; Reliability score 4.6/10 — below the segment average; 6 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should I check before buying a used 2010 Mazda CX-9?

Inspect the brakes first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 81 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 84,244 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.

Is the 2010 Mazda CX-9 a good used car to buy?

It scores 4.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 195 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is brakes. Typical failure occurs around 84,244 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.

What's the most common problem on the 2010 Mazda CX-9?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is brakes, with 81 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 84,244 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The brakes is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 84,244 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Mazda CX-9 has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2010 Mazda CX-9?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 195 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $450, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Mazda/CX-9. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Mazda. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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