2011 Mazda CX-9: problems, recalls and what it’s worth
Known weak spot on this generation: 3.5 / 3.7 Cyclone (or 3.0 Duratec) — internal water pump. 4 recall campaigns to confirm with a dealer.
Pull the dipstick and oil cap and look for a tan/milky emulsion; check for unexplained coolant loss. A documented water-pump/timing job resets the clock.
Known problems on the 2011 Mazda CX-9
3.5 / 3.7 Cyclone (or 3.0 Duratec) — internal water pump $1,200–$2,800 to fix
On these V6es the water pump is driven by the timing chain and lives inside the engine — when the seal fails, coolant goes straight into the oil (a milkshake) with little warning, and the repair means removing the timing cover.
Check for: Pull the dipstick and oil cap and look for a tan/milky emulsion; check for unexplained coolant loss. A documented water-pump/timing job resets the clock.
Basis: Ford TSBs; NHTSA complaints; well-documented internal-water-pump design
Known patterns for this year and model, not findings about one car. A well-kept example may already have had the fix. Costs are rough US shop prices.
2011 Mazda CX-9 recalls
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2011 Mazda CX-9. Repairs are free at a dealer for the brand, and a dealer can confirm by VIN which were already done.
- Airbags
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Details 19V782000
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.
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.
- Airbags
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Details 18V717000
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, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Mazda6, 2010-2012 CX-7, and 2010-2015 CX-9 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
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.
- Airbags
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Details 17V429000
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.
Fix: 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
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.
Details 15V451000
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.
Fix: 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 remaining vehicles will be remedied. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 8515G.
2011 Mazda CX-9 safety investigations and free repairs
No open safety investigations.
Free repairs to ask about (warranty extensions):
- Airbags: Subject: ** UPDATE** - Takata Inflator Special Service Program (Extended Warranty) Special Service Program SSPB3: In December 2017 Special Service Program SSPB3 - Takata Inflator Extended Warranty was announced.
- Warranty extension: Abnormal Noise & Oil Leak from power transfer Unit Warranty Extension Program - Special Service Program (SSP) 92 extended.
- Warranty extension: In relation to on-going warranty extension program SSP92 (effective from April 2014), which extended the warranty coverage for power transfer unit…
A dealer for the brand can check these by VIN.
Source: NHTSA, Sep 24, 2026.
2011 Mazda CX-9 safety and fuel
From NHTSA’s crash tests and the EPA’s fueleconomy.gov.
What owners complain about
170 complaints filed with NHTSA for this year and model, about average.
Share of complaints that mention each area. One complaint can mention several.
What a 2011 Mazda CX-9 is worth
Rough trade-in values — roughly what a dealer would pay — by mileage, from published trade-in guides. Private sales and dealer prices run higher. For the exact car, add its VIN.
| Mileage | Trade-in (rough) |
|---|---|
| 40,000 mi | $3,663 |
| 80,000 mi | $3,400 |
| 120,000 mi | $3,175 |
From new to now
What each Mazda CX-9 model year trades in for today at typical mileage.
Typical mileage = 12,000 miles a year; values between two published mileages are estimated in a straight line.
Other Mazda CX-9 years
2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Printable inspection checklist · Out-the-door price calculator