2013 Mazda CX-9 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

80 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2013 Mazda CX-9, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 36/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 88,950 miles.

80Complaints
36/100Trouble index
4Recalls
57,136Typical trouble mileage

Below average

Where 2013 sits among all CX-9 years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 17 complaints (21%) · typically ~88,950 miles
Brakes & stability 16 complaints (20%) · typically ~58,500 miles
Other 10 complaints (13%)
Airbags 9 complaints (11%)
Suspension 9 complaints (11%)
Transmission & drivetrain 5 complaints (6%)

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 46 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 57,136 miles. Half of those reports fall between 30,000 and 88,950 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (4)

AIR BAGS 18V717000 2018 Do not drive

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,…

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…

AIR BAGS 18V018000 2018 Do not drive

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,…

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…

STEERING 16V203000 2016

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,…

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…

SUSPENSION 15V451000 2015

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…

Federal defect investigations

Inadvertent Curtain Air Bag Deployment PE19006 opened 2019, closed 2021
Lower ball joint separation PE15022 opened 2015, closed 2015

Led to recall campaign 15V451000.

Technical service bulletins

318 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2013 Mazda CX-9. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2013 CX-9 TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2013peak 12 in 20162026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2013 Mazda CX-9 reliable?

The 2013 Mazda CX-9 drew 80 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 36/100, scored against the model's worst year (2012).

What are the most common 2013 Mazda CX-9 problems?

The top reported problems for the 2013 Mazda CX-9 are engine (17 complaints), brakes & stability (16), and other (10).

At what mileage do 2013 Mazda CX-9 problems show up?

Owners most often report 2013 Mazda CX-9 problems around 57,136 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 30,000 and 88,950 miles.

Does the 2013 Mazda CX-9 have recalls?

4 recall campaigns apply to the 2013 Mazda CX-9. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.

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Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.