2018 Mazda CX-9 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

167 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2018 Mazda CX-9, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 64/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports.

Avoid this year if you can. The 2018 Mazda CX-9 sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2015.

167Complaints
64/100Trouble index
2Recalls

Avoid

Where 2018 sits among all CX-9 years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 76 complaints (46%)
“The cylinder head cracked and leaked engine coolant at 72K miles. This is a known design flaw IAW TSB 01-007/22. Vehicle overheated.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 CX-9
Other 20 complaints (12%)
Electrical 16 complaints (10%)
Transmission & drivetrain 13 complaints (8%)
Brakes & stability 11 complaints (7%)
Driver assistance 9 complaints (5%)

Recalls (2)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 21V875000 2021

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to…

Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 19V403000 2019

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 CX-9 vehicles. The wiring harness may disrupt electrical communications and disable the passenger frontal air bag, turn signals, and/or engine starting system.

Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4.…

Technical service bulletins

469 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2018 Mazda CX-9. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2018 CX-9 TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

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

2017peak 44 in 20232026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2018 Mazda CX-9 reliable?

The 2018 Mazda CX-9 drew 167 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 64/100, scored against the model's worst year (2012).

What are the most common 2018 Mazda CX-9 problems?

The top reported problems for the 2018 Mazda CX-9 are engine (76 complaints), other (20), and electrical (16).

Does the 2018 Mazda CX-9 have recalls?

2 recall campaigns apply to the 2018 Mazda CX-9. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2017 CX-9 All CX-9 years 2019 CX-9 →
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.