2021 Mazda CX-9 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

47 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2021 Mazda CX-9, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 27/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Engine leads the reports.

47Complaints
27/100Trouble index
1Recalls

Typical

Where 2021 sits among all CX-9 years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 20 complaints (43%)
Other 6 complaints (13%)
Driver assistance 5 complaints (11%)
Brakes & stability 4 complaints (9%)
Transmission & drivetrain 3 complaints (6%)
Airbags 2 complaints (4%)

Recalls (1)

SEATS 21V750000 2021

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CX-9 vehicles equipped with 60/40 split bench second-row seats. The left-side second-row seat may unexpectedly slide forward during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with…

Fix: Dealers will replace the internal parts of the affected second-row seats, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at…

Technical service bulletins

420 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2021 Mazda CX-9. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2021 CX-9 TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

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

2021peak 13 in 20222026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2021 Mazda CX-9 reliable?

The 2021 Mazda CX-9 drew 47 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 27/100, scored against the model's worst year (2012).

What are the most common 2021 Mazda CX-9 problems?

The top reported problems for the 2021 Mazda CX-9 are engine (20 complaints), other (6), and driver assistance (5).

Does the 2021 Mazda CX-9 have recalls?

1 recall campaign applies to the 2021 Mazda CX-9. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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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.