IllustrationLOWER BALL JOINT IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION SEPARATED CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF ROUNDING A CORNER......UPDATED 08/20/15 *BF
2007 Mazda CX-9
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2007 Mazda CX-9 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 61.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all CX-9 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
425–50K
850–75K
1375–100K
21100–150K
1150K+
52 reports with mileage · 15 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Suspension. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
Suspension complaints
29 reportsYESTERDAY (6/21/15) AT APPROXIMATELY 630PM; MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2007 MAZDA CX9 GRAND TOURING (AWD). AS SHE WAS PULLING OUT OF A SUBDIVISION AT APPROXIMATELY 10MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THEN IMMEDIATELY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC IN THE VICINITY AND SHE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND GET ST…
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YESTERDAY (6/21/15) AT APPROXIMATELY 630PM; MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2007 MAZDA CX9 GRAND TOURING (AWD). AS SHE WAS PULLING OUT OF A SUBDIVISION AT APPROXIMATELY 10MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THEN IMMEDIATELY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC IN THE VICINITY AND SHE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND GET STOPPED. THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL AT BROKEN FREE OF THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING MECHANISM. ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP THE LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE, PUSHED OUT AND BROKE THE AXLE SHAFT. ALSO THE FORCE OF THE SHIFTING WHEEL/TIRE PUSHED THE RIGHT QUARTER-PANEL INTO THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR, MAKING THE DOOR INOPERABLE. I'VE HEARD OF OTHERS WITH THIS SAME INCIDENT WITH THE CX9. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED, WITH NO OTHER TRAFFIC OR PEDESTRIANS IN THE AREA.
I WAS PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY AND MY MAZDA CX 9 CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR I REALIZED THAT THE SUSPENSION BROKE AND THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE BEARING. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED...UPDATED 08-12-15*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PART WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 08/2…
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I WAS PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY AND MY MAZDA CX 9 CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR I REALIZED THAT THE SUSPENSION BROKE AND THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE BEARING. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED...UPDATED 08-12-15*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PART WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 08/25/15*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE AXLE FRACTURED AND LODGED INTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND HEARD A LOUD BANGING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURED BALL JOINT AND AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND HEARD A LOUD BANGING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURED BALL JOINT AND AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY THE RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT SEPARATED AND THEN THE PULLED WHEEL AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE, PULLING THE AXLE OUT. WE HAD TO REMOVE THE WHEEL, INSERT THE AXLE AND PUT THE WHEEL BACK ON BEFORE WE COULD EVEN MOVE THE CAR ONTO THE TOW TRUCK.
THE PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL DISCONNECTED FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, RESULTING IN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN THRU A RESIDENTIAL AREA AT A LOW SPEED. TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CAR HAD A FRONT-WHEEL ALIGNMENT, AND THE MECHANIC ASSURED ME THAT THERE WAS NO DETECTION …
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THE PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL DISCONNECTED FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, RESULTING IN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN THRU A RESIDENTIAL AREA AT A LOW SPEED. TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CAR HAD A FRONT-WHEEL ALIGNMENT, AND THE MECHANIC ASSURED ME THAT THERE WAS NO DETECTION OF THE IMMINENT FAILURE. I CERTAINLY DO NOT WISH TO HAVE THIS OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAD BOTH LOWER FRONT BALL JOINT/LOWER ARM ASSEMBLIES REPLACED. I STILL HAVE THE FAILED PART IN CASE YOU ARE INTERESTED. *JS
WE HAVE HAD OUR MAZDA CX-9 SINCE 2007. AT 58,000 MILES WE NOTICED A "HUMMING" NOISE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. WE GOT THE RUN AROUND STATING IT WAS OUR TIRES; HOWEVER, IT TURNED OUT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BAD. THEY REPLACED THE BEARINGS AND ONE YEAR LATER WE ARE H…
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WE HAVE HAD OUR MAZDA CX-9 SINCE 2007. AT 58,000 MILES WE NOTICED A "HUMMING" NOISE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. WE GOT THE RUN AROUND STATING IT WAS OUR TIRES; HOWEVER, IT TURNED OUT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BAD. THEY REPLACED THE BEARINGS AND ONE YEAR LATER WE ARE HAVING TO REPLACE THE REAR BEARINGS. THROUGH RESEARCH WE ARE FINDING THAT MAZDA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED 2/1/2008 ABOUT THE REAR BEARINGS. BASICALLY STATING THE NOISE IS FROM AN IMPROPER SHAPE OF THE ABS SENSOR AND THIS IS ONLY COVERED IF THERE IS STILL A WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. MY QUESTION IS IF THEY KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM THEN WHY IS THIS ISSUE NOT RECALLED BECAUSE A FROZEN BEARING IS AND CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. MAZDA REFUSES TO HELP REPLACE OUR REAR BEARING SINCE WE ARE NOW AT 74,000 MILE AND OUR WARRANTY IS OUT. ALL WE KEEP GETTING IS A RUN AROUND BY OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. WE ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OUR DRIVER SIDE MIRROR. MAZDA REPLACE THE MIRROR A FEW WEEKS AFTER WE BOUGHT OF CX-9 BUT IT STILL SHAKES.
SINCE THE FIRST DAY I HAD THE NEW CAR IT HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES TO BE FIXED, EACH TIME I GET THE CAR BACK WITH THE SAME PULLING PROBLEM, ON THE FINAL TIME IT WAS IN THEY TRIED TO FIX IT 3 TIMES UNSUCCESSFULLY, THEY FINALLY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. LEMON MAZDA CX…
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SINCE THE FIRST DAY I HAD THE NEW CAR IT HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES TO BE FIXED, EACH TIME I GET THE CAR BACK WITH THE SAME PULLING PROBLEM, ON THE FINAL TIME IT WAS IN THEY TRIED TO FIX IT 3 TIMES UNSUCCESSFULLY, THEY FINALLY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. LEMON MAZDA CX9 IS A LEMON. *TR
Official recalls
419V782000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Oct 31, 2019
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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.
17V457000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jul 18, 2017
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2012 CX-7, CX-9 and Mazda6 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 included in "Zone A" above, Mazda is recalling certain 2009 CX-7, CX-9 and Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Mazda is recalling certain 2007-2008 CX-7 and CX-9 sold, or 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. 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 rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 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 17V-012.
17V429000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jun 29, 2017
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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.
15V451000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Jul 20, 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE15022 · Lower Ball Joint Separation
Opened Jun 9, 2015 · Closed Aug 20, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
In an July 7,2015 letter to NHTSA, Mazda identified a safety defect that could result in lower ball joint separation in approximately 193,484 model year (MY) 2007 through 2014 Mazda CX-9 vehicles (NHTSA Recall No. 15V-451,Mazda 8515G).Mazda indicated that damage to the ball joint boot may allow water to enter the front suspension ball joint fitting during use which may result in premature ball joint wear and a progressively looser joint.In January 2014, Mazda implemented redesigned lower control arms in production vehicles to improve the durability of the lower ball joints.The redesign involved changing the shape of the top surface of the ball joint boot cover and adding a suspension plate to the undersurface of the knuckle.Mazda's recall will replace the defect lower control arms with the redesigned parts.ODI's analysis of information collected during PE15-022 identified a total of 62 ball joint separation incidents, including 34 identified in ODI complaints and 31 identified in Mazda complaints and field reports (3 of the Mazda records involve vehicles/incidents that were also reported to ODI).When Mazda's design change was implemented, most of the field experience related to lower ball joints involved complaints of noise and premature wear-out.Only 1 of the ODI and 6 of the additional Mazda separation complaints identified in ODI's analysis were reported prior to January 2014.Significant increases in the number and trend in separation complaints were observed in 2015, when 30 of the ODI complaints and 16 of the additional Mazda complaints were reported.The report trend appears to be accelerating, with 29 of the reports received after ODI opened PE15-022 on June 9, 2015.There has been one crash reported to ODI related to the alleged defect (VOQ 10746510). This investigation is closed based on Mazda's recall.The 34 VOQs associated with this investigation are: 10747358, 10746510, 10744897, 10743509, 10736229, 10735938, 10734763, 10734302, 10734290, 10733813, 10732578, 10732217, 10732154, 10731850, 10730736, 10730280, 10730143, 10730114, 10726622, 10726480 10726448, 10726168, 10725839, 10725567, 10725488, 10725427, 10725390, 10717510, 10714469, 10695142, 10668978, 10648429, 10640541, 10546535