NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Unknown Or Other complaints
9 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jul 1, 2021
EngineUnknown Or Other
The water pump went out with no notice or warning, flushed all the coolant/water into the engine and failed. Over a $2K repair for a known engine defect with active lawsuits out. A Mazda water pump lawsuit alleges 2007-2016 Mazda CX-9 and 2009-2013 Mazda6 vehicles are equipped with pumps that suddenly fail and cause catastrophi…
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The water pump went out with no notice or warning, flushed all the coolant/water into the engine and failed. Over a $2K repair for a known engine defect with active lawsuits out. A Mazda water pump lawsuit alleges 2007-2016 Mazda CX-9 and 2009-2013 Mazda6 vehicles are equipped with pumps that suddenly fail and cause catastrophic engine failures. The proposed class action lawsuit alleges the vehicles lose engine power and fail to accelerate and maintain speed. The vehicles also allegedly can't readily control steering and cannot fully engage the brakes. The plaintiffs claim the vehicles are at risk of serious crashes because Mazda has failed to disclose the alleged water pump defects. Please investigate for a recall asap!
NHTSA ODI #11423136
Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2021
EngineUnknown Or Other
WATER PUMP FAILED AND IMPACTED MY ENGINE AS WELL. I JUST BROUGHT MY CAR IN AS WELL 10/20/2020 NO MENTION OF THIS ISSUE. BEGINNING IN 2007 AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE 2016 MODEL YEAR, MAZDA HAS INCORPORATED ITS MZI CYCLONE ENGINE (THE 'CYCLONE ENGINE') INTO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES, WHICH INCLUDE THE CX-9 FOR MODEL YEA…
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WATER PUMP FAILED AND IMPACTED MY ENGINE AS WELL. I JUST BROUGHT MY CAR IN AS WELL 10/20/2020 NO MENTION OF THIS ISSUE. BEGINNING IN 2007 AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE 2016 MODEL YEAR, MAZDA HAS INCORPORATED ITS MZI CYCLONE ENGINE (THE 'CYCLONE ENGINE') INTO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES, WHICH INCLUDE THE CX-9 FOR MODEL YEARS 2007 THROUGH 2016 AND THE MAZDA 6 FOR MODEL YEARS 2009 THROUGH 2013. THE CYCLONE ENGINE CONTAINS AN INTERNAL CHAIN-DRIVEN WATER PUMP, WHICH MEANS THE TIMING CHAIN IS CONNECTED TO THE WATER PUMP AND PROVIDES THE POWER THE WATER PUMP NEEDS TO CIRCULATE COOLANT THROUGH THE ENGINE WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE CHAIN-DRIVEN WATER PUMP IS LOCATED INTERNAL TO THE CYCLONE ENGINE, BEHIND NUMEROUS ENGINE COMPONENTS, INCLUDING THE TIMING CHAIN COVER. UNBEKNOWNST TO PURCHASERS AND LESSEES OF THESE VEHICLES, THE CYCLONE ENGINE CONTAINS A DEFECT IN DESIGN, MANUFACTURING, MATERIALS AND/OR WORKMANSHIP THAT CAUSES THE WATER PUMP TO SUDDENLY AND PREMATURELY FAIL WELL-BEFORE THE END OF THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE ENGINE, WHICH LEADS TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE OR A COSTLY REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE WATER PUMP'S INACCESSIBLE PLACEMENT IN THE ENGINE. WHEN THE WATER PUMP PREMATURELY FAILS WITHOUT WARNING, COOLANT IS ABLE TO LEAK FROM THE WATER PUMP INTO THE OIL PAN AND/OR OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS, ALLOWING IT TO MIX WITH THE ENGINE'S OIL. THE MIXTURE OF ENGINE OIL AND COOLANT CIRCULATES THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE, LEADING TO DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE. DESPITE HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF THIS DEFECT, MAZDA CONTINUED SELLING DEFECTIVE VEHICLES, FAILED TO DISCLOSE THE DEFECT TO OWNERS AND LESSEES, HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL, AND HAS NOT REMEDIED THE ISSUE AND/OR COMPENSATED OWNERS AND LESSEES OF THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES.
NHTSA ODI #11413454
97,000 miles · Dec 17, 2020
EngineUnknown Or Other
THE RADIATOR FAILED INTERNALLY WITH NO WARNING, NO LEAKS NO ENGINE LIGHT NOTHING, MIXING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE OIL AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. MY MACHINE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO WAY OF ME KNOWING THIS WAS HAPPENING AND ITS FAULTY THE WAY THEY MAKE THE RADIATOR IT CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN. NOW MY RADIATOR IS BAD AND MY ENGINE. I…
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THE RADIATOR FAILED INTERNALLY WITH NO WARNING, NO LEAKS NO ENGINE LIGHT NOTHING, MIXING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE OIL AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. MY MACHINE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO WAY OF ME KNOWING THIS WAS HAPPENING AND ITS FAULTY THE WAY THEY MAKE THE RADIATOR IT CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN. NOW MY RADIATOR IS BAD AND MY ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING AND SUDDENLY A NOISE STARTED THEN POWER WENT AND PULLED OVER AND WOULDN'T START AGAIN. NO WARNING NOTHING. NO LEAKS NO ENGINE LIGHT PRIOR.
NHTSA ODI #11383969
70,000 miles · Dec 29, 2018
Unknown Or Other
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY SUNROOF EXPLODED, SHOWERING GLASS INSIDE THE CAR. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING HIT IT. THE BREAKAGE SEEMED TO BE SPONTANEOUS.
NHTSA ODI #11163950
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2017
Unknown Or Other
I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME THAT COULD HAVE THROWN A ROCK MY WAY. IT JUST SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING LANDED ON THE TOP OF MY CAR AND THEN I SAW GLASS FLYING OFF MY CAR FROM REARVIEW MIRROR WHEN I REALIZED IT WAS MY SUNROOF!! SCARY AS HECK!!
NHTSA ODI #11021867
53,000 miles · Aug 6, 2017
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherWheels
MY VEHICLE SEEMED AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING BETWEEN GEARS ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD TAKE FOREVER TO SWITCH INTO HIGHER GEARS FOR HIGHER SPEEDS THEN WHEN SLOWING DOWN IT WOULD JERK AND THEN FINALLY STOP OR IF I WAS IN TRAFFIC WHERE I DIDN'T NEED TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP IT WOULD JERK TO SLOW DOWN AND SKIP GEARS AND JERK T…
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MY VEHICLE SEEMED AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING BETWEEN GEARS ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD TAKE FOREVER TO SWITCH INTO HIGHER GEARS FOR HIGHER SPEEDS THEN WHEN SLOWING DOWN IT WOULD JERK AND THEN FINALLY STOP OR IF I WAS IN TRAFFIC WHERE I DIDN'T NEED TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP IT WOULD JERK TO SLOW DOWN AND SKIP GEARS AND JERK TO SPEED BACK UP WHILE ON THE HIGH WAY TRAVELING AT NORMAL SPEED WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET IT WENT FROM 6TH GEAR TO 4TH GEAR FOR NO REASON AT ALL! THEN IT STARTED MAKING NOISES SOUNDING LIKE BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK END FIRST YOU WOULD ONLY HEAR THEM WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT THEN STARTED HEARING THEM IN REVERSE THEN YOU HEARD THEM WHILE DRIVING ALL THE TIME ON THE HIGHWAY BACK ROADS AND PARKING SOUNDED AS IF MY TIRES WERE GOING TO FALL OFF! I CONTACTED CARMAX BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH OF 2017 IT'S NOW AGUST 2017 AND TOLD THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING THEY LIED FROM THE INITIAL PHONE CALL BUT THAT'S BESIDES THE POINT THEY HAD MY VEHICLE FOR A WEEK SAYING THEY WERE LOOKING AT IT THOROUGHLY TO MAKE SURE WHAT THEY FOUND IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS THE ISSUE THEY ASSURED ME IT WAS TOLD ME IF I HEARD THE NOISE BRING IT BACK ASAP AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME IT WAS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES WE TRIED TO CALL THEM IMMEDIATELY BUT THEY WERE CLOSED WE CALLED THEM THAT MONDAY AND COULDN'T GET ANYBODY ON THE PHONE SO WE LEFT A MESSAGE WE CONTINUE TO CALL THEM FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE THEY FINALLY GAVE US AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING THE CAR AND I COULD NOT DRIVE MY CAR FOR THE TWO WEEKS THAT I HAD IT IN MY POSSESSION BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THROUGH MY EXTENDED WARRANTEE THAT DRIVING MY VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS STILL DAMAGED WOULD VOID MY WARRANTY THE DAY AFTER WE DROP MY CAR OFF BACK AT CARMAX I WAS CALLED AND TOLD THAT THE DATE IT WAS PULLED OUT OF THE GARAGE ON THE ORIGINAL REPAIR DATE 3 WEEKS PRIOR THAT THE TECH NOTED TO BRING TO MAZDA
NHTSA ODI #11013134
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2017
Unknown Or Other
I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO 2 DIFFERENT MAZDA DEALERS TO FIX THIS RECALL. THEY HAVE INSPECTED THE ISSUE AND DETERMINED IT NOT TO BE URGENT. THE LAST TIME, NOV 16, 2016, I WAS TOLD THE PARTS WOULD BE ORDERED AND I WOULD BE CONTACTED TO SET UP AN APPT FOR REPAIR. NO CONTACT YET. I AM FRUSTRATED.
NHTSA ODI #10943752
23,000 miles · Oct 25, 2014
Unknown Or Other
NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS FAUTY. SINCE PURCHASE NEW, NAVIGATION TRACKS FAULTY. MAZDA CAN NEVER FIX. I BROUGHT IT BACK MANY TIMES.
NHTSA ODI #10649901
23,000 miles · Oct 25, 2014
Unknown Or Other
NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS FAUTY. SINCE PURCHASE NEW, NAVIGATION TRACKS FAULTY. MAZDA CAN NEVER FIX. I BROUGHT IT BACK MANY TIMES.
NHTSA ODI #10649900
Official recalls
4Oct 12, 2018
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.
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: 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.
Jan 9, 2018
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, 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 2010 Mazda6, CX-7 and CX-9 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 covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2009 Mazda6, CX-7, and 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.
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: 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 service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.
Apr 11, 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, 2013, to December 2, 2015, and 2013-2015 CX-9 vehicles manufactured December 6, 2012, to July 31, 2015. The lower mounting nuts and bolts that attach the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle may loosen, allowing the steering knuckle to separate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 then correctly tightened, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9316D.
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
2PE19006 · Inadvertent Curtain Air Bag Deployment
Opened May 2, 2019 · Closed Jan 15, 2021
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:side/window; Air Bags:side/window:curtain
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE19-006) on May 2, 2019 to investigate two Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) and Early Warning Reporting data related to allegations of inadvertent deployment (IAD) of side curtain airbags in Model Year (MY) 2010 through 2013 Mazda CX-9 vehicles. ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Mazda North America Operations, LLC. to gather information about the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. In the 20 months since opening the PE, ODI has received three additional VOQs. To date, there have been a total of 11 IAD incidents within the identified population of 104,360 vehicles. Of the 11 incidents, no serious injuries were reported. The last known incident occurred in December 2020.Mazda's response to ODI's IR letter identified the root cause as a manufacturing issue of the Bosch SMG076 Roll Rate Sensor within the Restraint Control Module (RCM). During the manufacturing calibration process, small particles may be generated that could affect roll sensor capacitance, which could lead to a loss of curtain airbag protection or an erroneous deployment command. On November 19, 2012, a revised Roll Rate Sensor calibration process was launched, establishing a clean point for the issue. In its responses to ODI, Mazda has assessed the condition as a low risk to motor vehicle safety, with low incident frequency not warranting action. Any RCM data indicating a malfunctioning Roll Rate Sensor will result in the illumination of the airbag warning light. In the event of an erroneous curtain airbag deployment, there is no contact with properly seated occupants. Additionally, the condition is not affected by deterioration or wear, and known incidents established a random pattern of occurrence.During the investigation, ODI examined the injury risk to vehicle occupants from curtain airbag deployments. It was determined that the subject vehicles do not pose a substantial risk to out of position occupants, as testing data falls within Technical Working Group (TWG) reference values. Modeling simulation based on data provided by Mazda for properly seated occupants during static and dynamic airbag deployments indicated sufficient head clearance and no risk of brain injury. ODI analysis reveals that inadvertent deployment incident rates of curtain airbags in the subject vehicles are low through approximately ten years in service. Incident frequency does not meet values warranting recall action, but rather align closely with baseline frequency of general inadvertent deployments which are known to occur in rare driving conditions. Additionally, warranty analysis of RCM failures resulting in a loss of curtain airbag protection revealed low claim rates.Based on the analysis conducted, this investigation has been closed. The closing of this investigation does not foreclose the Agency from taking further action, if warranted, or the potential for a future finding that a safety-related defect exists, based upon additional information the Agency may receive.The five ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following identification numbers: 10905492, 11165925, 11270089, 11310044, 11385219.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Air Bags
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE19-006) on May 2, 2019 to investigate two Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) and Early Warning Reporting data related to allegations of inadvertent deployment (IAD) of side curtain airbags in Model Year (MY) 2010 through 2013 Mazda CX-9 vehicles. ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Mazda North America Operations, LLC. to gather information about the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. In the 20 months since opening the PE, ODI has received three additional VOQs. To date, there have been a total of 11 IAD incidents within the identified population of 104,360 vehicles. Of the 11 incidents, no serious injuries were reported. The last known incident occurred in December 2020.Mazda's response to ODI's IR letter identified the root cause as a manufacturing issue of the Bosch SMG076 Roll Rate Sensor within the Restraint Control Module (RCM). During the manufacturing calibration process, small particles may be generated that could affect roll sensor capacitance, which could lead to a loss of curtain airbag protection or an erroneous deployment command. On November 19, 2012, a revised Roll Rate Sensor calibration process was launched, establishing a clean point for the issue. In its responses to ODI, Mazda has assessed the condition as a low risk to motor vehicle safety, with low incident frequency not warranting action. Any RCM data indicating a malfunctioning Roll Rate Sensor will result in the illumination of the airbag warning light. In the event of an erroneous curtain airbag deployment, there is no contact with properly seated occupants. Additionally, the condition is not affected by deterioration or wear, and known incidents established a random pattern of occurrence.During the investigation, ODI examined the injury risk to vehicle occupants from curtain airbag deployments. It was determined that the subject vehicles do not pose a substantial risk to out of position occupants, as testing data falls within Technical Working Group (TWG) reference values. Modeling simulation based on data provided by Mazda for properly seated occupants during static and dynamic airbag deployments indicated sufficient head clearance and no risk of brain injury. ODI analysis reveals that inadvertent deployment incident rates of curtain airbags in the subject vehicles are low through approximately ten years in service. Incident frequency does not meet values warranting recall action, but rather align closely with baseline frequency of general inadvertent deployments which are known to occur in rare driving conditions. Additionally, warranty analysis of RCM failures resulting in a loss of curtain airbag protection revealed low claim rates.Based on the analysis conducted, this investigation has been closed. The closing of this investigation does not foreclose the Agency from taking further action, if warranted, or the potential for a future finding that a safety-related defect exists, based upon additional information the Agency may receive.The five ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following identification numbers: 10905492, 11165925, 11270089, 11310044, 11385219.
Air Bags:side/window:curtain
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE19-006) on May 2, 2019 to investigate two Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) and Early Warning Reporting data related to allegations of inadvertent deployment (IAD) of side curtain airbags in Model Year (MY) 2010 through 2013 Mazda CX-9 vehicles. ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Mazda North America Operations, LLC. to gather information about the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. In the 20 months since opening the PE, ODI has received three additional VOQs. To date, there have been a total of 11 IAD incidents within the identified population of 104,360 vehicles. Of the 11 incidents, no serious injuries were reported. The last known incident occurred in December 2020.Mazda's response to ODI's IR letter identified the root cause as a manufacturing issue of the Bosch SMG076 Roll Rate Sensor within the Restraint Control Module (RCM). During the manufacturing calibration process, small particles may be generated that could affect roll sensor capacitance, which could lead to a loss of curtain airbag protection or an erroneous deployment command. On November 19, 2012, a revised Roll Rate Sensor calibration process was launched, establishing a clean point for the issue. In its responses to ODI, Mazda has assessed the condition as a low risk to motor vehicle safety, with low incident frequency not warranting action. Any RCM data indicating a malfunctioning Roll Rate Sensor will result in the illumination of the airbag warning light. In the event of an erroneous curtain airbag deployment, there is no contact with properly seated occupants. Additionally, the condition is not affected by deterioration or wear, and known incidents established a random pattern of occurrence.During the investigation, ODI examined the injury risk to vehicle occupants from curtain airbag deployments. It was determined that the subject vehicles do not pose a substantial risk to out of position occupants, as testing data falls within Technical Working Group (TWG) reference values. Modeling simulation based on data provided by Mazda for properly seated occupants during static and dynamic airbag deployments indicated sufficient head clearance and no risk of brain injury. ODI analysis reveals that inadvertent deployment incident rates of curtain airbags in the subject vehicles are low through approximately ten years in service. Incident frequency does not meet values warranting recall action, but rather align closely with baseline frequency of general inadvertent deployments which are known to occur in rare driving conditions. Additionally, warranty analysis of RCM failures resulting in a loss of curtain airbag protection revealed low claim rates.Based on the analysis conducted, this investigation has been closed. The closing of this investigation does not foreclose the Agency from taking further action, if warranted, or the potential for a future finding that a safety-related defect exists, based upon additional information the Agency may receive.The five ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following identification numbers: 10905492, 11165925, 11270089, 11310044, 11385219.
Air Bags:side/window
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE19-006) on May 2, 2019 to investigate two Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) and Early Warning Reporting data related to allegations of inadvertent deployment (IAD) of side curtain airbags in Model Year (MY) 2010 through 2013 Mazda CX-9 vehicles. ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Mazda North America Operations, LLC. to gather information about the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. In the 20 months since opening the PE, ODI has received three additional VOQs. To date, there have been a total of 11 IAD incidents within the identified population of 104,360 vehicles. Of the 11 incidents, no serious injuries were reported. The last known incident occurred in December 2020.Mazda's response to ODI's IR letter identified the root cause as a manufacturing issue of the Bosch SMG076 Roll Rate Sensor within the Restraint Control Module (RCM). During the manufacturing calibration process, small particles may be generated that could affect roll sensor capacitance, which could lead to a loss of curtain airbag protection or an erroneous deployment command. On November 19, 2012, a revised Roll Rate Sensor calibration process was launched, establishing a clean point for the issue. In its responses to ODI, Mazda has assessed the condition as a low risk to motor vehicle safety, with low incident frequency not warranting action. Any RCM data indicating a malfunctioning Roll Rate Sensor will result in the illumination of the airbag warning light. In the event of an erroneous curtain airbag deployment, there is no contact with properly seated occupants. Additionally, the condition is not affected by deterioration or wear, and known incidents established a random pattern of occurrence.During the investigation, ODI examined the injury risk to vehicle occupants from curtain airbag deployments. It was determined that the subject vehicles do not pose a substantial risk to out of position occupants, as testing data falls within Technical Working Group (TWG) reference values. Modeling simulation based on data provided by Mazda for properly seated occupants during static and dynamic airbag deployments indicated sufficient head clearance and no risk of brain injury. ODI analysis reveals that inadvertent deployment incident rates of curtain airbags in the subject vehicles are low through approximately ten years in service. Incident frequency does not meet values warranting recall action, but rather align closely with baseline frequency of general inadvertent deployments which are known to occur in rare driving conditions. Additionally, warranty analysis of RCM failures resulting in a loss of curtain airbag protection revealed low claim rates.Based on the analysis conducted, this investigation has been closed. The closing of this investigation does not foreclose the Agency from taking further action, if warranted, or the potential for a future finding that a safety-related defect exists, based upon additional information the Agency may receive.The five ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following identification numbers: 10905492, 11165925, 11270089, 11310044, 11385219.
PE15022 · 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
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