FaultScore

Mazda CX-9 seat problems

25 of the 1,827 complaints filed about the Mazda CX-9 are about the seats — 1% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2008.

25

Complaints

1%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

Seats complaints by model year

2007 CX-9 1 4.0%
2008 CX-9 7 28.0%

Median failure at 71,000 miles

2010 CX-9 3 12.0%

Median failure at 30,022 miles

2011 CX-9 1 4.0%

Median failure at 11,265 miles

2013 CX-9 1 4.0%

Median failure at 12,800 miles

2014 CX-9 3 12.0%

Median failure at 7,000 miles

2015 CX-9 1 4.0%

Median failure at 69,000 miles

2016 CX-9 3 12.0%

Median failure at 25,750 miles

2017 CX-9 1 4.0%

Median failure at 64,000 miles

2018 CX-9 3 12.0%
2019 CX-9 1 4.0%

What owners said

2018 Mazda CX-9 Millville, NJ

SEATS

My passenger heated seats malfunction while I was driving. As I was driving on the highway I smelled something burning. I didn't know where the smell was coming from it was strong . Then while I'm driving on the highway my seat started to smoke a lot I got scared and pulled on side of the road. I realized my seat was the issue turned off the heated seats on the control. Step out the vehicle on side the highway I was nervous and scared standing outside my vehicle. The smoke eventually died down and cleared out. I never turned it back on and put a small piece of tape over the hole it burned through my seat.

NHTSA complaint #11742848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Mazda CX-9 West Valley, UT

SEATS

The adjustable rails holding the rear left seat in place no longer latch. It is available for inspection. This is the most common place for a car seat in this car. In the event of a crash the seat would slide forward. The seat belt attaches to the seat so there would be little restraint on the rear passenger. The mechanic who attempted a repair stated Mazda does not sell this part, only sells a replacement for the entire seat, about $5000. There were no symptoms, when adjusting the seat the rail just stopped holding the seat firmly in place when the adjusting bar was released.

NHTSA complaint #11719629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Mazda CX-9 West Valley, UT

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

The adjustable rails holding the rear left seat in place no longer latch. It is available for inspection. This is the most common place for a car seat in this car. In the event of a crash the seat would slide forward. The seat belt attaches to the seat so there would be little restraint on the rear passenger. The mechanic who attempted a repair stated Mazda does not sell this part, only sells a replacement for the entire seat, about $5000. There were no symptoms, when adjusting the seat the rail just stopped holding the seat firmly in place when the adjusting bar was released.

NHTSA complaint #11719629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Mazda CX-9 Milton, MA Fire

SEATS

My seat warmer caught fire and burnt a hole through the seat.

NHTSA complaint #11582514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2019 Mazda CX-9 Montclair, NJ

SEATS

My car has a 60/40 split adjustable-type second-row seat and the driver side of the 60/40 split-bench second row seat has been sliding forward during braking despite being seemingly locked in place. Apparently, a similar issue was the subject of a safety recall for 2020/2021 Mazda CX-9s (5221I). I have spoken with Mazda and they are not offering to replace the seat as part of the recall since my car is a 2019. While I understand their position, the issue appears to be the exact same one described in the recall of the 2020/2021 models.

NHTSA complaint #11570835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Mazda CX-9 Tooele, UT

SEATS

Drivers seat will not recline backwards

NHTSA complaint #11463956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Mazda CX-9 at 46,000 miles Novi, MI

SEATS

- THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM A MAZDA DEALER IN MAY 2017 - THE DRIVER SIDE CUSHION HEATER FAILED IN MARCH 2020. - THE PASSENGER SIDE CUSHION HEATER FAILED IN NOVEMBER 2020 - BOTH SIDES EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE USAGE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ABOUT 25% OF THE DRIVER - FROM THE TIME THE CUSHION HEATERS FAILED, WE OBSERVED RANDOM OVERHEATING OF THE BACK HEATERS AND RECORDED "HOT SPOTS" OF UP TO 149 DEG F (PICTURE ATTACHED) - WHILE THE CUSHION HEATERS DON'T OPERATE, THE BACKS GET TOO HOT FOR OCCUPANTS (ATTACHED PICTURE OF SKIN REACTION) AND AT ONE POINT THE PASSENGER SIDE PARTIALLY MELTED A PLASTIC SHOPPING BAG - MAZDA RESPONDED TO THE COMPLAINT THAT THE CAR WAS OUTSIDE OF THE 3-YEAR WARRANTY (EXPIRED IN MAY 2020) AND THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS SO THE COMPANY WAS NOT INTERESTED IN ANY TESTING OR INVESTIGATION OF THE PROBLEM ATTACHED: - PICTURE #1: TEMPERATURE IR READINGS - PICTURE #2: EFFECT OF THE OVERHEATING ON ONE OF THE OCCUPANTS

NHTSA complaint #11396524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Mazda CX-9 at 64,000 miles Lake Elmo, MN

SEATS

BODY PAINT IS VERY THIN AND IS CHIPPING. WHEELS COATING IS PEELING OFF AND CHIPPING. AND THE SEAT HEATERS ARE VERY HOT, ALMOST BURNING EVEN ON THE LOWEST SETTING.

NHTSA complaint #11299462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mazda CX-9 Oxnard, CA

SEATS

TODA MI FAMILIA IVAMOS EN EL FREE WAY DE VISITA A UNA CIUDAD QUE SE ENCUNTRA A UNA HORA DE DONDE NOSOTROS RADICAMOS CUANDO DE REEPENTE EMPESO A TEMBLARSE EL MOTOR LO LLEVE CON MI MECNICO ME LO REVISO COMPLETO Y ME DIJO QUE LOS BRAZOS DELANTEROS ESTABAN DAADOS AL POCO TIEMPO LE PRENDI LA LUZ DEL AIR BAGL

NHTSA complaint #11281922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Mazda CX-9 at 69,000 miles Norfolk, VA

SEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED BACK AND FORTH WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER (HALL MAZDA VIRGINIA BEACH, 4372 HOLLAND ROAD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23452, (877) 438-1954) REPAIRED THE SEAT AND SEAT FRAME TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A THIRD TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA complaint #11208776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mazda CX-9 at 144,000 miles Matteson, IL

SEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT UNINTENTIONALLY MOVED TOWARDS THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE DUE TO HOW CLOSE THE SEAT MOVED TOWARDS THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED PERIODICALLY. MAZDA OF ORLAND PARK (8910 W 159TH ST, ORLAND PARK, IL 60462, (708) 444-3200) WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V066000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) IN 2009. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 144,000.

NHTSA complaint #11141899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mazda CX-9 at 208,000 miles Sugar Land, TX

SEATS

THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT SPONTANEOUSLY MOVED ALL THE WAY FORWARD, AND PINNED ME AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. FORTUNATELY, I WAS PARKED AND NOT DRIVING. I TRIED MOVING THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT SWITCH MANUALLY, BUT THE SEAT CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY CORRECTED A RECALL (ABOUT 8 YEARS AGO) WHICH DEALS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. AND THUS THEY CLAIM THE RECALL IS "COMPLETE" AND THEY NO LONGER HAVE TO CORRECT IT.

NHTSA complaint #11123792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mazda CX-9 at 60,000 miles Franklin Square, NY

SEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL SEAT FAILED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BECOME UNCOMFORTABLY TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PLACED THE CONTRACTOR TO THE PROPER POSITION AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE BUT THE REPAIRS WAS UNKNOWN HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #10970925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mazda CX-9 at 60,000 miles Columbia, MD

SEATS

HEADREST LEANS TOO FAR FORWARD CAUSING STRAIN ON ENTIRE BODY ESPECIALLY ON BACK AND NECK. BOUGHT AFTER MARKET HEADREST AND REPLACED IT.

NHTSA complaint #10927114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Mazda CX-9 at 5,500 miles Fayetteville, AR Crash

SEATS

AFTER A MINOR REAR END ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER FRONT SEAT NOW ROCKS SIDE TO SIDE AND IS DISTRACTING AND UNSAFE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP THAT PROVIDED AN INSPECTION AND SAID THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT. THEY STATE THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THEIR SEATS TO ROCK SIDE TO SIDE. HOW UNSAFE AND FRIGHTENING. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTATION FROM THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #10926822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Mazda CX-9 at 7,000 miles Henderson, NV

SEATS

I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 7,000 MILES AND SINCE THE BEGINNING THERE HAS BEEN A HUMMING NOISE EVERY TIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER SIDE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A PIECE OF PLASTIC STUCK TO THE CONTROL ARM. THE CAR CONTINUED MAKING THE NOISE ONLY AUDIBLE ON A QUIET NIGHT AND NOW THE CAR HAS 30,000 AND HUMMING IS MORE PRONOUNCED DAY AND NIGHT WITH ONLY SLIGHT TURN ANGLE. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS A LITTLE PLAY, FELT DURING TURNS. AND THE LAST ISSUE IS THE USB JUST STOPPED WORKING

NHTSA complaint #10920079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Mazda CX-9 Parsippany, NJ

SEATS

THE DRIVER SEAT AND PASSENGER SEAT HAS A CLICKING NOISE AND HAS A LITTLE PLAY ON THE BACK REST WHILE TURNING AROUND CORNERS AT ANY SPEED. I AM WORRIED DURING A TIME OF HIGH STRESS DURING A FENDER BENDER OR HIGH IMPACT CRASH THESE SEATS WILL FAIL AND BREAK.

NHTSA complaint #10817700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Mazda CX-9 at 12,800 miles Chatham, MA

SEATS

THE HEADRESTS ON THE 2013 MAZDA CX-9 ARE EXCRUCIATINGLY UNCOMFORTABLE. THEY ANGLE AT A COMPLETELY UNNATURAL FORWARD ANGLE AND FORCE THE DRIVER'S HEAD FORWARD AND DOWN. IT WAS NOT OBVIOUS DURING THE TEST DRIVE. AFTER 6 HRS OF DRIVING THOUGH, PAIN DEVELOPED IN NECK, UPPER SHOULDERS AND LOWER BACK. WHO DESIGNED THIS MESS? WHY CAN'T THE HEADREST JUST BE STRAIGHT UP, LIKE IN THE BACK SEATS?

NHTSA complaint #10701335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mazda CX-9 at 82,000 miles Carol Stream, IL

SEATS

I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT BUT I FEEL I COULD HAVE A DEFECTIVE DIVERS SIDE SEAT THAT COULD COME LOOSE (SEAT RAIL). I WAS TOLD BY A DEALER THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR THE ISSUE IS TO REPLACE THE SEAT WHICH WOULD COST OVER $3000.00. IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS, THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #10662200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Mazda CX-9 at 11,265 miles Wayne, PA

SEATS

MY SON AGE 13, WEIGHS 105 POUNDS. WHEN HE SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG HAS BEEN DISABLED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE RECOMMENDED MINIMUM AGE AND WEIGHT FOR THE FRONT SEAT IS 12 YEARS AND 80LBS RESPECTIVELY. THE MAZDA DEALER, (JOHN KENNEDY FORD, 1403 RIDGE PIKE, CONSHOHOCKEN, PA 19428) RAN A CHECK OF THE CALIBRATION OF AIRBAG SENSORS." ALL OK, NO UPDATE NEEDED" - THEY GAVE ME A COPY OF SERVICE BULLETIN NO 08-001/13. THIS MENTIONS THAT THE ISSUE IS CAUSED BY MY SON SITTING INCORRECTLY IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND THIS ISSUE IS STILL NOT RESOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #10596163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mazda CX-9 problems