There are 3 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2008 Mazda CX-9in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE TRANSFER CASE IS GOING OUT AND IT IS DUE TO A KNOWN MANUFACTURER ERROR FROM PARTS USED.
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE IS A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE FOR 2-3 SECONDS . IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A CARD GOING THROUGH BICYCLE SPOKES AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY A HIGH REV SOUND . THIS SOUND ALSO HAPPENS RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVING . IT HAPPENS DIRECTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS INTO A NEW GEAR, AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY A LOSS OF POWER UNTIL THE REV SOUND AND CARD IN SPOKES SOUND GOES AWAY. THE POWER OF THE VEHICLE IS NORMAL UNTIL IT MAKES THAT SOUND.
THE MORNING OF 09/17/2013 I SAW WHITE POWDER COMING OFF THE A/C VENTS. ALARMED, I CALLED MAZDA DEALER IN MILFORD, CT. THE DEALER STATES THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM AND CONTACTED MAZDA USA FOR ADVISE. THE RESPONSE WAS THE AIR CONDITIONING EVAPORATOR COIL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $1,250. I CONTACTED MAZDA USA DIRECTLY AND ASKED THEM TO HELP ME OUT ON THIS ISSUE AS IT WAS A VERY UNUSUAL PROBLEM, HEALTH HAZARD (AFTER SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB, THE WHITE POWDER COULD POSSIBLY BE ALUMINUM OXIDE). IT IS ONE THING WHEN A SYSTEM FAILS; BUT IT IS NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY IF IT IS EMITTING HAZARDOUS PARTICLES THROUGH THE VENTS! MAZDA USA RESPONSE WAS - NO CAN'T DO - VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY! I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOUR RESPECTED ORGANIZATION - NHTSA - IF YOU COULD BE OF ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. THE CONTACT NUMBER FOR MAZDA USA CONSUMER EXPERIENCE IS 800-222-5500. I WAS GIVEN A CASE# [XXX] FOR THIS ISSUE. MY REGARDS - HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026