2011 Mazda CX-9 Powertrain & Transmission Problems

I had an issue with the AWD not engaging and the 4x4 light illuminating when driving on snow and ice. No indicators when driving under normal conditions. I had no traction and had difficulty maintaining control of the vehicle while driving at speeds less than 25 mph. I had difficulty gettting momentum from a stop as the tires were spinning and engaging tracion. I took the car into a Mazda dealership for a full circle inspection and found that the 4x4 light was illuminating due to worn-out splines connecting the transfer case. The technician was able to spin the driveshaft, indicating the splines are damaged and need to be replaced. Recommendations were to replace the transmission and transfer case with a repair estimate of $5469.61. Additionally, the technician observed some seeping of oil coming from the tiing cover and reccommends re-sealing it as well as replacing the water pump ( another known failure issue in which Mazda is aware of). Cost estimate of $4319.78. The technician also observed a crack in the right rear differential mount with a repair cost of $442.10. In short, Mazda knew about all these problems. They issued a warrenty extention from my research back in 2014 but never issued any recalls. In short, I didn't own this vehicle in 2014, I purchased in 2016. I was never aware of any warrenty extentions to include these issues and if I was aware, I would have had the services done for repairs. My safety as well as my family's and others are at risk if I lose control of the vehicle due to the AWD not engaging when needed.

When getting off highway engine began to knock. Engine stalled and would not restart. Upon inspection the water pump was found to have failed and leaked engine coolant into oil. This caused engine to have a complete failure. No check engine light illuminated but when car was scanned multiple codes were found. The car was also found to have a bad Transfer Case.

THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS HARD TOO STOP THE CAR WHEN IN MOTION ON PUBLIC STREETS, VEHICLE CONTINUES TOO ROLL UPON PUMPING BRAKES, HAVE TOO CONTINUOUSLY PUMP THE BRAKE HARD TOO STOP THE VEHICLE, HAD THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED RECENTLY, AND BRAKE PEDAL IS STILL NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY, POSSIBLY THE BRAKE BOOSTER.

SUDDENLY STARTS TO ACCELERATE WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, STOP SIGN OR I AM LETTING A PERSON OUT AND STILL IN DRIVE AND MY FOOT IS ON THE BREAK. IT HAS DONE IT 4 TIME SINCE I GOT HER BOUGHT 02/03/2020 THE LAST WAS 06/06/2020. I HAVE TO PRESS DOWN ON THE BREAK VERY HARD TO KEEP IT FROM GOING FORWARD LASTS ONLY A SECOND OR TWO. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A COUNTY ROAD, WITH THE SPEED UNDER 40 MPH, AND FOLLOWING THE BEND IN THE ROAD TO LEAD TO GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR JERKED FORWARD AS IF I HIT SOMETHING. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, THE CAR WAS MAKING LOUD CLINKING SOUNDS AND WAS JERKING IN MOTION. NO WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE, CLANGING NOISES COULD BE HEARD AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO JERK FORWARD. THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, IT WAS DETERMINE THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSFER CASE. THE SPLINES BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE HAD BEEN EATEN AWAY BY RUST. THE SEAL HAD NOT KEPT WATER OUT AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO. A NEW TRANSFER CASE WAS ORDERED AS WELL AS A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSFER CASE HAD SHOWN SIGNS OF THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE SPLINES. ANOTHER (2ND ONE) TRANSFER CASE HAD TO BE ORDERED. I HAD PURCHASED THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY 2019 USED. THE CAR HAD A CLEAN TITLE, NO ACCIDENTS AND WAS SERVICED REGULARLY. WITHIN 1 YEAR, I HAD TO PAY OUT $5,000.00 TO REPLACE TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMISSION. I LOST THE USE OF MY CAR FOR OVER 3 WEEKS (DUE TO THE PROBLEMS WITH GETTING A TRANSFER CASE THAT WAS GOOD). WHEN YOU GOOGLE THIS ISSUE, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES.

THE TRANSFER CASE IN OUR 2011 MAZDA CX-9 FAILED AT 130,000 MILES. I UNDERSTAND THAT MAZDA KNOW ABOUT A DEFECT AS TO THE PROXIMITY OF THE TRANSFER CASE TO THE EXHAUST. THE HEATED TRANSFER CASE LUBRICANT BECOME SLUDGE-LIKE AND CAUSES THE CASE TO FAIL ALSO AFFECTING THE TRANSMISSION SPLINES. THE HEATED LUBRICANT ESCAPED AND DRIPS ON THE EXHAUST AND FILLS THE VEHICLE WITH A TOXIC SMELLING GAS AND APPARENTLY CAN LIGHT ON FIRE. THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED WHILE DRIVING MAKING GETTING OUT OF TRAFFIC DIFFICULT. MAZDA ISSUED A BULLETIN IN 2014 EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS OR 90,000 MILES BUT DIDN'T INFORM ANY OF THE CUSTOMERS OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS NO SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR THE TRANSFER CASE AS RECOMMENDED BY MAZDA. OR ANY WAY I UNDERSTAND TO CHANGE THE LUBRICANT IN THE TRANSFER CASE. WITHOUT INFORMING US OF THE ISSUE OR HAVING RECOMMENDED ANY PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE MAZA CAUSED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MY FAMILY. I HAVE CONTACTED MAZDA USA AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNHELPFUL.

THE VEHICLE WAS IDENTIFIED AT THE DEALERSHIP AS HAVING A LEAKING TRANSFER CASE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DURING THIS REPLACEMENT THE TRANSMISSION SPLINES WERE ALSO NOTED TO BE DAMAGED DUE TO THE FAULTY TRANSFER CASE. THEREFORE BOTH THE TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE.

64300 MILES ON ODOMETER AND AM EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION SHUDDER AT 35 - 45 MPH IN 5TH GEAR. TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM? PRETTY LOW MILES FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES. SMH

ANY TIME THERE IS EVEN A SLIGHT INCLINE IN THE ROAD AND ANYTHING THAT COULD LESSEN TRACTION SUCH AS A LITTLE GRAVEL, MY TIRES SPIN AND THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE. IT'S ESPECIALLY BAD IN ANY TYPE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, RAIN, SNOW, SLEET. I LOOSE ALL TRACTION. THE BACK TIRES DO NOT MOVE AT ALL AND THE FRONT TIRES SPIN. THE TIRES HAVE GOOD TREADS.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 MAZDA CX-9 AND THE CAR WAS SMELLING LIKE IT WAS BURNING AND THEN IT SOUNDED LIKE A PILE OF ROCKS BEING TOSSED AROUND I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SOMETHING EXPLODED THE CAR CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSFER CASE WENT OUT AND MESSED UP THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT MAZDA HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR SOME TIME AND HAS FAILED TO NOTIFY THE CUSTOMER. THIS PROBLEM HAS APPARENTLY CAUSED VEHICLES TO CATCH FIRE WHILE DRIVING. AFTER CONTACTING MAZDA THEY SAY THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 90,000 MILES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HASN'T NOTIFIED THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE. MAZDA SAYS IT HASN'T BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE IT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE (WHICH I DISAGREE WITH, IT COULD CAUSE GREAT HARM OR DEATH) AND IT HASN'T BEEN REPORTED ENOUGH. MAZDA SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASE BUT NOT THE LABOR OR TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE APPARENTLY IT'S HAPPENING IN ALL CX-9 VEHICLES BETWEEN CERTAIN YEARS. IT'S A DEFECTIVE PART, NOTHING I DID AND I AM LEFT TO PAY TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT MAZDA KNOWS IS THEIR FAULT. MY CAR HAS BETWEEN 90,400 AND 90,500 MILES AND I SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS KIND OF MAJOR PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE UNDER 100,000 MILES. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN AN INTERSTATE AT 70MPH I HAVE TO WONDER IF I WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH INJURY OR IF MY CAR WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

TRANSFER CASE - HAD UNUSUAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE TRANSFER CASE THAT LEAD ME TO LOSE STEERING AND DRIVING CAPABILITY WHEN DRIVING TO WORK. TOOK MY CAR TO CAR DEALER AND THE TRANSFER CASE WAS GROUND DOWN AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS RUSTING. HAD NO WATER DAMAGE AND COST OVER $4,000. SINCE HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT MANY MAZDA OWNERS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCES ISSUES WITH THEIR TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *TR

2011 MAZDA CX-9 TRANSFER CASE BREAKDOWN WHILE MOVING DUE TO FLUID LEAKING OUT, CAUSING SEVERE WEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION AND DISABLING VEHICLE. MY WIFE HEARD A STRANGE SOUND 2 WEEKS AGO AND WHEN SHE PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE, THERE WAS A STRANGE SMELL, LIKE BURNT WIRE OR ROTTEN EGG SMELL. HAD IT EVALUATED AT THE LOCAL GARAGE AND THEY DIAGNOSED LEAKING FLUID FROM TRANSFER CASE, WHICH DESTROYED THE BEARINGS AND THREADS AROUND THE SHAFT. THE MECHANIC SAYS THIS FLUID IS NEVER SUPPOSED TO HAVE TO BE CHANGED ACCORDING TO THE MAZDA MANUAL. AND THERE IS SO LITTLE FLUID IN THE TRANSFER CASE, IT IS HARD TO DETECT THE LEAKING WHEN IT HAPPENS. I CHECKED ON GOOGLE AND THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR REPORTS OF TRANFER CASE FAILURE. ONE GUY HAD FOUR TRANSFER CASES INSTALLED IN THE FIRST 20,000 MILES AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW. THIS IS DANGEROUS. IF THE TRANSFER CASE FAILS AT NIGHT OR DURING A SNOWSTORM, PEOPLE COULD GET KILLED. NOT TO MENTION THE $3,000.00 TO $8,000.00 BILL FOR REPAIR DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT IS JUST THE TRANSFER CASE OR IF IT ALSO THE TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS REPAIR. THIS MATTER SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A RECALL ITEM. APPARENTLY, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS AND EXTENSIONS OF TRANSFER CASE WARRANTIES OFFERED BY MAZDA. THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD, WITH THE EDMUND'S COMPLAINTS OF FAILURE INCLUDING THE YEARS 2008-2014. IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY RLEATE TO THE AMOUNT OF MILES ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE MANY HAVE FAILED SHORTLY AFTER BEING PURCHASED NEW. THE FACT THAT MAZDA HAS HANDLED THIS ON AN INDIVIDUAL EVENT BASIS AND VERY QUIETLY HAS KEPT THIS FROM BECOMING NEWSWORTHY BUT THE PROBLEM IS SO WIDESPREAD, DANGEROUS AND COSTLY, THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD GET INVOLVED.

MY POWER TRAIN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED TO 100,000 MILES. WHEN THE TRANFER CASE HAD TO BE REPLACED AS PER WARNING IT HAPPENED AT 93000 ONSTEAD OF 90000 BUT I WAS TOLD THAT NOT ONLY EAS I NOT COVERED BUT THAT THE SUPPOSED WARRANTY COVERED TO 100000 MILES WAS NOT VALID EITHER BECAUSE THE CAR WASN'T CLASSIFIED AT MAZDA AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED CAR AND THE ONLY REASON I BOUGHT THE CAR WAS ALTHOUGH THE MILEAGE WAS HIGH,APPROXIMATELY 54,300 MILES FOR A 2 YR.OLD CAR I PURCHASED IT BECAUSE WITH IT SUPPOSEDLY BEING PRE-OWNED CAR, THE POWER TRAIN WAS TO BE WARRANTEED TO 100000 MILES SO PICTURE MY SHOCK WHRN I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE PRE-OWNED AND THAT THE POWER TRSIN WOULDN'T BE COVERED. I MUST TAKE IT UP WITH THE DEALER. SO I WAS STICK WITH THE PAYMENT OF THE REPLACEMENT OF A PART THAT WAS LISTED FOR RECALL. SO FOR 2000 MILES PAST ORIGINAL RECALL MILEAGE AND BECAUSE MAZDA HAD NO RECORD OF MY CAR BEING PRE-OWNED I HAD TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING MYSELF. IT LOOKED LIKE A MONSTER HAD TAKEN A BITE OF THE PART IN QUESTION. I STILL HAVE PART CAUSE I 'M STILL TRYING TO GET MY MONEY BACK TO NO AVAIL#!!! IT WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE DEFECT BECAME EVIDENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT HAVE ADEQUATE POWER TO GO UP OR DOWN HILLS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE VEHICLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. ....UPDATED 03-31-16 *BF *CN

HISSING NOISE WHEN PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL. IF FEELS LIKE MORE FORCE IS NEEDED TO STOP VEHICLE. LOUD NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING FROM PART TO DRIVE/REVERSE

I JUST BOUGHT AN 2011 CX-9 MAZDA FEW WEEKS AGO. WHEN I WAS PARKING I NOTICED THAT EVERY TIME I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT MAKE A SOUND VERY HARD, AND SOMETIMES WHEN PUTTING IT IN REVERSE. IT MAY BE SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSFER CASE. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING ON 2ND ANOTHER WEIRD SOUND. I AM TAKING THE CAR TO THE NEAR DEALER IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUE. *TR

TRAVELING WITH FAMILY ON I95 STARTED SMELLING A BURNING ODOR. LATER DEVELOPED A DISTINCT VIBRATION AND GRINDING SOUND. GOT IT HOME NOW NON USABLE. VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AT MY SHOP , A LOSS DUE TO HURRICANE SANDY, AND AS SUCH BRANDED. FAULKNER MAZDA AND MAZDA CORPORATION BOTH DENIED ANY WARRANTY CLAIM DUE TO TITLE BRANDING EVEN THOUGH BOTH ADMITTED IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE , ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE DEPT AT FAULKNER DID ADD "THAT ANYTHING COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT". I AM JUST LUCKY THAT IT DIDN'T GRENADE WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE AT SPEED WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR. CORPORATE MAZDA ADVISED ME TO SAVE MY RECEIPTS IN CASE THEY ISSUE A RECALL IN THE FUTURE. WILL NOT RECOMMEND MAZDA TO ANYONE IN THE FUTURE. *TR

THE MAZDA 2011 CX-9 CROSSOVER SUV SEEMS TO HAVE A DEFECT IN THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT (PTU). MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS ISSUED A LETTER TO MAZDA OWNERS INFORMING ABOUT A SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE REPAIR OF THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT (PTU) ON "CERTAIN 2010-2011 CX-9 ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JULY 28, 2009 THROUGH DECEMBER 2, 2013." I QUOTE THE LETTER. ON MARCH 18, 2015, I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WHEREBY MY 2011 CX-9 MADE A GRINDING AND SNAPPING SOUND WHEN IN REVERSE MODE. THIS BEHAVIOR WAS FOLLOWED BY A PUNGENT ODOR IN THE CABIN. I CONTACTED THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND TRIED TO GET AN IMMEDIATE APPOINTMENT TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT ACCOMMODATE ME NOR EXPRESSED ANY AWARENESS OF THE SYMPTOMS. YET, THE LETTER WAS PUBLISHED SINCE LAST YEAR. I CONTACTED A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HAD THEM INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER FROM MAZDA. IN FACT, THE MECHANIC IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH MAZDA AND LINCOLN BRAND VEHICLES. CURRENTLY, I AM HAVING TROUBLE GETTING IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP OR MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS. I CALLED SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE UNRESPONSIVE. IS NHTSA AWARE OF THIS PTU DEFECT AND WHAT WAS NECESSARY TO REQUIRE A RECALL/REPLACEMENT OF THE PTU 'PRIOR' TO INEVITABLE FAILURE AS WE EXPERIENCED? THANK YOU. *TR

I HAVE A 2011 MAZDA CX-9 AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN THERE IS A JOLT WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 4TH TO 3RD. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE WHEN ITS COLD OUT. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 4TH TO 3RD. ITS NOT ALL THE TIME ITS JUST RANDOM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS CRACKED AND SEIZED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,300. UPDATED 07/30/13*LJ THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE. UPDATED 08/01/13