There are 5 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2018 Mazda CX-9in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
My 2018 Mazda CX-9 experienced catastrophic engine damage after a radiator failure allowed coolant to enter the engine. The vehicle provided no dashboard warning, overheating alert, or coolant warning before the failure occurred. Modern vehicles are designed to alert drivers to overheating or cooling system failures. The lack of warning prevented me from addressing the issue and resulted in catastrophic engine damage. I believe this represents a potential safety defect in the vehicle’s cooling system monitoring and warning system.
Within 6-8 months of purchasing the car we noticed the brakes squeaking and vibrating. At that time the car was under 25,000 miles. At our maintenance check it was advised that we have the brakes resurfaced at the next appt. Back brakes were done in 3/2019 and the front were done in 6/2019. We noticed the squealing and vibration returned again. At our recent maintenance check, we asked to have the brakes and rotors inspected. We were told everything looked fine and nothing needed to be done, however we are still experiencing the vibration which is very troubling. We called another place explaining the issue and they said that it sounds like we need new rotors. Our car has mostly been sitting over the last year and a half with very few added miles. We're curious to know why a car with less than 25,000 miles on it needed the rotors resurfaced and why with less than 60,000 miles it needs new rotors. The brakes on the Mazda SUV's seem to wear rather quickly or perhaps the incorrect brakes are put on for this size of vehicle. The increased vibration seems like a safety hazard
EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ('EPB') BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION FOLLOWING RECALL TO FIX ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON MAZDA CX-9, 2018. EPB WILL NOT RELEASE, OR WILL UNEXPECTEDLY AND SUDDENLY RELEASE WITH CAR ACCELERATING IN GEAR ('DRIVE' OR 'REVERSE'). MOST RECENTLY WHEN ACTIVATING THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ((CAR WAS ON A A ROADWAY INCLINE) THE BRAKE WOULD NOT RELEASE, AFTER 2 HOURS OF BEING STRANDED AND OF ATTEMPTING TO GET THE BRAKE TO RELEASE, ( INCLUDING ROCKING/SHIFTING/ALTERNATING GEARS/BRAKING/SEAT BELT ON/SEAT BELT OFF/ MANUAL BRAKE ON/OFF AND FOLLOWING ALL MANUAL PROCEDURES REPETITIVELY) A CELL PHONE CALL TO THE MAZDA SERVICE MANAGER WHO SUGGESTED ROCKING THE CAR BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN GEARS ) THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY 'RELEASED', SENDING THE CAR LURCHING FORWARD AND REQUIRING DRIVER TO SLAM ON BRAKES TO AVOID DRIVING OVER A CLIFF). VEHICLE EPB INSPECTION REQUESTED, MAZDA SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE EPB IS, 'NO LONGER NECESSARY FOR VEHICLE SAFETY', BLAMED THE MALFUNCTION ON 'BREAD CRUMBS' , OFFERED TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE CONSOLE SWITCH (PRESUMABLY WITH ANOTHER NEW, BUT ALSO DEFECTIVE, SWITCH) BUT REFUSED TO INSPECT THE MECHANICAL/OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM (FOR ABNORMAL RUST, WATER LEAKS, DEFECTIVE CABLES, DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL WIRING, ETC.). MAZDA USES THE SAME MANUFACTURER OF EPB FOR ALL MAZDA CX SERIES VEHICLES. FEDERAL NHSA RECALLS FOR EPB MALFUNCTIONS WERE MANDATED FOR ALL MAZDA CX SERIES VEHICLES - EXCEPT THE MAZDA CX 9. THE CX 9 USES THE SAME EPB SYSTEM AS DO THE OTHER MAZDA CX SERIES MODELS. IT STANDS TO REASON THAT THE BRAKING ISSUES FOR OTHER MAZDA RECALLS IS THE SAME REASON WHY THE CX 9 SHOULD HAVE RECALLS TO FIX THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR MAZDA CX 9 VEHICLES TO FIX THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE DEFECT(S). THANK YOU.
I WANTED TO SAY IT HAPPENED TO US WHILE WE WERE DRIVING BACK FROM A DAYTRIP ON SATURDAY. WE HAD OUR KIDS IN THE CAR AND MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SCBS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED GIVING GAS. THE CAR BEHIND US COULDN'T TELL WE WERE SLOWING DOWN BECAUSE THERE WAS NO BRAKE LIGHT. WE WERE ALMOST REAR ENDED. THE CAR BEHIND US COULDN'T STOP IN ENOUGH TIME SO THEY JUST SWERVED ONTO THE OTHER SIDE OF US. WE HAD TO PULL THE CAR OVER AND IT WAS ALMOST NIGHTTIME. MY HUSBAND ENDED UP PUSHING THE CAR TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND TO A SAFE PLACE. IT WOULD ONLY GO 2 MILES PER HOUR. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM EXCEPT THEY ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK INTO IT. IT'S A 2018 MAZDA CX9 WITH ONLY 26000 MILES. IT'S NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I'M HOPING THAT WHATEVER THE FIX IS, IT'S COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IF IT WAS A TRUCK OR BUS BEHIND US, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP EITHER. IF WE WERE ON A HIGHWAY AND THIS HAPPENED, THERE IS NO DOUBT IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.
I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT IN THE UPPER PARKING LOT AT WORK. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL SO THAT I COULD STOP AND PARK BUT THE PEDAL WAS HARD AND HAD NO GIVE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD OVER A CURB AND PARTLY DOWN A SMALL SET OF STAIRS THAT GO FROM THE UPPER PARKING LOT TO THE LOWER PARKING LOT. THE CAR STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A METAL RAILING AND I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO PARK.
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