Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Mazda CX-9
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Mazda CX-9 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 221 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #19V782000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V717000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V457000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V451000 Corrosion of Front Suspension Ball Joint NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes 139 complaints
- Engine 25 complaints
- Air Bags 23 complaints
- Power Train 18 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 11 complaints
- Suspension 9 complaints
Of the 221 complaints on file, 9 report a crash; across all 221 complaints, owners report 8 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Mazda CX-9 shows a below-average reliability due to frequent service brake issues, multiple recalls for air bags, and suspension ball joint corrosion. There are 221 NHTSA complaints, with significant concerns about the braking system. Although airbag recalls are universal and proactive, the suspension and brake issues impact overall cost-of-ownership.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 70,000-100,000 miles | $600–$1,200 | very common |
| Front suspension | 80,000-120,000 miles | $400–$800 | occasional |
| Engine | 100,000-150,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Tire rotations and balancing
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant system flush
- Cabin air filter change
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Soft or spongy brakes
- Knocking noise in suspension
- Engine misfire or stalling
- Airbag warning light
- Steering wheel vibration
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Mazda CX-9 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.