2010 Mazda CX-9: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2010 Mazda CX-9: 6 recalls, 195 owner complaints and up to 18 mpg combined.
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seats Vehicle recall #10V051000 · 2010 · 12,300 vehicles
What's wrong: There is a possibility under extremely cold conditions for the seat heater control circuit to overheat and fail due to insufficient electrical grounding.
Why it matters: This May cause burn damage of the seat cushion surface, or a risk of smoke/fire.
The fix: Dealers will install an additional ground harness on the seat heater control system. The seat heater control circuit will be replaced if necessary and/or the seat will be repaired free of charge. The safety recall began on March 9, 2010.
Suspension, Suspension Vehicle recall #15V451000 · 2015 · 193,484 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles have front suspension ball joints that May corrode from water leaking into the fitting.
Why it matters: Over time, the ball joint corrosion May result in the front lower control arm separating from the ball joint, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace both the left and right lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began on September 14, 2015. The recall will begin with model year 2007-2009 vehicles registered in connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland,…
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V429000 · 2017 · 205,377 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators May rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on August 30, 2017.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V018000 · 2018 · 70,227 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, unless covered in "zone a," Mazda is recalling certain 2010 mazda6, cx-7 and cx-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, and west virginia or…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2, 2018.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V717000 · 2018 · 155,436 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, unless covered in "zone a," Mazda is recalling certain 2011-2013 mazda6, 2011-2012 cx-7, and 2011-2015 cx-9 sold, or ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, west virginia and the…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018.
Airbags Vehicle recall #19V782000 · 2019 · 69,879 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 5 mention a fire, 6 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (88): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (19), noise or vibration (15), warning light on (10).
- Transmission & drivetrain (23): the most common themes are noise or vibration (9), leaks (6).
- Engine (23): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (12), leaks (8), warning light on (6).
- Airbags (18): the most common themes are fails to deploy (3).
The 2010 Mazda CX-9 has 195 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 17 CX-9 model years for complaints (2.2× the average CX-9 year). Complaints peaked in 2016 (27 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 77,311 miles. Neighboring years: 2009 (59 complaints, 6 recalls), 2011 (170 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | 4-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2010 Mazda CX-9.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2010 Mazda CX-9 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2010 Mazda CX-9. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2010 Mazda CX-9 problems?
Owners have filed 195 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (88), transmission & drivetrain (23), engine (23).
What gas mileage does the 2010 Mazda CX-9 get?
EPA ratings run up to 18 mpg combined (3.7 L, Automatic (S6)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2010 Mazda CX-9 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.