Is the 2008 Mazda CX-9 a bad year?
172 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other CX-9 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2008 Mazda CX-9 are in line with other CX-9 years. Suspension stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2008 CX-9 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 110,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 55 (32%) | 80k–121k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Brakes | 30 (17%) | 49k–123k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 27 (16%) | 92k–141k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 19 (11%) | 67k–124k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Air bags | 28 (16%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 16 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 13 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 110,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 172 complaints: 10 mention a crash · 5 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Jun 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
2008 CX-9 with 110,000 miles transfer case failure with probable damage to transmission. Prognosis was made during repair of leaking rear axel seals when mechanic noticed "Chunks of metal" In the the transfer case.
Front axle fell off the car. Could hear strange noise when backing up. Put in park in driveway and the car started to roll backwards.
In motion, after accelerating, I let up off the gas after reaching 60MPH on the freeway and there is a clunking sound accompanied with a jerk coming from the rear end of the vehicle.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 110,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2008 Mazda CX-9: 6
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected vehicles have front suspension ball joints that may corrode from water leaking into the fitting. 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.
These fit kits were sold as aftermarket equipment for use on the vehicles listed above. The bolt(S) used to secure the foot to the vehicle was manufactured to a hardness that may cause the bolt(S) to be brittle and potentially break under stress. This may result in the bolt(S) snapping off during use or without a load. The unsecured rack and load can then come loose while driving creating a potential road hazard, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The seat harness routed underneath the seat cushion may interfere with the front cover bracket which is attached on the front side of the seat cushion. Due to this the covering of the seat harness may be damaged, the core wire of the harness may touch with the bracket and result in short circuit. Drivers will experience certain functions that are uncontrollable which will cause serious difficulties in driving increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Mazda: 204
Repair instructions Mazda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2008 Mazda CX-9. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...)…
Automatic Transmission/Transaxle Cooler and Lines Flushing Procedure: Automatic Transaxle/Transmission…
Some customers may complain about high engine oil consumption
If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the intake manifold internally before installing a replacement engine…
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Lower ball joint separation
Brake master cylinder leak
Neighbouring years
2007 CX-9: 86 complaints, keep it · 2009 CX-9: 59 complaints, keep it.
Every Mazda CX-9 year
2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · All CX-9 years side by side
Other Mazda models: Mazda 626 · Mazda B-Series Truck · Mazda CX-30 · Mazda CX-5 · Mazda CX-50 · Mazda CX-7 · Mazda CX-90 · Mazda MPV · Mazda MX-5 · Mazda Mazda3 · Mazda Mazda5 · Mazda Mazda6 · Mazda Protege · Mazda RX-8 · Mazda Tribute. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2008 Mazda CX-9 a bad year?
172 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other CX-9 years. At 110,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mazda CX-9?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: suspension (55), brakes (30), transmission and drivetrain (27), steering (19), air bags (28).
How many recalls does the 2008 Mazda CX-9 have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-782), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-457), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-429), Suspension (NHTSA 15V-451) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.