Is the 2012 Mazda CX-9 a bad year?
221 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other CX-9 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2012 Mazda CX-9 are in line with other CX-9 years. Brakes 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 2012 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 57,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 143 (65%) | 40k–75k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 26 (12%) | 35k–109k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 23 (10%) | 31k–105k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 18 (8%) | 39k–92k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed control | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 9 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 5 (2%) | 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 57,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 221 complaints: 9 mention a crash · 4 report an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Jun 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Driving on rte 3 n in braintree. Car was decelerating while I had my foot on gas. Lost steering and barely made it to brake down lane.
I have a Mazda 2012 that spontaneously stalls while decelerating. It also stalls predictably on an incline.
My wife was driving down a city street when the car completely shut down and lost all power. Luckily, she was able to stop without causing an accident.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 57,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2012 Mazda CX-9: 4
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 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.
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.
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: 227
Repair instructions Mazda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2012 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...)…
Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle is parked
Automatic Transmission/Transaxle Cooler and Lines Flushing Procedure: Automatic Transaxle/Transmission…
Some customers may complain about high engine oil consumption
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Inadvertent Curtain Air Bag Deployment
Lower ball joint separation
Neighbouring years
2011 CX-9: 171 complaints, keep it · 2013 CX-9: 67 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 2012 Mazda CX-9 a bad year?
221 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other CX-9 years. At 57,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Mazda CX-9?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (143), engine (26), air bags (23), transmission and drivetrain (18), speed control (11).
How many recalls does the 2012 Mazda CX-9 have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-782), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-717), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-457), Suspension (NHTSA 15V-451). 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.