2018 Mazda CX-9 engine problems
73 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the engine on the 2018 Mazda CX-9 — 58% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The cylinder head on this 2018 Mazda CX-9 (Skyactiv-G 2.5T engine) cracked, allowing engine coolant to leak and intermix with engine oil, causing loss of coolant and catastrophic engine failure. The vehicle became undriveable in the first week of November 2025 at approximately 125,019 miles and has…”
filed Jul 15, 2026
“My wife was driving the vehicle when the emergency lights started going off. She had to pull over because the car wouldn't run and said it was overheated. All the maintenance has been done to the car. We took it to the dealership and they said it is a cracked head and it is a known issue. They even…”
filed Jun 5, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-061/25 12/17/25 DESCRIPTION If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s)…
SA-041-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 19, 2026This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued M-Tip(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. MT-002/19 09/30/19 and 12/19/19 DESCRIPTION If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal…
SA-026-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 16, 2026This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA(s) and TSB(s) listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-035/24 05/31/24 DESCRIPTION There is a concern that some water pumps are being replaced that are not…
SA-014-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 11, 2026
Engine problems in other CX-9 years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 CX-9 | 19 | 53% |
| 2020 CX-9 | 5 | 26% |
| 2019 CX-9 | 22 | 42% |
| 2017 CX-9 | 43 | 70% |
| 2016 CX-9 | 64 | 62% |
| 2015 CX-9 | 17 | 49% |
| 2014 CX-9 | 19 | 35% |
| 2013 CX-9 | 17 | 25% |
| 2012 CX-9 | 25 | 11% |
| 2011 CX-9 | 15 | 9% |
| 2010 CX-9 | 23 | 12% |
| 2009 CX-9 | 4 | 7% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2018 Mazda CX-9
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.