2020 MAZDA CX-9 Complaints and Recall Information
The 2020 MAZDA CX-9 has 10 complaints and 2 recalls filed with NHTSA. Owners most frequently report issues with engine overheating, frequent safety system malfunctions, and vehicle stalling or hesitation. Complaints also include excessive oil consumption and repeated repairs that have not resolved these problems.
Common Issues- Excessive oil consumption. Owners report needing to add a quart of oil in less than 3,000 miles.
- Engine overheating. The vehicle displays a power reduction warning repeatedly while driving, accompanied by white smoke at startup. Coolant leaks at the cylinder head are suspected; a technical service bulletin exists but no recall.
- Safety system malfunctions. Messages such as "smart brake system malfunction," "forward smart city brake malfunction," and "front radar system malfunction" appear randomly, causing loss of acceleration. The only resolution is a full shutdown and restart. These events occur mostly in sunny weather and have posed safety risks.
- Stalling and hesitation. The vehicle hesitates or stalls while driving, shutting off on multiple occasions including at stops. Starting issues have also been reported. Dealers cannot replicate the problem consistently and suspect a failing fuel pump. Concern exists regarding delayed or inaccurate diagnostic codes.
- Repeated repair attempts. One owner reported over 30 visits for repairs without resolution, with dealers sometimes attributing issues to driver behavior.
There are two recalls related to the 2020 CX-9 affecting the rear seat assemblies and seat belts. They address safety concerns involving the second-row seats during crashes.
Recalls- Seat assembly defect. (NHTSA Recall 21V750000) Affects 8,648 vehicles. The left-side second-row 60/40 split bench seat may slide forward unexpectedly during a crash, failing to meet Federal Safety Standard 210. This defect increases the risk of injury by transferring excessive force to a belted occupant. Dealers will replace internal seat parts free of charge. Owners were notified in November 2021.
- Rear seat belt defect. (NHTSA Recall 21V750000) Also affecting 8,648 vehicles, this recall covers the same 60/40 split second-row seats. The seat belt assembly anchorages could fail if the seat slides forward in a crash. The remedy involves replacing internal parts at no cost to owners and shares the same notification timeline as the seat assembly recall.
Owners with ongoing mechanical failures, repeated safety system malfunctions, or unresolved recall repairs may have rights under their state’s lemon law. Legal consultation may assist those facing continuous or serious defects.
2020 MAZDA CX-9 Summary
2020
Model Year
10
Total Complaints
1
Total Recalls
8648
Vehicles Affected
Recalls
2020 MAZDA CX-9
8648 vehicles affected
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CX-9 vehicles equipped with 60/40 split bench second-row seats. The left-side second-row seat may unexpectedly slide forward during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
Risk: A seat that slides forward during a crash can transfer excessive force onto a belted occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Complaints
2020 MAZDA CX-9
ID: 2098727FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The vehicle will hesitate/stall while driving down the road. The vehicle has done this multiple times and has actually shut off on 2 different occasions while at a stop. on 2 occasions now the vehicle has not wanted to start. I have taken vehicle to Mazda dealership and they can never duplicate it. When they check for any codes, the vehicle computer does not give accurate times when happened. This last date I took it to them 6/9/25, the computer said it happened 4000 miles ago. The time before, I took it in the morning it happened, 5 min after it happened and the computer said it happened 10 starts ago. The last time, 6/9/25 they said they suspect fuel pump going bad, but until the vehicle gives a "check engine" light or dies all together they are not 100% sure. The vehicle is unsafe if it dies in the middle of the freeway/road with no warning to myself or the other vehicles around me. This has been going on for at least 1 year now, maybe longer Dealership has all records. Seeing how the 2018 & 2019 Mazda CX-9 had fuel pump recalls makes me wonder if the 2020 should have been included in this recall. This has been an on going problem.6/7/25 was most recent incident.
2020 MAZDA CX-9
ID: 2098726ENGINE
The vehicle will hesitate/stall while driving down the road. The vehicle has done this multiple times and has actually shut off on 2 different occasions while at a stop. on 2 occasions now the vehicle has not wanted to start. I have taken vehicle to Mazda dealership and they can never duplicate it. When they check for any codes, the vehicle computer does not give accurate times when happened. This last date I took it to them 6/9/25, the computer said it happened 4000 miles ago. The time before, I took it in the morning it happened, 5 min after it happened and the computer said it happened 10 starts ago. The last time, 6/9/25 they said they suspect fuel pump going bad, but until the vehicle gives a "check engine" light or dies all together they are not 100% sure. The vehicle is unsafe if it dies in the middle of the freeway/road with no warning to myself or the other vehicles around me. This has been going on for at least 1 year now, maybe longer Dealership has all records. Seeing how the 2018 & 2019 Mazda CX-9 had fuel pump recalls makes me wonder if the 2020 should have been included in this recall. This has been an on going problem.6/7/25 was most recent incident.
2020 MAZDA CX-9
ID: 2098725UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicle will hesitate/stall while driving down the road. The vehicle has done this multiple times and has actually shut off on 2 different occasions while at a stop. on 2 occasions now the vehicle has not wanted to start. I have taken vehicle to Mazda dealership and they can never duplicate it. When they check for any codes, the vehicle computer does not give accurate times when happened. This last date I took it to them 6/9/25, the computer said it happened 4000 miles ago. The time before, I took it in the morning it happened, 5 min after it happened and the computer said it happened 10 starts ago. The last time, 6/9/25 they said they suspect fuel pump going bad, but until the vehicle gives a "check engine" light or dies all together they are not 100% sure. The vehicle is unsafe if it dies in the middle of the freeway/road with no warning to myself or the other vehicles around me. This has been going on for at least 1 year now, maybe longer Dealership has all records. Seeing how the 2018 & 2019 Mazda CX-9 had fuel pump recalls makes me wonder if the 2020 should have been included in this recall. This has been an on going problem.6/7/25 was most recent incident.
2020 MAZDA CX-9
ID: 2093704FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Vehicle randomly displays "smart brake system malfunction," "forward smart city brake malfunction" and " front radar system malfunction." This has been going on for at least a year. I will be driving on a highway, trying to accelerate and these messages will pop up. I'm not able to accelerate when these messages pop up and I have to turn on my hazard lights and pull over to the side of the road. The only thing that clears these warnings are for me to completely shut down my car and restart it. Luckily I have been able to get over to the side of the road on the highway without an accident, but these warning lights pop up when it's sunny out and there is no reason for the car to act the way it does. I took my car to the dealer the first time it happened and paid several hundred dollars for them to tell me that they don't know why it happened. There are several forums posted online with people having the same issues. Online posts say to make sure the sensors are clean and that the malfunction can activate if it's too hot, rainy, snowing or foggy? In my experience, it has happened only when it has been sunny. When the system decides to malfunction, the car will not accelerate, and it could make it easier for the car to be hit by another car. It's like the car just shuts down.
2020 MAZDA CX-9
ID: 2093703SERVICE BRAKES
Vehicle randomly displays "smart brake system malfunction," "forward smart city brake malfunction" and " front radar system malfunction." This has been going on for at least a year. I will be driving on a highway, trying to accelerate and these messages will pop up. I'm not able to accelerate when these messages pop up and I have to turn on my hazard lights and pull over to the side of the road. The only thing that clears these warnings are for me to completely shut down my car and restart it. Luckily I have been able to get over to the side of the road on the highway without an accident, but these warning lights pop up when it's sunny out and there is no reason for the car to act the way it does. I took my car to the dealer the first time it happened and paid several hundred dollars for them to tell me that they don't know why it happened. There are several forums posted online with people having the same issues. Online posts say to make sure the sensors are clean and that the malfunction can activate if it's too hot, rainy, snowing or foggy? In my experience, it has happened only when it has been sunny. When the system decides to malfunction, the car will not accelerate, and it could make it easier for the car to be hit by another car. It's like the car just shuts down.
2020 MAZDA CX-9
ID: 2093702ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle randomly displays "smart brake system malfunction," "forward smart city brake malfunction" and " front radar system malfunction." This has been going on for at least a year. I will be driving on a highway, trying to accelerate and these messages will pop up. I'm not able to accelerate when these messages pop up and I have to turn on my hazard lights and pull over to the side of the road. The only thing that clears these warnings are for me to completely shut down my car and restart it. Luckily I have been able to get over to the side of the road on the highway without an accident, but these warning lights pop up when it's sunny out and there is no reason for the car to act the way it does. I took my car to the dealer the first time it happened and paid several hundred dollars for them to tell me that they don't know why it happened. There are several forums posted online with people having the same issues. Online posts say to make sure the sensors are clean and that the malfunction can activate if it's too hot, rainy, snowing or foggy? In my experience, it has happened only when it has been sunny. When the system decides to malfunction, the car will not accelerate, and it could make it easier for the car to be hit by another car. It's like the car just shuts down.
2020 MAZDA CX-9
ID: 2087495SERVICE BRAKES
I've had it repaired for over 30+ times. I'm tired of the car not being fixed. The last visit I was told maybe its the way I drive.
2020 MAZDA CX-9
ID: 2082177POWER TRAIN
The vehicle was overheating and a message came up that power will be reduced. Then it would go away and come up every 3 minutes while driving. I brought it to the service center, we filled it up with coolant and the issue kept coming back this time with a lot of white smoke coming out at vehicle start up. My mechanic said this is a bigger issue most likely to do with a coolant leak at the cylinder head. There is a technical service bulletin but no recall as of yet.
2020 MAZDA CX-9
ID: 2082176ENGINE
The vehicle was overheating and a message came up that power will be reduced. Then it would go away and come up every 3 minutes while driving. I brought it to the service center, we filled it up with coolant and the issue kept coming back this time with a lot of white smoke coming out at vehicle start up. My mechanic said this is a bigger issue most likely to do with a coolant leak at the cylinder head. There is a technical service bulletin but no recall as of yet.
2020 MAZDA CX-9
ID: 2063897ENGINE
Excessive oil consumption. In less than 3000 miles, I have to add a quart of oil