2016 Mazda CX-9 engine problems
70 of the 106 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Mazda CX-9 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 103 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 70 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 18 · 2023: 13 · 2024: 23 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 4
Too few of these complaints carry an odometer reading to say when the problem shows up.
106 complaints in all about the 2016 Mazda CX-9, 4 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Mazda CX-9 engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
2016 cx9, after reviewing online. Known issue with coolent and engine cylinder. Water coolent leak to engine head. Dealer asking 75k to replace engine. Mazda refused to acknowledge the known issue
On 04/21/22, I took my car to the dealer after noticing antifreeze on our garage floor and a burning smell. NO check engine lights had illuminated. They proceeded to tell me that there was a coolant leak from head/block and cavity leak (something about channel pressure).
I droved my 2016 cx-9 off highway and idled it at front of restaurant, suddenly the engine coolant overheat light came on, shut engine off and found leaking coolant on the ground near the rear of engine bay.
Cracked cylinder head due to manufacturing defect, left stranded at car wash with no engine coolant due to issue, took several months without a vehicle before it was replaced by Mazda. The vehicle has been repaired. I was left unable to drive in hot weather and could not use air conditioning while waiting for assistance.
Purchased the car used with 67k miles on it. Within 2 weeks of purchase warning lights went off saying that the engine was overheating due to censor malfunction. After three visits to mechanics (2 to the dealership and 1 to a private mechanic) it was determined that coolant was leaking into the engine causing the engine block to crack.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications103 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SA-041-26 Service bulletinJun 19, 2026
- 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) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. Aftermarket devices may be the cause of the elec
- SA-026-26 Service bulletinApr 16, 2026
- This 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 mechanical failure, clean the intake manifold internally before installing a replacement engine assembly. If the intake manifold is not cleaned properly, the replacement engine may f
The 2 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0780 P0842 P0847 P0872 P0877 P1738 P2507 P2610
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Mazda CX-9 names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2016 Mazda CX-9?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 70 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (66% of everything owners filed about it), and 103 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2016 Mazda CX-9?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2016 Mazda CX-9?
Too few of the complaints carry an odometer reading to say. The model year's page shows the mileage curve across every system where it can.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.