2021 Mazda CX-9
Gas Compact SUV
The 2021 Mazda CX-9 is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the CX-9 2WD, is EPA-rated at 24 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 38 complaints, most often about engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CX-9 2WD | Gas | FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | 22 | 28 | 24 | $2,600 |
| CX-9 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | 20 | 26 | 23 | $2,700 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
Out of factory warranty soon?
The 2021 Mazda CX-9 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.
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Recalls (1)
Seat Belts
highProblem: 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.
Fix: Dealers will replace the internal parts of the affected second-row seats, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5221I.
Owner complaints
38 complaints filed
7 involved a crash, 0 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2021: 1 · 2022: 11 · 2023: 9 · 2024: 10 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 5
Most-cited components
- Engine — 20
- Unknown Or Other — 6
- Service Brakes — 4
- Forward Collision Avoidance — 3
- Power Train — 3
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 16% |
| SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 15% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Other CX-9 model years
2023 CX-9
0 recalls · 12 complaints
A2022 CX-9
0 recalls · 9 complaints
A2020 CX-9
1 recalls · 19 complaints
B2019 CX-9
2 recalls · 53 complaints
B2018 CX-9
2 recalls · 126 complaints
A2017 CX-9
0 recalls · 61 complaints
A2016 CX-9
0 recalls · 104 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 43127, 43135). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.