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2023 Mazda CX-9

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
1 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
A
Safety Signal
100 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 0
Complaints3 crash · 1 injured reported 13
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg
20232022202120202019201820172016

The 2023 Mazda CX-9 is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV. The most efficient version, the CX-9 4WD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year so far (Safety Signal A). Owners have filed 13 complaints, most often about the forward collision avoidance. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Mazda CX-9 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Mazda CX-9 · Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitCompare a trim →
TrimPowertrainDriveMSRPHPTorqueMPG combSeatsCargo (2nd row)Wheels
TouringGasAWD—227 hp310 lb-ft23 mpg738.2 cu-ft18 in
Touring PlusGasAWD—227 hp310 lb-ft23 mpg738.2 cu-ft20 in
Carbon EditionGasAWD—227 hp310 lb-ft23 mpg638.2 cu-ft20 in
Grand TouringGasAWD—227 hp310 lb-ft23 mpg738.2 cu-ft20 in
SignatureGasAWD—227 hp310 lb-ft23 mpg638.2 cu-ft20 in

MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
CX-9 4WDGas4WD2.5L 4-cyl turbo202623$2,900

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 45956.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
CX-9 4WD5 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

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Factory warranty running out?

The 2023 Mazda CX-9 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (0)

Source: NHTSA recall database

No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for the 2023 Mazda CX-9. New campaigns appear here within a week of NHTSA posting them.

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2023 Mazda CX-9, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2023 Mazda CX-9

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this CX-9 →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
13complaints filed

3 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported

4.9 per 10,000 built · Mazda reported 26,686 CX-9 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2023: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 4

Most-cited components

Unspecified 4
Forward Collision Avoidance 3
Steering 2
Service Brakes 2
Chest Clip 2
Air Bags 1

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Structural bolt (p#: 9-YA01-1401-A) connecting the lower control arm assembly to subframe has rusted apart. The head of the bolt was found in my driveway, otherwise there would be no indication of this potentially catastrophic failure. Vehicle is only 3 years old, was a cpo purchase, and has just 55k miles. Underbody is clean of rust.
Suspension Sep 29, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11767718
I am reporting a critical mechanical restraint failure regarding the 5-point harness crotch buckles on the Graco TrioGrow and the Graco TriRide car seats. The red button-release tension on both of these models is engineered with insufficient physical resistance.
Chest Clip Jun 8, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11742662
On February 9, 2026, our 2023 Mazda CX‑9 experienced a sudden and complete system malfunction while being driven. Multiple system failures began approximately six minutes before the crash.
Forward Collision Avoidance Feb 11, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11717365
If you press both the brake and gas at the same time (even if accidental), the onboard computer apparently thinks that the driver is confused, and it sets the gas flow to “idle”.
Service Brakes Nov 15, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11699571
I recently purchased a 2023 Mazda CX9 with factory installed tires, Falken Ziex CT50 A/S p255/50R20 104V M+S. I was driving on the freeway on Tuesday going around 65-70MPH.
Tires Aug 9, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11679527
Starting , through , we began receiving multiple "Critical Vehicle Malfunction" alerts (46 alert messages)via the Mazda app, including "Parking Brake Malfunction" and "Electric Parking Brake Malfunction." During this time, the vehicle experienced delayed starts and eventually required a jump-start.
Steering May 14, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11661072

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.

Reported by Mazda itself: 5 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 5 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 19 per 100,000 built. Every CX-9 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆15%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 220
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-17
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 212 service bulletins, 8 others

Most often about: Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Engine, Equipment, Structure.

  • SA-042-26a Service bulletin
    2026-09-17 · Unknown Or Other
  • Mazda Connected Services - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SAs listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. SA-042/26 06/30/26 DESCRIPTION Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Index General Questions MAZDA CONNECT Indication Setup and Getting Started Dealer Processes Registration / Enrollment / Take-Over Customer Subscription Status WI-FI Gene
  • SA-041-26a Service bulletin
    2026-09-11 · Electrical System
  • 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 electrical concern. Below are a few examples of unusual electrical concerns caused by aftermarket devices. Example
  • SA-038-26b Service bulletin
    2026-09-10 · Electrical System
  • This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued service alert listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. SA-038/26 08/18/26 and 06/15/26 DESCRIPTION Some customers may complain about any of the following: 1. Infotainment Center Display does not provide the Authorization Code (OTP) during the MyMazda App
  • SA-038-26a Service bulletin
    2026-09-04 · Electrical System
  • This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued service alert listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. SA-038/26 06/15/26 DESCRIPTION Some customers may complain about any of the following: 1. Infotainment Center Display does not provide the Authorization Code (OTP) during the MyMazda App Connected Vehicle enrollment. 2. Remote functions inoperative. Engine Start / Stop Door Lock / U
  • SA-039-26a Service bulletin
    2026-08-19 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. SA-039/26 06/15/26 Mazda Connect Symptom Troubleshooting DESCRIPTION Customers having MAZDA CONNECT concerns should have their vehicle repaired using the following repair procedure.
  • SA-053-26 Service bulletin
    2026-08-19 · Wheels
  • This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. SA-006/23 01/23/23 DESCRIPTION Some customers may complain about the infotainment system and/or the MyMazda App showing incorrect clock and/or tire pressures and/or tire pressure missing. This may be caused by: Incorrect calendar entry (month/day/year) after a battery disconnect Infot
  • SA-042-26 Service bulletin
    2026-07-01 · Electrical System
  • This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SAs listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. SA-017/25 12/16/25, 09/08/25, 07/14/25, 05/15/25 and 03/21/25 DESCRIPTION Mazda Connect Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Index General Questions MAZDA CONNECT Indication Setup and Getting Started Dealer Processes Registration / Enrollment / Take-Over Customer Subscription Status WI-FI General I
  • SA-041-26 Service bulletin
    2026-06-19 · Engine
  • 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

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
U3000
U3000 on Mazda →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →11 bulletins
B14F0
B14F0 on Mazda →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →2 bulletins
C0023Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins
C1001
C1001 on Mazda →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Mazda CX-9 failed the emissions check on 0.75% of first inspections — lower than the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%).

New York inspections 0.75%

failed emissions

934 initial inspections of 915 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2023 CX-9Every 2023 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check0.75%1.6%934
Failed the safety inspection1.5%1.1%934
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.32%0.16%934
Miles driven a year11,49510,038odometer at inspection
Average odometer38,06032,673odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2023 vehicle” is every 2023 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Common questions about the 2023 CX-9

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2023 Mazda CX-9 have any recalls?

No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for the 2023 Mazda CX-9. New campaigns appear here within a week of NHTSA posting them, and a clean sheet on a recent model year often just means the vehicle is new.

How safe is the 2023 Mazda CX-9?

NHTSA gave the 2023 Mazda CX-9 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it A (100/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Mazda CX-9?

For the 2023 Mazda CX-9, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2023 Mazda CX-9?

Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Mazda CX-9, most often about unspecified, forward collision avoidance, steering. Of those, 3 involved a crash, 1 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2023 Mazda CX-9?

The EPA smog rating for the 2023 Mazda CX-9 is 5 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2023 Mazda CX-9?

The manufacturer has filed 220 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2023 Mazda CX-9, most often covering electrical system, unknown or other, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-09-17. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2023 Mazda CX-9 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Mazda CX-9 failed the emissions check on 0.75% of first inspections — lower than the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

Is the 2023 Mazda CX-9 better than the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime?

The Mazda CX-9 wins clearly, 91.5 to 69.5, on tech & comfort, safety, performance. The Toyota RAV4 Prime is ahead on fuel & range. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2023 Mazda CX-9 against the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations1 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates1 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
RecallsnoneNHTSA recall campaignsNo campaign has been filed. Because the register is complete, an empty row here means there is nothing to find — not that we are missing it.
Owner complaints13NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings1 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins220NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSAnoneNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWe had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment5 trimsManufacturer press kitTranscribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

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). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.

JSON for this page · API