What are the best years of the Mazda CX-9?

Among its newer years that came out Worthy, away from any Maybe or Pass year, the 2014 and 2023 Mazda CX-9 drew the fewest owner complaints to NHTSA against a typical year of the Mazda CX-9 at the same age. A year few people bought can look the same. Complaints are unverified and not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Which Mazda CX-9 years should I avoid?

The 2010 to 2012 Mazda CX-9 are the years to avoid: Pass years come first, then the Maybe years with the most owner complaints to NHTSA against a typical year at the same age. 2010 to 2012 came out Pass. Complaints are unverified and not adjusted for how many cars were sold. Have any car inspected before you buy.

How do you decide which Mazda CX-9 years are best?

Each model year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA are held up against a typical year of the Mazda CX-9 at the same age, never against another model. The typical year leaves out years that were high themselves, so a run of bad years cannot set its own bar. A year with at least 5 complaints and under 2 times a typical year (1.2 times when most are about costly parts such as the engine) is Worthy, unless its complaints about costly parts alone reach 2.5 times a typical year's, or the years on both sides of it came out Maybe or Pass. A Maybe or Pass on its complaints needs enough more of them to rule out chance. The best years named are the newer Worthy years with the fewest complaints for their age, never right next to a Maybe or Pass year, and the years to avoid are the Pass years first, then the Maybe years. The newest 2 model years are too new to judge. Complaints are unverified and not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Best and worst Mazda CX-9 years to buy

Every model year, judged against the others.

Best and worst CX-9 years

Look for 2014, 2023, the newest Worthy years. Skip 2010 to 2012. Careful with 2016 to 2018 and 2021.

Best years

Of the newer years to look for, the ones with the fewest owner complaints for their age. A year few people bought can look the same.

Years to avoid

Pass years first, then the Maybe years with the most owner complaints against a typical year at the same age.

From owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Only years old enough to judge. Still have any car inspected.

Every year at a glance

9Worthy
4Maybe
3Pass
1Not judged

2007, medium confidence, Worthy, 86

Newest Worthy years

The most recent judged years that came out Worthy, none right next to a Maybe or Pass year.

Worthy
1.4× a typical year

Lightest for their age

Other Worthy years with the fewest owner complaints against a typical year at the same age, none right next to a Maybe or Pass year. A year with few sales can look the same.

Worthy

Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.

How we judge a year

Each year’s owner complaints, held up against a typical year of the CX-9 at the same age. Popular cars collect more complaints just by selling more, so a year is never compared with another model. The typical year leaves out years that were high themselves, so a run of bad years cannot set its own bar.

Worthy: At least 5 complaints, and under 2 times a typical year (1.2 if most are costly parts).
Maybe: 2 times a typical year or more, with at least 15 complaints. Or 2.5 times a typical year’s complaints about costly parts, with at least 25 of them. Or 1.2 times, with at least 25, most about costly parts. Too many to be chance each time. A year with a Maybe or Pass year on each side is Maybe too: it sits inside a run of problem years.
Pass: 3 times a typical year or more, with at least 25 complaints, too many to be chance.
Not judged: Too new (the newest 2 years), too few complaints, or too few to tell a real problem from chance.

Every rule, in full

Gathering every model year from NHTSA. The first look at a model can take a little while.

Best and worst CX-9 years

Look for 2014, 2023, the newest Worthy years. Skip 2010 to 2012. Careful with 2016 to 2018 and 2021.

Best years

Of the newer years to look for, the ones with the fewest owner complaints for their age. A year few people bought can look the same.

Years to avoid

Pass years first, then the Maybe years with the most owner complaints against a typical year at the same age.

From owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Only years old enough to judge. Still have any car inspected.

Year	Verdict	Owner complaints	Recalls	Top problem area
2023	Worthy	13	0	Brakes
2022	Worthy	11	0	Body and frame
2021	Maybe	40	1	Engine
2020	Worthy	19	1	Engine
2019	Not judged	53	2	Engine
2018	Maybe	128	2	Engine
2017	Maybe	61	0	Engine
2016	Maybe	99	0	Engine
2015	Worthy	35	21 do not drive	Engine
2014	Worthy	54	31 do not drive	Engine
2013	Worthy	68	42 do not drive	Engine
2012	Pass	221	43 do not drive	Brakes
2011	Pass	171	43 do not drive	Brakes
2010	Pass	195	64 do not drive	Brakes
2009	Worthy	59	74 do not drive	Brakes
2008	Worthy	172	63 do not drive	Suspension
2007	Worthy	86	53 do not drive	Suspension

Best and worst CX-9 years

Best years

Years to avoid

Every year at a glance

Newest Worthy years

Lightest for their age

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Best and worst CX-9 years

Best years

Years to avoid

Every year at a glance

Newest Worthy years

Lightest for their age

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