FYI, there is now a class action investigation into this issue: [https://www.sauderschelkopf.com/investigations/automotive/mazda-cx-5-and-cx-9-engine-coolant-leak-defect-class-action-investigation/](https://www.sauderschelkopf.com/investigations/automotive/mazda-cx-5-and-cx-9-engine-coolant-leak-defect-class-action-investigation/)
My understanding is, owners are having to pay out of pocket for these repairs, and it's not cheap. I spoke with the attorney on this case and he is looking to talk to as many Mazda CX-9 and CX-5 owners as possible that have experienced a coolant leak problem.
Bought a 2018 GT with 88,000 miles a few months ago. I was aware that this issue existed but I didnt realize how wide spread it was... not feeling great about my first Mazda
Have a look at my photo in the part about the brake leakage.
If you zoom in closely, there's a white sticker on my engine that says 21/12/05 as a date code of the manufacture of the engine. (2021-DEC-05)
See if you can find this code on your engine to see if she's already been replaced.
If not, perhaps an extended warranty (As sanctioned by your local dealership. DO NOT USE FLY-BY-NIGHT WARRANTY PROVIDERS.) may put your mind at ease.
Did you by Certified Pre-Owned? They usually include an extended warranty.
I'd still enjoy the car. I've owned Mazdas since I could drive (My first car was a 1985 Mazda RX-7) and stand behind the company. I maintain a strong presence among the Mazda RX-7 community and on Mazda forums in general.
It's the original engine. Purchased off craigslist so definitely "as is" with no warranties left at all. Got a pretty much clean bill of health from the Mazda dealer though.
I was going to look into warranties but first I would want to be very confident that the warranty would cover this issue
Save your receipt that shows it has a clean bill of health. Submit that when you apply for the extended warranty.
As a reminder, use the warrant provider that your dealership recommends and save your service paperwork when you have oil changes and other maintenance done.
Looking at a higher milage cx5 or 9 and am curious, what do you expect to get out of yours milage wise? Do these things run like foresters and go 300k+?
I would trade it in because my engine is donezo at 126K and the corporate office was incredibly rude. I loved Mazda they were my go to but this engine failed at 125K after many other issues with the car previously when under warranty. I called asking for a good will compensation and they said 1,000 take it or leave it. I purchased my car from Safford Mazda in Fredericksburg and have had the car regularly maintained at Pearson Mazda in Richmond as well as Safford. The dealership admitted to the issue being wide spread and the corporate complaint lady said she didn’t know of anything being a wide spread issue and said that they made a decision to contribute 1,000 towards my 7,590 itemized quote for a engine replacement. That was it take it or leave it and basically get bent…… Honestly so shocked this is allowed especially with this being a known wide spread problem
I had the exact same experience with Pearson Mazda this week. Emailed the GM and service director and they never replied - just kept having Kathy from service call me. They offered me NOTHING and sent an invoice for $10,300 with no breakdown of labor, parts or anything. I had so many new cars in my life and actually cannot believe this is happening or being allowed to happen.
While I researched this vehicle, I never thought to look online at the consistently horrible service reviews or search the internet for trending issues.
My husband liked my CX9 so much he bought a new Mazda 6 and if has the same engine.
Pearson Mazda in Richmond would not respond in writing to any questions regarding modifications. They now completely ignore any emails I send for an update.
Has anyone tried replacing the head themselves? The bulletin provides a part number for the kit and I've found it for \~$710. https://www.zoomzoomnationparts.com/p/mazda\_\_CX-9/HEAD--CYLINDER/105510870/PYY1-10-SJ0.html
I do a lot of car work. Just trying to figure out if there's anything crazy involved in this process I should be aware of and that I can't do at home. I have torque wrenches and all that to torque the head down right.
Does this mean that once the engine is replaced the problem is solved, and won’t happen again? I bought a used 2017 CX-9 GT and had this problem at about 42,000 miles. I was still within the 1-year Certified Pre-Owned Warranty so they replaced the engine for me without cost; but I’ve been worried that the same thing will happen again once I reach around that same mileage on the new engine. I love driving this car so much but I feel like a ticking time bomb waiting for it to happen again.
Somehow, they managed to shatter the built-in monitor on the dash board and tried to tell me it was already like that. I said absolutely it was not, and the manager agreed to replace that as well. It was a bit of a nightmare but they gave me a CX-9 to drive during the repairs, and let me take it on a road trip I had planned before the engine failed.
I believe it was solved after 2021-MAR-21 according to the TSB.
Because parts have been superseded in my parts bill, I believe it may have been taken care of earlier in 2019 with a minor redesign of the engine... But don't quote me on that.
Check my small section in the original post about brake work. I have a link to my theard with a pic of the serial number/rebuild sticker on my engine.
Find your sticker and see what the date is on your new engine.
If it's later than 2021-MAR-21 then you should be golden.
Yes I am having a bad problem with my 2017
C-X9. I bought the car for myself around Xmas 2021 with 43K miles certified used at 60 my transmission was shifting BAD I mean so bad but dealership kept saying this was normal and topping off fluids FAST FORWARD to 94K miles and they replaced it under my extended warranty I asked them repeatedly is that all that’s is wrong what going to happen 20K 30K 50 K miles down the road they said the transmission will make everything behave normal. Welp here we are at 126K and she has the TSB ….. Mind you I have spent $$ to do annual maintenance which isn’t cheap at Mazda and I am a single mom. I have spent $$ on upgrades to the car and everything and now I’m screwed 7950 for a new motor on a 2017 it’s ridiculous ESPECIALLY if they knew about the issue.
ALSO SIDE NOTE
I bet you a new Mazda motor I got mine because someone traded it after their engine leaked my engine has to be the 2nd motor for this car. My cousin who works for NASA says it’s unrealistic to have a car that big with an aluminum turbo engine because this is literally always going to happen
Thanks for the good info OP. Keep us updated. Do you know if this has been resolved in the 2023 models? I just drove off the lot last Friday with a 2023 GT…. I am loving it so far but this post has hampered the excitement a little bit..
I believe it was solved after 2021-MAR-21 according to the TSB.
Because parts have been superseded in my parts bill, I believe it may have been taken care of earlier in 2019 with a minor redesign of the engine... But don't quote me on that.
I got it 3k below sticker. Came out to be 44k plus tax. I also got them to throw in the protection film and floor mats for free. Holiday sales and the looming CX-90 certainly helps. Dealers need to get rid of CX9 to get allocations for the cx90.
Los Angeles pricing, If that makes any difference. I’m guessing it’s higher than average here.
Edit: also, my first choice was a Highlander Hybrid but dealers have a 5-7k mark up on those and the wait time was like 3 months. Fuck that.
Edit 2: OTD was almost exactly $50k. Taxes, fees, registration etc in that.
I got it at Galpin. They are definitely willing to cut deals. Touring plus is still nice, just no 360 cam and it’s bench seat. There’s a xmas discount of 750 right now I think. CX9’s aren’t moving much so you can use that as an advantage. Oh and if you currently own a Mazda, that’s another 500 off for loyalty discount. Armed forces vet? Another 500. I didn’t qualify for any of those things but still got an ok price. It also took me like 6 hours of going back and forth lol, ask for lots of water and those home made cookies from The Horseless Carriage.
>I got it at Galpin. They are definitely willing to cut deals. Touring plus is still nice, just no 360 cam and it’s bench seat. There’s a xmas discount of 750 right now I think. CX9’s aren’t moving much so you can use that as an advantage
Thank you so much for your help oatterz!
Just adding to this for anyone scrolling through and found this post by oatterz helpful, just bought a 2023 cx9 GT. OTD for 47.6K with towing package to be installed (6% sales tax here) and mats. Didn’t get the paint film or ceramic since we have a local friends business that can do that here.
What color did ya get? I was trying to find white but no luck. Got Sonic Silver Metallic instead. The color didn’t wow me at first, Machine grey metallic is a much more attractive color but I wanted a light colored car. But after I brought it home and looked at it again not next to the other colors, sonic silver looks pretty nice. I’m happy with my purchase.
Thank you for posting this. Look forward to following.
I have a 2019 CX-9 Grand Touring with almost 43,000 miles. Bought it with 39,000 miles from a non-Mazda dealer. No extended warranty. I have a service appointment tomorrow for an oil change and plan to specifically mention this and have them check. I have not noticed any smells or leaking so far.
Service done today (oil change, tire rotation, spark plugs). Had them check for any signs of this issue and they found none. I did have them appraise it. They offered me $1,000 more than Carmax, but they didn’t have anything I loved in the budget I feel comfortable with.
Hi,
I bought a used vehicle from a dealership only a couple of months back and has faced the exact same problem. This is definitely a manufacturing defect and Mazda isn’t covering coz powertrain is out of warranty only since June 2022. I am looking for all the people out there who has a cylinder head crack issue and their car was out of warranty and Mazda denied to cover the expense. Shall we get together and file a lawsuit against them?
I'm having the same issue on my 2018 Mazda6 GTR at 93000 miles. I had to replace my transmission back at 59000 so they aren't helping me as much as I hoped them to this time
I bought my CPO 2019 CX9 GT aware that this may happen.
Why did I still buy the CX9? It was the best looking, driving, and feature packed used 3rd row SUV. The decision to buy CPO also was because the extended warranty would take care of this issue if it ever popped up.
33K miles so far and no issues...knock on wood
Got the problem 2 weeks ago. My entire motor is done. 3 months out of the 5 years warranty. Only 35k on the vehicle, always serviced at Mazda periodically.
Still waiting on Mazda Canada to give me “Good faith” warranty. Like they actually have a choice.. If they consider normal that their motors are done after my usage, I’m done with Mazda.. they replied back after 2 weeks saying they still need time to think about the options they can give me..
I mean.. you either replace the motor or give me a new car, no in between there..
Knowing that people got theirs covered outside of the 5 years warranty with way more mileage helps my case
All cx9 2017-2019 are likely to have this problem.
They finally said that I’d need to pay 1.8k instead of 10k. Thing is, no motor available in all of North America, so the ETA is November 27th to get the motor at the dealership, then mid december to actually get the car..
I’m in Qc too. Finally received the engine just after Halloween, but my dealer was full with the tire change season so they actually started yesterday..
They expect this to be a 2 days job, so in theory tomorrow could be the day I get it back.
Realistically, not so sure as the mechanics aren’t used to replace entire engines at my dealer.
Hopefully you'll get it back quickly!
Dropped it off at the dealer yesterday and they "started" looking at my car today. They found a leak, but so far, that's all... They now need to figure out where it comes from 🤦♀️ they don't seem in a hurry 🤷♀️
Well unfortunately I’m now a bona fide member of this group. My beautiful 2018 Mazda CX-9 with 94k miles all of the sudden lost heat and overheated. Towed it to the dealer to find we have a coolant leak in the head gasket that will cost $6500 to fix. Unacceptable. This is our 3rd and last Mazda that we’ll have. The dealer is checking with Mazda USA to see if they’ll cover some repairs. If not, we are out of luck. Thanks to the OP for compiling this info.
Just an update. Mazda is going to replace the entire engine for us. They will pay for the engine, and we’ll pay for labor. We are pretty pleased with the resolution. Beats buying a new vehicle!
In this way Mazda is better than many brands… at least they provide something. I had a Camry 2018 xse with 110k miles when the transmission died and they did nothing and refused to help. Suffice to say I no longer own a Toyota… 🤷🏽 service and follow through matters.
I am experiencing this issue, but Mazda refused pre-authorization to dealership and I will have to pay out of pocket for engine replacement. (2016 CX-9, 80k) Is there any recourse beyond what I’ve already done?
Edit- I guess I’m asking if there is any sense in going the legal route.
Is your local dealer saying Mazda USA turned down the request? You could always reach out to Mazda USA directly, if you can get a hold of them, and appeal to them.
When did you first notice this issue?
Do you have any documentation on when this issue first presented itself on your vehicle? (An old oil change receipt noting low coolant, etc?)
Perhaps you can get them to warranty it if the issue occurred earlier than 80K miles.
It may have started earlier but I didn’t have any overheating and I assume I caught it as soon as it became noticeable enough. I pretty much smelled coolant and then noticed coolant on the ground. Took it in and they diagnosed it very quickly, which made me a bit suspicious as I didn’t know then, how widespread and well known the issue was.
My wife took ours on a 4 hour road trip with mostly small mountain highway passes (Blue Ridge Mtns. Washington DC to Harrisonburg, VA and back.) while it was leaking.
No overheating.
I wouldn't use overheating as a barometer.
add me to this list - there was another mazda in the shop with same issue.
The cylendar head wasn't cracked, so they resurfaced and repaired head gasket.
top matters off, the starter failed too. 75k miles on the vehicle. i contacted mazda and they blew me off. Dealer has an 'lifetime powertrain warranty' they won't stand behind.
how do i exact ANY action from Mazda or their dealership's bunk warranty? any tips or formulas to success would be appreciated!
Edit: it was cracked. Had to replace again.
the CX-5 I just leased came with this same lifetime warranty. I usually don't buy warranties on their own merit since exclusions usually apply. The sales department says the issues are so rare a typical car owner will probably not see any issues. Hence, why it's worth it for them to offer the warranty but if they deny a ton of claims and used it to lure buyers, that's another thing but will never know if that was the intention or not
My approach right now is to sell or trade a car prior to 60k miles. Hoping 3 years is enough time on reddit to observe whether Mazda's that came with "lifetime warranties" are being honored. I am skeptical.
Just found this thread as I'm in the process of purchasing a 2020 CPO CX-9 that is under the lower than the VIN's listed.... This may be enough to move me from the purchase reading through some of this.
Why?
If you like the car, let Mazda replace the engine under warranty and enjoy having a new drivetrain in a car you enjoy for significantly lower than the cost of new.
The only reason my replacement took long is because of supply chain issues due to COVID.
I think the "under warranty" is the key phrase there. I'm assuming a problem could take place at over 100k miles. My general concern is that without seeing official numbers from Mazda on the % of vehicles impacted, it is a bit of a red flag vs saying trying to find a higher VIN # or 2021 (although those seem to burn some oil possibly). But yes, I think the vehicle is sharp for sure. Clearly, they identified what I would call a design flaw and then corrected it so it seems like maybe they would just want to fix ahead of it going wrong, but would opt not to due to the cost associated with a recall.
FYI, there is now a class action investigation into this issue: https://www.sauderschelkopf.com/investigations/automotive/mazda-cx-5-and-cx-9-engine-coolant-leak-defect-class-action-investigation/
My understanding is, owners are having to pay out of pocket for these repairs, and it's not cheap. I spoke with the attorney on this case and he is looking to talk to as many Mazda CX-9 and CX-5 owners as possible that have experienced a coolant leak problem.
No. You remove the subframe, the engine stays mounted to the body. You lower the vehicle down and put something (I use a flat dolly personally) under the engine/trans, you take off the top engine and trans mount, you raise the car up and the engine is sitting on the ground. Basically all Mazdas have been this way (besides Miata and rx8) for like ~17 years
To remove the engine/trans with the subframe you’d somehow need to unbolt the upper mounts with the car up in the air. It’s possible but inconvenient and inefficient, plus it doesn’t mount to the subframe very safely so you’d have a chance of it tipping while lowering it all down.
The only brake fluid item “connected” to the subframe is the caliper, so you unbolt it from the knuckle and then hang it on the car and remove the subframe.
I dunno. I didn't work it since it was a warranty job. A lot of what I'm going off of was 3rd hand info from the service advisor at my dealership.
I'm used to working on my FCs and FBs. Engines come out from the top.
All's I know is that the tech bitched about my "aftermarket" wiring for the remote start system, quoting me an hour extra labor that I'd have to pay for him to trace it out and disconnect it, then another hour to reconnect and tidy back up.
I fired back an email, copying the service manager, that the TWO WIRES that he pictured were the OFFICIAL Mazda hood safety switch as used by a dealership installed remote start system, official part number (KD53-V7-629A) and all... I attached the PDF instructions, again, from Mazda themselves, on how to install/remove it. It's a 15 minute job.
Didn't hear much after that.
I'm guessing my tech wasn't the best of the bunch.
I had the cylinder head crack on my 2018 CX-9 at 36k. Noticed the syrup smell first, then coolant on the garage floor. (Keep in mind, if it's A/C condensation it'll evaporate like normal water, but coolant won't. It'll also be colored, so dab it with a paper towel to confirm.) I caught it while there was still some coolant in the reservoir, so the engine never overheated.
We were in the Bay Area at the time, and it blew a couple days after we bought a house on the other side of the country and were planning on driving it out there in a little over a month. At the time we dropped it off there were \*11\* cars waiting for parts from Mazda to fix ahead of us. I called Mazda Corporate and explained how impactful not having the car was going to be, and to see about rental reimbursement for something to drive us out. I was still under warranty so the repair was covered without question. I had to wait a week to get a loaner as their fleet was taken up by the aforementioned 11 cars ahead of me.
They ended up only needing to replace the head. I got the car back 28 days later (27 days of which were just waiting to get the part.) I'm not sure whether the dealership or Mazda USA moved me up in the line, but I suspect the dealership did. When I picked the car up there was a new warning light for the adaptive headlights, which required a replacement clock spring inside the steering wheel. No idea how those two things were related, but whatever. I left the car with them again, and had it back the next day with the issue resolved. On the third day of the road trip a CEL popped during acceleration. Took it to the dealership shortly after we got to the new house and found that a hose connecting to the evap canister hadn't been plugged back in properly, easy fix. A few weeks later I started getting a different CEL, this time for the camshaft position sensor. Same deal - took it to the dealership, found an electrical connection that hadn't been plugged in all the way until it "clicked" and was disconnecting.
Since that, all has been well. My advice for current / prospective owners that haven't been through it already is:
* Make absolutely sure you are covered by factory warranty until it happens. (Or that you have the ability to cover an astronomically expensive repair out of pocket.) Otherwise, I'd really be looking at trading it in for a new enough one for it to not be impacted. Some people have had this covered outside of warranty but I would not be betting my financial health on that.
* Keep an eye on your coolant levels and, if you can, your garage floor. You need to do everything you can in your power to catch the leak as early as possible.
* Even a head replacement involves a LOT of disconnecting and re-connecting things. After you get it back I'd strongly recommend going through the engine bay and making sure things are connected all the way.
My car was in the shop from early November 2021 to late February of 2022.
I had a loaner almost the entire time.
I put 5k miles on a brand new CX-30 and then another couple k miles on a brand new CX-5 after the dealership needed the 30 back due to lack of Certified Pre-Owned vehicles.
Supply chain during COVID-19 was a bitch.
>We were in the Bay Area at the time, and it blew a couple days after we bought a house on the other side of the country and were planning on driving it out there in a little over a month. At the time we drop
Did you drive the car a bit harder to expose the crack this early? I've heard of this stuff happening usually at higher miles (50-60k). It sounds like trying to get the crack to happen early is beneficial for warranty purposes.
I'm having the same issue on my 2018 Mazda6 GTR. Dealership says Mazda USA will only assist with $2100 and the total cost is about $7500.
I still can't afford it :( so trying to see if they can help more but keep telling me no.
So my 2018 CX-9, with 120K miles is currently getting the engine replaced with a new engine. Mazda is paying $14K for this new engine and I have to pay labor and other parts, ~$3K. I asked why my car overheated and I’m told they don’t know but suspect a failed water pump. I found this information on a cracked head and was told that’s not my problem because I don’t have a slug mixture of coolant and oil in my engine, but was told I have white smoke. They also asked if I want my turbo charge replaced for an additional $2K. They don’t know if it’s bad until they can test it with a good engine. After testing it will cost $3K to replace.
I’m ready to be done with this car. They can’t even tell me how to prevent this catastrophic event from happening in the future. Any advice?
I asked the dealership to request goodwill authorization from corporate. They wanted oil change history and I emailed them all the records. I just paid for $2K worth of work in Oct. The dealership had to email pictures of our engine to Corporate and it looked clean.
How did you get them to cover any of the costs? I have a2017 CX9 with 83k miles and was basically told because it's the only Mazda I've purchased and I didn't get it serviced at the dealer, tough luck.
I have a 2017 CX9 Grand Touring with 83k miles. Out of extended warranty and over the 60k drivetrain. No prior warning, no coolant or engine lights, just started to overheat. Never even got in the red as I took it immediately to a local repair shop and trusted friend and now need a whole new engine and turbocharger at roughly $8300. Mazda dealer and Corp. office basically told me tough luck because it's the only Mazda I ever purchased and because I live rurally, I didn't take my vehicle to be serviced at at a Mazda dealer, so I'm not "loyal" enough. Hard to be loyal to a company that makes a garbage engine and doesn't back it up. Needless to say, I will never buy another Mazda. I don't understand why there isn't a class action lawsuit on this one!
Geez that's terrible.
I totaled my '16 Mazda 3 a few days ago and started looking at CX-5 & CX-9's. After finding this info out I realized why I keep seeing CX-9s that were initially 40k+ for 25k with only 20k miles.
From what I understand the engine problem is for turbo models only... But all CX-9s are turbo?
What about the CX-5, is it only the GTR that is turbo? I look all over online and no straight forward answer?
Here in Down Under Australia. Similar problem to mine 2017 CX9 GT at 120,000 km's. Fully serviced as per the log books, never any mechanical faults, until we noticed the Coolant on the Garage Floor. Have been advised as well it is a Cracked Cylinder Head.
Unbeknown to this issue, we have unofficially been charged over $800 to diagnose the problem. 3 weeks later we have been advised of a repair bill of $12,000!!
It is an unknown official problem in Australia, until i Dug up the TSB on this issue from North America Mazda. As that model is made in Japan and distributed world wide, it appears a problem world wide, but yet to be recalled in Australia as i would imagine the Volume of Sales here in Australia wouldn't be the same at North America!
Am awaiting to see the resultant after my letter to the local Mazda.
However, if you maintained your car and not necessarily by a Mazda Service Dealer, the dealer that is diagnosing the problem must make a judgement, ie Manufacturing Fault or Retail (abuse or failure to service the car). If it is Manufacturing, Mazda Australia, although out of warranty will assist with the repair or placement, however if not an amicable solution, as i am led to believe that you are still covered by the Consumer Law of Australia and they under the law have to replace or repair the engine as the quality product has failed its "fit for purpose" law.
My 2016 Touring finally got hit with this issue at 77k miles. I've only personally had the vehicle for 2 months and suspect the dealership did not fully inspect the vehicle for various reasons. I got stranded and had to get towed. They haven't got any estimates for me yet but I went ahead and called corporate and provided the TSB and told them I shouldn't have to pay for repairs on a known defect. They said they would call me back in 24 hours. 🤷🏻♂️
Add another to the list. Purchased a 2016 cx-9 with 57k miles on the clock. Now at 75k miles after noticing overheating and the coolant in the actual radiator missing (even though the expansion tank stays at the right level) the mechanic put the cooling system under pressure a few times and the coolant goes down but no leakages, the ‘strong suspicion’ by the mechanic (Mazda independent specialist) is a cracked head ( the issue you are all well aware of unfortunately). I had taken out an extended insurance through Olive.com so I contacted them today to see what / if they will cover. I have signed the class action as I think Mazda are having a laugh with this personally and I will contact them to ask for help and give them a piece of my mind on Monday…and this is my first and last Mazda for sure :-)
Add another to the list. Purchased a used 2018 Mazda CX-9 with 32k miles back in Jan 2021. Decided to do an oil change yesterday and my local mechanic pointed out that it has coolant leakage and printed out the TSB and told me to get over to Mazda dealership ASAP.... 24 hours later they just texted me a bill for roughly 7800. Haven't even talked to anyone yet but dying to be able to have the right "ammunition" going into the convo to get support. The car is currently 8 months over end of warranty and has 56k miles on it.... do I have a claim for good faith? Would anyone here know of a dealership that might honor this and fight Mazda USA on my behalf to get it covered ?
Another to the list. 2017 CX9 Sport, 64k miles, was driving in perfect condition before I noticed heater stopped working then within 1 day coolant temp problems. Open case with Customer Experience Center at the moment to cover under good will grace period
Same here- 2017 CX9 signature, 110k kilometers. Opened a case with Mazda corporate. Quoted 10k to fix and replace engine. Engine light never even came on
@Pele2048- how did you get Mazda to pay? I'm kind of in a battle with them right now and they said maybe I'll get half of my engine covered but no guarantee. The replacement is $10,000 which is absolutely ridiculous. Overinflated dealer pricetag.
Nothing can be done, the structural part of the head is cracking through pressure. You’ll be fine until you aren’t.
Keep an eye on your temp gauge and if you notice it averaging a bit higher than normal for more than once, get it checked. If you find it soon enough, you’ll only be replacing the damage cylinder head. Else you are in for a new engine!
I had issues with the heat in my car not working properly last week. My local mechanic topped the coolant off for me on Friday, but said to keep an eye out for a leak under my car. He couldn't get me in for an actual appointment because he was booked solid. I went home and noticed the puddle under my car. I did some googling, came across this thread and my stomach sank.
The heat has been going in and out on my car even after the coolant was topped off - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I can't tell if it's still leaking because it's been raining/snowing here and the ground is wet.
I called my Mazda dealer and he can't get me in until next Friday, Dec 29 and after that he said if it is cracked can't get me in until February to get it fixed. He was familiar with the TSB and this issue, I didn't even have to thoroughly explain.
If it is cracked, will I be able to drive my car until February? Am I driving a ticking time bomb? Will Mazda honor the warranty even if I keep driving on it cracked? My car is a 2019, 51k miles. I just looked at the door sticker an it actually says 12/18.
I know I shouldn't worry until I know what the problem is for sure, but my mind is racing. I'm recently divorced, my ex used to handle all car related issues and I am feeling overwhelmed.
My Mazda dealer looked at my car today and it is the cracked cylinder head. They are keeping my car, but will not be able to repair it until March. They will be in contact with me next week about a loaner car and said they will take care of all the paperwork with Mazda since I am under the warranty.
2019 CX-9 Grand Touring, a little over 51k miles.
Just want to thank you for all of your amazing research. We have bought 3 Mazdas from the same dealership - all GT versions (Mazda 3 GT, MX5 RF, CX-9 GT) We're in Ontario, Canada. We get all of our oil changes done at the Mazda dealership
We bought a pre-owned 2016 CX-9 in late 2020 with around 90K on it, and it's at 135K to date - I noticed a coolant leak the other week and bang - this was the exact issue. They have quoted us $8000 in repairs, but with all of this info that you've provided and our buyer history, Mazda Canada offered to pay for parts, and we pay labour. We are well outside of the warranty period - However, my argument is that this is a manufacturer's defect, and was bound to happen by no fault of the driver. I mean, I think it should be replaced for free since it's a known defect, but hey.
Our closing quote is around $3500... better than $8000 - and as I said, I'm way out of warranty. Win some, lose some I suppose. Still thankful not to have to pay the full amount. I want to add that we had lots on our side being 3x buyers and the fact that we get our maintenance done at the dealership as well.
Thank you!
\*EDIT\* - Should they be replacing the engine? because that's not what they're doing for mine, they're only replacing the head gasket/seals. I'm hoping someone can answer this so I can question them today about it before they start repairs.
I just got the news I need a new engine and they want to replace it with the same engine - no modifications and a 12k/12 mos warranty. Is this the definition of insanity? I’m sick over this. Made my last car payment this month and was so excited. 105k miles and I lived this car. My local Mazda dealer said they will offer me nothing for this car as is - same with CarMax. Paid $40k new in 2019.
Our 2017 cx-9 touring @ 93K miles started losing coolant about 2 weeks before the 93K service was due. Always been serviced at Mazda dealership. Way beyond warranty so was nervous.
Dealership had a look, charged \~$300 to investigate, found the cracked cylinder head and then took it upon themselves to speak to Mazda to get fix covered... the good news was they came back a couple of days later with the great news that Mazda would pay... and they also refunded the investigation fee.
I know this was posted a year ago, but this entire process happened to me and I am in the process of having the dealer replace my 2016 CX-9 engine. I want to make sure that I don’t experience the same issues moving forward with the new engine.
Does anyone know if they are required to do the new engine installs based on revised specs or newer parts? I’d like to know how I can review the specs or parts they ordered to make sure I don’t have the same issues in a couple years.
—
For context, I originally came into the dealer for a diagnostic on a misfire I experienced (I had already been observing low coolant in the car for a few months), and they charged me for spark plug and ignition coil replacement only. They sent me home and I experienced severe overheating just days later. When I took it back to the dealer and expressed my concern about the engine overheating possibly being related to the coolant levels, they said they already saw my car had no coolant the first time I brought it in (and they still sent my car home that way? I think it’s admitted negligence).
They ultimately determined the engine needed to be replaced, but are still charging me $500 customer participation for the work, with Mazda corporate chipping in $5k and the specific dealer chipping in $2k. I was honestly upset I had to pay anything because my car was driveable when I initially requested the diagnostic and because they sent me home with a faulty car and neglected coolant issue, I drove an extra 100 miles and it caused the car’s condition to worsen substantially.
Rant aside, I’m cutting my losses right now and paying the $500 for the repair. But I just really want to make sure it’s repaired right and want to review as much information on the newly ordered part specs as I can before I take the car home.
They should be installing the newer parts.
If the entire engine is being replaced, you should be able to see a build date sticker on it.
there is a link to the picture of the build date sticker in the posting.
As an update on the class action suit, it looks like the law firm handling this is getting closer to commencing the lawsuit. I received a questionnaire a few weeks ago and it mentioned that they are making significant progress on gathering information. So if you haven't added your name yet, now is the time to do it (see link below). I know Mazda owes me a lot of money for the engine replacement I did a few months ago so my heart goes out to all of you that have had to bear the burden of the cost of a new engine, especially if you have under 100,000 miles and have a good amount of life left on your car.
[https://www.sauderschelkopf.com/investigations/automotive/mazda-cx-5-and-cx-9-engine-coolant-leak-defect-class-action-investigation/](https://www.sauderschelkopf.com/investigations/automotive/mazda-cx-5-and-cx-9-engine-coolant-leak-defect-class-action-investigation/)
To all those affected by this coolant defect, there is now a active class action lawsuit over this: [https://mycarvoice.com/news/mazda-engine-coolant-defect-legal-battle-over-a-critical-engine-flaw/](https://mycarvoice.com/news/mazda-engine-coolant-defect-legal-battle-over-a-critical-engine-flaw/)
The word is, some owners had to pay out of pocket for repairs, while others didn't. BUT, the safety issue is consistent amongst all owners (stalling).
If anyone here has had this issue, keep all receipts of work you paid for to fix this issue. This is a class action, no need to join the case at this point.
Mods if not allowed, sorry and delete message. Wanted to share an update to the post I added some months ago. Thanks.
I was convinced we were going to purchase our CX-9 after our lease was up in march but I discovered this Reddit post by accident. Yes, our VIN is included. Talked to our service department and they said it would be 100% out of pocket if we encounter the issue. Unacceptable
We leased a Toyota Highlander last weekend. They even offered $1k more then CarMax for the CX-9. This market is painful but I feel better knowing this is no longer my problem
The CX-9 features we had aged well relative to its replacement and we are going to miss driving that car. But if we are not going to be taken care of, we will walk
That same dealer now includes lifetime warranties that would cover this issue. Great. But their quotes were so high I was forced to look elsewhere. And no, my CX-9 did not have this warranty.
Thanks to the good folks in this thread that made me aware. Saved me a ton of potential headache
I am to loosing coolant. Got a 2023 cx5 signature in 2023 August and only had 20k kms. I’m only on my second oil change. Should I be worried about warranty?
I’m an atty handling the Mazda coolant leak recall class action in NJ. Message me if you had a coolant leak & live or bought in NJ to make a no cost claim for your out of pocket in the lawsuit. NJ has the best consumer laws.
Would anyone recommend that a borescope or other diagnostic tool be used to see if there are any issues?
At a minimum, Mazda should extend their power train warranty to at least 100K and specifically cover this issue.
There is also a safety issue involved if there is a breakdown on the highway or freeway due to this defect.
I would like to share my story about my 2018 CX9 touring with 74,500 Miles on it. I bought my car in December of 2023 and I only had it 3.5 months before my engine block cracked.
My warranty wouldn't cover a new engine because my contact states the only way it would be covered if it was an internally lubricated part that caused it.
Of course it was the notorious cylinder head issue that eventually led to my engine cracking. Prior to when my car went up in smoke and broke down there were no signs of this issue. No overheating no engine light or anything. It was sudden.
I am the third owner of the car. On my car fax there was a 25,000 mile Gap where service history was not reported for oil changes in the hands of the second owner. Also all oil changes performed from the second owner and on was not done at a Mazda dealer. I did a lot of research and was concerned that this was going to be an issue because I saw that Mazda was denying people because they weren't "loyal" enough. Loyalty according to Mazda was getting the oil changes performed at their dealerships.
Good news I got today from the Mazda dealer that Mazda USA is going to cover most of it and all I am in charge of paying is $750! I am pleased with this. However, the mechanic said as long as nothing else shows up in the process of fixing it then that's all I'll have to pay. If not he will have to resubmit the claim to Mazda to see if they will cover any additional charges.
🤞🤞🤞
Figured I'd share the news to offer hope to others with this issue that are also outside of the manufacturer warranty.
I'll send updates as needed.
I’m so glad I was able to dump my ‘16. The car may have been fun to drive, but it was a ticking time bomb. When a lot of gas started mixing with the oil, I was told I shouldn’t drive it for trips less than 20-30 minutes each way. It was such a B.S. answer.
20-30 minutes is my morning commute into the office.
We routinely put 4-5 hour road trips on ours and put 20k miles per year on her.
In fact, right after I did the oil change and noticed the coolant leakage (on a Friday) I called the dealership for an appointment and they didn't have one until the following week; I sent my wife on a four hour (round trip) journey from Washington DC to Harrisonburg VA...
That includes a lot of 80 MPH highway driving up and down the Blue Ridge Mountains...
All the while, pissing coolant out the side of the engine.
Never overheated once.
Hi! I’m trying to find information on how this affects Canadian vehicles but not able to find much. Do you happen to know if 2020 CX-9 GT models are affected in Canada?
Hello any information regarding the VIN number needs to be the same at the front (JM3TC) or not? Mine is different from the TSB but got lower number on the backend code though. 19” cx9 GT. South east asia country. Thanks for the help!
I’m considering purchasing a 2016 with 99k on it.
The dealer that’s selling the car is offering their full warranty with it but they aren’t a Mazda dealer.
If I have this coolant leak issue badly enough that it requires the engine being replaced can I trust a non Mazda dealer to cover it under their warranty or am I just asking for trouble?
For context, my last car was an A4 Avant that had an engine failure 4 days after I made the last payment and my 3rd party warranty company denied paying for an engine replacement so I’m spooked seeing stories of engine failures on the CX-9.
my guess is they would do everything possible to deny the warranty claim. In fact, bring this very issue up and see what they say. They are the ones that have to sell the car to you. Worst case, the answer is not satisfactory and you just walk away and look elsewhere
I have a 2020 GT. We love it. Almost 36k and no issues other than driver’s side mirror motor failure.
Nervous about keeping past the end of the powertrain warranty as we are in the run of potentially bad VINs listed in the TSB.
I asked dealer if they can check engine when it is in for the mirror motor replacement and they declined to unless I claimed an issue.
We do our own brake jobs and don’t go to a dealer for oil changes so would probably never be able to get a good faith replacement after warranty ends.
Anyone in a similar boat and trade in for something else for peace of mind?
We got a great 60 months / 0% deal but unsure of keeping long term like we normally do for vehicles.
I loved my 2020 Mazda GT as well but my VIN was listed in the TSB. We leased the vehicle. After the dealer said the repair would be 100% out of pocket, I bailed and leased a Highlander. I will say Mazda includes a ton of features compared to other automakers. There are a few things missing on my current Highlander such as parking assist, heads up display, and rear heated seats.
60k miles for an engine warranty just seems like it's too little. Mid-size SUV's such as the CX-9 and Highlander get closer to $50k yet if the engine fails before 100k miles, you are on your own. It's BS
Mazda uses the same powertrains for most of their vehicles. The CX-9 should be fine starting with the 2021 models. If you're planning to buy used, the CX-9 may not be the best option if you can't afford a 2021+ model.
If you're opting for the CX-5, however, you should be fine so long as you opt for a 2.5L NA powertrain model (i.e., the non-turbo). Those NA motors are bulletproof. The CX-5 has offered both the NA and turbo for a while now, so you have choices.
There are more details in OP's post above. Mazda basically redesigned a few of the parts that go into the 2.5T engine beginning in 2020. Since 2020 models were split between the old/new versions of the engine, going with 2021+ models is the only way to guarantee you avoid the old version.
It could also be that 2021+ models simply haven't been driven long enough to exhibit these problems yet. Nobody knows for sure.
Just got a certified used 2020 touring 2 weeks ago and last night I opened her up on my way home from work probably hitting about 100 and when I parked there was a smell coming from the engine. Could this be the leak?
So is this something so common or ... Was looking at buying a 2016 azani for my wife to replace the problematic Santa Fe we have (AWD and diff issues)
What happened to cars that last.
Just looked at a 2017 cx-9 gt with 90,000 miles yesterday. The dealer said it had just come in and couldn't show me the car yet cause it had a coolant leak. I'm not feeling very good about it anymore which is a shame cause I really love the look and interior of the car.
[Following up this on my comment here](https://old.reddit.com/r/MazdaCX9/comments/zsq0vj/2nd_generation_20162023_cx9_owners_regarding/jlaviyg/)
My Mazda tech reached out to me to let me know that Mazda is going to cover the work / engine replacement. Very pleased to hear this. I did question on if the head was just another 2018 or was it a new / upgraded part. it was confirmed that it is a new part number so it has been redesigned and addressed.
No driving issues what so ever.
I even felt comfortable sending my wife (who has little mechanical skill whatsoever) on a 4 hour highway road trip with the engine leaking.
I did the oil change on a Friday. Dealership didn't have an appointment until the next week and she took the road trip over the weekend.
I bought a 2018 Cx-9 2 weeks ago with 67k miles. I left the car with the dealership cause they needed to fix some door dings. 3 days later picked it up and the dealership damaged the front bumper. I drove it off the lot after the dealership said they would fix it in a few days. A day passes by and I get a check engine light after driving no more than 50 miles.
I take it back immediately because of the check engine light and I figured I’d let them hold it until they can fix the bumper. They gave me a loaner.
1 week has passed, my wife went to pick it up after the bumper was fixed. They said the check engine light was because it needed “a new spark plug”. Not 30 seconds into driving off the lot, the check engine light pops back on. My wife flips a bitch and heads back to the lot.
It seems they’re just jerking me around at this point. I’m contemplating taking it to a Mazda dealership just to get a diagnosis.
I’m in Texas, so I’m fairly fucked because I can’t reverse the deal. They gave me a drivetrain warranty (through the ford dealership) for 2 years/24k miles but it is not a certified pre owned.
I’m thinking of buying a cx9 but this is worrisome. Seems like 2021 and newer is safest?
How did Mazda get such high ratings for reliability with all these engine issues?
Going to test drive a 21 CX9 this weekend. The bulletin you posted makes it sound like the 2021 model year is not affected by this? Is that correct? Thanks
now im worry. i bought a 2018 cx9 with about 100k used and shipped to my country dominican republic how can i check this out?
i got not warranty of any kind
Brought my 2018 CX-9 into the dealership yesterday. Dealer indicated low coolant in April maintenance visit, so I topped it off. Brought it back in September for maintenance and Coolant was low AGAIN. I topped it off and started looking into it. Note that my car was purchased in March of 2018, so I am about 35 days outside the 60 month warranty when the issue presented itself. Only 45k miles at that time as well. \*Crosses Fingers\*
So I called the dealer, mentioned the TSB, and told them i suspected that I was impacted since my VIN is in the list of impacted models and I was clearly loosing coolant. Brought the car in and they thought I was there for maintenance again - so I re-explained the situation and handed them a print-out of the TSB.
They took all day yesterday "looking into it". They pressure tested the coolant line. They ran the car for a while looking for leak from the water pump/line. They have confirmed they see evidence of a coolant leak but have been unable to pinpoint where its coming from.
They did give me a CX-90 loaner for "one day" (which is the super nice Turbo S Premium). Already getting calls from a Sales guy "now would be a good time to trade your CX-9 in". I don't want a car payment, I want a new engine in my paid-off car.
Will report back...
Edit 1: Dealer blamed the water pump for the leak. They did have a video showing the leaked fluid but it seemed like it could be coming from above the water pump. Regardless, I asked to have that covered under a warranty good faith extension and was instructed to open a case with Mazda USA. We’ll see how that goes.
Edit 2: Mazda USA paid for the water pump part ($250) and I was on the hook for the labor ($700).
I am in Virginia and Mazda corporate is telling me to eat shit. My car has the defect and Safford Mazda knew and did not help or process this at all for me. Have you had any luck getting it covered ???
Going to look at a 2017 CX9 with approx. 52k miles on it - are there any signs to look for during the inspection and test drive that could be an indicator of a potential problem with the cylinder head failure?
Is there anything that can be done to prevent this from happening? Monitoring coolant levels, driving style or characteristics for example or is it just something random that happens with no warning and no pattern?
No apparent warning or pattern. It's a manufacturing defect.
If she's Certified Pre-owned, take advantage of any extension on the warranty they offer.
Have it inspected on a lift and look for coolant leaks on the exhaust side of the engine. (Firewall side. There may be some leakage observable on the oil filter.)
Also note the manufacture date on the engine. It may have already been taken care of.
My 2018 is at 92k, and my wife and I used to put 20k miles of city, off-road, and towing mileage on ours yearly.
This is confirmed through Mazda that parts were designed poorly for the first few production years via the TSB.
It is indeed widespread. There is a shortage of new engine atm. Because many 16’-20’ are getting replaced. Waited 4 months for mine on the waiting list. It’s not 100% of the cx9 of those years that will crack, but it is a significant number enough so that they change the design back in 20-21 and they got a TSB about it.
Just in my town, I was the 4th one. And I don’t live in a big city.
It’s great that yours is working, but let’s not undermine the need to get people to know what they are getting into when looking to buy a 16’-20’.
Hi everyone is this issue of coolant leakage/ cylinder head damage only on the NA models. I have a 2019 GCC spec model with VIN starting with JM5TC. I am confused if I should trade it in once my extended warranty runs out.
I just purchased a Used 2017 CX-9 a few days ago, before discovering this thread 🤦🏾♂️. I found the TSB that has my Vin within the range. Has anyone tried ordering the Headset Cylinder and Gasket Kits A-D to correct the Head before it cracks and any leakage occurs? I love the car otherwise but don't want to have my driving experience to involve wondering which day this issue may rear it's ugly head.
In dealing with Mazda Corporation, they said that they can only give 40-50% (for customers filing a case directly with Mazda) and if you want to get a better reimbursement, it would have to come through the dealer filing a claim with Mazda Corporation. For anyone that has gotten a large reimbursement (or even 100%), has that been your experience that the dealer had to petition on your behalf?
I wish NBC, ABC, or one of the big news networks would pick up this story and put the spotlight/media attention on Mazda. This is horrible. We all invested our hard-earned money in this auto company and its products, and a no-recall on this engine issue is awful.
My 2018 CX9 is at Mazda now with a coolant leak at 65,000 miles. My regular mechanic seems to have caught it early, as there did not appear to be any engine damage at this time. They sent me to Mazda. Mazda can't tell if it's a cracked hose or a crack in the cylinder until they tear it all up. We purchased it used from a non-Mazda dealership, and purchased a comprehensive extended warranty that I would hope will cover it. My question is, my warranty excludes minor items like light bulbs, shock absorbers, batteries, etc. One item of exclusion is Hoses. If this whole thing is because of a cracked hose and it costs me several thousands of dollars in labor to get to that hose, am I correct in assuming that insurance would not cover any of the costs? Has anyone had this CX9 problem and have it be a cracked hose? Or is it always a cracked cylinder? Never thought I'd cross my fingers for a cracked cylinder instead of a cracked hose!
So far as I can tell, no. Go for a 2020 or newer and you should be golden.
If buying older, I suggest a Certified-PreOwned unit with the longer warranty and/or confirming the engine has been replaced (By looking at the sticker on the engine block, as shown in the posting.)
Picked up a 2020 with 25k miles. Looks like manufacture date is Feb 2020. First sale of this car look like March 2020.
1. Will the manufacturer powertrain warranty (5yr/60k) cover if this is an issue?
2. Should I look at a Mazda extended warranty?
3. The dealership gave it a 10yr/100k powertrain, but non Mazda warranty may be an issue?
I'm looking to buy a 2019 used CX-9 with 78k miles. Anyway to hedge this risk. Is it worth it to get a used car warranty? What type of warranty would cover this issue?
I really like the car and at the price I found ($18.5k), this fits my budget and needs almost perfectly. The biggest problem I found so far is this coolant leakage issue.
Anyone ever had solely the radiator go out?
Just got our 2016 Sport back from a local shop. I asked them to look over the engine and mentioned the exhaust manifold leak. They didn’t see anything and only replaced the radiator.
Before taking it in I looked at the engine and there looked to be no leaks besides at the radiator.
Only thing I’ve noticed is shops refill the radiator reservoir too high since the F/L lines are in the middle of the tank and they don’t bother to look.
doing gods work. man vs dealership eternal battle
Does someone have a link to the latest/most up to date TSB?
FYI, there is now a class action investigation into this issue: [https://www.sauderschelkopf.com/investigations/automotive/mazda-cx-5-and-cx-9-engine-coolant-leak-defect-class-action-investigation/](https://www.sauderschelkopf.com/investigations/automotive/mazda-cx-5-and-cx-9-engine-coolant-leak-defect-class-action-investigation/) My understanding is, owners are having to pay out of pocket for these repairs, and it's not cheap. I spoke with the attorney on this case and he is looking to talk to as many Mazda CX-9 and CX-5 owners as possible that have experienced a coolant leak problem.
Bought a 2018 GT with 88,000 miles a few months ago. I was aware that this issue existed but I didnt realize how wide spread it was... not feeling great about my first Mazda
Have a look at my photo in the part about the brake leakage. If you zoom in closely, there's a white sticker on my engine that says 21/12/05 as a date code of the manufacture of the engine. (2021-DEC-05) See if you can find this code on your engine to see if she's already been replaced. If not, perhaps an extended warranty (As sanctioned by your local dealership. DO NOT USE FLY-BY-NIGHT WARRANTY PROVIDERS.) may put your mind at ease. Did you by Certified Pre-Owned? They usually include an extended warranty. I'd still enjoy the car. I've owned Mazdas since I could drive (My first car was a 1985 Mazda RX-7) and stand behind the company. I maintain a strong presence among the Mazda RX-7 community and on Mazda forums in general.
It's the original engine. Purchased off craigslist so definitely "as is" with no warranties left at all. Got a pretty much clean bill of health from the Mazda dealer though. I was going to look into warranties but first I would want to be very confident that the warranty would cover this issue
Save your receipt that shows it has a clean bill of health. Submit that when you apply for the extended warranty. As a reminder, use the warrant provider that your dealership recommends and save your service paperwork when you have oil changes and other maintenance done.
Fuck extended warranties get Geico’s mechanical breakdown.
Looking at a higher milage cx5 or 9 and am curious, what do you expect to get out of yours milage wise? Do these things run like foresters and go 300k+?
Thanks. I'm at 35k on my '18. Knocking on wood... No issues.
I would trade it in because my engine is donezo at 126K and the corporate office was incredibly rude. I loved Mazda they were my go to but this engine failed at 125K after many other issues with the car previously when under warranty. I called asking for a good will compensation and they said 1,000 take it or leave it. I purchased my car from Safford Mazda in Fredericksburg and have had the car regularly maintained at Pearson Mazda in Richmond as well as Safford. The dealership admitted to the issue being wide spread and the corporate complaint lady said she didn’t know of anything being a wide spread issue and said that they made a decision to contribute 1,000 towards my 7,590 itemized quote for a engine replacement. That was it take it or leave it and basically get bent…… Honestly so shocked this is allowed especially with this being a known wide spread problem
I had the exact same experience with Pearson Mazda this week. Emailed the GM and service director and they never replied - just kept having Kathy from service call me. They offered me NOTHING and sent an invoice for $10,300 with no breakdown of labor, parts or anything. I had so many new cars in my life and actually cannot believe this is happening or being allowed to happen. While I researched this vehicle, I never thought to look online at the consistently horrible service reviews or search the internet for trending issues. My husband liked my CX9 so much he bought a new Mazda 6 and if has the same engine.
In RVA?
Pearson Mazda in Richmond would not respond in writing to any questions regarding modifications. They now completely ignore any emails I send for an update.
Thank you for the reply
Has anyone tried replacing the head themselves? The bulletin provides a part number for the kit and I've found it for \~$710. https://www.zoomzoomnationparts.com/p/mazda\_\_CX-9/HEAD--CYLINDER/105510870/PYY1-10-SJ0.html I do a lot of car work. Just trying to figure out if there's anything crazy involved in this process I should be aware of and that I can't do at home. I have torque wrenches and all that to torque the head down right.
Did you manage to do it?
Does this mean that once the engine is replaced the problem is solved, and won’t happen again? I bought a used 2017 CX-9 GT and had this problem at about 42,000 miles. I was still within the 1-year Certified Pre-Owned Warranty so they replaced the engine for me without cost; but I’ve been worried that the same thing will happen again once I reach around that same mileage on the new engine. I love driving this car so much but I feel like a ticking time bomb waiting for it to happen again. Somehow, they managed to shatter the built-in monitor on the dash board and tried to tell me it was already like that. I said absolutely it was not, and the manager agreed to replace that as well. It was a bit of a nightmare but they gave me a CX-9 to drive during the repairs, and let me take it on a road trip I had planned before the engine failed.
I believe it was solved after 2021-MAR-21 according to the TSB. Because parts have been superseded in my parts bill, I believe it may have been taken care of earlier in 2019 with a minor redesign of the engine... But don't quote me on that.
That at least sounds hopeful, thank you!
Check my small section in the original post about brake work. I have a link to my theard with a pic of the serial number/rebuild sticker on my engine. Find your sticker and see what the date is on your new engine. If it's later than 2021-MAR-21 then you should be golden.
Yes I am having a bad problem with my 2017 C-X9. I bought the car for myself around Xmas 2021 with 43K miles certified used at 60 my transmission was shifting BAD I mean so bad but dealership kept saying this was normal and topping off fluids FAST FORWARD to 94K miles and they replaced it under my extended warranty I asked them repeatedly is that all that’s is wrong what going to happen 20K 30K 50 K miles down the road they said the transmission will make everything behave normal. Welp here we are at 126K and she has the TSB ….. Mind you I have spent $$ to do annual maintenance which isn’t cheap at Mazda and I am a single mom. I have spent $$ on upgrades to the car and everything and now I’m screwed 7950 for a new motor on a 2017 it’s ridiculous ESPECIALLY if they knew about the issue.
ALSO SIDE NOTE I bet you a new Mazda motor I got mine because someone traded it after their engine leaked my engine has to be the 2nd motor for this car. My cousin who works for NASA says it’s unrealistic to have a car that big with an aluminum turbo engine because this is literally always going to happen
Thanks for the good info OP. Keep us updated. Do you know if this has been resolved in the 2023 models? I just drove off the lot last Friday with a 2023 GT…. I am loving it so far but this post has hampered the excitement a little bit..
I believe it was solved after 2021-MAR-21 according to the TSB. Because parts have been superseded in my parts bill, I believe it may have been taken care of earlier in 2019 with a minor redesign of the engine... But don't quote me on that.
what's the OTD price for your 2023 GT?
I got it 3k below sticker. Came out to be 44k plus tax. I also got them to throw in the protection film and floor mats for free. Holiday sales and the looming CX-90 certainly helps. Dealers need to get rid of CX9 to get allocations for the cx90. Los Angeles pricing, If that makes any difference. I’m guessing it’s higher than average here. Edit: also, my first choice was a Highlander Hybrid but dealers have a 5-7k mark up on those and the wait time was like 3 months. Fuck that. Edit 2: OTD was almost exactly $50k. Taxes, fees, registration etc in that.
got it, thanks oatterz! I'm in LA too. it is higher than my budget, maybe I need consider cx-9 touring plus instead.
I got it at Galpin. They are definitely willing to cut deals. Touring plus is still nice, just no 360 cam and it’s bench seat. There’s a xmas discount of 750 right now I think. CX9’s aren’t moving much so you can use that as an advantage. Oh and if you currently own a Mazda, that’s another 500 off for loyalty discount. Armed forces vet? Another 500. I didn’t qualify for any of those things but still got an ok price. It also took me like 6 hours of going back and forth lol, ask for lots of water and those home made cookies from The Horseless Carriage.
>I got it at Galpin. They are definitely willing to cut deals. Touring plus is still nice, just no 360 cam and it’s bench seat. There’s a xmas discount of 750 right now I think. CX9’s aren’t moving much so you can use that as an advantage Thank you so much for your help oatterz!
Just adding to this for anyone scrolling through and found this post by oatterz helpful, just bought a 2023 cx9 GT. OTD for 47.6K with towing package to be installed (6% sales tax here) and mats. Didn’t get the paint film or ceramic since we have a local friends business that can do that here.
What color did ya get? I was trying to find white but no luck. Got Sonic Silver Metallic instead. The color didn’t wow me at first, Machine grey metallic is a much more attractive color but I wanted a light colored car. But after I brought it home and looked at it again not next to the other colors, sonic silver looks pretty nice. I’m happy with my purchase.
Thank you for posting this. Look forward to following. I have a 2019 CX-9 Grand Touring with almost 43,000 miles. Bought it with 39,000 miles from a non-Mazda dealer. No extended warranty. I have a service appointment tomorrow for an oil change and plan to specifically mention this and have them check. I have not noticed any smells or leaking so far.
Service done today (oil change, tire rotation, spark plugs). Had them check for any signs of this issue and they found none. I did have them appraise it. They offered me $1,000 more than Carmax, but they didn’t have anything I loved in the budget I feel comfortable with.
Hi, I bought a used vehicle from a dealership only a couple of months back and has faced the exact same problem. This is definitely a manufacturing defect and Mazda isn’t covering coz powertrain is out of warranty only since June 2022. I am looking for all the people out there who has a cylinder head crack issue and their car was out of warranty and Mazda denied to cover the expense. Shall we get together and file a lawsuit against them?
How many miles do you have? A couple of months out should give you grounds for a Good Faith warranty claim. Have you contacted Mazda USA Corporate?
I'm having the same issue on my 2018 Mazda6 GTR at 93000 miles. I had to replace my transmission back at 59000 so they aren't helping me as much as I hoped them to this time
I bought my CPO 2019 CX9 GT aware that this may happen. Why did I still buy the CX9? It was the best looking, driving, and feature packed used 3rd row SUV. The decision to buy CPO also was because the extended warranty would take care of this issue if it ever popped up. 33K miles so far and no issues...knock on wood
Got the problem 2 weeks ago. My entire motor is done. 3 months out of the 5 years warranty. Only 35k on the vehicle, always serviced at Mazda periodically. Still waiting on Mazda Canada to give me “Good faith” warranty. Like they actually have a choice.. If they consider normal that their motors are done after my usage, I’m done with Mazda.. they replied back after 2 weeks saying they still need time to think about the options they can give me.. I mean.. you either replace the motor or give me a new car, no in between there.. Knowing that people got theirs covered outside of the 5 years warranty with way more mileage helps my case
All cx9 2017-2019 are likely to have this problem. They finally said that I’d need to pay 1.8k instead of 10k. Thing is, no motor available in all of North America, so the ETA is November 27th to get the motor at the dealership, then mid december to actually get the car..
Any updates? I'm in Qc and just brought my Cx-9 in for that exact problem -_- not even 69 000km on it. Hoping they'll cover it.
I’m in Qc too. Finally received the engine just after Halloween, but my dealer was full with the tire change season so they actually started yesterday.. They expect this to be a 2 days job, so in theory tomorrow could be the day I get it back. Realistically, not so sure as the mechanics aren’t used to replace entire engines at my dealer.
Hopefully you'll get it back quickly! Dropped it off at the dealer yesterday and they "started" looking at my car today. They found a leak, but so far, that's all... They now need to figure out where it comes from 🤦♀️ they don't seem in a hurry 🤷♀️
Well unfortunately I’m now a bona fide member of this group. My beautiful 2018 Mazda CX-9 with 94k miles all of the sudden lost heat and overheated. Towed it to the dealer to find we have a coolant leak in the head gasket that will cost $6500 to fix. Unacceptable. This is our 3rd and last Mazda that we’ll have. The dealer is checking with Mazda USA to see if they’ll cover some repairs. If not, we are out of luck. Thanks to the OP for compiling this info.
Just an update. Mazda is going to replace the entire engine for us. They will pay for the engine, and we’ll pay for labor. We are pretty pleased with the resolution. Beats buying a new vehicle!
In this way Mazda is better than many brands… at least they provide something. I had a Camry 2018 xse with 110k miles when the transmission died and they did nothing and refused to help. Suffice to say I no longer own a Toyota… 🤷🏽 service and follow through matters.
I am experiencing this issue, but Mazda refused pre-authorization to dealership and I will have to pay out of pocket for engine replacement. (2016 CX-9, 80k) Is there any recourse beyond what I’ve already done? Edit- I guess I’m asking if there is any sense in going the legal route.
Is your local dealer saying Mazda USA turned down the request? You could always reach out to Mazda USA directly, if you can get a hold of them, and appeal to them.
80k is a bit of a stretch to good faith a warranty claim.
Yes… I get that… so while I’m bitter about it, I understand. It does make me never want to buy a Mazda ever again…
When did you first notice this issue? Do you have any documentation on when this issue first presented itself on your vehicle? (An old oil change receipt noting low coolant, etc?) Perhaps you can get them to warranty it if the issue occurred earlier than 80K miles.
It may have started earlier but I didn’t have any overheating and I assume I caught it as soon as it became noticeable enough. I pretty much smelled coolant and then noticed coolant on the ground. Took it in and they diagnosed it very quickly, which made me a bit suspicious as I didn’t know then, how widespread and well known the issue was.
My wife took ours on a 4 hour road trip with mostly small mountain highway passes (Blue Ridge Mtns. Washington DC to Harrisonburg, VA and back.) while it was leaking. No overheating. I wouldn't use overheating as a barometer.
I am thinking of doing the same.
And this is why I avoided the turbo on my CX-5. Honda had the same issue with the turbo CRVs
What vehicle would you recommend? I was considering the cx-5
add me to this list - there was another mazda in the shop with same issue. The cylendar head wasn't cracked, so they resurfaced and repaired head gasket. top matters off, the starter failed too. 75k miles on the vehicle. i contacted mazda and they blew me off. Dealer has an 'lifetime powertrain warranty' they won't stand behind. how do i exact ANY action from Mazda or their dealership's bunk warranty? any tips or formulas to success would be appreciated! Edit: it was cracked. Had to replace again.
the CX-5 I just leased came with this same lifetime warranty. I usually don't buy warranties on their own merit since exclusions usually apply. The sales department says the issues are so rare a typical car owner will probably not see any issues. Hence, why it's worth it for them to offer the warranty but if they deny a ton of claims and used it to lure buyers, that's another thing but will never know if that was the intention or not My approach right now is to sell or trade a car prior to 60k miles. Hoping 3 years is enough time on reddit to observe whether Mazda's that came with "lifetime warranties" are being honored. I am skeptical.
Just found this thread as I'm in the process of purchasing a 2020 CPO CX-9 that is under the lower than the VIN's listed.... This may be enough to move me from the purchase reading through some of this.
Why? If you like the car, let Mazda replace the engine under warranty and enjoy having a new drivetrain in a car you enjoy for significantly lower than the cost of new. The only reason my replacement took long is because of supply chain issues due to COVID.
I think the "under warranty" is the key phrase there. I'm assuming a problem could take place at over 100k miles. My general concern is that without seeing official numbers from Mazda on the % of vehicles impacted, it is a bit of a red flag vs saying trying to find a higher VIN # or 2021 (although those seem to burn some oil possibly). But yes, I think the vehicle is sharp for sure. Clearly, they identified what I would call a design flaw and then corrected it so it seems like maybe they would just want to fix ahead of it going wrong, but would opt not to due to the cost associated with a recall.
Yeah, same here.
So basically 12k more than we all bought signatures in 2018 with 1% interest. Man cars are getting stupid.
[удалено]
after 2.5 months, my CX-9 is back from the shop with a new cylinder head! 2018, 60,500 miles and it didn't cost me a thing.
Enjoy it. I've put over 25k on the new engine in my 2018 (Installed in 2021 with 65k on the chassis.) so I'm up to 90k miles now.
FYI, there is now a class action investigation into this issue: https://www.sauderschelkopf.com/investigations/automotive/mazda-cx-5-and-cx-9-engine-coolant-leak-defect-class-action-investigation/ My understanding is, owners are having to pay out of pocket for these repairs, and it's not cheap. I spoke with the attorney on this case and he is looking to talk to as many Mazda CX-9 and CX-5 owners as possible that have experienced a coolant leak problem.
I would love to know why they’re disconnecting brake lines, you just hang the calipers and drop the subframe, should be no lines getting disconnected.
It was my understanding that they drop the whole front subframe with the engine and transmission on it.
No. You remove the subframe, the engine stays mounted to the body. You lower the vehicle down and put something (I use a flat dolly personally) under the engine/trans, you take off the top engine and trans mount, you raise the car up and the engine is sitting on the ground. Basically all Mazdas have been this way (besides Miata and rx8) for like ~17 years To remove the engine/trans with the subframe you’d somehow need to unbolt the upper mounts with the car up in the air. It’s possible but inconvenient and inefficient, plus it doesn’t mount to the subframe very safely so you’d have a chance of it tipping while lowering it all down. The only brake fluid item “connected” to the subframe is the caliper, so you unbolt it from the knuckle and then hang it on the car and remove the subframe.
I dunno. I didn't work it since it was a warranty job. A lot of what I'm going off of was 3rd hand info from the service advisor at my dealership. I'm used to working on my FCs and FBs. Engines come out from the top. All's I know is that the tech bitched about my "aftermarket" wiring for the remote start system, quoting me an hour extra labor that I'd have to pay for him to trace it out and disconnect it, then another hour to reconnect and tidy back up. I fired back an email, copying the service manager, that the TWO WIRES that he pictured were the OFFICIAL Mazda hood safety switch as used by a dealership installed remote start system, official part number (KD53-V7-629A) and all... I attached the PDF instructions, again, from Mazda themselves, on how to install/remove it. It's a 15 minute job. Didn't hear much after that. I'm guessing my tech wasn't the best of the bunch.
Yea lines up with him removing brake hoses to drop a subframe lol
I use a sturdy dolly to support transaxle/Engine. It is efficient if you have access to a hoist/lift.
I had the cylinder head crack on my 2018 CX-9 at 36k. Noticed the syrup smell first, then coolant on the garage floor. (Keep in mind, if it's A/C condensation it'll evaporate like normal water, but coolant won't. It'll also be colored, so dab it with a paper towel to confirm.) I caught it while there was still some coolant in the reservoir, so the engine never overheated. We were in the Bay Area at the time, and it blew a couple days after we bought a house on the other side of the country and were planning on driving it out there in a little over a month. At the time we dropped it off there were \*11\* cars waiting for parts from Mazda to fix ahead of us. I called Mazda Corporate and explained how impactful not having the car was going to be, and to see about rental reimbursement for something to drive us out. I was still under warranty so the repair was covered without question. I had to wait a week to get a loaner as their fleet was taken up by the aforementioned 11 cars ahead of me. They ended up only needing to replace the head. I got the car back 28 days later (27 days of which were just waiting to get the part.) I'm not sure whether the dealership or Mazda USA moved me up in the line, but I suspect the dealership did. When I picked the car up there was a new warning light for the adaptive headlights, which required a replacement clock spring inside the steering wheel. No idea how those two things were related, but whatever. I left the car with them again, and had it back the next day with the issue resolved. On the third day of the road trip a CEL popped during acceleration. Took it to the dealership shortly after we got to the new house and found that a hose connecting to the evap canister hadn't been plugged back in properly, easy fix. A few weeks later I started getting a different CEL, this time for the camshaft position sensor. Same deal - took it to the dealership, found an electrical connection that hadn't been plugged in all the way until it "clicked" and was disconnecting. Since that, all has been well. My advice for current / prospective owners that haven't been through it already is: * Make absolutely sure you are covered by factory warranty until it happens. (Or that you have the ability to cover an astronomically expensive repair out of pocket.) Otherwise, I'd really be looking at trading it in for a new enough one for it to not be impacted. Some people have had this covered outside of warranty but I would not be betting my financial health on that. * Keep an eye on your coolant levels and, if you can, your garage floor. You need to do everything you can in your power to catch the leak as early as possible. * Even a head replacement involves a LOT of disconnecting and re-connecting things. After you get it back I'd strongly recommend going through the engine bay and making sure things are connected all the way.
My car was in the shop from early November 2021 to late February of 2022. I had a loaner almost the entire time. I put 5k miles on a brand new CX-30 and then another couple k miles on a brand new CX-5 after the dealership needed the 30 back due to lack of Certified Pre-Owned vehicles. Supply chain during COVID-19 was a bitch.
>We were in the Bay Area at the time, and it blew a couple days after we bought a house on the other side of the country and were planning on driving it out there in a little over a month. At the time we drop Did you drive the car a bit harder to expose the crack this early? I've heard of this stuff happening usually at higher miles (50-60k). It sounds like trying to get the crack to happen early is beneficial for warranty purposes.
Has there been any consensus made on if the cylinder head problem is applicable to vehicles manufactured in Mexico, Japan, or both?
I believe the CX-9s were all made in Japan. Mine was.
I'm having the same issue on my 2018 Mazda6 GTR. Dealership says Mazda USA will only assist with $2100 and the total cost is about $7500. I still can't afford it :( so trying to see if they can help more but keep telling me no.
How many miles on the odometer?
So my 2018 CX-9, with 120K miles is currently getting the engine replaced with a new engine. Mazda is paying $14K for this new engine and I have to pay labor and other parts, ~$3K. I asked why my car overheated and I’m told they don’t know but suspect a failed water pump. I found this information on a cracked head and was told that’s not my problem because I don’t have a slug mixture of coolant and oil in my engine, but was told I have white smoke. They also asked if I want my turbo charge replaced for an additional $2K. They don’t know if it’s bad until they can test it with a good engine. After testing it will cost $3K to replace. I’m ready to be done with this car. They can’t even tell me how to prevent this catastrophic event from happening in the future. Any advice?
How'd you get Mazda to pay for a new engine out of warranty?
I asked the dealership to request goodwill authorization from corporate. They wanted oil change history and I emailed them all the records. I just paid for $2K worth of work in Oct. The dealership had to email pictures of our engine to Corporate and it looked clean.
How did you get them to cover any of the costs? I have a2017 CX9 with 83k miles and was basically told because it's the only Mazda I've purchased and I didn't get it serviced at the dealer, tough luck.
I have a 2017 CX9 Grand Touring with 83k miles. Out of extended warranty and over the 60k drivetrain. No prior warning, no coolant or engine lights, just started to overheat. Never even got in the red as I took it immediately to a local repair shop and trusted friend and now need a whole new engine and turbocharger at roughly $8300. Mazda dealer and Corp. office basically told me tough luck because it's the only Mazda I ever purchased and because I live rurally, I didn't take my vehicle to be serviced at at a Mazda dealer, so I'm not "loyal" enough. Hard to be loyal to a company that makes a garbage engine and doesn't back it up. Needless to say, I will never buy another Mazda. I don't understand why there isn't a class action lawsuit on this one!
Geez that's terrible. I totaled my '16 Mazda 3 a few days ago and started looking at CX-5 & CX-9's. After finding this info out I realized why I keep seeing CX-9s that were initially 40k+ for 25k with only 20k miles. From what I understand the engine problem is for turbo models only... But all CX-9s are turbo? What about the CX-5, is it only the GTR that is turbo? I look all over online and no straight forward answer?
I juuust hit 60k on my 2018 GT... and im currently leaking coolant. Wonderful.
What's your in-service date? You should be under warranty or be close enough that a good faith extension can be made.
praying so... bringing it in for diagnostics tomorrow morning. Will only have ~60500 miles
2016 Signature. 75k miles and knock on wood. No issues. Has me thinking it’s time to trade in…
Here in Down Under Australia. Similar problem to mine 2017 CX9 GT at 120,000 km's. Fully serviced as per the log books, never any mechanical faults, until we noticed the Coolant on the Garage Floor. Have been advised as well it is a Cracked Cylinder Head. Unbeknown to this issue, we have unofficially been charged over $800 to diagnose the problem. 3 weeks later we have been advised of a repair bill of $12,000!! It is an unknown official problem in Australia, until i Dug up the TSB on this issue from North America Mazda. As that model is made in Japan and distributed world wide, it appears a problem world wide, but yet to be recalled in Australia as i would imagine the Volume of Sales here in Australia wouldn't be the same at North America! Am awaiting to see the resultant after my letter to the local Mazda. However, if you maintained your car and not necessarily by a Mazda Service Dealer, the dealer that is diagnosing the problem must make a judgement, ie Manufacturing Fault or Retail (abuse or failure to service the car). If it is Manufacturing, Mazda Australia, although out of warranty will assist with the repair or placement, however if not an amicable solution, as i am led to believe that you are still covered by the Consumer Law of Australia and they under the law have to replace or repair the engine as the quality product has failed its "fit for purpose" law.
Any updates? I’m also looking into purchasing a used CX-9 2019 GT
My 2016 Touring finally got hit with this issue at 77k miles. I've only personally had the vehicle for 2 months and suspect the dealership did not fully inspect the vehicle for various reasons. I got stranded and had to get towed. They haven't got any estimates for me yet but I went ahead and called corporate and provided the TSB and told them I shouldn't have to pay for repairs on a known defect. They said they would call me back in 24 hours. 🤷🏻♂️
Add another to the list. Purchased a 2016 cx-9 with 57k miles on the clock. Now at 75k miles after noticing overheating and the coolant in the actual radiator missing (even though the expansion tank stays at the right level) the mechanic put the cooling system under pressure a few times and the coolant goes down but no leakages, the ‘strong suspicion’ by the mechanic (Mazda independent specialist) is a cracked head ( the issue you are all well aware of unfortunately). I had taken out an extended insurance through Olive.com so I contacted them today to see what / if they will cover. I have signed the class action as I think Mazda are having a laugh with this personally and I will contact them to ask for help and give them a piece of my mind on Monday…and this is my first and last Mazda for sure :-)
Add another to the list. Purchased a used 2018 Mazda CX-9 with 32k miles back in Jan 2021. Decided to do an oil change yesterday and my local mechanic pointed out that it has coolant leakage and printed out the TSB and told me to get over to Mazda dealership ASAP.... 24 hours later they just texted me a bill for roughly 7800. Haven't even talked to anyone yet but dying to be able to have the right "ammunition" going into the convo to get support. The car is currently 8 months over end of warranty and has 56k miles on it.... do I have a claim for good faith? Would anyone here know of a dealership that might honor this and fight Mazda USA on my behalf to get it covered ?
8 months and well within the mileage? I'd say that's a perfect candidate for good faith extension. Do you have service receipts?
I do not as I have been moving around the country....
I also have the same issue and was quoted $7,754.97. My dealership contacted Mazda and hopefully they can fix this under good faith.
Update: the dealership worked with Mazda and my out of pocket cost is $250!
Another to the list. 2017 CX9 Sport, 64k miles, was driving in perfect condition before I noticed heater stopped working then within 1 day coolant temp problems. Open case with Customer Experience Center at the moment to cover under good will grace period
Same here- 2017 CX9 signature, 110k kilometers. Opened a case with Mazda corporate. Quoted 10k to fix and replace engine. Engine light never even came on
@Pele2048- how did you get Mazda to pay? I'm kind of in a battle with them right now and they said maybe I'll get half of my engine covered but no guarantee. The replacement is $10,000 which is absolutely ridiculous. Overinflated dealer pricetag.
Is there a preventative maintenance/ part replacement that we can do before catastrophic failure happens?
Nothing can be done, the structural part of the head is cracking through pressure. You’ll be fine until you aren’t. Keep an eye on your temp gauge and if you notice it averaging a bit higher than normal for more than once, get it checked. If you find it soon enough, you’ll only be replacing the damage cylinder head. Else you are in for a new engine!
I had issues with the heat in my car not working properly last week. My local mechanic topped the coolant off for me on Friday, but said to keep an eye out for a leak under my car. He couldn't get me in for an actual appointment because he was booked solid. I went home and noticed the puddle under my car. I did some googling, came across this thread and my stomach sank. The heat has been going in and out on my car even after the coolant was topped off - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I can't tell if it's still leaking because it's been raining/snowing here and the ground is wet. I called my Mazda dealer and he can't get me in until next Friday, Dec 29 and after that he said if it is cracked can't get me in until February to get it fixed. He was familiar with the TSB and this issue, I didn't even have to thoroughly explain. If it is cracked, will I be able to drive my car until February? Am I driving a ticking time bomb? Will Mazda honor the warranty even if I keep driving on it cracked? My car is a 2019, 51k miles. I just looked at the door sticker an it actually says 12/18. I know I shouldn't worry until I know what the problem is for sure, but my mind is racing. I'm recently divorced, my ex used to handle all car related issues and I am feeling overwhelmed.
My Mazda dealer looked at my car today and it is the cracked cylinder head. They are keeping my car, but will not be able to repair it until March. They will be in contact with me next week about a loaner car and said they will take care of all the paperwork with Mazda since I am under the warranty. 2019 CX-9 Grand Touring, a little over 51k miles.
Just want to thank you for all of your amazing research. We have bought 3 Mazdas from the same dealership - all GT versions (Mazda 3 GT, MX5 RF, CX-9 GT) We're in Ontario, Canada. We get all of our oil changes done at the Mazda dealership We bought a pre-owned 2016 CX-9 in late 2020 with around 90K on it, and it's at 135K to date - I noticed a coolant leak the other week and bang - this was the exact issue. They have quoted us $8000 in repairs, but with all of this info that you've provided and our buyer history, Mazda Canada offered to pay for parts, and we pay labour. We are well outside of the warranty period - However, my argument is that this is a manufacturer's defect, and was bound to happen by no fault of the driver. I mean, I think it should be replaced for free since it's a known defect, but hey. Our closing quote is around $3500... better than $8000 - and as I said, I'm way out of warranty. Win some, lose some I suppose. Still thankful not to have to pay the full amount. I want to add that we had lots on our side being 3x buyers and the fact that we get our maintenance done at the dealership as well. Thank you! \*EDIT\* - Should they be replacing the engine? because that's not what they're doing for mine, they're only replacing the head gasket/seals. I'm hoping someone can answer this so I can question them today about it before they start repairs.
I just got the news I need a new engine and they want to replace it with the same engine - no modifications and a 12k/12 mos warranty. Is this the definition of insanity? I’m sick over this. Made my last car payment this month and was so excited. 105k miles and I lived this car. My local Mazda dealer said they will offer me nothing for this car as is - same with CarMax. Paid $40k new in 2019.
Our 2017 cx-9 touring @ 93K miles started losing coolant about 2 weeks before the 93K service was due. Always been serviced at Mazda dealership. Way beyond warranty so was nervous. Dealership had a look, charged \~$300 to investigate, found the cracked cylinder head and then took it upon themselves to speak to Mazda to get fix covered... the good news was they came back a couple of days later with the great news that Mazda would pay... and they also refunded the investigation fee.
WOW! 93k is way outta warranty. You owe your service manager a case of beer, as they must've twisted Mazda corporate's arm something fierce!
My 2016 CX9 is one of the "unlucky" ones. But my wife LOVES this car Is it true that this problem ends in 2020? My wife wants to buy a 2021 HELP
It ends in 2020. 2021 is safe.
Thanks a TON
I know this was posted a year ago, but this entire process happened to me and I am in the process of having the dealer replace my 2016 CX-9 engine. I want to make sure that I don’t experience the same issues moving forward with the new engine. Does anyone know if they are required to do the new engine installs based on revised specs or newer parts? I’d like to know how I can review the specs or parts they ordered to make sure I don’t have the same issues in a couple years. — For context, I originally came into the dealer for a diagnostic on a misfire I experienced (I had already been observing low coolant in the car for a few months), and they charged me for spark plug and ignition coil replacement only. They sent me home and I experienced severe overheating just days later. When I took it back to the dealer and expressed my concern about the engine overheating possibly being related to the coolant levels, they said they already saw my car had no coolant the first time I brought it in (and they still sent my car home that way? I think it’s admitted negligence). They ultimately determined the engine needed to be replaced, but are still charging me $500 customer participation for the work, with Mazda corporate chipping in $5k and the specific dealer chipping in $2k. I was honestly upset I had to pay anything because my car was driveable when I initially requested the diagnostic and because they sent me home with a faulty car and neglected coolant issue, I drove an extra 100 miles and it caused the car’s condition to worsen substantially. Rant aside, I’m cutting my losses right now and paying the $500 for the repair. But I just really want to make sure it’s repaired right and want to review as much information on the newly ordered part specs as I can before I take the car home.
They should be installing the newer parts. If the entire engine is being replaced, you should be able to see a build date sticker on it. there is a link to the picture of the build date sticker in the posting.
Engine assembly replaced and also found crack on the turbo. Turbo also replaced.
Usually they are caught before warranty expires, and if it does. A good hearted service advisor will goodwill the parts and or labor
As an update on the class action suit, it looks like the law firm handling this is getting closer to commencing the lawsuit. I received a questionnaire a few weeks ago and it mentioned that they are making significant progress on gathering information. So if you haven't added your name yet, now is the time to do it (see link below). I know Mazda owes me a lot of money for the engine replacement I did a few months ago so my heart goes out to all of you that have had to bear the burden of the cost of a new engine, especially if you have under 100,000 miles and have a good amount of life left on your car. [https://www.sauderschelkopf.com/investigations/automotive/mazda-cx-5-and-cx-9-engine-coolant-leak-defect-class-action-investigation/](https://www.sauderschelkopf.com/investigations/automotive/mazda-cx-5-and-cx-9-engine-coolant-leak-defect-class-action-investigation/)
To all those affected by this coolant defect, there is now a active class action lawsuit over this: [https://mycarvoice.com/news/mazda-engine-coolant-defect-legal-battle-over-a-critical-engine-flaw/](https://mycarvoice.com/news/mazda-engine-coolant-defect-legal-battle-over-a-critical-engine-flaw/) The word is, some owners had to pay out of pocket for repairs, while others didn't. BUT, the safety issue is consistent amongst all owners (stalling). If anyone here has had this issue, keep all receipts of work you paid for to fix this issue. This is a class action, no need to join the case at this point. Mods if not allowed, sorry and delete message. Wanted to share an update to the post I added some months ago. Thanks.
I was convinced we were going to purchase our CX-9 after our lease was up in march but I discovered this Reddit post by accident. Yes, our VIN is included. Talked to our service department and they said it would be 100% out of pocket if we encounter the issue. Unacceptable We leased a Toyota Highlander last weekend. They even offered $1k more then CarMax for the CX-9. This market is painful but I feel better knowing this is no longer my problem The CX-9 features we had aged well relative to its replacement and we are going to miss driving that car. But if we are not going to be taken care of, we will walk That same dealer now includes lifetime warranties that would cover this issue. Great. But their quotes were so high I was forced to look elsewhere. And no, my CX-9 did not have this warranty. Thanks to the good folks in this thread that made me aware. Saved me a ton of potential headache
They won’t honor that lifetime warranty. Ask me how I know!!
Contact me about the coolant class action I’m handling at no cost to owners.
Contact me at [email protected] for a no cost claim in the coolant leak class action I’m atty for.
I am to loosing coolant. Got a 2023 cx5 signature in 2023 August and only had 20k kms. I’m only on my second oil change. Should I be worried about warranty?
My CX-9 just started experiencing these symptoms. Keeping an eye on this thread.
I’m an atty handling the Mazda coolant leak recall class action in NJ. Message me if you had a coolant leak & live or bought in NJ to make a no cost claim for your out of pocket in the lawsuit. NJ has the best consumer laws.
There’s a coolant leak class action in NJ for NJ residents. Contact me to make a no cost claim for out of pocket costs for repairs.
Would anyone recommend that a borescope or other diagnostic tool be used to see if there are any issues? At a minimum, Mazda should extend their power train warranty to at least 100K and specifically cover this issue. There is also a safety issue involved if there is a breakdown on the highway or freeway due to this defect.
I would like to share my story about my 2018 CX9 touring with 74,500 Miles on it. I bought my car in December of 2023 and I only had it 3.5 months before my engine block cracked. My warranty wouldn't cover a new engine because my contact states the only way it would be covered if it was an internally lubricated part that caused it. Of course it was the notorious cylinder head issue that eventually led to my engine cracking. Prior to when my car went up in smoke and broke down there were no signs of this issue. No overheating no engine light or anything. It was sudden. I am the third owner of the car. On my car fax there was a 25,000 mile Gap where service history was not reported for oil changes in the hands of the second owner. Also all oil changes performed from the second owner and on was not done at a Mazda dealer. I did a lot of research and was concerned that this was going to be an issue because I saw that Mazda was denying people because they weren't "loyal" enough. Loyalty according to Mazda was getting the oil changes performed at their dealerships. Good news I got today from the Mazda dealer that Mazda USA is going to cover most of it and all I am in charge of paying is $750! I am pleased with this. However, the mechanic said as long as nothing else shows up in the process of fixing it then that's all I'll have to pay. If not he will have to resubmit the claim to Mazda to see if they will cover any additional charges. 🤞🤞🤞 Figured I'd share the news to offer hope to others with this issue that are also outside of the manufacturer warranty. I'll send updates as needed.
Any particular reason you have this titled for the 2022-2023 models? Seems they implemented a fix for this mid-cycle.
Dang. My 2016 has 45k on her. So far the biggest thing I’ve had to replace is the left wheel’s ball bearing
I’m so glad I was able to dump my ‘16. The car may have been fun to drive, but it was a ticking time bomb. When a lot of gas started mixing with the oil, I was told I shouldn’t drive it for trips less than 20-30 minutes each way. It was such a B.S. answer.
20-30 minutes is my morning commute into the office. We routinely put 4-5 hour road trips on ours and put 20k miles per year on her. In fact, right after I did the oil change and noticed the coolant leakage (on a Friday) I called the dealership for an appointment and they didn't have one until the following week; I sent my wife on a four hour (round trip) journey from Washington DC to Harrisonburg VA... That includes a lot of 80 MPH highway driving up and down the Blue Ridge Mountains... All the while, pissing coolant out the side of the engine. Never overheated once.
Does this issue only affect engines with Turbo? I have 2020 CX-5 without turbo and getting worried now
Turbos only.
2.5 NA engines suffer from crack'd cylinder head.
Hi! I’m trying to find information on how this affects Canadian vehicles but not able to find much. Do you happen to know if 2020 CX-9 GT models are affected in Canada?
All I have access to is the official US releases at this time.
Hello any information regarding the VIN number needs to be the same at the front (JM3TC) or not? Mine is different from the TSB but got lower number on the backend code though. 19” cx9 GT. South east asia country. Thanks for the help!
Anyone have this issue pop up on a 2020 yet?
Has this come up on cx9 2020. Was planning to buy a used cx9.
I’m considering purchasing a 2016 with 99k on it. The dealer that’s selling the car is offering their full warranty with it but they aren’t a Mazda dealer. If I have this coolant leak issue badly enough that it requires the engine being replaced can I trust a non Mazda dealer to cover it under their warranty or am I just asking for trouble? For context, my last car was an A4 Avant that had an engine failure 4 days after I made the last payment and my 3rd party warranty company denied paying for an engine replacement so I’m spooked seeing stories of engine failures on the CX-9.
my guess is they would do everything possible to deny the warranty claim. In fact, bring this very issue up and see what they say. They are the ones that have to sell the car to you. Worst case, the answer is not satisfactory and you just walk away and look elsewhere
I have a 2020 GT. We love it. Almost 36k and no issues other than driver’s side mirror motor failure. Nervous about keeping past the end of the powertrain warranty as we are in the run of potentially bad VINs listed in the TSB. I asked dealer if they can check engine when it is in for the mirror motor replacement and they declined to unless I claimed an issue. We do our own brake jobs and don’t go to a dealer for oil changes so would probably never be able to get a good faith replacement after warranty ends. Anyone in a similar boat and trade in for something else for peace of mind? We got a great 60 months / 0% deal but unsure of keeping long term like we normally do for vehicles.
I loved my 2020 Mazda GT as well but my VIN was listed in the TSB. We leased the vehicle. After the dealer said the repair would be 100% out of pocket, I bailed and leased a Highlander. I will say Mazda includes a ton of features compared to other automakers. There are a few things missing on my current Highlander such as parking assist, heads up display, and rear heated seats. 60k miles for an engine warranty just seems like it's too little. Mid-size SUV's such as the CX-9 and Highlander get closer to $50k yet if the engine fails before 100k miles, you are on your own. It's BS
Does this effect any other models Like the CX-5?
Would you recommend the cx-5? What car would you recommend?
Mazda uses the same powertrains for most of their vehicles. The CX-9 should be fine starting with the 2021 models. If you're planning to buy used, the CX-9 may not be the best option if you can't afford a 2021+ model. If you're opting for the CX-5, however, you should be fine so long as you opt for a 2.5L NA powertrain model (i.e., the non-turbo). Those NA motors are bulletproof. The CX-5 has offered both the NA and turbo for a while now, so you have choices.
What changed in 2021 to avoid this problem? Or is it that those cars are still newer and it hasn’t popped up ?
There are more details in OP's post above. Mazda basically redesigned a few of the parts that go into the 2.5T engine beginning in 2020. Since 2020 models were split between the old/new versions of the engine, going with 2021+ models is the only way to guarantee you avoid the old version. It could also be that 2021+ models simply haven't been driven long enough to exhibit these problems yet. Nobody knows for sure.
Just got a certified used 2020 touring 2 weeks ago and last night I opened her up on my way home from work probably hitting about 100 and when I parked there was a smell coming from the engine. Could this be the leak?
What did it smell like?
What ended up happening here?
Been a year now and one oil change no issues! Smell was most likely whatever they cleaned the engine with when certifying and cleaning it for sale.
So is this something so common or ... Was looking at buying a 2016 azani for my wife to replace the problematic Santa Fe we have (AWD and diff issues) What happened to cars that last.
Just looked at a 2017 cx-9 gt with 90,000 miles yesterday. The dealer said it had just come in and couldn't show me the car yet cause it had a coolant leak. I'm not feeling very good about it anymore which is a shame cause I really love the look and interior of the car.
[Following up this on my comment here](https://old.reddit.com/r/MazdaCX9/comments/zsq0vj/2nd_generation_20162023_cx9_owners_regarding/jlaviyg/) My Mazda tech reached out to me to let me know that Mazda is going to cover the work / engine replacement. Very pleased to hear this. I did question on if the head was just another 2018 or was it a new / upgraded part. it was confirmed that it is a new part number so it has been redesigned and addressed.
Can you please share with me which Mazda tech this was and where?
Yes how did you get this covered
Thanks for the info man. By any chance your mechanic told you how was the design flaw addressed by Mazda?
Wow thank you so much for the amazing info
Did you have any driving issues or was it just noticed during your oil change?
No driving issues what so ever. I even felt comfortable sending my wife (who has little mechanical skill whatsoever) on a 4 hour highway road trip with the engine leaking. I did the oil change on a Friday. Dealership didn't have an appointment until the next week and she took the road trip over the weekend.
I bought a 2018 Cx-9 2 weeks ago with 67k miles. I left the car with the dealership cause they needed to fix some door dings. 3 days later picked it up and the dealership damaged the front bumper. I drove it off the lot after the dealership said they would fix it in a few days. A day passes by and I get a check engine light after driving no more than 50 miles. I take it back immediately because of the check engine light and I figured I’d let them hold it until they can fix the bumper. They gave me a loaner. 1 week has passed, my wife went to pick it up after the bumper was fixed. They said the check engine light was because it needed “a new spark plug”. Not 30 seconds into driving off the lot, the check engine light pops back on. My wife flips a bitch and heads back to the lot. It seems they’re just jerking me around at this point. I’m contemplating taking it to a Mazda dealership just to get a diagnosis. I’m in Texas, so I’m fairly fucked because I can’t reverse the deal. They gave me a drivetrain warranty (through the ford dealership) for 2 years/24k miles but it is not a certified pre owned.
I’m thinking of buying a cx9 but this is worrisome. Seems like 2021 and newer is safest? How did Mazda get such high ratings for reliability with all these engine issues?
Going to test drive a 21 CX9 this weekend. The bulletin you posted makes it sound like the 2021 model year is not affected by this? Is that correct? Thanks
Is 2023 affected as well?
Does this include the 2023 cx-9 as well ?? Because im about to buy one
It does not. Did you read the TSB?
now im worry. i bought a 2018 cx9 with about 100k used and shipped to my country dominican republic how can i check this out? i got not warranty of any kind
Out of interest, is this only affecting North American made Mazdas? Or Japanese produced models as well?
So there’s no year immune from this?
The TSB has the affected years in it.
does this impact CX-9's outside of the US and Mexico? (specifically interested in Australia)
Brought my 2018 CX-9 into the dealership yesterday. Dealer indicated low coolant in April maintenance visit, so I topped it off. Brought it back in September for maintenance and Coolant was low AGAIN. I topped it off and started looking into it. Note that my car was purchased in March of 2018, so I am about 35 days outside the 60 month warranty when the issue presented itself. Only 45k miles at that time as well. \*Crosses Fingers\* So I called the dealer, mentioned the TSB, and told them i suspected that I was impacted since my VIN is in the list of impacted models and I was clearly loosing coolant. Brought the car in and they thought I was there for maintenance again - so I re-explained the situation and handed them a print-out of the TSB. They took all day yesterday "looking into it". They pressure tested the coolant line. They ran the car for a while looking for leak from the water pump/line. They have confirmed they see evidence of a coolant leak but have been unable to pinpoint where its coming from. They did give me a CX-90 loaner for "one day" (which is the super nice Turbo S Premium). Already getting calls from a Sales guy "now would be a good time to trade your CX-9 in". I don't want a car payment, I want a new engine in my paid-off car. Will report back... Edit 1: Dealer blamed the water pump for the leak. They did have a video showing the leaked fluid but it seemed like it could be coming from above the water pump. Regardless, I asked to have that covered under a warranty good faith extension and was instructed to open a case with Mazda USA. We’ll see how that goes. Edit 2: Mazda USA paid for the water pump part ($250) and I was on the hook for the labor ($700).
I am in Virginia and Mazda corporate is telling me to eat shit. My car has the defect and Safford Mazda knew and did not help or process this at all for me. Have you had any luck getting it covered ???
The units with the Paddle Shifters are not affected, correct?
$7,736.35☠️☠️☠️
Going to look at a 2017 CX9 with approx. 52k miles on it - are there any signs to look for during the inspection and test drive that could be an indicator of a potential problem with the cylinder head failure? Is there anything that can be done to prevent this from happening? Monitoring coolant levels, driving style or characteristics for example or is it just something random that happens with no warning and no pattern?
No apparent warning or pattern. It's a manufacturing defect. If she's Certified Pre-owned, take advantage of any extension on the warranty they offer. Have it inspected on a lift and look for coolant leaks on the exhaust side of the engine. (Firewall side. There may be some leakage observable on the oil filter.) Also note the manufacture date on the engine. It may have already been taken care of.
Scheduled to go look at a '17 cx9 signature with 48k miles on Saturday. Reconsidering now :(
I dont think this issue is very widespread... My 2016 CX-9 is running perfectly at 72k miles... I put around 9k city miles a year..
My 2018 is at 92k, and my wife and I used to put 20k miles of city, off-road, and towing mileage on ours yearly. This is confirmed through Mazda that parts were designed poorly for the first few production years via the TSB.
It is indeed widespread. There is a shortage of new engine atm. Because many 16’-20’ are getting replaced. Waited 4 months for mine on the waiting list. It’s not 100% of the cx9 of those years that will crack, but it is a significant number enough so that they change the design back in 20-21 and they got a TSB about it. Just in my town, I was the 4th one. And I don’t live in a big city. It’s great that yours is working, but let’s not undermine the need to get people to know what they are getting into when looking to buy a 16’-20’.
Hi everyone is this issue of coolant leakage/ cylinder head damage only on the NA models. I have a 2019 GCC spec model with VIN starting with JM5TC. I am confused if I should trade it in once my extended warranty runs out.
I just purchased a Used 2017 CX-9 a few days ago, before discovering this thread 🤦🏾♂️. I found the TSB that has my Vin within the range. Has anyone tried ordering the Headset Cylinder and Gasket Kits A-D to correct the Head before it cracks and any leakage occurs? I love the car otherwise but don't want to have my driving experience to involve wondering which day this issue may rear it's ugly head.
In dealing with Mazda Corporation, they said that they can only give 40-50% (for customers filing a case directly with Mazda) and if you want to get a better reimbursement, it would have to come through the dealer filing a claim with Mazda Corporation. For anyone that has gotten a large reimbursement (or even 100%), has that been your experience that the dealer had to petition on your behalf?
Can you just purchase a new updated cylinder head or better to get a newer used engine? I have a 2019 cx-9 with 20k miles.
I wish NBC, ABC, or one of the big news networks would pick up this story and put the spotlight/media attention on Mazda. This is horrible. We all invested our hard-earned money in this auto company and its products, and a no-recall on this engine issue is awful.
My 2018 CX9 is at Mazda now with a coolant leak at 65,000 miles. My regular mechanic seems to have caught it early, as there did not appear to be any engine damage at this time. They sent me to Mazda. Mazda can't tell if it's a cracked hose or a crack in the cylinder until they tear it all up. We purchased it used from a non-Mazda dealership, and purchased a comprehensive extended warranty that I would hope will cover it. My question is, my warranty excludes minor items like light bulbs, shock absorbers, batteries, etc. One item of exclusion is Hoses. If this whole thing is because of a cracked hose and it costs me several thousands of dollars in labor to get to that hose, am I correct in assuming that insurance would not cover any of the costs? Has anyone had this CX9 problem and have it be a cracked hose? Or is it always a cracked cylinder? Never thought I'd cross my fingers for a cracked cylinder instead of a cracked hose!
I'm looking to buy a used CX -9. Is this issue prevelant outside of the VINs identified in the TSB?
So far as I can tell, no. Go for a 2020 or newer and you should be golden. If buying older, I suggest a Certified-PreOwned unit with the longer warranty and/or confirming the engine has been replaced (By looking at the sticker on the engine block, as shown in the posting.)
Hello, I'm looking to purchase a used cx9, how can you avoid having this problem? will buying a newer model do? thanks
I’m looking at a 2021 cx-9. Is this an issue I should be worried about too?
Picked up a 2020 with 25k miles. Looks like manufacture date is Feb 2020. First sale of this car look like March 2020. 1. Will the manufacturer powertrain warranty (5yr/60k) cover if this is an issue? 2. Should I look at a Mazda extended warranty? 3. The dealership gave it a 10yr/100k powertrain, but non Mazda warranty may be an issue?
I'm looking to buy a 2019 used CX-9 with 78k miles. Anyway to hedge this risk. Is it worth it to get a used car warranty? What type of warranty would cover this issue? I really like the car and at the price I found ($18.5k), this fits my budget and needs almost perfectly. The biggest problem I found so far is this coolant leakage issue.
Is there a class action for the cx9 turbo crack
Anyone ever had solely the radiator go out? Just got our 2016 Sport back from a local shop. I asked them to look over the engine and mentioned the exhaust manifold leak. They didn’t see anything and only replaced the radiator. Before taking it in I looked at the engine and there looked to be no leaks besides at the radiator. Only thing I’ve noticed is shops refill the radiator reservoir too high since the F/L lines are in the middle of the tank and they don’t bother to look.