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Mazda CX-9 vs Nissan Pathfinder: reliability compared

From 2007 to 2023, owners filed an average of 88 complaints per model year about the Mazda CX-9 and 223 about the Nissan Pathfinder.

Side by side

Mazda CX-9Nissan Pathfinder
Model years compared2007-20232007-2023
Owner complaints1,4963,562
Complaints per model year88223
Recalls1331
Years to avoid200820102011201220182007200820132014
Best years201520202021201620182019
Most common problemBrakesTransmission
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy23 mpg combined (2023)21-23 mpg combined (2023)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2007 Mazda CX-9: 862007 Nissan Pathfinder: 56120072008 Mazda CX-9: 1722008 Nissan Pathfinder: 3282009 Mazda CX-9: 592009 Nissan Pathfinder: 3720092010 Mazda CX-9: 1952010 Nissan Pathfinder: 402011 Mazda CX-9: 1712011 Nissan Pathfinder: 4520112012 Mazda CX-9: 2212012 Nissan Pathfinder: 232013 Mazda CX-9: 682013 Nissan Pathfinder: 89120132014 Mazda CX-9: 542014 Nissan Pathfinder: 5772015 Mazda CX-9: 352015 Nissan Pathfinder: 32120152016 Mazda CX-9: 1082016 Nissan Pathfinder: 1052017 Mazda CX-9: 612017 Nissan Pathfinder: 18820172018 Mazda CX-9: 1282018 Nissan Pathfinder: 782019 Mazda CX-9: 542019 Nissan Pathfinder: 7620192020 Mazda CX-9: 192020 Nissan Pathfinder: 482021 Mazda CX-9: 4120212022 Mazda CX-9: 112022 Nissan Pathfinder: 1372023 Mazda CX-9: 132023 Nissan Pathfinder: 1072023
Mazda CX-9Nissan Pathfinder

Problems compared

CX-9Pathfinder
Brakes448287
Engine383805
Transmission1651,283
Suspension15884
Airbags147467
Electrical87286
Fuel system46306

Questions about the Mazda CX-9 vs Nissan Pathfinder

Which is more reliable, the Mazda CX-9 or the Nissan Pathfinder?

Between 2007 and 2023, the Mazda CX-9 has 5 years to avoid and the Nissan Pathfinder 4. The Nissan Pathfinder has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Mazda CX-9 drew fewer complaints per model year (88 vs 223), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Mazda CX-9 or the Nissan Pathfinder?

From 2007 to 2023, the Mazda CX-9 was covered by 13 recalls and the Nissan Pathfinder by 31.

What years of the Mazda CX-9 and Nissan Pathfinder should you avoid?

Mazda CX-9: 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2018. Nissan Pathfinder: 2007, 2008, 2013 and 2014.

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