The contact owns a 2021 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 - 25 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact used a diagnostic scanner and retrieved DTC: P0303, for a cylinder #3 misfire. The vehicle was taken to a local Mazda dealer to be diagnosed and repaired. The dealer found a coolant leak and performed a system cleaning and replaced the spark plugs and fuel injectors. However, the failure reoccurred. While the contact's wife was driving the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer by the insurance company. The contact requested that the dealer inspect the cylinder head gasket and coolant system in his presence. The dealer informed the contact that the repair warranty would be limited to one year or 12,000 miles. The contact also contacted the manufacturer customer service but was not provided any additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
2021 Mazda CX-9 engine problems
22 complaints (54% of all complaints for this car). 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 22
- of this car's complaints
- 54%
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Mazda CX-9 engine problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2021 Mazda CX-9 engine
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2021 Mazda CX-9 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
2021 Mazda CX-9 (VIN: JM3TCBDY3M0538768 / 72,400 mi) Vehicle has suffered complete, sudden loss of motive power at high freeway speeds on four separate occasions. Without warning, the engine loses all propulsion, essentially stalling mid-traffic and forcing me to dangerously coast across active freeway lanes to the shoulder. This creates an extreme risk of a high-speed rear-end collision. No crash or injuries have occurred yet, but the car is entirely unsafe to drive. The authorized Mazda dealership has been completely unable to diagnose or fix this intermittent failure. Due to the persistent danger, the vehicle is currently at the shop with the same problem, where it has been since Oct 8, 2026. This is not an isolated issue. As you will see from the pictures, there are several dates where the same situation has occurred in the vehicle goes into limp mode. Mazda corporate has been contacted case 00503976. I am requesting a buyback. I request an urgent the federal safety agency investigation into 2021 CX-9 power loss defects for a potential recall.
The vehicle was parked stationary in the driveway with the engine running for 3-5 minutes with the A/C on. The vehicle then accelerated forward into my garage causing damage. Once I entered the vehicle, both the dash and shifter displayed park. Current TCU system internal failures have been reported from the pulling of data from Mazda.
1) What component or system failed or malfunctioned: On 6/12/2026 While drive on the highway with our daughter in the car and we experienced a high speed stall. The engine failed and we lost power. We barely got the car of the highway and coasted into a parking lot. 2) Life threating for Father, Mother and daughter and other drivers on the highway. 3) The Mazda dealer stated they were unable to reproduced problem. The diagnostic report showed few random misfired on two cylinders 2 & 3. Autozone detected codes P0300 with Secondary DTCs U0442-00 4) There car was only inspected by the dealer. The vehicle has not been inspected by Mazda the manufacturer. We requested Mazda to escalate this to the District Service Manger and to open hotline call with Mazda corporate but both of these were denied. All our service has been performed at Mazda dealer, including oil changes. We have always received a video of them working on our car with a detailed summary of what done. We did not receive the video or diagnostic report for this issue. 5) There were no warning lamps, no messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.
This complaint refers to Mazda and it's dealer refusal to properly execute the warranty work under the SSPD5 Valve Stem Seal Class Action Campaign and does not follow the Court's approval of the final Settlement Agreement. I assert that Mazda and it's dealer are not following the SSPD5 repair procedures. 1. I have documentation and complaints going back to Dec-2023 with this particular dealer that I have experienced low level oil consumption within the 7,500 mile oil change interval. The dealer did not detect oil leaks in any of the engine systems. 2. I presented the vehicle to the dealer with the Engine Oil Level Warning Light illuminated. The Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P250FF:00 should be stored in the vehicle memory. 3. The vehicle had 50,501 miles and was within the original 60 month limited powertrain warranty. 4. The dealer refused to conduct the valve stem seal repairs until an oil consumption test was run. The dealer claims that because I had another service center (note that I use full synthettic oil that meets Mazda oil specifications) conduct the most recent oil change at 43,738 miles (note within the 7,500 oil change interval and the 1 year time window) that the dealer would require an oil consumption test. I assert that this is not required per the class settlement agreement and the SSPD5 repair procedures that Mazda sends to all of its dealers. 5. I researched the available documentation that it's available through the The language in these documents is very clear. 6. SSPD5 Valve Stem Class Action Campaign, Repair Procedure 6-12-2024: a. "The DTC250 is not required to be present for valve stem replacement." b. "Customer complaint of oil consumption...OR Low Oil Light OR DTC250 follow the flow chart." c. Flow chart says "Replace the exhaust valve stem seals by following TSB 01-003/24" if no previous warranty work done. 7. SSPD5 updates on 8-6-25 and 4-28-26: a. Refer to page 4, DTC250 is NOT required to be presented (it is noted in RED).
Check engine light comes on and error P0303 comes on. Had an independent mechanic do the following and after each one, error P0303 still came on 1. Swap the ignition coils from 2 to 3 2. Swap spark plugs from 2 to 3 3. Swapped injectors 4. Compression test 5. Leak down test 6. Changed the spark plug, coil and injectors 7. Looked for vacuum leaks. Mechanic believes that it is related to the cracked cylinder head in the recall, MC-10232269-0001.pdf. My vehicle is just outside of the recall range and has 87k miles on it. Other research online shows other people with the same vehicle and similar milealge are also having this problem.
Car loses oil and coolant rapidly
The contact owns a 2021 Mazda CX-9. The contact stated that while accelerating quickly and entering the highway, there was no motive power to the vehicle. While crossing the highway in the right lane, driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle in front moved over; there was a parked vehicle. The contact was able to stop the vehicle before causing a crash. The driver was starting to accelerate, but there was no motive power when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The smart brake system malfunction message was displayed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, who scheduled an appointment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact to have the vehicle diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 53,186.
Consumes over 2 quarts of oil between recommended oil changes. The dealer made excuses about needing to use a different oil but it has not improved the problem. The warning light for low oil went off after less than 3000 miles. It was 2 quarts down.
I just purchased this vehicle 2 months ago. Yesterday my oil light came on, I pulled over and checked the oil it was completely low. I had to put a quart of oil in it. After that I did some research and learned this seems to be an issue with some 2021 models the cx9 included. There needs to be a recall on this and Mazda needs to fix this issue. These cars cost way to much to have to put a quart of oil every month.
Questions about the 2021 Mazda CX-9 engine
Does the 2021 Mazda CX-9 have engine problems?
Owners have filed 22 complaints about the engine of the 2021 Mazda CX-9, 54% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2021 Mazda CX-9 engine problems start?
Not enough complaints include the mileage to tell.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Mazda CX-9 engine?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Mazda CX-9 have bad engine?
The Mazda CX-9 model years with the most engine complaints are 2018 (78 complaints), 2016 (72 complaints) and 2017 (43 complaints).
Other 2021 Mazda CX-9 problems
Driver assistance 6Transmission 5Brakes 4Acceleration 3Airbags 2Electrical 2Steering 1Suspension 1Tires 1Visibility 1Wheels 1
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