I bought the CX-9 in 2018. It was to be my wife's retirement car. We used cash from our retirement savings, and she loved it. She only drove less than 5K miles per year, so it had very low miles for a 2013.

In May we decided to take a vacation to the beach and had no trouble driving to the beach, ~400 miles. When we drove home, we made it to within 80 miles of home and saw the engine gauge for temperature had gone full scale. We had no engine lights or warnings. The car lost power and I had to pull off the interstate. Since there was no water in the radiator, I had the car towed 77 miles to my Mazda dealer ($400 in towing). They informed me that the water pump bearing had broken, and the parts had ruined the engine, along with the overheating, the head gasket had also failed. The only option was a replacement (used) engine. There was no warning or indication that there was even a problem, then a water pump takes out the entire engine.

Since the car was (and is) in great condition, we decided to replace the engine ($7500 + TAX). To replace the car with the same condition and features was impossible to find. A new CX-9 is about $50K, so we decided to fix what we have. I see that several other CX-9 owners have had the same issue. So, I tried to contact Mazda to get a reaction from them. I tried to use their web site but every time I entered my information, the site said my entry could not be completed. I'm not sure that's not intentional. So now I'm writing this message to other Mazda owners to let them know what I've been through and what it's cost me.

I bought this 2013 Mazda CX9, May 2020 with 108,000 miles, I love the vehicle, went on many trips with it and not had an issues with it. I have had this vehicle for a year and a half and in October 2021 went to Tennessee. After being there a couple days the check engine light came on, so I took it to get plugged in and then went to a mechanic my in laws take their cars to. They plugged it in and it came up as the timing chain was ever so slightly off.

We drove it home to Missouri and got about 8 miles from home when we were losing power, so we pulled off, looked under the hood and my partner noticed I had no more coolant and he thought we blew a head gasket. We had it towed to our mechanic and called the Mazda dealership, and they told us that the water pump failed. They said the water pump is internal and the check engine light comes on first as a warning. The dealership said it could cost about $10,000 to replace. We contacted many other mechanic shops and most of them wanted nothing to do with it, because they are short handed or its such a long job to do. So, a $200.00 part turns into a $10,000 new engine or another car because the place we have it at has called all his suppliers he knows and they can't find a Remanufactured engine or a new one.

In the meantime I found out there was a Class Action Lawsuit and the mechanic said that explains why he couldn't find an engine. This is the worst design of an engine to have an internal water pump that can put metal shards through the engine to make people buy a new engine. I am not happy and I want to get involved in this Class Action Lawsuit, I am a single mom with 3 children and I do not have $10,000 laying around. I pray and hope something comes about.

bought my Mazda cx9 with only 29000 miles on it. I baby this vehicle. synthetic motor oil changes. transfer case fluid change every 20000 miles. and rear differential fluid change every 30000 miles. this vehicle. was always kept up. while driving on highway at highway speed the cx9 just started to sputter and lost power stopping on the highway didn't even give me the chance to pull over to the side away from traffic. had to get my family out the car quickly to the side off the highway. was scared we were going to get rear ended and killed I called the state police lucky they responded right away. car was towed to auto shop and was told by the mechanic that my water pump failed. coolant had mixed with the motor oil and I needed a new engine. this is a vehicle with 101000 miles on it. this shouldn't happen. I think there is a class action suit on this problem. the cx9 has a ford 3.7 engine with a internal water pump, that doesn't give you any signs its about to fail. you don't see coolant leaking or nothing the water pump just goes. this is a serious issue Mazda is waiting for someone to get killed to recall this problem. Stay away from Mazda its not worth the safety of your family

I was driving home when I heard a clank, clank sound then the engine failed. I lost all power while making a left turn. Then I coasted to a stop and called AAA. They towed me to the Mazda dealership in Kirkland, Wa. The immediate diagnosis was a failure of the water pump. The water pump caused the engine to stop working. The engine has to be replaced. Six weeks ago I had a major maintenance performed to the tune of $1680.31. I've never missed a oil change or maintenance requirement. I'm getting the feeling Lee Johnson Mazda is not going to help me with this terrible situation.. I will let you know If they do help.

Very poor design that they have to remove the motor in order to replace the water pump. I am currently in the process of having it repaired at Freeman Mazda in Irving which I had asked if the whole motor was gone and they indicate it is not. The local repair shop we took it too first indicated the whole motor might be gone due to the water pump and they recommended us to get a second opinion at a Mazda dealership. Reading others experience has me a bit worried but we will see. The repair takes at least 2 days.

Mazda really needs to re-look at this. We have bought 3 Mazdas over the last 10 years and have been pleased with them but I'm really having second thoughts regarding buying any more especially if I hear the motor was ruined by the water pump.

5-year-old car, only 115K miles - kept up maintenance, no engine lights, car ran fine - had this vehicle since 46K miles (CarFax certified 1-owner-vehicle prior to that). Had transfer case replaced twice (known Mazda CX 9 problem), not sure if that could be a factor. Was driving normally, came to a normal stop, and engine shuddered and stalled. Wouldn't start again. Towed to dealer.

Diagnosed initially as Camshaft Position Sensor failure (based on code check). Upon fixing and doing a standard oil change (which it was due for), tech noticed coolant in oil. Updated diagnosis was water pump failure. Since coolant had been in running engine, recommended fix is engine replacement (!). $8000 estimate for new Mazda engine + labor (yes that's $8000). Researching 3rd party re-manufactured engine replacement - I cannot afford an $8000 repair on a vehicle that's only worth $10000. Dealer applied for Mazda assistance - denied.

I will never buy another Mazda vehicle nor will I ever recommend one to anyone. A 5-year-old vehicle with 115K miles on it should never need a new engine if it has been taken care of. My Toyota Corolla has 210K miles and still running strong, nothing more than standard maintenance, tires, brakes, and battery.

Owned many cars, foreign and domestic, never had a catastrophic failure so early in the engine life. Very disappointed that Mazda won't stand by their product, especially since this Ford 3.7L Duratec engine has known water pump issues (many, many complaints in regards to the water pump in this engine in many Ford and Mazda vehicles).

My Mazda CX-9 stalled while I was on a very busy highway going 70mph. There was no warning, nothing. I had it towed to a body shop and they didn't know exactly what caused the issue but they new water had mixed with the oil. I was told I will need a new engine and radiator with the cost around $5k. This was the first time I had any issues with this car. It was perfect in my eyes and I loved everything about it. I couldn't figure out why I would need a whole new engine. I thought maybe the body shop was out of their mind, so I took it to another place to get a second opinion. Come to find out, the "internal" water pumped failed which caused water to mix with the oil and also caused all kinds of other issues. Once I knew what happened, I did a google search to see if anyone else had this issue with Mazda. I found this site and read several stories that sounded exactly like what happened to my car. I cannot understand why they would design an engine with the water pump inside, defiantly a very poor design and I hope that someone is reading these complaints and does something about it. I was terrified when my car stalled on the freeway and it could have been a lot worse had I not been able to move over to the shoulder before someone slammed into the back of me. We live in a city with lots of busy freeways and some do not even have shoulders to pull over. I hope to warn others who have this kind of car as well. I really did LOVE my car before all this and was hoping to drive it well over 100k miles. Right now they are replacing the engine and water pump. I am terrified to drive it again even after it is fixed. Did anyone out there that had this happen get it fixed and still have the vehicle? Or were you able to trade it in or sale it? Any information on this issue would be very helpful.