Issues/Annoyances on 2017 CX-9

[greggmischenko]

This my first Mazda and while I've been pretty happy with the car since I got it there are some issues/annoyances I've encountered in the first 3+ months of ownership/leasing. My previous cars have all been European: Volvo, Saab, Audi, VW so I'm somewhat used to how those cars operate and certain features they include that other manufacturers may not. I understand that the issues are not major at all but I'm just wondering if anyone else is experiencing them and whether there are fixes/workarounds for any of them.

1) No Low Washer Fluid warning? Other than my very first car, 1988 Volvo 240, I this is the only car I've ever driven that does not have a warning of some kind - either a light or dashboard message. Can it really be the case that a MY 2017 car does not have a warning or is there potentially a malfunction?

2) No heated windshield washer nozzles? Living in the northeast and dealing with ice/snow throughout the winter makes this a really useful feature that I wish this car had. I've switched over to Prestone AS250 winter washer fluid but it still sort of dribbles out from the sprayers in the extremely cold weather we had the other week: low single digits. I also had the sprayers themselves ice up on me while driving during a snowfall - I had to pull over and clear out snow/ice that had accumulated while driving. Not a major inconvenience but an inconvenience nonetheless that could be avoided with heated washer nozzles.

3) If I park the car, leave it running, and take the key with me, I cannot lock the doors using the remote? This was not a problem in older cars that used physical key in the ignition to start the car but even my last car with proximity key for starting (no ignition to insert the key) allowed me to do this. If I'm running in to pick up a pizza or want to warm up the car in my driveway I'd like to be able to lock the vehicle.

4) If I turn off traction control, the lane departure warning system automatically deactivates? Is anyone else experiencing this? I have firmware 59.00.502 installed. It seems like one should not affect the other but I'm wondering if anyone else has this happen? FWIW, I use the mazdatweaks installer but have not noticed any other system issues besides this one (not sure if related to mazdatweaks installer or not).

 

[Mazda_usa]

How are the front seats for comfort?

https://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123860218-2016-CX-9-driver-seat-comfort

 

[greggmischenko]

How are the front seats for comfort?

Good, but not great. I'm only 5'10"-5'11" and the thigh support seems a little short. And minimal lumbar support/adjustability - shame that it's not a full 4-way adjustable lumbar support on a car at this price point.

Also, cushioning almost seems too soft - I prefer firmer cushioning/contours that take time to break in and conform to the person sitting in it. I have a feeling that the driver's seat will not hold up well over time. One of my previous cars was a 2011 VW Tiguan with firm seat bottom cushions that still looked/felt nearly brand new when I sold it with around 100k miles.

 

[Janelf]

Hi,
I drive a 2018 and I am not sure if there is a big difference with the 17's aside from the TPMS. But here's my answers to your concerns:
1. I haven't seen the Low Washer Fluid Level Warning Indication/Warning Light as I only had the car for about 3 months now. But it does show on the manual on page 7-38
2. Yes no heated windshield washer. I haven't driven one that has it so it's not a big concern for me. Anyway it is drivers responsibility to clear snow on your car before driving. But yeah I understand, it'll be nice if they added it.
3. Surprised that the door doesn't lock from the outside while car is running. My previous 2014 SUV does. Option is to manually lock it with your actual key.
4. I guess that's the way they set that up. And they have safety reasons for it.
5. Let me add one more, my previous vehicle after you turn of the engine when you step out of the car the seat adjusts a little backward to give you a little wiggle room to get out. And when you start the car the seat adjusts back to the previous setting. Something that I wish my CX9 has.

Oh and by the way, I noticed a difference from the SIGNATURE and GT cushion. I feel the SIGNATURE is firmer. It's probably due to the NAPPA leather. Just my observation when I test drove the GT.

After 3 months I have noticed some features that I used to have from my previous vehicle that the CX9 doesn't. However I think it is the same as buying a house. If you haven't custom made it, for sure you'll have things that you wished you had.
Overall I am really satisfied with it, the exterior and interior looks and the drive and comfort. Zoom-zoom.

 

[Guest2017]

Hello!

This is my first new Mazda experience as well. I bought the 2017 Signature and recently traded-up for the 2018 Signature. I do notice some differences between the two and most of those changes are in the handling and interior comfort areas. I've never seen your list of issues as a problem personally, but lets take a quick look at them.

1) No Low Washer Fluid warning?

Page 7-40 indicates an asterisks for "Some Models" and depicts the Warning/Indicator symbol for "Low Washer Fluid" at the bottom of the same page. My manual indicates this and I have the 2018 Signature. Not sure of the GT has the same feature. That could be the problem. Also, note that both front and rear spray nozzles share the same central reservoir. Personally, I've never had an issue with any vehicle in this regard. I simply check all fluid levels with each refuel and that solves any fluid level problem that might arise.

2) No heated windshield washer nozzles?

Mazda, is safety conscious. Probably not as much as Volvo (I don't anyone can match Volvo's safety consciousness), but they are up there when it comes to safety philosophy. This issue is a matter of Materials Science, basic Physics and individual OEM Engineering Philosophy. Mazda, seems to have err'd on the side of caution. If OAT drops too low and you dump warm/hot/heated water or fluid onto a windshield, it could (does not always have to) cause damage to the glass itself. I'm not 100% certain, but this could be the reason that Mazda has err'd on the side of caution in this regard.

If frosting and/or ice are an issue for you at engine start time, one solution might be to use 1/3 alcohol and 2/3 water in a simple spray bottle and apply that to the windshield before departure. It will (in most cases) melt the ice coating on the windshield and give you relief from having to use a scraper. In addition, I doubt seriously that you would hurt anything by adding the exact same ratios to your windshield wiper reservoir as well. The alcohol content will assist in reducing freeze.

Keep in mind that pre-mixed solution containing Methanol are highly toxic to human biology - though they are sold in stores nationwide. If I ever travel up to the sierras during the winter months, I'll be adding basic rubbing alcohol to my windshield reservoir without question or hesitation. But, that's just me.

3) If I park the car, leave it running, and take the key with me, I cannot lock the doors using the remote?

The new Mazda CX-9 has either an Advanced Keyless Entry System or the Standard Keyless Entry System. Without using either Auto Lock/Unlock Function number 5 or number 6 in the manual, simply exit the vehicle and before closing the driver's door, press the driver's door-look switch to lock all doors and before taking the key out of the operational range of either exterior antennas.

4) If I turn off traction control, the lane departure warning system automatically deactivates? Is anyone else experiencing this?

IF you think about what TCS actually does physically and how it impacts vehicle behavior, from a purely logic orientation standpoint, you don't want TCS and LDWS active at the same time - especially when Steering Assist is "On." Ergo, you can think of TCS as being part of LAS/LDWS's sub-functions. Or, think of LAS/LDWS as a dependent extension of TCC, logically.

 

[Guest2017]

Oh and by the way, I noticed a difference from the SIGNATURE and GT cushion. I feel the SIGNATURE is firmer. It's probably due to the NAPPA leather. Just my observation when I test drove the GT.

If its a daily driver, after about 3 months, the Napa seats break-in nicely. It is genuine leather. So, it will take some time to loosen up a bit.

 

[roadrutz]

My $.02:

I have had heated washer nozzles on all four of my last four vehicles. I never noticed it working and am not sure it made any practical difference at all. I don't miss it.

Janelf regrets the lack of a seat that automatically moves out of the way when you switch off the ignition. I had that on one car but since I normally have the seat almost fully back, it wasn't anything I missed when I didn't have it. However, I am astounded that the seat memory in the CX9 doesn't include the outside mirrors. After my wife has driven the car I have to rest the seat (button 1), adjust the steering wheel both vertically and horizontally (manually), adjust the interior mirror (manually), and adjust the outside mirrors. In my last car all I had to adjust manually was the interior mirror. Bah.

I would be happier if the driver's seat were half an inch wider. I'm not fat, just large.

There aren't enough interior lights, and the ones that there are aren't powerful enough.

The HVAC controls are unintuitive and poorly placed. The AC shouldn't turn on automatically when you select defrost (the designers obviously didn't spend much time in Canada in winter); if I want it on, I can turn it on. And why can't I select just defrost for air direction? I can if I push the max defrost button, but then all hell lets loose which is far more than I want.

The third row seats should either be an option or easily removed. I doubt mine will ever be opened up again until the day I sell the car.

The backup camera gets dirty.

A nit, but if the likes of Ford and Kia can do it, why can't Mazda include an easy way of opening the rear hatch when your arms are full of shopping?

OK, not perfect but despite these flaws I really like the car. It compares very favourably with the likes of the Mercedes GLC300 at a significantly lower price.

 

[colnago1331]

FWIW - I believe (and, of course, I could be wrong) that the "AC" turning on doesn't automatically make the air coming out of the vents or the front defroster colder; it makes that air dryer (i.e. less humid), which is a necessity for defogging the windows.

 

[tex2670]

2) No heated windshield washer nozzles? Living in the northeast and dealing with ice/snow throughout the winter makes this a really useful feature that I wish this car had. I've switched over to Prestone AS250 winter washer fluid but it still sort of dribbles out from the sprayers in the extremely cold weather we had the other week: low single digits. I also had the sprayers themselves ice up on me while driving during a snowfall - I had to pull over and clear out snow/ice that had accumulated while driving. Not a major inconvenience but an inconvenience nonetheless that could be avoided with heated washer nozzles.

What cars have this? I have a BMW and a Lexus before that--didn't have that feature. Do Honda/Toyota/Nissan (Mazda's key competitors) offer this?

 

[JPL]

My $.02:

I have had heated washer nozzles on all four of my last four vehicles. I never noticed it working and am not sure it made any practical difference at all. I don't miss it.

Janelf regrets the lack of a seat that automatically moves out of the way when you switch off the ignition. I had that on one car but since I normally have the seat almost fully back, it wasn't anything I missed when I didn't have it. However, I am astounded that the seat memory in the CX9 doesn't include the outside mirrors. After my wife has driven the car I have to rest the seat (button 1), adjust the steering wheel both vertically and horizontally (manually), adjust the interior mirror (manually), and adjust the outside mirrors. In my last car all I had to adjust manually was the interior mirror. Bah.

I would be happier if the driver's seat were half an inch wider. I'm not fat, just large.

There aren't enough interior lights, and the ones that there are aren't powerful enough.

The HVAC controls are unintuitive and poorly placed. The AC shouldn't turn on automatically when you select defrost (the designers obviously didn't spend much time in Canada in winter); if I want it on, I can turn it on. And why can't I select just defrost for air direction? I can if I push the max defrost button, but then all hell lets loose which is far more than I want.

The third row seats should either be an option or easily removed. I doubt mine will ever be opened up again until the day I sell the car.

The backup camera gets dirty.

A nit, but if the likes of Ford and Kia can do it, why can't Mazda include an easy way of opening the rear hatch when your arms are full of shopping?

OK, not perfect but despite these flaws I really like the car. It compares very favourably with the likes of the Mercedes GLC300 at a significantly lower price.

I can only conclude that your previous cars were all luxury cars. That's a compliment to Mazda for earning your business.

You're asking for features that mostly don't exist in mainstream brands. Only luxury cars have seats (or steering wheels) that move out if the way when ignition is turned off.

As for AC compressor kicking in when defrost is on, all cars do this. It doesn't blow cold air, it blows at the temp that is set. Windows won't defog properly if compressor isn't on.

 

[Bingoy]

My two biggest gripes so far.. lack of cooled seats (which are going to be introduced in the 2018 mazda6) and lack of power folding side mirrors

 

[tekbiz]

My biggest gripes are: no heated 2nd row seats and front parking sensors (w/c were addressed in 2018 MY), not very comfortable seats for long drives and the HVAC takes awhile to warm up the cabin (as opposed to cooling it in warmer areas we are the opposite) as our temps lately have been in minus 25deg C daily high. Also the side mirrors don't auto tilt in reverse and don't adjust with memory seat function

 

[roadrutz]

I can only conclude that your previous cars were all luxury cars. That's a compliment to Mazda for earning your business.

You're asking for features that mostly don't exist in mainstream brands. Only luxury cars have seats (or steering wheels) that move out if the way when ignition is turned off.

As for AC compressor kicking in when defrost is on, all cars do this. It doesn't blow cold air, it blows at the temp that is set. Windows won't defog properly if compressor isn't on.

Yes, my last few cars have all been BMWs and Mercedes. And yes, it is to Mazda's credit that they can compete with those brands at a lower price point. However, power mirrors and power steering wheel adjustments are hardly big-dollar investments. And if the seat is already powered, what would it cost to program it to move backwards when you open a door? (Not that, as I said, I want that feature.)

No, all cars do NOT automatically switch on the AC with defrost. None of my last three BMWs did, nor did my Mercedes. I had a beater PT Cruiser that had that feature and it annoyed me just as much as it does in the CX9. If I need to dehumidify the interior, I don't regard touching a little button labelled "A/C" to be particularly challenging. But I would prefer it were my decision, not Mazda's!

 

[roadrutz]

What cars have this? I have a BMW and a Lexus before that--didn't have that feature. Do Honda/Toyota/Nissan (Mazda's key competitors) offer this?

My last three BMWs all had heated washer nozzles, so did my ML. Are you sure your BMW doesn't? There is no control for them, they just heat automatically when conditions dictate.

 

[tex2670]

My last three BMWs all had heated washer nozzles, so did my ML. Are you sure your BMW doesn't? There is no control for them, they just heat automatically when conditions dictate.

Hmm. I guess I need to RTM (RTM) Or maybe it's just a Canada thing

 

[colnago1331]

Hmm. I guess I need to RTM (RTM) Or maybe it's just a Canada thing

Nope. My '13 328i had heated washer nozzles. And that was without the cold weather package.

 

[JPL]

Often times, different items are more common on vehicles from different countries. Particularly when comparing vehicles from Germany. They just do things very differently than America, Japan, and S. Korea, even using the metric system for tooling and parts making them harder to work on in the US. Where working on a Toyota or Honda is as standard as a Ford.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

Granted I live an area that really never sees less than 5-10F but have never had a frozen washer nozzle. For better or worse I use this stuff.

 

[tex2670]

Granted I live an area that really never sees less than 5-10F but have never had a frozen washer nozzle. For better or worse I use this stuff.

I've read on BMW forums that this stuff messes up the washer reservoir sensors.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

I've read on BMW forums that this stuff messes up the washer reservoir sensors.[/QUOTE

Havent seen that in my G35x yet. Probably been using at least 5 years.