About to buy 2021 CX-9 Touring what to look out for?

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South Carolina
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12 MZ5 13 CX-5
I'm about to pull the trigger on a 2021 CX-9 touring with 24,000 miles, this will be my 7th Mazda, as I currently have a 2012 Mazda5 and a 2013 CX-5 in the fleet. The MZ5 I'll be selling on. It's got 175,000 miles, and she's starting to show her age.

The 9 I'm looking at is the Touring so no sunroof (specifically didn't want one because they all eventually leak, every last one, don't care who made the car or when). It's Soul red with the 7 passenger tan leather interior.

What are some things I need to be on the lookout for? I know in my MZ5, the TCM's sometimes die unless they're relocated, the motor mounts die, as well as the upper shock mounts. And I also know that on my CX-5, they carbon up the valves real good, so the intake has to be pulled to clean them about once every 100,000 miles or so.

I specifically avoided looking at the 2020's and down because of the cracked head issues, and as per the TSB, this doesn't affect the 21's and up. But I guess my question is, what does affect them? Or being so new, is it too early to tell yet?

Thanks.
 
I'm about to pull the trigger on a 2021 CX-9 touring with 24,000 miles, this will be my 7th Mazda, as I currently have a 2012 Mazda5 and a 2013 CX-5 in the fleet. The MZ5 I'll be selling on. It's got 175,000 miles, and she's starting to show her age.

The 9 I'm looking at is the Touring so no sunroof (specifically didn't want one because they all eventually leak, every last one, don't care who made the car or when). It's Soul red with the 7 passenger tan leather interior.

What are some things I need to be on the lookout for? I know in my MZ5, the TCM's sometimes die unless they're relocated, the motor mounts die, as well as the upper shock mounts. And I also know that on my CX-5, they carbon up the valves real good, so the intake has to be pulled to clean them about once every 100,000 miles or so.

I specifically avoided looking at the 2020's and down because of the cracked head issues, and as per the TSB, this doesn't affect the 21's and up. But I guess my question is, what does affect them? Or being so new, is it too early to tell yet?

Thanks.

The only thing that I would mention is the oil consumption issue from a bad batch of valve stem seals. There's a class-action settlement for the issue so you're covered for the repair, along with a powertrain extension specifically for this issue. I'd just check to make sure its already been done, or that the selling dealer will have it done before you take ownership of the car. More details in the link:


Besides that, the spark plug replacement interval is shorter at 40k mi. And just remember to add ATF and diff oil changes to your maintenance list. There was an issue with the infotainment display delaminating on earlier models, but I don't remember when they corrected it. Fairly rare for that to happen, and the fix can be cheap and is easy to DIY too. Can't really think of anything else..
 
If you're concerned whether Mazda resolved the CX9 Engine issue: not on mine it wasn't. Purchased my '22 Grand Touring CX9 in September of '22 and at 19,500 miles in December '24, the engine light went on. The dealership replaced the head assembly and gaskets: leaking on cyl #1. Not a happy camper, but at least it was still under warranty and covered. Was it a fluke (?), or is the engine issue still there on latter CX9's as well.... time will tell. I'm hoping Mazda will also include extended factory warranties to the '22 like they did with the prior years. I also have a 2019-CX9 (I did receive notification of the extension) that has around 33,000 miles with no issues.
 
If you're concerned whether Mazda resolved the CX9 Engine issue: not on mine it wasn't. Purchased my '22 Grand Touring CX9 in September of '22 and at 19,500 miles in December '24, the engine light went on. The dealership replaced the head assembly and gaskets: leaking on cyl #1. Not a happy camper, but at least it was still under warranty and covered. Was it a fluke (?), or is the engine issue still there on latter CX9's as well.... time will tell. I'm hoping Mazda will also include extended factory warranties to the '22 like they did with the prior years. I also have a 2019-CX9 (I did receive notification of the extension) that has around 33,000 miles with no issues.

Did they provide any clarifying info on the issue you had, to determine that it was the same issue that can affect 16-20 MYs? Do you know if you had an internal leak, or was it external? Same area as the affected 16-20 models?

It could have just been a one off incident, like me with the rear diff on my 2018. I have seen reports of other people needing to replace their rear diffs but it's very rare.
 
The only thing that I would mention is the oil consumption issue from a bad batch of valve stem seals. There's a class-action settlement for the issue so you're covered for the repair, along with a powertrain extension specifically for this issue. I'd just check to make sure its already been done, or that the selling dealer will have it done before you take ownership of the car. More details in the link:


Besides that, the spark plug replacement interval is shorter at 40k mi. And just remember to add ATF and diff oil changes to your maintenance list. There was an issue with the infotainment display delaminating on earlier models, but I don't remember when they corrected it. Fairly rare for that to happen, and the fix can be cheap and is easy to DIY too. Can't really think of anything else..
Fantastic info, thanks!

The VIN of the car I'm looking at falls outside of those on the valve seals claim though, so maybe I'm okay? Hmm.
 
Fantastic info, thanks!

The VIN of the car I'm looking at falls outside of those on the valve seals claim though, so maybe I'm okay? Hmm.

Yeah you're probably clear, but I'd just keep an eye on any future developments during your ownership.
 

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