Mazda CX-9 Reliability

[stevearends]

Everyone, I am seriously considering an 07 or 08 CX-9. See my post MDX - CX-9 for my analysis and thoughts.

I have never owned a Mazda. My first love is BMW cars - I have owned 6. Reasons: 1) Engaging 2) Quality 3) Longevity

I have also owneed Toyota & Lexus. Reasons: 1) Reliability. I don't own one now because they are kinda, well, BORING

I like the BMW X-5 but I don't want to spend this kind of money for the car my wife primarily (90%) drives and just kinda "drives the crap" out of and washes it when she can't recognize it in the parking lot anymore.

We have an MDX which has been great except the new one is $48k and the gas mileage has always been 17.x no matter how we drive it - not so great.

OK, how do I properly analyze the reliability of a Mazda, and particularly the CX-9? I see that JD Powers does not particularly like Mazda:

Mazda - 2 out of 5
Honda - 4 out of 5
Toyota - 4 out of 5
Acura, BMW - 3 out of 5

JD Powers really doesn't like Mazda - Chevy, Buick & Cadillac are 3 out of 5 dots - ranked higher than Mazda.

They have Mazda ranked with the likes of:

Jeep, Chrysler, Land Rover, Mitsubishi, Suzuki - all received 2 out of 5

I think Consumer Reports likes Mazda a little better from what I can tell.

I appreciate everyone's thoughts. Steve

 

[Mazda3]

In 2005 Consumer reports named Mazda the most consistently reliable brand. This year there was a European based study that also ranked Mazda number one. JD Powers is a joke. JD Powers ranks Hyundai near the top....lol. In Canada its public knowledge that Mazda reliabliity is every bit as good as Honda, Toyota, Acura, etc...the US general perception of Mazda hasn't reached those levels yet.

I have personally owned 4 Mazdas and never had any problems.

 

[DashingMax]

Consumer Reports - Mazda - All Models

Consumer Reports has by far the most stringent criteria that needs to be satisfied before they will recommend a vehicle. When I did my research, I concluded one thing with Mazda products:

If Made In Japan = Recommended & above average reliability.
If not, stay away from that specific model, even if recommended by CR.

See attached screenshot of Consumer Reports recommendation for Mazda models. With the exception of RX-8 which is Made in Japan and yet not recommended by CR, is because of its unique Rotary engine and below average fuel economy. All other models that are Japan made are CR recommended & hence have above average Reliability.

CX-7 and CX-9 are both Japanese made but not yet recommended because reliability has not been proven yet. Analyzing historical reliability reports of Japanese made Mazda models, I'm confident that my CX-9 will have good reliability.

 

[DashingMax]

Alternatives

Agree that CX-9 reliability has yet to be proven. But look at alternatives, they're even worse:

Acadia/Enclave: Big, Heavy, Slow, GM-reliability...if that is not an oxymoron.
MDX: $6-$8k more. Very reliable, no doubt. Useless 3rd row.
Veracruz: Still a "Hyundai", albiet the most expensive Hyundai.
Pilot: Boxy, Boring, 3rd row is a chore, kinda useless too.

Honestly, if I wouldn't have gotten a good deal on my CX-9, I would've actually given-in and bought a Honda Odyssey (minivan). I figured, if I had to live with a boring car, I might as well get the biggest size (and reliability) for the buck!

 

[Mazda3]

Here's a link to an article on the study I was referring to:

http://paultan.org/archives/2007/01/31/warranty-direct-reliability-league-table-2007/

 

[stevearends]

I appreciate the wider source of reliability sources. Thanks everyone.

 

[CX9-JW]

Mazda Reliability-Claims Top Spot

See the link on Mazda's own website (Mazdausa.com), click the menu "Inside Mazda" then from the dropdown menu...."Press & Praise", the first story, "Mazda Claims Top Spot in Recent Reliability Survey", not only does Mazda beat them all, it's when it really matters, AFTER the new car warranty has expired.

 

[cx9er]

CX-9 MDX comparison

Check out this article that was published by Motor Trend...They liked the CX-9 better than the MDX!

http://http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/112_0706_acura_mdx_gmc_acadia_mazda_cx_9[/URL]

I felt the same wat that you do about Mazda...Now that I have the CX-9 I gotta say...WOW....My wife and I am super impressed with everything about the car

 

[P5w3kids]

I collect my own reliability data, and hope to have the first results for the CX-9 in November. This will depend on how many owners sign up and respond to the surveys. Details here:

Vehicle reliability research

I've been posting results for other Mazdas for months now. With the exception of the CX-7, they've been solid. The CX-7 doesn't share many pieces with the CX-9, so its record doesn't indicate how the CX-9 will fare. And even the CX-7 could improve once some early kinks are sorted out--we'll see in November.

 

[DashingMax]

Signed up!