2008 MAZDA CX-9 Complaints

WAS DRIVING ON NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD, HEADING TOWARD A STATE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN A LARGE BOOM OCCURRED AND I LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE CAR AND WENT UP THE CURB AND ONTO THE SIDEWALK. I THOUGHT I'D BLOWN A TIRE BUT GOT OUT AND SAW THE ENTIRE WHEEL WAS DISCONNECTED - THE SUSPENSION RUINED. WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE PICTURES MECHANIC SAYS BALL JOINT, CV JOINT CAME COMPLETELY OFF AS WELL AS BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER. I READ ONLINE ABOUT SIMILAR ISSUES AND THAT NHTSA HAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE15022. CONSIDER THIS ANOTHER CASE! I'M THANKFUL THERE WERE NO PEOPLE THAT I SWERVED INTO WHEN LOSING CONTROL! THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD- AY LEAST IN STATES WHERE SALT IS USED ON ROADS, LIKE HERE IN MN I EXPECT MAZDA TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ADDITIONAL INFO OR NEXT STEPS. THANK YOU! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AS I WAS TURNING RIGHT TO EXIT A PARKING LOT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF MY 2008 MAZDA CX-9 AND I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL OR MOVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD. I EXITED THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED IT AND OBSERVED THAT MY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS MISALIGNED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I DISCOVERED METAL SHAVINGS AND A LARGE METAL OBJECT HANGING DOWN FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE, APPEARING TO BLOCK THE TIRE RIM. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED TO A MECHANIC, WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE TWO LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

A VERY FRIGHTENING INCIDENT OCCURRED SATURDAY AUGUST 29, 2015 APPROX 6:45 P.M. AFTER A ROUND TRIP TRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAY FOR APPROX 80 MILES. I DROVE JUST OVER A MILE OFF THE HIGHWAY EXIT, CAME TO A STOP SIGN LIGHT THEN PROCEEDED WITH A RIGHT TURN. SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS WARNING THE CAR MADE A JERKING/SKIDDING TYPE MOVEMENT, SOMETHING SEEMED TO DROP OUT OF THE FRONT END AND THE CAR CAME ABRUPTLY TO A STOP. SEVERAL PEOPLE PULLED OVER TO SEE IF I AND MY ONE MONTH OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WERE OK AS I WAS AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION. A BYSTANDER TOLD ME THAT THE DRIVERS FRONT TIRE WAS FACING OUT TO THE LEFT OF THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE UNDER THE CAR AS WELL. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE BALL JOINT SEPARATED, THE SHAFT OR AXLE MAY HAVE BROKEN, AND THERE MAY BE OTHER SEVERE DAMAGE AS THERE WAS ALSO OIL ON THE ROAD. MY TIRE WAS AS MENTIONED. IT IS ALSO NOTED THAT I AM UNABLE TO COMPLETELY OPEN MY DRIVERS DOOR DOOR NOW POSSIBLY DUE TO BODY MISALIGNMENT NOW. I HAVE PICTURES OF ANY VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I AM APPALLED AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM THAT MAZDA WILL BE CONDUCTING A RECALL IN SEPTEMBER BUT HAS YET TO SEND OUT NOTICES TO CUSTOMERS. IN FACT A SECOND NOTICE WILL EVENTUALLY COME OUT WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. HAD I NOT JUST COME OFF THE HIGHWAY MY CAR WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY FLIPPED OVER AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THIS IS 1000% UNACCEPTABLE. I WANT ACTION NOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE IS TO THE CAR, NOR DO I WANT THE CAR REPAIRED, INSTEAD I WANT MAZDA TO REPLACE IT! NOT ONLY I HAVE EXPERIENCED MUCH ANXIETY FROM THIS I AM ALSO INCURRING TOW CHARGES, STORAGE CHARGES AND RENTAL CAR CHARGES. I WAS ADVISED TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOOK AT THE VEHICLE BEFORE SENDING TO MAZDA BUT THAT WOULD ENTAIL ANOTHER TOW CHARGE AND MECHANIC FEE. NONE OF WHICH I CAN AFFORD. MAZDA MUST TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION.

THIS IS A 2008 CX-9 GRAND TOURING AWD THAT WAS GOING NORTHBOUND ON INDIANA HIGHWAY 31 AND THEN MADE A U-TURN TO GO SOUTHBOUND. AS THE CAR SPEED GOT UP TO 35MPH GOING SOUTHBOUND, THERE WAS A SUDDEN JERK AND LOUD NOISE AND IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND FELT LIKE IT WAS DRAGGING ON SOMETHING. THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T ANY OTHER CARS OR TRAFFIC AROUND US AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. WHEN I GOT OUT TO INSPECT THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS TURNED OUTWARD AT A 90 DEG ANGLE AND THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS COMPLETELY DETACHED. THE CAR WAS NO LONGER DRIVABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED.

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE: WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED ON A RESIDENTIAL SIDE STREET, THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BROKE WHILE GOING AROUND A RIGHT HAND TURN, CAUSING THE CAR TO SKID ON THE THEN PARTIALLY ATTACHED FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND THEN SKIDDED TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN.

2008 MAZDA CX-9 GRAND TOURING ALL WHEEL DRIVE WITH 20 INCH (UPGRADE) WHEELS HOUSED IN NORTHERN VA HAS HAD A SERIES OF SUSPENSION SYSTEM ISSUES. IN DECEMBER 2014 THE FRONT DRIVER-SIDE WHEEL BEARING BROKE WHILE DRIVING FROM NEW YORK TO DC. LUCKILY THE ROARING SOUND WAS NOTICED AND THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A MR TIRE IN TIME BEFORE THE WHEEL FELL OFF. FRONT TIRE WEAR WAS ALSO EXTREMELY UNEVEN AND TIRES WERE REPLACED. NOW IN SUMMER 2015 A CREAKING NOISE WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS AND HARD TURNS RESULTED IN THE DISCOVERY THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL BEARINGS WERE LOOSE/HAD TOO MUCH PLAY, AND WE REPLACED THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, SWAYBAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS, AND A BROKEN REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT. MAZDA DEALER SUGGESTS THESE ARE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ISSUES. IT FEELS LIKE THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS NOT DESIGNED TO MANAGE THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR AND NORMAL CITY/BUMPY/POTHOLE DRIVING.

08 MAZDA CX-9 MAKING LOUD NOISE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. MADE A RIGHT TURN(5MPH) IN RESIDENTIAL AREA. WHILE MAKING THE TURN THE LEFT SIDE SUSPENSION/STEERING CAME APART CAUSING VEHICLE TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND LATER REPAIRED AT A FIRESTONE AUTO CARE. VEHICLE NEEDED REPAIRS TO CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY(REMOVE-REPLACE F CONTROL ARM/LOWER ONE SIDE).. LEFT NEW CV COMPLETE ASSEMBLY(REMOVE/INSTALL F AXLE SHAFT ASSEMBLY-LEFT). SWAY BAR LINK(REMOVE/REPLACE F STABILIZER BAR CONTROL LINK-BOTH). REPLACE FRONT SHOCK/STRUT ASSEMLY-BOTH SIDES. SUDDEN STOP ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO LEFT FRONT TIRE THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. TOTAL AMOUNT OF REPAIRS $1,756.96. PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION AFTER READING ON INTERNET THAT NHTSA WAS INVESTIGATING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE AND FRONT END PROBLEMS.

I HAD BROUGHT MY 2008 MAZDA CX-9 TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE BEFORE A LONG ROAD TRIP. I MENTIONED THAT THE CAR WAS PULLING SEVERELY WHEN TURNING OR ROUNDING A CURVE. I THOUGHT THAT IT NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. WHILE I WAS WAITING AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR MY CAR TO BE REPAIRED THE TECHNICIAN CAME TO GET ME TO EXPLAIN THAT HE COULD NOT LET ME DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE I COULD BE KILLED. HE STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS HAD SEPARATED FROM THE LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARMS. MY HUSBAND QUESTIONED THE TECHNICIAN ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THIS HAPPENING AND THE TECH TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS WEAR AND TEAR. WE FOUND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE! WE FELT AT THIS POINT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE TO DO BUT TO APPROVE THE REPAIRS AND PAID THE $883.66 PLUS LABOR!

I WAS PULL OUT OF MY OFFICE PARKING LOT AND TURNED RIGHT ON TO A 1 LANE ROAD. AS I TURNED RIGHT THE LOWER BALL JOINT DISLODGED FROM THE CONTROL ARM. IT PULL THE DRIVERS SIDE TRANSAXLE WITH IT AND IT TIE ROD ENDS. SLAMMING MY CAR TO A HALT AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH THE CAR BEHIND ME. THE WHEEL FACED LEFT EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS STILL SLIGHTY TURNING RIGHT. THIS IS A DANGER AND A HAZARD, I'VE ALSO HEARD THIS IS SERIOUS PROBLEM AMONGST OTHER CX-9 DRIVERS....

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT SUDDENLY FRACTURED AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.