2008 MAZDA CX-9 Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED LOWER CONTROL ARM, OUTER TIE ROD END, STABILIZER LINK, AXLE, AND DRIVE BELT DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

I OWN A 2008 MAZDA CR-9 WHOSE LEFT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF THE AXLE WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY BACKWARDS (WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR) WITH FRONT WHEELS TURNED LEFT. IT MADE A LOUD NOISE AND I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR OR TURN THE WHEELS. I CALLED FOR A TOW TO VIRGINIA TIRE AND AUTO AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE LEFT BALL JOINT BROKEN WHICH CAUSED THE AXLE TO COME OUT - IRREVERSIBLY DAMAGING BOTH ITEMS SO THEY HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED FOR $1,131.42!. I KEPT THE DAMAGED LF LOWER CONTROL ARM FOR PROOF AND CAN SEND TWO PICTURES I TOOK. I WANT TO STRESS THAT 5 DAYS EARLIER, I DROVE THE MAZDA TO OCEAN CITY, A THREE HOUR DRIVE. HAD THE BALL JOINT BROKEN DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING - MY WHOLE FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THIS IS NOT A SITUATION TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM MAZDA (WROTE SEPARATE LETTER) SINCE COMPLAINTS POSTED ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM INDICATE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SIX (6) SIMILAR COMPLAINTS MADE SINCE MAY 2015 INDICATING THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION UNDER WAY. THESE COMPLAINTS ALL INDICATE THAT THE SIX OWNERS OF THE 2007-2008 MAZDA CX-9 SAY THE LOWER BALL JOINTS "SEPARATE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND CAUSE THE FRONT WHEEL TO DISLODGE FROM HE CAR". THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) HAS OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO REPORTS OF LOWER BALL JOINTS BREAKING (SUSPENSION PROBLEMS). I SINCERELY HOPE THAT MAZDA WILL RECALL ALL THE 54,000 CARS WHICH COULD BE AFFECTED AND COMPENSATE THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES WHICH HAD THE WHEEL FALL OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING. THIS COULD BE A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION AND NOT TAKEN LIGHTLY. *TR...UPDATED 09/22/15 *BF

ON 06 JUNE 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 1400 MY WIFE WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. NEAR THE END OF THE TURN THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL BROKE LOOSE TURNING NEARLY 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT AND JAMMED ITSELF INTO THE REAR OF THE FENDER WELL. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY IMMOBILIZED AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT HAD FAILED AND BROKE COMPLETELY FREE. THIS CAUSED THE WHEEL TO TURN NEARLY 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY RIPPED OUT THE CV AXLE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. HAD THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY, THE CV SHAFT, AND SWAY BAR LINK WAS REPLACED. THERE IS ALSO FENDER WELL AND BODY DAMAGE THAT WILL HAVE TO BE REPAIRED. ON 10 JULY 2015, I NOTICED AN UNUSUAL INSTABILITY WHILE NEGOTIATING WIDE TURNS ON THE HIGHWAY. IT FELT AS IF THE VEHICLE HAD A WHEEL LOOSE. WHILE TURNING TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABRUPTLY TURN EVEN SHARPER TO RIGHT ALMOST CAUSING AN UNINTENTIONAL LANE CHANGE. AFTER COMING OUT OF THE TURN I COULD FEEL THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CORRECT ITSELF. ONCE I ARRIVED AT MY RESIDENCE I JACKED UP THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT THE FRONT WHEELS. THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL SEEMED NORMAL (WAS REPAIRED IN JUNE 2015 AS MENTIONED ABOVE). MUCH TO MY DISMAY WHEN INSPECTING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL, I DISCOVERED THAT THE BALL JOINT ON THIS SIDE IS NOW BROKE. IT IS NOT SEPARATED, BUT IS CLEARLY BROKEN AS EVIDENCED BY THE EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT AND CLUNKING NOISE WHEN MOVING THE WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE AS IT IS SUSPENDED ABOVE THE GROUND FROM THE CAR BEING ON A JACK. I WILL BE HAVING THIS REPAIRED THIS WEEK ONCE PARTS ARRIVE FROM THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALER. BOTTOM LINE: I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE.

BALL JOINTS WARN HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS-WORK AT MAZDA DEAL WAS TOLD VERY COMMON PROBLEM I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE ISN'T SAFETY RECALL ON THIS

WHEN MAKING A U-TURN (LEFT TURN) AT UNDER 10 MPH THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND IT SHUTTERED TO A STOP. I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND WAITED FOR HIM TO ARRIVE. WHEN HE ARRIVED, HE (AND THE POLICE) ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT BUDGE. HE WALKED AROUND THE CAR AND OBSERVED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER WHEEL WAS TURNED OUT AND RESTING AGAINST THE FENDER. THIS EXPOSED THE SUSPENSION AND HE SAW THE BALL JOINT AND SUSPENSION HAD BROKEN LOOSE. THE BALL JOINT HAD RIPPED OUT FROM ITS HOUSING AND THE SUSPENSION BAR HAD BROKEN APART AT THE WHEEL. THERE WERE PARTS ON THE GROUND ALONG WITH GREY FLUID WHICH WAS COMING OUT FROM THE HOLE LEFT BY THE BALL JOINT COUPLING. THE FENDER WAS ALSO DAMAGED BY THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE POLICE OFFICER NOTED THAT WE WERE LUCKY THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AS IT WOULD HAVE LIKELY ENDED UP FLIPPING THE CAR AS IT WAS SUCH A SEVERE FAILURE. IT TOOK THE TOW-TRUCK OPERATOR OVER 20 MINUTES TO GET HE CAR ONTO THE TOW TRUCK AS THE WHEEL COULD NOT BE STEERED DUE TO THE FAILURES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT MADE A LEFT TURN AND HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS TURNED COMPLETELY HORIZONTAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINTS SEPARATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON ROAD AT APPROXIMATLEY 20 MPH THE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE AXLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.

GEAR OIL LEAKING OUT OF THE TRANSFER CASE VENT TUBE. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL FUNCTION. ONLY WAY TO CHECK LEVEL IS TO REMOVE FILL PLUG AND STICK FINGER IN. THE ONLY SAFE WAY TO GET TO THIS IS PUTTING VEHICLE UP ON A LIFT. RESEARCHED ONLINE AND MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. IF NOT CAUGHT RIGHT AWAY TRANSFER CASE CAN FAIL ALONG WITH TRANSMISSION. THERE IS NO INFO ON CHANGING THIS OIL AT CERTAIN INTERVALS. FAILURE OF THESE TWO COMPONENTS CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO.

UPON ENTERING A PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE, SKIDDED TO A SUDDEN STOP, AND THEN WOULD NOT MOVE. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL SIDEWAYS RESTING AGAINST THE INNER FENDER, ALONG WITH SEVERAL METALLIC PARTS AND FLUID ON THE GROUND. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WHEN NEW, AND WHERE WE ALWAYS HAVE IT SERVICED . THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD SAID THE AXLE BROKE AND WE WERE LUCKY IT DID NOT OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY 15 MINUTES SOONER. THE DEALER REPLACED A LEFT BROKEN BALL JOINT, AXLE AND CONTROL ARM, AS WELL AS BROKEN FENDER LININGS AND MOLDINGS. THIS COST US OVER $2000. WE HAD COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE ABOUT A NOISE WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE, BUT WERE TOLD WE ONLY NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. I NOW BELIEVE THE DEALER DID NOT PROPERLY INSPECT THE BALL JOINT, WHICH WAS ALREADY DAMAGED AND FAILING. TWELVE MONTHS AFTER THIS INCIDENT THE LEFT CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. AND EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THAT THE DRIVESHAFT, TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMISSION ALL REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, COSTING US ANOTHER $5000 IN REPAIRS. I AM SUSPICIOUS THAT ALL OF THESE FAILURES MAY BE RELATED TO THE INITIAL INCIDENT WHEN MY CX-9 SKIDDED TO THE SUDDEN STOP ON THE LEFT BROKEN AXLE. BUT WHEN I CONTACTED MAZDA REGARDING ALL OF THESE ISSUES MY CASE WAS COMPLETELY DISMISSED AS THE VEHICLE HAD OVER 100,000 MILES AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY COVERAGE. I HAVE NEVER SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT UNTIL I FOUND OUT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION INTO 2008 CX-9'S WITH BROKEN BALL JOINTS, EXACTLY AS WHAT OCCURRED IN MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AT OUR DEALER, AND I REALLY DO NOT BELIEVE THE BALL JOINT SHOULD HAVE BROKEN AS IT DID. I AM GRATEFUL WE WERE NOT TRAVELING 60 MPH. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS MAZDA VEHICLE.

I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS I TURNED LEFT INTO A DRIVEWAY AND CAME TO A STOP. THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. WHEN I GOT OUT TO INSPECT, I FOUND THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD DISENGAGED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A NON-DEALER SERVICE FACILITY, WHICH DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT HAD BROKEN. THE BALL JOINT, AXLE AND SWAY BAR LINK WERE REPLACED. THE NEXT WEEK, I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE SERVICE FACILITY, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE SAME REPAIRS WERE NEEDED ON THE RIGHT FRONT, AS WELL AS REPLACEMENT OF THE TIE ROD ENDS ON THE LEFT FRONT. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THESE REPAIRS, I TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER FOR A FULL ("USED CAR") INSPECTION. I MENTIONED THE REPAIRS I'D HAD DONE, AND THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH BALL JOINTS ON CX-9S. I HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY (70 MPH) NOT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE BALL JOINT BROKE. I HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT HAD BROKEN AT THAT SPEED.