My 2017 CX9 started showing engine was heating up and decided to drop it off at the local Mazda dealer. I am always regular about service maintenance, so when I got the news that the coolant was leaking and I need a possible engine replacement I was shocked. My car has only 57k miles on it and I am seeing other members here experienced similar issue? My warranty also ran out two months ago. I am dreading what they are gonna ask me to pay for a new engine. They are not telling me exactly how it leaked as I had it serviced just a month ago. They said they are waiting for Mazda HQ to report back how to move forward and engine replacement will take a month due to out of stock. It does not make sense why I have to pay for a new engine if this issue seems like a to be happening to most cx-9 owners. What are my options and I am at my wits end! Any advice is appreciated.

 

My understanding (subject to correction) is that the metal in the cylinder head isn't strong enough to support the weight of the turbocharger. The casting is too thin, or not well reinforced, or something along those lines, it cracks, and the leaks result. Of course this should never happen, and if it happens the car owner should never have to pay for the repair. Mazda's reputation is on the line. Please let us know how it works out for you. Does that Mazda dealership owner also own dealerships of other brands? I'd be inclined to add a dose of Bar's Leaks Cooling System Repair or other leak-stop product and immediately trade the car in to one of the other brands. Your leak is in the Mazda data system from your diagnosis. My thinking is that the other dealership will send the car to their affiliated Mazda shop, and they have more pull to get an engine our of Mazda North America than any of us. Or...have you got a roof rack? Make up a big bright yellow circle attached to the rack (3' plywood circle?), paint it like a lemon, and park the car in a legal parking spot outside the dealership with a note of the details in the window for everyone to read. Get that dealership owner in high gear working for you.

 

Thanks for the valuable insight. I agree that why should the owner have to pay for the bad design and it seems like most CX9 owners facing this issue right around 55-58K miles like clockwork. My gut feeling is telling me they are looking to put it on me and I would pay for it if it is absolutely my fault but it does not seem right or fair I have to pay the price if it’s a known issue. My concern is they might try to sell me some explanation that I will not understand- I don’t know what I can do to push back. Fortunately members here are knowledgeable so I can at least get some feedback.

It seems like there should be a national recall here in USA for this issue as it’s not just one off, but alas Mazda is keeping quiet. I admire Mazda for its values and brand but it does seem like something is off here. I will report back as soon as I hear something.

These see the pics I got from the service center after requesting for it. They usually do check up and let customer know what’s going on but in this case the service center did not call back the whole day. I got hold of them after calling them several times and they waited till the next day to send it to me after I asked them for it again.

 

Same thing happened to me two weeks ago on my 2018 CX9 with 74k miles. Took it back to the dealer where I bought it from and have an extended warranty. They are telling me the extended warranty denied the coverage. I reported it to NHTSA, I think we should all report it and hopefully it turns into a recall situation.

 

I just checked out NHTSA website and found a few complaints related to coolant leaking and need for an engine replacement listed in the complaint page against CX9. Eerily similar!!!

This is very disappointing, I intend to file a complaint at NHTSA, not sure if it will make any difference. How is this still not a recall issue, what else can we do to make NHTSA or similar agency have Mazda fix this.

 

I’m not sure what else we can do besides keep this forum going until we find something and we can all band together. I’m sure it’s a numbers thing with Mazda. The more people report this issue then they will have to do something about it.

 

Julian, dig out your paperwork for your extended service plan. Read the fine print. What do you think it says about an engine failure like your situation? You can contact the company for the service plan and see what their explanation is. If you think it is a close call, it might be worth a half hour of an attorney's time to read it and write a letter on your behalf. By the way, what we all call extended warranties are not a warranty as defined by federal law. They are service contracts. It covers what the fine print in the contract says it covers if you do everything required for you to do. It is all in that fine print.

 

The issue I’m having is the extended warranty (from the dealer where I bought the car and take to get fixed) only covers “internally lubricated” engine parts. I’m being told that the cause of the coolant leak is because of a cracked cylinder head which was caused by deformation with the exhaust manifold. Because the exhaust manifold is not a internally Lubricated part they denied coverage even though the cylinder head is internally Lubricated. This doesn’t seem right

maybe seeking an Attorney is a good idea.

 

Speaking to attorney about this with details would be about 2-3 hours for any real sound advise. Thats about 200-600 bucks.

Waiting for a class action suite and the results and then to receive any settlement could be a couple or more years.
A small claims case would likely not go well depending on who exactly you are going to sue the dealer, the insurance company for the extended warranty or MAZDA Corp but for the small amount of time and money it is worth trying. But you are limited to the total amount you can sue for which use to be only up to 5 thousand dollars.

A manufacture recall would mean first large percentage of the total manufacture MAZDAs having that exact problem before it would even be tabled for a possible recall. A few dozen or even a few hundred is not going to do it! So like about 15-20 thousand units before a recall would be considered. Why It is not a safety issue.

PTGuy had the best response to contact the underwriter direct for the extend coverage and get more details about what is and what is not covered and then ask a detail description of why your claim was denied.

Reading your responses there was more going on that caused the failure and sadly once you go over 50K miles it becomes harder to point the blame at MAZDA.

But I do wish you all GOOD LUCK .

 

I emailed the service person last night about me finding this issue in NHTSA and after sharing my situation several owners responded in Mazda Facebook group claiming they had same issue and some managed to got it fixed without paying for anything even after warranty had expired. She wrote back saying she will try her best to get Mazda to do a goodwill replacement. But she also said it doesn’t mean it will be covered as warranty expired and I may have some payment due. I don’t know what this means? Is she referring to labor cost and and some parts which I have to cover?

Edit: Granted I will ask her for clarification directly but I am trying get a read on what she is trying to imply.