Mazda CX-9 - How Concerned Should I Be about Cracked Cylinder Head Problems?

LinYourdream on 24/01/2025 - 21:04
Last edited 24/01/2025 - 21:10 by 1 other user

I’m buying a SUV soon and I’m debating between the CX-9 and Kluger.

I’ve done some reading and it sounds like cracked cylinder heads have been a fairly common issue with ‘16-‘20 skyactive engines. Or maybe it’s not that common and my reading is biased because I’ve found articles confirming my concerns.

Anyone willing to share thoughts on purchasing a used car from the affected production range (‘16-‘20)? Is it worth the risk? How widespread is the cylinder head problem among CX-9s? Any new information about identifying affected engines?

Appreciate your feedback!

Automotive Car Mazda Toyota

Comments

  • jv on 24/01/2025 - 21:05
    +4

    very

    • Murkymerv on 24/01/2025 - 21:17
      +2

      JV , "you've done it again".

  • 7ekn00 on 24/01/2025 - 21:18

    Roughly 7.324567118% chance per 364.556812 days

  • Murkymerv on 24/01/2025 - 21:18
    +8

    You've identified an expensive generic problem . what's the solution ? Don't buy it ……

  • Euphemistic on 24/01/2025 - 21:35
    +2

    How many of each do you see on the roads? Keep an eye out, make your decision based on how many you see.

    Confirmation bias is a real problem. As is the negative skew of reviews and reports on the internet.

    Don't forget to check the price of a repair. If you can live with that potential, it may change the answer.

    I bought a navara about 8 years ago. Lots of reports of timing chain failure and catastrophic engine damage. Coat of a replacement engine means the vehicle is virtually a write off. I bought it anyway. Theres heaps on the roads. Its still running.

    • mskeggs on 24/01/2025 - 21:42
      +1

      DON’T JINX IT!

    • inYourdream on 24/01/2025 - 21:56

      obviously there are plenty of cx-9 on the road,
      I am not sure if mazda would honour the warranty if the engine is failed caused by the cylinder head.
      the cost to fix it would be around 4k I think

      Kluger is a good car as well but petrol wise would be bit too much I reckon

      • pegaxs on 24/01/2025 - 22:02

        You think it would be $4k… this isn’t the late 90’s any more, champ. You could probably slap a 1 in front of that “4k” and it would be a closer estimate.

        • MS Paint on 24/01/2025 - 22:19
          +1

          OPs username checks out.

          Unless it was in USD using Mexican labour.

          • pegaxs on 24/01/2025 - 22:22
            +3

            @MS Paint: Got Scotty Kilmer to do the job…

            I don’t even think Uncle Ian would touch a CX9 head replacement for $4k.

    • donga100 on 25/01/2025 - 10:06
      +4

      How many of each do you see on the roads? Keep an eye out, make your decision based on how many you see.

      I've seen a lot of Cruze and Captiva on the roads. Not sure that's a good strategy.

      • Euphemistic on 25/01/2025 - 13:16
        +1

        Not sure the cruze and captiva had any catastrophic failures did they? AFAIK they keep driving but just have a bunch of stupid niggly faults.

        • brendanm on 25/01/2025 - 14:37
          +1

          They have lots of catastrophic failures.

          • Euphemistic on 25/01/2025 - 16:59

            @brendanm: Fair enough, but also goes tp show thag even with 'loads of catastrophic failures' there are still plenty that keep on going.

            Lile a lot of things that get reported on the intenet, its obviously skewed on the internet. Its not 'they all blow up' but thats how everyone sees it.

        • JIMB0 on 25/01/2025 - 16:51

          The diesel engine in the Craptiva blows up and as does the auto in the Cruze

  • Gunnar on 24/01/2025 - 23:52
    +2

    Just overnight parts from Japan

    • 87percent on 25/01/2025 - 08:06
      +2

      Only works for Honda Civics

  • LanceVance on 25/01/2025 - 09:07
    +1

    So just get a newer one out of that production range. Otherwise Kluger will probably be more reliable whereas the Mazda will be more enjoyable to drive.
    Anecdotally, my mechanic is a big fan of the CX-9, one of his clients runs an airport transfer business with 3 of them, they each have around 400,000 k's on the clock with no sign of slowing down.

  • skid on 25/01/2025 - 09:41
    +3

    Found you two years ago. It's the same engine from 2014 to 2018. Those reports are from American conditions. Haven't heard of these issues in Australian conditions.

    • brendanm on 25/01/2025 - 09:46
      +3

      Has op been searching for a car for 2 years, or weirdly copied a 2 year old Reddit thread?

      • inYourdream on 25/01/2025 - 15:20

        I just copied the thread to find out if its happening in Australia or not
        thank you though

  • JIMB0 on 25/01/2025 - 10:54
    +1

    Just get the Toyota and live worry free.

  • SYLTB on 25/01/2025 - 14:27
    -1

    Crap japan, korean cars get broken down and you come here to cry. Buy German car, no cry.

    • inYourdream on 25/01/2025 - 15:22

      I was thinking to buy Volkswagen tiguan 7 seaters actually, is it good ?

      • SYLTB on 25/01/2025 - 15:52
        -1

        I don't know about Tigs, but German cars do not get broken. You cannot see a bonnet up German car on roads.

        • Flutterby on 27/01/2025 - 01:56

          Because they are in the workshop getting the engine jacked out?

  • ratoloko on 25/01/2025 - 19:57
    +2

    Mazda?? A couple bought one once ( cannot recall the model ) and they had to sell it.
    The maintenance cost was a robbery.
    You have other problems than just the engine.

  • kl2999 on 29/01/2025 - 09:09
    +1

    I am driving a cx9 azami 2022M, only done 17kkm and the engine so far has been good.

  • Danger on 29/01/2025 - 10:03
    +1

    Just about same concerned as getting struck by lightning..OK - may be that's an exaggeration because I own CX-9. Trust me mate it's a good build car with a luxury feel without a ridiculous price tag of euro luxury cars.

  • sneijder on 29/01/2025 - 16:09
    +1

    I have a 2019, 140000km now, never had a single issue. Pretty happy with it.
    I was worried about the crack cylinder head too but apparently it only affects US

    • inYourdream on 29/01/2025 - 17:20
      +1

      thanks mate,

      is it only in US? what caused it do you reckon?

      • sneijder on 30/01/2025 - 09:56

        I never heard anyone here and NZ had this problem. (I have also owned a 2018 back in NZ)
        In fact I only realised there is this issue when I started browsing CX9 subreddit (which are predominantly US owners)
        Someone mentioned it is the mexico production line issue if this is the case I hope they don't ship here.

  • Muppet Detector on 30/01/2025 - 02:15
    +1

    I know basically nothing about cars, but I once had a head gasket problem on a Camry station wagon. Was gently worn in with about 400,000 klm on the clock.Don't know if my head was the same as your head (yes I know that sounds dirty, couldn't think of a better way to say it.)

    Broke down on highway about midnight one night as you do. Called RACQ, towed car to nearest dealer.

    Next morning, dealer calls me says xyz is wrong, will cost $209 to fix. Gave the go ahead to fix.

    Next day something else was also wrong, was going to cost a few more hundred dollars to fix. Said OK.

    Next day, they called and said we had a cracked head => cost was $600. => ok.

    Next day, apparently our car had two heads and both were cracked. => extra $600 to fix that one as well.

    Next day, heads had to be sent away to be machined. Was going to cost another $1200.

    Said NO. Don't want to spend that much money on that car. Stop work.

    Told us car was in pieces it would cost that much money to put it back together for us to collect it.

    => told them to fix car/ machine heads whatever.

    Next day, was decided we needed a whole new engine (a new secondhand one maybe? => came with a 1 year warranty. Had already spent so much on the thing, kinda had to keep going now, right? Can't be that many more parts in the damn car we have to fix after that, right? Needed the car and really wasn't in the position to buy another one at that stage.

    That fixed it, but final cost was $8,000 by the time we got it home.

    => initial quote was $200. By the time we got the thing back six weeks later the bill was $8,000. Now every time I hear the word "head", I shudder, have flashbacks, panic attacks, hyperventilate, world starts spinning etc and just say a hard no, not playing that game again. Time for new car.

    Ran perfectly for the next 12 months.

    At the twelve month and three day stage, three days after engine warranty ran out, car broke down at midnight on the highway again.

    Called RACQ. Towed to nearest dealer.

    Next morning they rang and said something about water leaking, cost $150 to fix. Said, ok, fix it.

    Next morning, called me and said something else was wrong.

    Still don't know if this was something in the engine, or somewhere else, just couldn't listen or process. Alarm bells were ringing, put fingers in ears and went la la la while rocking back and forth and shaking head from side to side with the whole crazy spinning eyes thing going on. Was not going down that rabbit hole again.

    I told them to stop, do nothing else on that car, not spending anymore money on it. Trade it in on new Camry thanks.

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