MazdaCX-92011Overview/mazda/cx-9/2011/base/

2011 Mazda CX-9

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2011 CX-9.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2011 Mazda CX-9 is an SUV paired with an S6 automatic transmission and EPA fuel economy figures of 17/24/19 mpg. Researchers evaluating this vehicle will find 170 total owner complaints alongside 4 recalls, with the service brakes representing the most prominent area of concern. Positioned within the model's 2007-2023 production history, this year sits just below the 2012 peak of 221 complaints and well above the 2022 low of 9, meaning it occupies a period of elevated dissatisfaction rather than the model's most reliable era.

Model year202320222021201220112010200920082007

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque80-108 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/24/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter YF0914302A. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24F · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified
Tire sizeP245-60R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterYF0914302A
Engine air filterCY0113Z40A
Spark plugZZJ118110
Battery000080124FWB
Front wiper bladesTD1167330 alt TD1267330
Serpentine beltCY0115907B alt CY0115908D
ThermostatZZJ115171B alt 9XB06807S
Cabin air filterL2Y661P11

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length200.4 in
Overall width76.4 in
Overall height68.1 in
Wheelbase113.4 in
Curb weight4533 lb
Track (front / rear)65.4 / 65 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 24 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the CX-9 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.30 sec — 2011 Grand Touring
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2011Grand Touring 3.7L V67.30 sec15.60 sec273 hpAWD
2010Grand Touring 3.7L V67.80 sec16.00 sec273 hpAWD
2012Grand Touring 3.7L V67.10 sec15.60 sec273 hpFWD
2013Grand Touring 3.7L V67.50 sec15.90 sec273 hpAWD
2013Grand Touring 3.7L V67.60 sec15.90 sec273 hpAWD
2008Grand Touring 3.7L V67.30 sec15.70 sec273 hpFWD
2008Grand Touring 3.7L V67.70 sec16.00 sec273 hpAWD
2008Grand Touring 3.7L V67.80 sec16.00 sec273 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 · SAE J1703 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80-108 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 20.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7
Brake FluidDOT 3 · SAE J1703
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts54-64 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts6.2-8.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17-20 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug20.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80-108 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug13.0-17.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub174-202 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub174-202 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)600 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5.0-6.0 ohms
Ignition Timing13 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.46-1.60 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.41 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

RPM51-62 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance11.3-12.7 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Oil Pressure45-90 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM2000 rpm
Intake Valve Lash0.0059-0.0098 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.0019-0.0157 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket61-68 ft-lbs / 16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle79-93 ft-lbs / 58-75 ft-lbs
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.06 in / 0.66 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.03 in / 0.63 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1103 ft. lbs., step 2: 360 degrees, step 3: 35-39 ft. lbs., 85-95103 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant at 60,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 60,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect)
At 22,500 miEngine Air Filter Element (clean)
Every 25,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miBody Fasteners (torque) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 37,500 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (clean)
Every 45,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2011 Mazda CX-9 sits in the middle of the first generation’s complaint arc, with 170 complaints—higher than the 2007 and 2009 troughs but below the 2010 (195) and 2012 (221) peaks. Recalls are declining from the 2009 high of 7 to 4 in 2011, matching 2012 and 2013, while investigations peak at 3, tied with 2010 and the highest of any year. The top complaint area is service brakes (86 reports), and the year logged 7 crash and 3 fire complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. Compared to the later, lower-complaint years (2013–2015), the 2011 shows elevated risk, and it does not benefit from the recall reductions seen after 2014. Given its position in a high-complaint cluster and unresolved investigation activity, this is not a strong buy year; a 2013 or 2014 model, with fewer complaints and recalls, would be a more reliable choice.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
294
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
170
Owner complaints
7 involved a crash · 3 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 170 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes86
Power Train17
Air Bags14
Engine7
Unknown Or Other3
Electronic Stability Control (Esc),Service Brakes3
Power Train,Engine2
Power Train,Service Brakes2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V717000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 12/10/2018

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina… Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may…

19V782000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 31/10/2019

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2007-2012 CX-7, CX-9, and 2009-2012 Maza6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall… Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 294 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SA-041-262026-06-18Electrical SystemThis SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in…
SA-029-262026-04-21Power TrainThis Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are…
SA-061-252025-12-17Electrical SystemIf you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start…
07-004-25a2025-12-10Unknown Or OtherA musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system…
SA-039/252025-08-21StructureSome vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.)…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific CX-9. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2011 CX-9 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the CX-9 get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.