Autoblog

Mazda CX-9 being investigated for brake fluid leak

Eric Loveday — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Crossover, Mazda

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation (read: not a recall) into the braking effectiveness of 2008 Mazda CX-9 crossovers. The reason? NHTSA received data from Mazda indicating a "high number" of warranty claims and reports related to the vehicle's braking system.

The NHTSA probe will examine reports that leaking brake fluid could degrade braking effectiveness of approximately 37,000 Mazda CX-9s. NHTSA says no injuries or accidents have been reported in connection with the CX-9's braking system, but the Agency has released this statement: "When brake fluid leaks into the vacuum booster the driver can experience reduced brake effectiveness which can result in extended stopping distance."

This preliminary investigation by NHTSA is the first step in a process that could lead to a recall if regulators determine the safety-related issue needs to be addressed by the automaker.

Mazda CX-9 being investigated for brake fluid leak originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motor Trend getting ready to announce its 2011 Sport/Utility Vehicle of the Year Award...on Facebook

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: SUV

Motor Trend has been around since 1949, and during that time it has handed out a fair share of awards to various automakers and vehicle models. More recently, the print publication has gone online by way of its web site, Youtube page and various social media networks. One network in particular has stuck a chord with the buff book and it's choosing to leverage the power of Facebook to announce the winner of its 2011 Sport/Utility Vehicle of the Year award.

M/T has been steadily rolling out its top 15 contenders, with the announcement of the winner to be made on October 19th, 2010 at 12:01 a.m EST. Why Facebook?

"We want to foster a two-way dialogue with our audience," said Angus MacKenzie, Editor In-Chief of Motor Trend, "and Facebook was the next logical step to engage our community even further."

The currently revealed contenders are:

Past winners of this title include the Subaru Forester and the Mazda CX-9. Hop the jump to read M/T's press release.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Motor Trend getting ready to announce its 2011 Sport/Utility Vehicle of the Year Award...on Facebook

Motor Trend getting ready to announce its 2011 Sport/Utility Vehicle of the Year Award...on Facebook originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda launches certified pre-owned program

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Mazda

Quite a few automakers have had success with certified pre-owned used car programs, and now Mazda is jumping on board by offering a CPO plan of its own. After all, used vehicles that have passed a rigorous inspection are more attractive to potential buyers, even though certified cars commonly carry a heavier price tag than their non-inspected lot mates.

Mazda is offering its CPO program on all 2006 to 2010 model year vehicles with less than 60,000 miles. Depending on the auto's age, certified used cars will offer the remaining balance of Mazda's warranty, or will be sold with an additional 12-month/12,000-mile comprehensive warranty, as well as additional seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage. What's more, Mazda offers roadside assistance on its CPO vehicles.

Expect the certified pre-owned program to make its way across the vast majority of Mazda dealers in the United States in the coming months. For the full details, hit the jump to read the release.

[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading Mazda launches certified pre-owned program

Mazda launches certified pre-owned program originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hot Cross Buns: Mazda recalls 2010 CX-9 due to seat (over)heaters

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:40:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Crossover, Mazda

2010 Mazda CX-9 - Click above for high-res image gallery

We here at Autoblog love seat warmers, and we're glad to see that more and more automakers are fitting this lovely amenity as either standard or optional equipment across their full range of vehicles. However, like all electrical gadgets, occasional glitches are known to pop up every so often, and Mazda is now recalling many of its 2010 model year CX-9 crossovers due to faulty seat heater units.

According to NHTSA, the front seat heater units in the CX-9 can overheat in extremely cold conditions due to insufficient electrical grounding, which can cause the seat cushions to burn or even catch fire. (Yikes!) To fix this potential hazard, dealers will install additional ground harnesses to the heater control system, and may even replace the seat heater control unit, if necessary.

Owners can contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500 for more information. The official safety recall will begin around March 9, 2010. Follow the jump to read the full details in NHTSA's press release.

Gallery: 2010 Mazda CX-9

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading Hot Cross Buns: Mazda recalls 2010 CX-9 due to seat (over)heaters

Hot Cross Buns: Mazda recalls 2010 CX-9 due to seat (over)heaters originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York: Mazda CX-9 gets "bolder"

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Crossover, Mazda

2010 Mazda CX-9 - Click above for a high-res gallery

Mazda's new CEO introduced the CX-9 and its raft of changes to a U.S. audience at the New York Auto Show today. The swoopy lines picked up from the Nagare are said to be "the embodiment of emotion." And that's right, if you get can worked up for the new 20-inch wheels, bigger side mirrors and "red garnish, which compliments the look of the front fascia." Inside there's new fabric, new stitched leather, piano black inserts and no shortage of chrome accents. Power to haul your loads remains at 273 hp and 250 lb-ft from the CUV's 3.7-liter V6. You can read about all it and more in the press release after the jump, and see it in the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: New York: 2010 Mazda CX-9

Continue reading New York: Mazda CX-9 gets "bolder"

New York: Mazda CX-9 gets "bolder" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2008 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring

Chris Tutor — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, SUV, Mazda

2008 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you keep up with the print mags, it would be easy to think that every journalist, PR flack and blogger loves Mazda's CX-9. Automobile Magazine made a spot for it on their All-Stars list, Motor Trend named it Sport Utility of the Year, Car & Driver thinks its one of the 5 Best Trucks of 2008, SEAMO crowned it their Family Car of the Year and USA TODAY even went as far as calling it "about perfect." We put 380 miles on the 7-seater in our best attempt to debunk the CX-9's mythical aura of SUV perfection and found most of the legend true.

Gallery: Review: 2008 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring

Continue reading Review: 2008 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring

Review: 2008 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Malibu and CX-9 win North American Car/Truck of the Year

John Neff — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 09:56:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Chevrolet, Mazda

Click above image for more coverage of the 2008 Detroit Auto Show

Though four out of the six finalists for the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards were GM vehicles, only the new 2008 Chevy Malibu managed to earn the honor of 2008 North American Car of the Year. On the truck side of things, the Buick Enclave and Chevy Tahoe Hybrid lost out to the Mazda CX-9.

The Malibu was competing for North American COTY honors against the new Honda Accord and 2008 Cadillac CTS. The judges use a point system to determine the winner, and the Malibu achieved the most among the cars at 190, with the CTS fairly close behind at 165 and the Honda firmly in third with 95.

The Mazda CX-9, meanwhile, blew out its truck competitors with 201 points. Surprisingly, the Chevy Tahoe 2-mode Hybrid came in second with 140 and the Buick Enclave, which we believed (and you, too) had a chance to win, only managed 109 points.

What say peanut gallery? Is the Malibu a better choice for this year's honor than the CTS. Was the Accord snubbed? And what happened to the Enclave in this competition?

Gallery: 2008 Chevy Malibu

Gallery: 2008 Mazda CX-9

Malibu and CX-9 win North American Car/Truck of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Jan 2008 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Following CX-9, Mazda to make more vehicles just for U.S.

Chris Shunk — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Crossover, Mazda

The CX-9 was Mazda's first vehicle designed specifically for US consumption, and one Motor Trend SUV of the year award later, Mazda may be on to something. Sales momentum has increased steadily for the seven-seat utility vehicle, with 3,000 units flying off dealer lots in October alone. Mazda's flexibility allowed the automaker to transform in 18 months a minivan that would likely retail for less than $30,000 into a hot CUV with a price tag reaching $40,000. The Hiroshima-based automaker will leverage those lightning-fast production capabilities and its Ford-shared global architecture bin to produce more vehicles for US tastes, and we're happy to hear it.

Since Mazda seems to have a handle on CUVs (it has four in the US already), we can only guess what exclusive product the development team in Irvine, CA will give us next. A zoom-zoom version of the Honda Ridgeline would be interesting, as would a US-unique Mazda2. We'd like to put in a vote for Mazda utilizing the RX-8 platform to create a sporty RWD sedan, but we're sure everyone the world over would want that.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Following CX-9, Mazda to make more vehicles just for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CX-9 wins again: SEAMO Family Car of the Year

Chris Tutor — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:35:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Mazda

While Autoblog was busy checking out the new Rogue, Grand Caravan, SRT4 and C30, everybody else at the recent South East Automotive Media Organization ride and drive was apparently loving on Mazda's CX-9. Out of a possible 100 points, journalists at the event gave the SUV a score of 91, putting it way ahead of the 32 other vehicles from which to choose.

The contenders were rated on attributes that included safety, capacity, accessibility, value, amenities, ergonomics, NVH and styling. Personally, as both a family man and a member of the automotive media, my vote went to the new Dodge Caravan overall. It definitely loses out to the CX-9 on looks, but as a kid-hauler, it obviously ruled in all other categories. So how does a minivan with dual DVD players, seating for seven, a fold-away table, hookups for video games and wireless headphones lose to an SUV with many of the same options, but costs as much as $8,000 more?

After driving each car at the event, journalists were asked to submit their ratings for the vehicle on all the above attributes. We were told by someone in the know that Autoblog's rating sheet was one of very few submitted for the Caravan. Which means it didn't get driven a whole lot. We're not suggesting any wrongdoing, just saying that a bunch of automotive journalists with limited time and miles of twisty roads to drive will rarely choose a relatively slow and ugly minivan over a sleek, luxury-like SUV. Unless their boss, (that's you, John) asks them to.

Hey, John, next time, dang it, I'm driving the R32 instead of the Rogue and the CX-9 instead of the Caravan.

[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading CX-9 wins again: SEAMO Family Car of the Year

CX-9 wins again: SEAMO Family Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda CX-9 is Motor Trend's SUOTY

Chris Tutor — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 01:08:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Mazda

In what must have been a tough decision, Motor Trend has chosen Mazda's 2008 CX-9 as their SUV of the Year. The Associated Press quotes the magazine's editor-in-chief, Angus MacKenzie, as saying the CX-9 is "arguably the most enjoyable sport utility to drive, and a great reminder that SUVs can be as exciting as any car."

Motor Trend is expected to make the announcement early Monday, while those still relying on dead trees and the postal service will learn about it in the November 6th issue of the print pub.

The seven-seat, 273 hp SUV won the honor by beating out tough competition like Buick's Enclave, Toyota's Highlander and Land Cruiser and the Land Rover LR2. Others in the running were Hyundai Veracruz, Jeep Liberty and Patriot, the Nissan Rogue, Saturn's Vue and the Subaru Tribeca.

[Source: The Associated Press]

Mazda CX-9 is Motor Trend's SUOTY originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 01:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fingers crossed for second Mazda crossover crossing

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Crossover, Mazda

With memories of last July's Cougar Ace disaster presumably heavy on their minds, Mazda just shipped out their first batch of new Mazda CX-9 CUVs from Hiroshima to North America. This time the crossing will be aboard the Coral Leader car carrier. It left Hiroshima yesterday for its voyage to California via Tacoma. The ship is expected to reach the U.S. before the New Year. With the Cougar Ace's payload of Mazda3s and CX-7s ultimately written off, we can only hope that this batch of vehicles, which includes the new 7-passenger CX-9, will have a much less eventful crossing. Bon Voyage.

The two-row, 5-passenger CX-7 has been something of a hit for Mazda with its stylish good looks and equally attractive combination of good performance and affordable pricing. The bigger CX-9 is hoping to be just as endearing in the ever more popular three-row segment. When they finally hit U.S. showrooms in late January, the sticker on the CX-9s will read $29,035 and up. That's the base price for the front-drive Sport model. There's also going to be Touring and Grand Touring versions with awd available across all trim levels. No matter which one you pick, you get Ford's award-winning corporate 3.5-liter V6 mated to a 6-speed auto trans. In this Mazda CUV, the engine is rated at 250 hp. It was designed primarily for the U.S., but it is also rumored to be on its way to Australia in 2008.

[Source: Just-Autos, sub req]

Fingers crossed for second Mazda crossover crossing originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Dec 2006 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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