Is the GMC Acadia more reliable than the Mazda CX-9?

No. The CX-9 has a clear edge. Its estimated repair cost is lower and only 10% of its repairs are major, versus 19% for the Acadia. The Acadia's 9-speed transmission is the biggest drag, with reports of shudder, hard shifts, and complete failure.

Which has more recalls, the Acadia or the CX-9?

The Acadia. Federal recall records show 17 recalls across 8 model years for the Acadia and 6 across 6 model years for the CX-9. Check any specific car by VIN, since open recalls depend on whether the repair was done.

Which costs less to repair, the Acadia or the CX-9?

The CX-9 costs less. Independent repair-cost data puts it at about $539 a year versus $734 for the Acadia, roughly $975 less over five years. The Acadia does visit the shop less often, at 0.4 times a year against 0.6.

What is the most common problem with the Mazda CX-9?

Engine trouble leads the CX-9 complaints. Owners describe coolant leaking at the cylinder head near the exhaust manifold, then overheating and limp mode. Some also report heavy oil use, needing a quart in under 3000 miles. Owners say Mazda declined goodwill requests for the leak repair.

Are there safety concerns with the Acadia's transmission?

Yes. Owners report sudden loss of power at highway speed, and some cars shift into neutral or out of drive while moving. Power train complaints include 4 crash-linked reports. Fluid flushes and torque converter replacement don't always fix the shudder, so test drive carefully.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

GMC Acadia vs Mazda CX-9: Reliability Compared

GMC Acadia

Good

More Reliable

Mazda CX-9

Good

Reliability favors the Mazda CX-9 over the GMC Acadia by a clear margin. Its repairs cost less and are less often major. The Acadia has fewer shop visits, but its transmission complaints and 17 recalls weigh against it.

How Do the GMC Acadia and Mazda CX-9 Generations Compare?

Most used Acadia shopping happens in the second generation, which ran from the 2017 to 2023 model years with updates in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Its weakest years, 2020 and 2023, fall inside that span. The third generation began with the 2024 model year. Those cars are newer, so their low complaint counts reflect less time on the road. On the Mazda side, the second generation began in 2016, and every year from 2018 to 2023 belongs to it. No redesign separates the years you would compare, so differences between them come from year-to-year problems, not a new platform.

Verdict

The Mazda CX-9 is more reliable than the GMC Acadia, scoring 76/100 vs 70/100.

A clear edge goes to the Mazda CX-9. Both rate good, but the CX-9 costs less to repair, and its repairs are far less likely to be major. The GMC Acadia carries a serious transmission problem, with shudder, hard shifts, and full failures reported, plus a larger recall count. The CX-9's main weakness is a coolant leak at the cylinder head. The Acadia's one real advantage is fewer unscheduled shop visits.

Key Differences

1Mazda CX-9 costs $195 less per year to repair
2Mazda CX-9 has 11 fewer total recalls
3Mazda CX-9 has 9% lower major repair risk

Category Scoreboard

1GMC Acadia

—

4Mazda CX-9

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

GMC Acadia vs Mazda CX-9: Which Is More Reliable?

GMC Acadia vs Mazda CX-9 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	GMC Acadia	Mazda CX-9
Reliability Score	70/100	76/100
Years Tracked	8	6
Total Recalls	17	6
Total ComplaintsRaw count — varies with sales volume	770	252
Annual Repair Cost	$734/yr	$539/yr
Repair Frequency	0.4/yr	0.6/yr
Major Repair Risk	19%	10%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2023 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	1	4

What Are the Common Problems With the GMC Acadia and Mazda CX-9?

Transmission trouble defines the Acadia: its 9-speed shudders, lurches, and can lose power at highway speed, with some complete failures. Electrical faults add black rear camera screens, false automatic braking, and a thermostat problem that triggers a steering assist warning. For the CX-9, trouble starts in the engine, where coolant leaks at the cylinder head cause overheating and limp mode. Some owners also report the electrical system dying while moving. Crash-linked reports appear in all five Acadia problem areas. The CX-9 has none in engine or electrical, only in brakes, steering, and power train.

GMC Acadia vs Mazda CX-9 common problem areas comparison
Component	GMC Acadia	Mazda CX-9
POWER TRAIN	200	20
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	139	26
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	106	33
ENGINE	37	95
SERVICE BRAKES	70	11
STEERING	55	7
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	23	2
AIR BAGS	12	4
STRUCTURE	4	5
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	8	—
SEATS	6	2
SUSPENSION	4	3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	6	—
SEAT BELTS	6	—
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	5	—
FUEL SYSTEM	4	—
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	4	—
VISIBILITY/WIPER	2	2
WHEELS	3	—
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—	3
LANE DEPARTURE	2	—
Chest Clip	—	2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—	2

Raw complaint counts aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports. Counts vary with sales volume.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: GMC Acadia or Mazda CX-9?

Lower running costs go to the CX-9, at an estimated $539 a year against $734 for the Acadia. That gap is $195 a year, or about $975 over five years. The Acadia does better on shop visits at 0.4 a year versus 0.6 for the CX-9. But the Acadia's repairs are more likely to be major, at 19% against 10%. Fewer visits help, though the larger bill when something does break works against the Acadia.

How Does GMC Acadia vs Mazda CX-9 Reliability Compare by Year?

GMC Acadia vs Mazda CX-9 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	GMC Acadia	Mazda CX-9	Edge
2023	64/1004R / 37C	81/1000R / 12C	Mazda CX-9
2022	66/1003R / 44C	81/1000R / 9C	Mazda CX-9
2021	68/1002R / 134C	77/1001R / 35C	Mazda CX-9
2020	62/1006R / 84C	78/1001R / 19C	Mazda CX-9
2018	68/1002R / 369C	66/1002R / 125C	GMC Acadia

Best years to cross-shop: The 2021 GMC Acadia scored 68/100 and the 2023 Mazda CX-9 scored 81/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the GMC Acadia vs the Mazda CX-9?

Pick the CX-9 if you want lower repair bills and a smaller chance of a big one. Look hardest at 2022 and 2023, its strongest years, and be wary of 2018 and 2019, its weakest. Before buying any CX-9, ask whether the cylinder head area has ever leaked coolant, since owners say Mazda declined goodwill help with that repair. Pick the Acadia if fewer unscheduled shop visits matter more to you than the size of a bill, and you will test drive carefully. Avoid 2020 and 2023, its weakest years. On any second-generation car, drive at steady highway speed and watch for shudder or hesitation, then check that the rear camera works every time you reverse. The 2024 and 2026 years look strong, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so do not read that as proof they are better. Check recall status on any Acadia by VIN.

GMC Acadia vs Mazda CX-9: Common Questions

Is the GMC Acadia more reliable than the Mazda CX-9?: No. The CX-9 has a clear edge. Its estimated repair cost is lower and only 10% of its repairs are major, versus 19% for the Acadia. The Acadia's 9-speed transmission is the biggest drag, with reports of shudder, hard shifts, and complete failure.
Which has more recalls, the Acadia or the CX-9?: The Acadia. Federal recall records show 17 recalls across 8 model years for the Acadia and 6 across 6 model years for the CX-9. Check any specific car by VIN, since open recalls depend on whether the repair was done.
Which costs less to repair, the Acadia or the CX-9?: The CX-9 costs less. Independent repair-cost data puts it at about $539 a year versus $734 for the Acadia, roughly $975 less over five years. The Acadia does visit the shop less often, at 0.4 times a year against 0.6.
What is the most common problem with the Mazda CX-9?: Engine trouble leads the CX-9 complaints. Owners describe coolant leaking at the cylinder head near the exhaust manifold, then overheating and limp mode. Some also report heavy oil use, needing a quart in under 3000 miles. Owners say Mazda declined goodwill requests for the leak repair.
Are there safety concerns with the Acadia's transmission?: Yes. Owners report sudden loss of power at highway speed, and some cars shift into neutral or out of drive while moving. Power train complaints include 4 crash-linked reports. Fluid flushes and torque converter replacement don't always fix the shudder, so test drive carefully.

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More Mazda CX-9 comparisons

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Decided between GMC Acadia and Mazda CX-9? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the GMC Acadia and Mazda CX-9

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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