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Mazda CX-9 Vibration

17 messages,  Last post on Dec 02, 2011 at 12:24 PM

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What is this discussion about? Mazda CX-9, SUV

    

Messages Page 2 of 2

#8 of 17 Mazda cx 9 -- 2nd row bumpy ride by novice_kp

Feb 19, 2011 (1:08 am)

I went to dealer for a test drive of Mazda CX-9. While I drove, my wife sat in 2nd row. She felt vibration, bumpy ride. So I sat in 2nd row. Even I could feel it. It was not a smooth ride in 2nd row. Even my 10yr old Toyota ride is not that bad in back seats. I told dealer about it and dealer seemed surprised to hear. So we tried all the trims - sport, touring and GT. No difference, I could literally feel the road in 2nd row.
 
I was looking to buy this car for last few months and I am now taken back. I don't know if I should buy it.
 
My questions is - is this how 2nd row ride comfort is in Mazda CX-9?
 
Thank you!

#9 of 17 Similar experience by dogdoc1997

Feb 19, 2011 (10:18 pm)

We just bought a 2010 CX-9 GT loaded; now when we test drove the models a few things were noted; we too told the salesman that the ride , in the front was bumpy; that car had been sitting in the cold for weeks and we believed him as it was way in the back and still had snow on it,i.e. the tires were low; second, we noted, not telling my wife, which one was FWD vs. AWD, she said she would never own a FWD b/c they always seemed to ride oddly to her; but on 3 different test drives, she always said "this one feels bumpy".. and it was on 3 occassions the AWD model, even though the salesman and I knew that the AWD really does not activate unless its needed but I agree with my wife on this one, maybe its the extra 200lbs or so on the AWD, and we have both driven Suabru's, and I have now a SAAB XWD so we know what they should feel like....I would take another test drive....we love this thing, and my wife just came out of a BMW 530XI AWD drive wagon, we eeded more room,dogdoc

#10 of 17 Re: Similar experience [dogdoc1997] by ceric

Feb 19, 2011 (11:52 pm)

Replying to: dogdoc1997 (Feb 19, 2011 10:18 pm)
GTs have 20" wheel. The sidewall of tires are shorter and firmer.
It gives slightly more bumpy ride. However, exactly the way I like it.
It might be just me.
 
Check your tire pressure though. Some dealers did not lower the tire pressure from factory, who usually set them at 45psi to avoid flat-spotting during shipping across Pacific Ocean.

#11 of 17 Re: Similar experience [ceric] by novice_kp

Feb 20, 2011 (1:15 am)

Replying to: ceric (Feb 19, 2011 11:52 pm)
Thank you guys for your input. I will go for another test drive at different dealer. BTW, all the 3 test drives I made was on FWD only.

#12 of 17 Re: Similar experience [novice_kp] by dogdoc1997

Feb 20, 2011 (6:48 am)

Replying to: novice_kp (Feb 20, 2011 1:15 am)
Ceric is right; the larger wheels and tires give a rougher ride and this is well documented; in fact I had talked to the dealer about buying the GT model but swapping for the smaller wheels/tires...then I thought why waste several thousand dollars$$$$$......keep trying them out; I have ridden in the back with my son alot and I do not feel the harsh ride; in fact we had dinner with a couple last weekend and they commented how nice the ride was as they got out at the restaurant...dogdoc

#13 of 17 Intermittent front-end vibration by dadcat93

Apr 19, 2011 (1:36 pm)

I have an extremely intermittent front-end vibration on my '08 CX-9 FWD Touring with 72K miles.
 
It began about 6 months ago, and happens perhaps once in every hour of driving, but it might happen twice back-to-back and then not happen again for hours or days. It feels like I'm going over a "washboard" surface for about 1 second, and then goes away. Just like an old 60's vintage live-axle RWD car with bad shocks on a worn-out road. It happens at around 30-50 mph, during light acceleration. It might be associated with going over an expansion joint or rough pavement. And maybe only at the 3-4th or 4-5th shift points, although I'm not certain of that. Or it might be a combination of a shift while going over rough pavement. The problem can't be reproduced by going over the same road at the same speed. One shop drove the car for 4 days before seeing the problem!
 
Tires (replaced at about 50K miles) have been balanced and front struts replaced (with Monroe SensaTrac's), but that hasn't helped, and problem seems to be getting more frequent.
 
One repair shop says they believe it is the "centrifugal clutch override solenoid", but that was based only on their online searches for similar problems. No error codes have been recorded.
 
Anyone else seen similar symptoms?
 
Dad Cat
 
 

#14 of 17 My Shimmy Was Solved by dsc888

Aug 29, 2011 (6:05 pm)

I took delivery of my 2011 CX-9 GT on Saturday and noted chassis shimmy on the highway like the OP. I was upset and was ready to go back and complain until I found this thread. I checked my tire pressures and sure enough, they were all at 36 psi. I let out 2 psi to get them all back to 34 per factory spec. And the vibration is gone.
 
The factory 20 inch rims look fantastic and definitely enhance the responsiveness of the car. I'm in the minority when I say that I like a firm riding car. I traded in a 2011 Subaru Outback because it was simply not big enough for my growing family and it handled awful after the recent redesign. The CX-9 is 900lbs heavier but can run circles around the Outback. Money well spent!

#15 of 17 Re: My Shimmy Was Solved [dsc888] by gatorstew

Aug 30, 2011 (5:31 am)

Replying to: dsc888 (Aug 29, 2011 6:05 pm)
To me there's a difference between a somewhat harsh ride due to large rims and low profile tires and a balance issue. What I was feeling was just like tires being out of balance but mechanics these days don't seem to want to diagnose anything.
 
 I forgot all about this thread until I received an email about someone replying to it. Update... shortly after my last post here a couple years ago I took it to Discount Tire and gave them the history as posted in my original post. After I watched them balance the first 3 using the road force machine, they then took the 4th one off, put it on the machine and then took if off the machine. The guy then called 3 other guys over to help. They proceeded to deflate the tire completely and physically turn the tire on the rim. After they got done the mgr showed me a piece of paper that showed the one tire getting special help pretty bad out of balance spec. He said the tire wasn't 'matched' with the rim from the factory. I wasn't expecting to feel much difference on the way home. However, the issue was and is resolved. So I don't think Mazda is doing a good job of matching the tires with the rims at the factory. The best news of all? Discount Tire didn't charge me a thing. Hope this helps someone else down the road. No pun intended.

#16 of 17 Re: My Shimmy Was Solved [gatorstew] by dsc888

Aug 30, 2011 (7:02 am)

Replying to: gatorstew (Aug 30, 2011 5:31 am)
Gatorstew,
 
Good follow up post. Thanks for sharing your story. I've had my share of out of balance rims and that's what my CX-9 felt like on the highway initially. There was a oscillation in the chassis that can be felt in the seat of the pants but not in the wheel. I will pay more attention and have the dealer look at them if it comes back. The factory 20 inch rims will exaggerate any minor defect whether it's poor balance, excess road force, or a bent rim.

#17 of 17 Re: Intermittent front-end vibration [dadcat93] by vegas2004xc70

Dec 02, 2011 (12:24 pm)

Replying to: dadcat93 (Apr 19, 2011 1:36 pm)
These postings communicate the same dilemma that we're in with this problem! Same car, Grand Touring CX-9, 70,000 miles on it, and this front end vibration is getting worse over time. I've been to the dealer 3 times and also to another reputable place to get it checked thinking that maybe they could figure it out. The dealer started by telling me that there aren't any problems they could find; then they pointed to my tires, claiming that they were defective...70% treads left on these Pirelli Scorpions $225 each, so I'm not about to scrap them. Went back to Discount Tire to have them thoroughly check the balancing...all good. Dealer then said to replace a wheel that was "dented"...barley visible. Bought a wheel for $500...no change.
 
Now, the vibration and "jumping" is way out of hand. Cornering, acceleration, driving...you name it.
 
Given that some of you have already replaced the struts and tires and that didn't work, I'm not going to do the same thing without any results. BUT, the Road Force Balancing sounds like a real possibility.
 
I am desperately looking for a solution; I love this car but if this doesn't get figured out, the car will be GONE.
 
Thanks.

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