2008 Mazda CX-9: Loose Knobs

he said that mazda interiors are usually class leading...so he obviously didn't expect this. did you read the blog?
 
I'm hoping that this is just your CX-9 and not a general CX-9 problem. You'd think that the knobs in the back would be especially durable considering they are subject to children sitting in the back seat. The knobs in my 6 and my friend's CX-9 all feel high quality and don't pop off easily (yes, i've tried).

To be honest, it looks like it got kicked off, because they're marks on the side from abuse probably because it's being whored out for long termers, that put children in the back.

zoomzoom22 he said "I think", to me he didn't seem to sure about it. All I'm saying is mazda has never been known for good interior quality.

Really? I though Mazda interiors were typically well put together and of at least average quality for the price (and they look pretty good too).
 
All I'm saying is that from personal experience in an 05 Mazda3 with 51k, I've never had a door handle pop off like in some other long term cars (I also don't have fake side vents, but that's another story entirely).

cx7lover -- "They're marks on the side from abuse probably because it's being whored out for long termers, that put children in the back."
 
I'm sorry, but isn't transporting children one of the main missions for SUVs? This is not "whoring out" but using the vehicle as it's intended.
 
But don't worry too much. Your beloved CX9 isn't the only vehicle that has failed because someone has simply put a child in the rear seat. I have seen many vehicles where cup holders and other controls such as the CX9's climate control dials fail when it comes to "child abuse."
 
Maybe you should appeal to parents of small children not to buy CX9s because you can't stand them to be broken.
 
Or maybe I'm going at this the wrong way. I should congratulate you on saving children by pointing out that this car is unsafe for small children because pieces can break off and can be a choking hazard! Well done sir! Parents all over America will show your appreciation and NOT buy CX9s for their family.
 
This way they're saved for those "enthusiast" drivers that use this SUV as they are intended: as a performance SUV.

Clearly the build quality does not withstand carrying children. That is unacceptable. Rear seats are for rowdy kids.
Rear seats should be built to withstand 6 children partying, with games like pillow-fight, kick-the-knob, and bump-the-front-seatback-to-annoy-the-grown-ups.

Listen, if you kick a knob it will LIKELY break or fall off.
 
I simply said whoring because that's what happens in fleets, all of the cars are given out to different people all of the time(hence the whoring term).
 
So you're telling me that if I kick the rear climate control knobs in the only worthy three row crossover Enclave the knob will stay put!? Miraculous!
(rolleyes)

CX7lover -- You're not getting my point. Obviously the concept of "children" is beyond you. Your choice of words for people who use this vehicle for their family needs is insulting. As a long term test car, this vehicle is subjected to all types of testing situations, NOT JUST THE ONES YOU, as a reader, DEEM APPROPRIATE.
 
Maybe your concept of "whoring" is different from mine, and that may be fine in your circle of friends, but not in a publication such as this. I'm sure if there were any female readers, they wouldn't take kindly to your choice of words.
 
Sometimes, it's the loose knobs that really ruin the rest of the machine.

You're really taking what I said into another meaning to make a point, ti doesn't work that way.
 
This is testing, among many different people with different families, I'm sorry if you took "whoring out" a vehicle as derogatory to any person, you're just a little too sensitive.
 
These testing conditions are not real life situations, it's more like a rental/leasing fleet that the Edmunds staff gets to drive around and report back on. And these cars are constantly being heavily used, the fact that it's falling off and no one even knew how or what happened(like the stained seats on two cars in the LT fleet, they we're clueless as to how it came up and blamed it on questionable leather quality) shows that they don't keep a close eye on how the problems originated, like someone kicking it or it simply breaking off, which has a lot to do with why it's like this, is it quality or carelessness?
 
No one knows because the cars are always in different hands (being whored out) and those hands clearly don't care all of the time.

lilaj, I've always heard positive opinions of Mazda interiors. I was surprised when I read this.
 
Remember everyone. Something always snaps off in every Edmunds LT vehicle. It is their curse, and we hassle them about it. Its good noting this so if anyone has heard about this happening on other CX-9s, then it is an issue. If not, just assume it is part of the Edmunds curse. The Aura's steering? Since many people wrote in saying it happened to them too, then you can count it as a problem. the sunroof piece (I forgot which car)? I don't recall anyone else experiencing that, so I'd consider it a one time thing.

"And I think Mazda's interiors are usually class leading."
 
Are you serious? This just shows how people's impressions are affected by the brand name. Mazda's interiors are average across the board. The 6 and CX-7 are full of hard plastics. I believe Mazdas interiors have a lot of similar themes as Pontiac interiors and the press generally bashes Pontiac interiors. Both brands use red back lighting as well.
 
If these knobs are off due to improper use by kid why isnt this happening in every other CUV in the fleet?

I've always liked the build quality of Mazda interiors, but I haven't been in the CX-9. The 3 and 6 seem pretty nice. There are some hard plastics, but I find they generally blend in pretty well and you wouldn't even know to look.

Mazda interiors look about average for their price segment. They arent as bad as Chrysler or Mistsubishi interiors but they arent close to class leading. If they werent Mazdas I doubt people would be so complimentary. the 6 is full of hard plastics and it looks relatively cheap upon inspection and when you touch things they feel like you suspected they would. The pics of the Euro 6 suggest the new model wont be much better. The CX-7's interior is no better than that of the cheaper 3.

I think the 6 looks quite nice upon inspection-the entire upper half of the car is soft touch. The lower half--a sea of hard, gray plastic--could use some work, however. The center stack is hard but I guess thats the price you pay for aluminum trim, which, in my opinion, makes it look nicer.
 
Overall, I'd put the 6's interior above competing interiors from everything except Honda.
 
I'd put the CX-9's interior and the 3's interior above everything in its price class.

1487, they're new interiors are ALWAYS either above average or just what you should expect for the money, the CX-7 has gotten mixed reviews but when you compare it to the competition and not the Murano, which is thousands more comparably equipped, it's above average, the Outlander is just simply cheap, but good for the money before you start adding options, the CR-V has a lot of hard plastic, and some feel a bit cheap, but good materials throughout. The Rogue is good but bland, The RAV-4 is hard and ugly looking.
ETC.
 
The CX-7's interior is pretty damn nice considering it starts at 24K and tops out with NAV and AWD at 32K.
And all of this crap about the interior not being nicer; The 3 has grainy somewhat glossy plastic throughout, the CX-7 uses different materials on the lower doors, lower dash and center console, and a more expensive looking grain of plastic on the top doors and top dash.

stovt001, really? From what I've seen and heard mazda interiors are cheap. IMO the knobs should be replaced with buttons to give it a more upscale look.

^^ LOL, read the reviews on this site, never do they site that they're unacceptably cheap, nearly all of the reviews agree that they all look nice, some of them site some cheap panels. Which is nit picking at best.

Super glue the knob, and quite crawling around in the back. Problem solved.