After 70 thousand miles the transmission failed costing me 5,500 to replace, there's no dip stick to check on the transmission fluid, I was told it's a life time fluid.

I bought a 2012 CX-9 AWD Grand touring model in 2016 with 59k miles on the odometer. We now have 178K miles on the odometer and we still love the car. It has been rock solid. In 7 years and now with 178k on the odo, the only maintenance has been an alternator and a radiator. Of course oil changes/brakes/battery as any car would need. The leather heated seats still look new and work great. It's very roomy... with all seats down we can fit a twin mattress in the back. I have towed a popup camper several times a year and it tows it like it's not there (about 2000lbs). The awd goes through snow easily, but I doubt if it is hardly ever engaging and would probably have been fine with FWD only. We plan on driving the CX-9 until it has at least 250k on the odo, which should take about 4 more years. As others have stated, the mpg is a little low for this class of vehicle. We get around 17.5 mpg mostly until we get out on the highway, where we can get 22-23mpg.

I purchased a used 2012 cx9 five years ago with 60K miles. Now the odo reads 165K miles. Despite new fuel injectors, a complete tune-up, change of plugs, wires, fuel line, etc., it is getting a miserable 10mpg in spite that I am easy driver, make slow turns, and rarely have floored it, and, I have taken the CX9 just one long trip to PA from Washington DC. These last six months I have sunk over 4 to 5K $ in maintenance and repairs fees. On top of that, it remains with a burned-out moonroof and right front pax window switch, leaky power steeling fluid, burned out fog lights, broken tailgate, floppy driver side visor ($250 to replace), a never worked parking brake, odd sounds under the right right front wheel well complemented with a suspension similar to an Amish horse drawn wagon over Baltimore and DC's terrible roads and streets. Yes, the engine remains zoom zoom zoom, the electrical system aside from the other complaints is flawless, the leather on all the seats are in great shape and comfortable, the AC blows plenty of cold air still, the Bose audio system is excellent, the GPS is so so (likely it needs updates). Road noise and wind noise from one of the windows are quite loud and it shows in the aging vehicle. I love the height of this model so I can run over curbs and deep snow and deep water. When I had newer tires no amount of snow ever slowed this puppy down. I do loathe the leather seats without venting holes to cool off the body though. Visibility is excellent. The rear backup cam still functions fine. If only the suspension were smoother and had significantly better mph I would keep it to 300,000 miles. However, now that I am getting older, my next ride must now have a velvety suspension, far less road noise, and much greater mpg.