Why Are Tires Rolling Away From the CX-9?

The Mazda CX-9 is bringing a whole new meaning to getting a "flat tire." As in, your tire is laying flat on the side of the road after rolling away from your in-motion car.

Sound crazy? Unfortunately, it's not-- just ask some 2007-08 CX-9 owners.

The working theory is there are issues with the lower ball joints in the CX-9's front suspension that allows them to split apart. Once that happens, the wheels can come spinning off taking your commute from sunshine to horror show in 0.2 seconds flat.

Of the five reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 4 came from the "salt belt states." That has the agency wondering if corrosion is to blame as they open their investigation.