Home · 2011 Mazda Cx-90 Phev · Complaints

What 170 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Mazda Cx-90 Phev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (170)Crash / fire / injury (10)Brakes (99)Transmission & drivetrain (25)Airbags (22)Engine (15)Suspension (8)Electrical system (5)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (4)Speed control (4)Steering (4)Lights (3)

5 of 170 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters

Aug 22, 2022Electrical system

The front door windows no longer work. Most recently, the drivers side back door will NOT open. The lock is completely jammed - will not open or shut, which is a safety hazard for my child. The plastic parts in this car are failing and putting my family at risk.

NHTSA ODI 11480657

Jan 6, 2019Electrical systemLightsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

OUR VEHICLE HAS WATER DRAINS OR "WEEP" LINES FOR THE SUNROOF. WE RECENTLY HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STOP/START, DASH LIGHTS REMAIN ON CONSTANTLY AFTER SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY DURING THE RAIN. WE LEARNED THAT IF THE DRAINS BECOME BLOCKED THAT WATER LEAKS INTO THE CABIN DIRECTLY ONTO THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM). BECAUSE THE BCM IS NOT IN A SEALED OR WATER-PROOF CASE, YET IS SOAKED IN THESE CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE AS A RESULT. REPLACING THE BCM COSTS ABOUT $1,000. WHEN WE STARTED THE CAR THE DASH LIGHTS THAT WARN OF AN ISSUE WITH MANY OF THE VEHICLES SAFETY SYSTEMS REMAINED ON. OTHERS WENT OFF AND SOFT OF FLASHED. WE COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THERE WAS REALLY AN ISSUE WITH ALL OF THE COMPONENTS FLASHING ON THE DASH SO WE DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT. OUR VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY (THANK GOD). WE WAITED FOR A WHILE AND WERE ABLE TO LEAVE FOR HOME, BUT THIS CONDITION IS CLEARLY A HUGE SAFETY RISK.

NHTSA ODI 11165496

Dec 16, 2015BrakesElectrical systemSpeed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-9. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS THE WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,727. UPDATED 06/15/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE ACCELERATED FROM A STOP LIGHT, AS SHE TURNED THE CORNER. SHE THEN REALIZED, SHE COULD NOT BRAKE, OR STEER THE VEHICLE. SHE HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE DEALER BELIEVED IT WAS A VACUUM PROBLEM AS SHE BRAKED SLIGHTLY WHEN SHE TURNED THE CORNED. UPDATED 06/16/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI 10810700

Feb 4, 2015Electrical systemEngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AT NIGHT, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FLICKERING LIGHT COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FLAMES ENGULFED THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NEITHER THE CONTACT NOR THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 10681222

Nov 17, 2014Electrical systemEngineFire

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 77, NORTH BOUND, AT 55MPH, OTHER MOTORISTS INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE UNDERNEATH. THERE WERE NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS OR SIGNALS THAT CAME ON IT LIGHT UP AS A WARNING SIGN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE PUT OUT THE FIRE AND THE CAR WAS TOWED. THE CAR IS QUITE NEW AND WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE. WELL MAINTAINED CAR. NO RECENT WORK OTHER THAN REGULAR OIL CHANGE. MAZDA DENIES ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10658607

Working with the data? Download all 170 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 18, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Mazda Cx-90 Phev verdict →