Home · 2021 Mazda Cx-90 · Complaints

What 34 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 Mazda Cx-90

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 (34)Crash / fire / injury (6)Engine (17)Brakes (4)Driver assistance (3)Airbags (2)Backup camera & sensors (2)Transmission & drivetrain (2)Electrical system (1)Speed control (1)Steering (1)Suspension (1)

Newest first · 34 complaints · page 2 of 2

Oct 20, 2022Engine

1000 miles before first ever oil change was needed (according to window sticker provided by Mazda) the low engine oil light came on. The oil was low and needed to be toped off and brought directly to dealer for oil change. The same thing happened again 1300 miles before second oil change was required. It became obvious that the brand new vehicle was burning oil for some reason. The dealership tried to tell us that it was because the car was a turbo. We weren’t buying it and told them we wanted it looked at. After brining it into the dealer they mentioned that Mazda had a bulletin for a valve seal fix that might help it stop burning oil. So they admitted that yes it was burning oil. After googling the bulletin I realized that our vehicle is having the same problems that many others with 2021 Mazdas (certain production period) are having. There is currently no recall however there is proof that these problems are damaging our vehicle, putting my wife and children at risk every time they get in the car and Mazda is doing nothing about it. There is also proof that these gases from the burnt oil are damaging other engine systems further increasing the likelihood of an engine failure. Down the road. Chances are this damage is already done, despite this valve seal repair.

NHTSA ODI 11490237

Oct 13, 2022AirbagsCrash

REAR PASSENGER HANDLE AND HOOK ABOVE SEAT IN ROOF SPLINTERED INTO SHARP PROJECTILES FLYING THROUGH CABIN WHEN AIR BAG DEPLOPYED I SHOWED THE SHARP PIECES TO MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER THE POWER OF THE RIGHT CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT BROKE THE HANDLE TO PIECES AND IF ANYONE HAD BEEN IN THE BACK SEAT THEY COULD HAVE HAD AN EYE PUT OUT OR BEEN EMPLAILED BY THE SHARP PIECES

NHTSA ODI 11489125

Aug 30, 2022Engine

Massive oil consumption. Uses 1 quart or more of engine oil at around 3,000 miles after oil change. Low oil light comes on...

NHTSA ODI 11481982

Jul 18, 2022Engine

The low engine oil light is coming on every 3500 miles. When checking oil level it indeed is low and requires a quart of oil. There is an active TSB out as this is a known issue but no recall issued yet.

NHTSA ODI 11474616

Jul 14, 2022Engine

New Mazda vehicle engine is consuming approximately 1 quart of oil, approximately every 3,500 miles. No recall for this yet, however Mazda technical service bulletin TSB # 01-012/21 admits this is a common and known issue for this vehicle which may eventually lead to the vehicles engine and parts no longer functioning.

NHTSA ODI 11473943

Jun 16, 2022Engine

Every 4,000 miles my engine oil warming light comes. When the dealership checked my oil level, it was about a quart low.

NHTSA ODI 11469667

Jun 9, 2022Engine

I purchased this vehicle June 5 2021. The vehicle has approximately 9150 miles at this time. I changed the oil the first time at 3222 miles just because it was new and I wanted to have a starting point on oil changes. The car has an app you load on your cell phone for messages. The first time I received a massage that the engine was low of oil was around 6700 miles. I checked it and it was low with at the add oil mark with 3500 miles driven. I received a second message from the app stating the oil was low. Again, I checked the oil and it was to the add oil level with 9014 miles or only been driven 2300 miles. I have contacted Mazda and will take it to the dealership in a few days, but I am having to add and check the oil ever day or so. There seems to be an oil consumption issue with this engine.

NHTSA ODI 11468396

May 3, 2022Visibility & wipersBackup camera & sensors

On 4/30/2022 the rear door lift gate opened unexpectedly and hit the ceiling of a parking garage (The Summit at Las Calinas, Irving Texas) , the glass window shattered, glass fell in and outside the car. An unfamiliar beeping was heard before the accident, but the source could not be located prior to the impact with the ceiling. A lift gate ajar warning indicator light likely flashed on the dash but was not noticed. We surmised that the root cause was likely due to unintentional pressing of the rear lift gate key fob button (driver had put key fob in pants pocket). This unintentional and unexpected opening of the lift gate has happened on at least 4 prior occasions when the key fob lift gate button has been unintentional pressed. One time resulting in being hit in the head with the lift gate! Potential Risks: 1) People near the rear of the car can be struck when the lift gate unexpectedly opens, 2) Young children who are sitting in the third seat are exposed, 3) Trunk contents can spill out if not secured, 4) Valuables are exposed if lift gate opens while parked unbeknownst to the driver, 5) Damage to vehicle if rear lift gate opens in a home garage and hits the garage door, 6) other Mazda owners as reported on Reddit.(https://www.reddit.com/r/MazdaCX9/comments/mf3h5w/back_trunk_opening_by_itself/) Problem was reported to TOWN NORTH MAZDA dealer. Insurance claim not filed because cost of window replacement is below deductible. We were grateful that no one was hurt and that the car could be driven home.

NHTSA ODI 11463223

Feb 24, 2021SteeringBrakesCrash

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWNHILL WITH MINIMAL SNOW ON THE GROUND, I TAPPED MY BRAKES ABOUT 7 TIMES BEFORE THEY LOCKED UP. I WENT TO TURN TO STAY ON THE ROAD AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T BUDGE CAUSING ME TO GO OFF THE ROAD, INTO AN EMBANKMENT. VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 5-10MPH WHEN THIS OCCURED ON A CITY STREET.

NHTSA ODI 11397703

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Working with the data? Download all 34 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 11, 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 2021 Mazda Cx-90 verdict →