What 308 owners told NHTSA about the 2024 Mazda Cx-90-mhev

On March 27, 2026, while driving approximately 20-35 mph on a city street in clear daytime conditions, my vehicle unexpectedly activated Smart Brake Support (SBS) and applied the brakes hard enough to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. There was no vehicle directly in front of me and no obvious obstruction that would have required emergency braking. Immediately prior to braking, the vehicle displayed brake warnings and alerts inside the cabin. The sudden braking created a safety risk because the vehicle came to a complete stop in an active travel lane without warning. Had another vehicle been following closely, a rear-end collision could have occurred. The event was reported to my Mazda dealership, Herzog-Meier Mazda, on March 30, 2026, the next business day after it occurred. The dealership advised that the vehicle should not have behaved this way because the applicable software update related to the Smart Brake Support system had already been installed. The vehicle was subsequently returned to the dealership for further investigation on April 22, 2026, and remained there for an extended period while Mazda reviewed the incident. Mazda regional technical personnel reviewed vehicle data and confirmed that Smart Brake Support activated during the event. Mazda's conclusion was that the system operated as designed because vehicle data indicated a perceived collision risk. However, Mazda also stated that no camera footage from the event was retained and that the surrounding conditions could not be independently verified. As a result, Mazda was unable to identify what specific object or condition triggered the emergency braking event. No repairs were performed, and Mazda recommended returning the vehicle to service. The Smart Brake Support system remains available for inspection. The event has been reviewed by the dealership, Mazda regional technical personnel, and Mazda Customer Experience. No defect was acknowledged by Mazda, despite the unexpected full braking event

NHTSA ODI 11743320

Sticky Steering wheel issue. Would not let vehicle turn and would hold. Safety issue as almost hit the curb and others serval times. Need to pull hard out of it

NHTSA ODI 11743005

The contact owns a 2024 Mazda CX-90. The contact stated that while the front passenger seat was occupied by her [XXX] daughter, weighing [XXX], on several occasions, the front passenger's side airbag warning light remained illuminated, indicating the system failed to detect the occupant. Additionally, after the passenger exited the vehicle, the seat belt warning chime consistently sounded. The vehicle was taken to three different dealers, where the failure could not be replicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11742953

There is momentary increase in steering effort during the drive cycle in model year (MY) 2024 Mazda CX-90 vehicle. Sometimes, I have to push too hard when turning the steering back from a turn. This problem was initially fixed on my vehicle by a recall campaign(24V-022 ) in 2024, but the issue has now reappeared.

NHTSA ODI 11742726

POWERTRAIN The vehicle will jerk forward when taking off from a stop. Happened 2 times today 6/7/2026 in the span of 1 hour. Both times within 1 minutes minute of driving amd gettimg to a stop. Safety at risk of i am teyomg to get into a road where traffic is coming. Has not been checked by a dealer. No warning lights or otjer symptoms

NHTSA ODI 11742596

Vehicle radiator cracked at 31k miles on the highway leaving myself and my family stranded. My roof has been leaking since I bought the vehicle and Mazda keeps saying they can't replicate the issue and if I can find it they will then fix it. I don't think that's my job. I bought a car that I expected to be able to drive safely without issues. I don't want to play find the issue because I'm not a mechanic or manufacturer. It has been in and out of the shop since purchase in October 2023. Longest period was about 28 days. It's currently in the shop for the radiator and many people are having the same issue. They say I am 3 weeks past warranty but with these items being known issue I don't want to have to pay for them.

NHTSA ODI 11742001

radiator cracked causing overheating in need of repair. did not hit potholes, was not in an accident. 46,000 miles, 2024.

NHTSA ODI 11741523

My 2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus has experienced repeated hybrid system failures. The vehicle currently has an active "Hybrid System Malfunction" warning light. This is the latest in a series of 17 recalls and recurring defects since purchase in July 2023. Most recently, the vehicle was out of service from February 14, 2026 to approximately March 18, 2026 due to a severe transmission fluid leak, which the dealer (Nealson Mazda Cool Springs, TN) acknowledged was common in this model. The current hybrid system malfunction warning poses a direct safety concern as it affects the vehicle's powertrain and reliability. I am a daily driver of this vehicle and have two young children who ride in it regularly.

NHTSA ODI 11741525

While driving, the vehicle experiences dangerous episodes of what is widely known as "sticky steering." Specifically, when initiating a sweeping left-hand turn, the steering wheel hits a point of sudden mechanical resistance, requiring an unexpected and sudden increase in steering effort to turn the wheel. When trying to maintain or exit the turn, this resistance causes the steering wheel to bind and pull to the right, requiring forceful manual over-correction to keep the vehicle in its lane and prevent a crash. This is an intermittent but recurring mechanical failure that completely disrupts smooth steering operation. It matches the exact profile of the ongoing NHTSA Recall Query into the failure of Mazda's original Recall 24V022 (Campaign 6524A) remedy.

NHTSA ODI 11741420

The steering wheel does get stuck while turning sometimes and feels very dangerous. This has happened many times and I felt the recall fixed the issue, but does not appear to have fixed it. I do not feel comfortable with family members and my wife does not even want to drive this car anymore.

NHTSA ODI 11741047

We purchased a certified preowned 2024 Mazda CX90 yesterday. Within the first 10 minutes of driving off the lot, I experienced tugging, pulling and a sticking sensation of the steering. It first happened when I turned right and took a good amount of force to unstick it, and then it happened maybe 3 more times when making minor adjustments or making turns going left or right. It felt extremely unsafe to me and could cause serious accident. I called our sales agent immediately to let them know that I would like this looked at and addressed by the service department. The car had just been serviced and inspected the day before, and if I remember correctly from the carfax report, I believe that this issue had been addressed in the past. This poses a major safety risk.

NHTSA ODI 11740522

When turning or taking corners, sometimes the steering wheel will straight up just be stuck in place and I will have to use extra force to move it. Mazda claims the recall for this has already been performed on my vehicle, but the issue has returned. This confirms the reports I’ve seen where the “fix” Mazda has done on this does not actually fix the problem and makes me worry heavily for my families life when driving them in this vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11740640

My car is experiencing "sticky" steering during wide sweeping left turns that are long duration at a moderate speed (like highway on-ramps or intersections). Steering sticks when re-centering the wheel after the turn. I would describe it as a brief "stuck" feeling mid-drive where extra effort is needed to get out of turn. It has been happening since 02/2024.

NHTSA ODI 11740731

I am reporting a persistent steering problem with my 2024 Mazda CX-90. While driving, especially when the highway bends to the left, the steering wheel feels like it sticks or partially locks at a certain left-turn position. When I try to return the steering wheel back toward center to continue straight, I have to apply extra force to overcome the resistance. Once it breaks free, the steering returns, but the sticking creates an unsafe delay and unexpected steering effort. The problem is persistent and has happened repeatedly, not just one time. It is most noticeable when coming out of a left curve. If I steer farther left, it may not bind the same way, but at a certain steering angle it catches or sticks. This creates a safety risk because the vehicle may not smoothly return to straight-ahead steering after a curve, especially at highway speed. The unexpected resistance could cause overcorrection, lane departure, or loss of control. There were no warning lights or dashboard messages before or during the issue. The vehicle has not been repaired for this issue. A Mazda dealer stated there are no open recalls for the vehicle, but the symptom appears similar to reported CX-90 sticky steering / increased steering effort complaints and the prior Mazda steering recall campaign involving the steering gear/worm gear assembly. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The failed or malfunctioning system appears to be the steering system, possibly the electric power steering rack or steering gear assembly.

NHTSA ODI 11740472

I am submitting a safety complaint regarding my 2024 Mazda CX-90 (VIN: [XXX] ). My vehicle previously received the steering recall repair related to increased steering effort/power steering concerns. Despite the recall remedy being completed, I continue to experience intermittent abnormal steering behavior consistent with the ongoing NHTSA investigation into post-recall “sticky steering” concerns on repaired CX-90 vehicles. Symptoms include intermittent steering resistance, a notchy or sticky feeling during small steering corrections, and inconsistent steering return-to-center behavior. The issue is most noticeable during highway driving and long curves where small steering inputs are required. The steering occasionally feels as though it hesitates or briefly resists movement before correcting. I brought the vehicle to the dealership, but the concern was dismissed and/or they were unable to duplicate the issue. No warning lights or fault codes were present at the time. However, the steering behavior remains concerning from a safety standpoint because it affects normal steering feel and driver confidence during operation. I understand NHTSA is currently investigating whether the original recall remedy fully corrected the steering defect in affected Mazda CX-90 vehicles. I am submitting this complaint because my vehicle appears to exhibit symptoms consistent with those reports after recall completion INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11739894

Low voltage battery system Safety is at risk because vehicle could loose power and be forced into a turtle mode cause injury from sudden slow down Yes there were warning lights This is a continued problem identified but other owners and consistently replaced

NHTSA ODI 11739844

Steering wheel became stuck when making a long left turn while driving on the freeway. The turn lasted approximately 30 seconds. Around 3-4 seconds into the turn, the steering wheel suddenly locked up for approximately 1-2 seconds. Eventually the steering wheel was released resulting in a sudden jerk, leading to the car veering to the right lane. A correction was made using the steering wheel to maintain center lane. Once again the steering wheel got stuck, resulting in the same jerk behavior. This occurred three times in the 30-second turn. I have not attempted this route since this incident. Prior to this incident, the front end suspension made a grinding noise when turning the steering wheel left (e.g., backing up into the garage). There is minor vibration on the steering wheel but not too noticeable due to the low speeds. A recall was previously performed back in 2025 to correct the grinding suspension. However, it returned several months after along with the minor steering wheel issue. I plan to report this at the next scheduled maintenance interval.

NHTSA ODI 11739596

The vehicle started to hydroplane in rain on the highway and the lane keeping assist aggressively tried to push me back, which ended up causing us to hydroplane more and causing the vehicle to flip around backwards and we ended up sliding completely off the highway into a ditch totaling the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11739623

The steering wheel on our Mazda CX-90 has been getting stuck when turning the vehicle. This failure occurs when there is a slight turn in the wheel (approximately 25-45 degrees). The steering wheel gets stuck and the driver has to use force to "break" it loose. This action causes the vehicle to overcorrect into either the lane next to vehicle or into oncoming traffic. I have done research and Mazda has acknowledged that this is a known issue and even issued a recall for our 2024 Mazda CX-90. However, Mazda has also more recently come forward and said that their corrective action does not always correct the recalled issue. We recently had a near miss into oncoming traffic while trying to "unstick" our steering wheel. We have called and email Mazda and they have stated there is nothing new they can do to correct this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11739391

When I’m driving, the steering wheel suddenly gets stuck and pulls against me with force. This is extremely dangerous, especially on the freeway or when going over a bridge — the car pulls in the opposite direction of where I’m steering. The brakes also start squealing very loudly. It feels like the steering wheel is about to lock up while I’m driving, and I’ve had to physically fight it to keep control of the car. This is a serious safety risk, and it feels like the vehicle could lose steering at any moment.

NHTSA ODI 11738895

Vehicle steering issues. Steering wheel binds, jerks, increased effort while turning.

NHTSA ODI 11738538

The contact leases a 2024 Mazda CX-90. The contact stated that on two separate occasions while stopped and the ON/OFF feature was activated, the vehicle shut off. The contact stated that several warning messages including the "Engine Malfunction ", "Charging System Malfunction", and "Eye Active Sense System Malfunction" appeared on the instrument panel. The contact then stated that she had received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V816000( Electrical System, Power Train). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the vehicle was serviced. The contact stated that while driving at a 20 MPH, the vehicle shut off as the previous warning messages appeared on the instrument panel. The contact managed to restart the vehicle; however, an audible beeping sound persisted. Due to the failure, the contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer kept the vehicle for nearly two weeks where they replaced the mild hybrid battery. Despite the latest repair, the contact expressed concern about the vehicle being that the failure occurred while her two young children were in the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure in a letter and requested to have them replace the vehicle under her lease. The manufacturer denied the contact's request and closed the case. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

NHTSA ODI 11738616

There is a recurrent steering wheel issue. The issue was first addressed during the national recall campaign 6524A / NHTSA 24V-022 where it received the recall repair. The exact same dangerous issue has returned. The issue currently, is best described as having to wrestle with the steering wheel at all speeds when minor corrections are needed. That is, the steering becomes binding, catching, and creating a ratcheting sensation in both low speed maneuvers and at minor corrections during highway driving. This constant position "sticking" of the steering wheel requires me to physically pull and jerk the wheel to break it free from its position; hence the "wrestling" analogy. The vehicle was not received immediately at the dealership due to "work backlog". It is pending current review of the recurence of this symptoms.

NHTSA ODI 11738628

Hybrid battery failed causing electrical issues. - Fix in October 2024. During this time Service repair for the recall related to the power steering. Car became jerky and would lose the ability to hold turns. Took to mazda and told there was a gear housing need to be replaced. Was quoted at 4000 for the repair due to car having 49000. Mazda customer service stepped in and dropped the price in half. Eventually cover the majority of the cost as we reported this as a safety issue and it only camp up after the recall was performed for the power steering and the suspension was fixed. In the service report, Technician stated that the steering has fuse to the sway bar. I am now very concerned the sway bar is unsafe. Mazda did not comment on this when I ask. It appears as the fix one thing more continue to break. with The issues the lane assist continues to have issues seems to struggle with alignment issues. Car was with Mazda for 7 weeks during the 1st year of owning it. I am also concerned with some of the finding as I look at them with details pertaining to original purchase and miles being reported on our documents. Living in Kentucky the Lemon law does help with providing any sort of real action plans on CPO. Break have been squeaky causing uneven feedback. This issue has worsened over time. Car was purchased CPO - in April of 2025.

NHTSA ODI 11737784

Component/System: Steering System (Electronic Power Steering / Steering Rack) What happened? I am experiencing a recurring and escalating failure of the steering system on my Mazda CX-90 PHEV. Currently, the steering wheel momentarily "locks up" or experiences a sudden, significant increase in resistance (stickiness) during left turns, especially when a large steering angle is applied. This occurs intermittently and without any warning lamps or error messages on the dashboard. Safety Risk: This failure poses a severe safety risk as it hinders my ability to complete turns smoothly and predictably. The sudden resistance requires unexpected physical effort to overcome, which could lead to a loss of vehicle control or a collision, especially in tight maneuvers or emergency situations. History & Inspection: Previous Symptoms: Approximately one year ago, the vehicle exhibited a "grinding/squeaking" noise when the steering wheel was turned to full lock. Prior Repair: A dealership inspected the vehicle and performed a recall repair (related to Recall 24V-022) by applying grease to the steering components. This temporarily resolved the noise. Recurrence: The noise has recently returned, and the new issue of "momentary locking" has now emerged. Inspection Status: The vehicle has been previously inspected for the related recall, and the current malfunctioning system is available for inspection upon request. Additional Context: I am reporting this because I believe the initial recall fix (grease application) was insufficient, and the vehicle is now demonstrating the "sticky steering" symptoms currently under NHTSA investigation (RQ26002).

NHTSA ODI 11737654