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

My 2024 Mazda CX-90 MHEV has experienced multiple life-threatening sudden engine stalls and a complete loss of motive power while driving in active traffic lanes. The first incident occurred on December 31, 2024, when the vehicle abruptly shut down with an "Engine Malfunction" dashboard alert. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Mazda dealership (Palatine, IL), where it was held for a week, but technicians stated they could not replicate the issue and returned the car to me as safe. On March 30, 2026, the exact same failure recurred. While driving, the engine suddenly shut off completely at a traffic intersection. After turning the vehicle off for 5 minutes, it was restarted and driven to another authorized Mazda dealership (Crystal Lake, IL) for specialized diagnostic scanning. The second dealership successfully retrieved stored diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P061B, which is directly linked to safety recall 24V-815 (Loss of Drive Power from Software Errors). Crucially, the detailed diagnostic scan revealed that this code was historically stored with a timestamp dating back to December 2024. This proves that the safety defect was active and detectable during the first dealer visit 16 months prior, but was completely missed by the first dealership, leaving my family with an ongoing crash hazard. To address the failure, the dealership replaced the low-pressure fuel pump in the fuel tank and a mass airflow (MAF) sensor. However, Mazda Corporate customer experience has formally stated to me in writing that they are "not in a position to guarantee the concern will not reoccur." Because this safety-critical propulsion failure causes the vehicle to suddenly die in traffic and has a documented history of ineffective recall remediation, it poses an unresolved, severe crash risk. The vehicle is currently in my possession and available for inspection.

NHTSA ODI 11737446

The vehicle experienced a sudden and repeated malfunction of the hybrid/electrical system and powertrain, resulting in the vehicle becoming inoperable. The vehicle is currently at the dealership and is available for inspection upon request. While driving in traffic, multiple warning messages appeared, including "Hybrid System Malfunction," "Charging System Malfunction," "Engine Malfunction," "Brake" and "i-ACTIVSENSE System Malfunction." The vehicle lost functionality and could not operate normally, creating a dangerous situation in active traffic. I was forced to slowly maneuver the vehicle to the shoulder after several restart attempts. This issue has been reproduced multiple times. The vehicle has previously been inspected and repaired by an authorized dealership, including recent repairs (12V battery and engine mounts). Despite these repairs, the same critical malfunction occurred again shortly after the vehicle was returned as repaired. The vehicle is currently being inspected again by the dealership. The issue has not yet been permanently resolved. Prior to the failure, the vehicle had a history of similar warning messages and abnormal behavior beginning at approximately 20,000 miles. These issues have continued intermittently despite multiple repair attempts. The repeated failures, including the most recent incident, indicate an ongoing unresolved defect that creates a significant safety concern. This issue is a continuation of a previously reported complaint (NHTSA Report No. 11734505).

NHTSA ODI 11736989

I own a 2024 Mazda CX-90. The vehicle has an intermittent steering concern where the steering wheel feels like it sticks, catches, or becomes notchy during normal driving. It is most noticeable when making small steering corrections to stay centered in the lane, and I have also noticed it during turns, including while entering an on-ramp. The component/system I believe is malfunctioning is the steering system, potentially the electric power steering and/or steering gear assembly. This creates a safety concern because the steering does not always feel smooth or predictable. When the steering wheel momentarily resists input or feels stuck, it can require extra effort to correct. This could increase the risk of delayed steering input, overcorrection, or difficulty maintaining the intended path of travel, especially at highway speeds or on curved roads. Mazda Safety Recall 6524A / NHTSA Campaign 24V-022 was previously performed on this vehicle. Despite the recall repair being completed, the sticky/notchy steering condition is still occurring intermittently. The problem was evaluated by a Mazda service department. During the service visit, Mazda service personnel also felt issues with the steering. I was informed they are looking for Mazda to follow up, including any additional guidance related to NHTSA Recall Query RQ26002, which I understand is reviewing sticky steering/increased steering effort after the original 24V-022 recall remedy. I am submitting this complaint because the vehicle is experiencing steering symptoms similar to Mazda Safety Recall 6524A / NHTSA Campaign 24V-022, even though the original recall remedy was already performed. The continued sticky/notchy steering behavior appears consistent with the type of post-remedy concern being reviewed under NHTSA Recall Query RQ26002 and presents a safety concern.

NHTSA ODI 11737005

While driving the "power steering failure" light came on, and then went off. I checked my VIN and it says there's no recalls needed for the vehicle, but I have read that there's a lot of this happening. It happened twice in less than 2 months of ownership.

NHTSA ODI 11737081

The car thinks the key fob is inside the vehicle when it is not. If you get out of the vehicle it will not self lock even if you have that feature set up. It will also beep consistently for about 10 seconds when you press the lock button on the key fob when your outside of the car, indicating that there is a key fob in the car....but there is not. The most concerning thing is you can get into the car and start it without any key fob inside the vehicle. It always thinks the key fob is in it, at all the time and will start without any key fob in it. This is not an occasional thing. It has been like this since we pirchased it from Mazda as a CPO vehicle. It's been doing this for all 2 months that we've owned it. We currently have an appointment with the dealership to take it in for them to hopefully fix it as well as other issues.

NHTSA ODI 11737085

When turning on the heater or AC, the car blows out a coolant smell out of the vents. It does it every time the heat is turned on or switched over to AC. We have another appointment with the dealership to have this looked at, as well as many other issues we're having with this vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11737090

The steering seems to stick when turning wide turns. Seems to happen both directions. It feels like it’s being held or assisted in place, but the steering control is disabled.

NHTSA ODI 11736743

While driving at highway speeds (55–65 mph), the steering intermittently sticks or resists movement during turns. It feels like the steering binds or hesitates before responding, requiring additional force to correct the turn. This occurred multiple times on a Reno–Sacramento trip on 5/7/2026. This is a serious safety concern because it affects the ability to maintain lane control at highway speeds. Mazda Corporate has been notified on 5/7/2026. Roseville Mazda-appointment scheduled 5/16/2026.

NHTSA ODI 11736432

Steering is horrible specifically to the left in a curve it doesn't go back to center when letting it you have to force it which is jerking car back right into other lane off the road. The brakes squeal awful the car has about 40,000 miles on it. Can't see any recall on any of this with my car but it definitely has issues.

NHTSA ODI 11736099

I am reporting a persistent and dangerous "sticky steering" defect in my 2024 Mazda CX-90. While driving at various speeds, the steering wheel exhibits sudden, momentary resistance and physical binding, requiring increased manual force to overcome. In several instances, the vehicle veers into other lanes and, if not corrected, would enter into the median/other lanes of traffic. This vehicle has been to the dealership three times for this specific issue and has been out of service for a cumulative total of 36 days. Despite a "repair" attempt by the dealership, the nonconformity persists. The dealership initially attempted to attribute this mechanical binding to the Lane Keep Assist (LKA) system; however, I have personally conducted road tests with the LKA system fully disabled, and the physical "stickiness" remains present. I am aware of NHTSA’s 2026 Recall Query (RQ26) regarding the effectiveness of Mazda’s steering remedies for this model. Even though my vehicle does not fall under the recall for this issue, my vehicle is currently exhibiting the exact failure symptoms that the federal government is investigating as a potential safety risk. The sudden increase in steering effort is unpredictable and poses a significant risk of over-correction or loss of control, especially in highway traffic. During the most recent repair attempt by the dealership, they were unable to duplicate the issue; however, it is very prominent and concerning. There is no warning of when it will occur. If the vehicle veers over the line on either the right or left, the lane keep assist (LKA) will engage to correct the vehicle. In some instances, the resistance is too strong for the LKA to correct the vehicle, and it requires driver correction.

NHTSA ODI 11736102

On April 29, 2026, my 2024 Mazda CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus experienced a steering malfunction while I was entering a right turn. The vehicle had Mazda steering recall 6524A / NHTSA Campaign 24V-022 marked closed/completed before this crash. I was traveling on a familiar road and attempted a normal right turn that I make regularly. As I attempted to turn, with no warning lamps, warning messages, or prior warning immediately before the incident, the steering wheel suddenly required abnormal effort, felt stuck, and would not turn normally. I was in complete shock from the sudden steering issue and abnormal resistance. The vehicle then struck the curb, left the roadway, and traveled down an embankment/grade of approximately 15 feet into a residential yard. The crash involved significant driver-side/front-left damage. The front driver-side wheel/tire separated and was found near the vehicle. The driver-side airbags deployed. Scene evidence included curb/edge impact damage, debris, and a deep ground-level rut/indentation below the roadway. This incident placed me and others at serious risk because the vehicle left the roadway and entered a residential property. The vehicle and failed components are available for inspection upon request. To my knowledge, the only prior inspection or repair related to the steering system was performed by the Mazda dealership in December 2025, when recall 6524A was marked closed/completed along with other recalls. The vehicle has not yet been independently inspected for this crash-related steering concern. Before the crash, the vehicle had multiple issues and spent significant time at the dealership for recall and non-recall repairs. One ongoing issue was a brief grinding/rubbing noise when accelerating from low speeds, which existed before the dealer work and continued afterward. Mazda/dealer indicated this low-speed grinding/rubbing noise was a known reported issue with no fix at that time.

NHTSA ODI 11736104

I purchase my vehicle used around November 2025, in February 2026 we started to notice a little bit of stiffness while driving in curves it usually happens when taking a right curve. Now it has got worse to the point where it feels like the steering wheel is getting stuck while taking a curve. It looks like previous owner had already done a recall on this vehicle for that issue but it has started to have issues again.

NHTSA ODI 11736194

This issue I’ve seen on different forums just happened to me. Lower radiator hose leaking. Car is at 37000 miles and under no circumstance should this be happening to a new vehicle, Mazda has known about the issue apparently in my model year the manufacturing over tighted the clamp causing it to fail prematurely. This can be catastrophic especially since these leaks are just waiting to happen. If someone was on the highway it would be dangerous

NHTSA ODI 11735826

The steering sticks both left and right while driving. The danger of overcorrection and/or running off the road. This has not been looked at by anyone yet. I know this is a reportable defect but it's not attached to this vehicle yet. No warning lights. This was noticed within the first week of owning the vehicle (second owner).

NHTSA ODI 11735664

When driving at highway speeds, steering wheel locks in leftward position. I cannot manually move the steering wheel at this time for around 15 seconds. It happens unexpectedly and is a safety hazard. I brought it to Mazda dealership and they did not fix it. They performed an airbag clockspring replacement and this has not fixed the issue.

NHTSA ODI 11735033

The power steering system in our 2024 Mazda CX-90 intermittently "sticks" while steering, requiring noticeably increased effort to turn the wheel before it suddenly releases. The symptom matches the defect described in NHTSA Recall 24V-022 (sticky steering due to worm gear friction in the power steering assembly) and the ongoing NHTSA Recall Query into vehicles where the 24V-022 remedy has failed to resolve the issue. Component: Power steering gear / worm gear assembly. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: The intermittent increase in steering effort followed by sudden release creates a real risk of overcorrection, particularly during lane changes, highway driving, and turns from a stop. The driver cannot predict when the wheel will resist or release, which compromises the ability to maintain a consistent lane position and respond to road conditions. Dealer/service confirmation: UNKNOWN at this time — we are scheduling a dealer inspection. We will update if the dealer reproduces or documents the condition. Manufacturer/police/insurance inspection: None to date. No crash has occurred. Warning lamps or messages: None. No dashboard warnings, no error codes, and no messages have appeared before or during the sticking events. The condition is purely tactile through the steering wheel and is intermittent. The vehicle's recall status shows no active open recalls, suggesting any prior remedy under 24V-022 was already performed, yet the sticky steering symptom is still present — consistent with the complaints driving the current NHTSA investigation.

NHTSA ODI 11734905

The sterring wheel becomes stiff and hard to steer. It veers to the right. Almost like it locks up. Very concerning.

NHTSA ODI 11734988

1) What component or system failed? The issue appears to involve the vehicle’s electrical system and hybrid system, as well as brake-related electronic systems. The vehicle displayed multiple warnings including “Hybrid System Malfunction” and “Critical Vehicle Malfunction.” The electronic parking brake system was also affected during the incident, including a situation where the brake could not be released while the vehicle was in motion. The affected components are available for inspection upon request. 2) How was safety put at risk? Safety was put at risk because the malfunction occurred while driving and involved critical system warnings and brake-related issues, including the inability to release the electronic parking brake. The sudden appearance of a “Critical Vehicle Malfunction” warning during operation created concern about potential loss of vehicle control and safe braking capability in traffic. 3) Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer? The issue has not been fully resolved. The vehicle previously underwent service for a high-voltage hybrid battery replacement, but the current symptoms continue to occur repeatedly. The problem has not yet been confirmed as permanently resolved by the dealer. 4) Has the vehicle been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance, etc.? UNKNOWN 5) Were there warning lamps or symptoms before failure? Yes. Over the past two weeks, multiple warning lights and messages have appeared almost daily, including: Check Engine Light Hybrid System Malfunction i-Stop malfunction Intermittent brake / electronic parking brake warnings A “Critical Vehicle Malfunction” warning occurred once while driving, along with multiple simultaneous alerts. These warnings sometimes disappear after restarting the vehicle but consistently reappear during normal driving.

NHTSA ODI 11734505

The contact owns a 2024 Mazda CX-90. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the steering wheel was stiff and was sticking while turning. Additionally, the vehicle failed to drive straight. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V022000 (STEERING); however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, where the failure was associated with the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,950.

NHTSA ODI 11734609

Steering randomly gets stuck in a ‘notch’ on sweeping left hand turns and needs to be forced back to centre with a lot of effort. Mazda dealer has dismissed the issue on 3 separate occasions as they cannot replicate on the very short test drive they take it on near the shop despite asking them to take it on a longer test. I do not feel confident or safe driving the car on the highway due to this defect.

NHTSA ODI 11734685

Steering wheel feels stuck about the 2:30 position, requiring to pull steering wheel back .

NHTSA ODI 11734393

We bought or Mazda cx 90 pre owned from a dealer so all recalls, billions etc had been taken care of. We been to notice a “sticky” steering wheel which is gradually getting worse. When taking on/off ramps on interstate we must yank steering wheel to correct direction as the wheel doesn’t move on its own. We are very concerned we will be in a serious wreck due to this. There is not a current recall or bulletin out from Mazda. We do plan to contact Mazda to have them hopefully give us a new steering column. This should be a recall for all 2014 Mazdas as this is a serious safety concern.

NHTSA ODI 11734118

This was an issue included in a prior recall (NHTSA #24V022000). My car received the Mazda repair for this recall but this did not solve the problem. Steering wheel still sticks when turning. I then have to overcorrect in the opposite direction to unstick out of the turn which results in the car suddenly jolting in the opposite direction once the steering wheel becomes unstuck. I see this as dangerous as it could cause an accident.

NHTSA ODI 11733912

Radiator leaking at seems causing engine to overheat. The radiators on 2024 and earlier CX-90 are failing at the seems of the radiator. This is a known issue to Mazda, hundreds of vehicles are having to be repaired for this manufacturing defect and they are charging the consumer $2800.00 to repair something which should be covered under a recall. This vehicle is a lemon and they refuse to stand behind their product.

NHTSA ODI 11733664

Steering wheel is constantly sticking and making it difficult to make certain turns. This is especially difficult on exit ramps and is a serious safety issue:

NHTSA ODI 11733174