2025 Mazda CX-90 problems

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Recently, while driving our Mazda CX-90 (2025) we noticed a persistent and constant odor of fuel/gasoline vapors arise from the vehicle. We noticed this after driving the vehicle approximately 120 min from Las Vegas, NV to St. George, UT. The smell was intoxicating and nauseating. I took it into 2 local dealerships to investigate and called Mazda USA headquarters and spoke to a supervisor located in Irvine, CA. She explained to me that she gets complaints like this all the time during the summer months and that the larger Cx-90 is known to have the issue of leaking gasoline fumes/smelling of strong gasoline odor. I expressed my concerns for the safety of my family and surrounding environment including the flammable nature as well. The remedy that was provided was similar to the previous stating to park it outside and not fill up the gasoline tank greater than 3/4 full. I expressed that I drive a 2012 Honda Accord and do not have a gasoline leak nor strong odor of this magnitude nor have I ever experienced this before. We live in Las Vegas, NV. I am expected to drive my vehicle less and park it on the street all summer or when temperatures are above 100 deg? She stated, “We live in times where these newer vehicles are not made like the old ones.” I asked, “So is it this model that has the issue?” She replied, “Its the big one right, the CX-90? Yes, the bigger vehicles have this issue.” Is this considered normal to have a valve to release fuel vapors due to high pressures?

NHTSA complaint #11758863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

Istop engine malfunction Msp66, 2nd time occurring after recall fix

NHTSA complaint #11757228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

ISSUE 1 – UNINTENDED DECELERATION (Power Train): While driving at highway speeds (60–80 mph) with foot off accelerator for approximately 5+ seconds while coasting, the vehicle unexpectedly executes a sharp, single downshift causing sudden unintended deceleration and an RPM spike. No warning lights illuminate. Documented on 11 occasions between May 20, 2026 and July 29, 2026; incidents occurred prior to May 2026 but were undocumented. Occurs most frequently decelerating off highway exit ramps but also during general highway coasting in Houston, TX. A passenger was present during multiple incidents. Trailing vehicles are not anticipating the sudden speed reduction, creating rear-end collision risk. ISSUE 2 – FALSE BLIND SPOT / REAR RADAR ALERTS (ADAS): The Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Radar Sensor systems generate daily false alerts — both audible and visual — when no vehicles or objects are present. Triggers randomly across varying conditions. False alerts have caused multiple aborted lane changes that were otherwise safe to execute. ISSUE 3 – LANE KEEPING ASSISTANCE (ADAS): The LKA system applies forceful steering corrections during intentional, signal-indicated lane changes, including in areas without lane markings. Occurs at highway speeds during on/off-ramp transitions. Corrections have triggered reactive maneuvers by surrounding drivers in dense traffic, causing near-collision situations. Dealer service appointment scheduled August 6, 2026.

NHTSA complaint #11755075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

ISSUE 1 – UNINTENDED DECELERATION (Power Train): While driving at highway speeds (60–80 mph) with foot off accelerator for approximately 5+ seconds while coasting, the vehicle unexpectedly executes a sharp, single downshift causing sudden unintended deceleration and an RPM spike. No warning lights illuminate. Documented on 11 occasions between May 20, 2026 and July 29, 2026; incidents occurred prior to May 2026 but were undocumented. Occurs most frequently decelerating off highway exit ramps but also during general highway coasting in Houston, TX. A passenger was present during multiple incidents. Trailing vehicles are not anticipating the sudden speed reduction, creating rear-end collision risk. ISSUE 2 – FALSE BLIND SPOT / REAR RADAR ALERTS (ADAS): The Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Radar Sensor systems generate daily false alerts — both audible and visual — when no vehicles or objects are present. Triggers randomly across varying conditions. False alerts have caused multiple aborted lane changes that were otherwise safe to execute. ISSUE 3 – LANE KEEPING ASSISTANCE (ADAS): The LKA system applies forceful steering corrections during intentional, signal-indicated lane changes, including in areas without lane markings. Occurs at highway speeds during on/off-ramp transitions. Corrections have triggered reactive maneuvers by surrounding drivers in dense traffic, causing near-collision situations. Dealer service appointment scheduled August 6, 2026.

NHTSA complaint #11755075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

ISSUE 1 – UNINTENDED DECELERATION (Power Train): While driving at highway speeds (60–80 mph) with foot off accelerator for approximately 5+ seconds while coasting, the vehicle unexpectedly executes a sharp, single downshift causing sudden unintended deceleration and an RPM spike. No warning lights illuminate. Documented on 11 occasions between May 20, 2026 and July 29, 2026; incidents occurred prior to May 2026 but were undocumented. Occurs most frequently decelerating off highway exit ramps but also during general highway coasting in Houston, TX. A passenger was present during multiple incidents. Trailing vehicles are not anticipating the sudden speed reduction, creating rear-end collision risk. ISSUE 2 – FALSE BLIND SPOT / REAR RADAR ALERTS (ADAS): The Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Radar Sensor systems generate daily false alerts — both audible and visual — when no vehicles or objects are present. Triggers randomly across varying conditions. False alerts have caused multiple aborted lane changes that were otherwise safe to execute. ISSUE 3 – LANE KEEPING ASSISTANCE (ADAS): The LKA system applies forceful steering corrections during intentional, signal-indicated lane changes, including in areas without lane markings. Occurs at highway speeds during on/off-ramp transitions. Corrections have triggered reactive maneuvers by surrounding drivers in dense traffic, causing near-collision situations. Dealer service appointment scheduled August 6, 2026.

NHTSA complaint #11755075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

I purchased this Mazda new in October 2025. Since purchasing the vehicle, it has unexpectedly applied the brakes on three separate occasions while I was driving under normal conditions. There was no reason for the vehicle to brake, and each incident created a dangerous situation because the vehicle slowed suddenly without my input. I brought the vehicle to my local Mazda dealership for inspection. The dealership was unable to identify a defect or repair the issue. I was told that the automatic emergency braking system may sometimes react to reflections and that this behavior is considered normal. However, I do not believe it is normal or safe for a vehicle to apply the brakes unexpectedly during normal driving. I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle, especially with my husband and young child as passengers. I am concerned that if the vehicle brakes unexpectedly again, it could cause a rear-end collision or another serious accident. I am submitting this complaint because I believe this may be a safety-related defect involving the automatic emergency braking/forward collision avoidance system. I am requesting that this issue be documented and investigated.

NHTSA complaint #11752630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Following a period of heavy rainfall, I entered my vehicle and began to drive off when an excessive amount of water suddenly poured into the cabin from the overhead console (where the light and sunroof switches are located). ​To investigate the source of the leak, I opened the sunshade but found no residual water or permanent staining inside. Moving to the exterior, I verified that the sunroof was fully sealed, but I did notice an unusual gap/channel gutter between the top of the windshield and the roofline. ​I took the vehicle to the dealership the following day. While there, I learned that another 2026 CX-90 was brought in at the exact same time for the identical issue. The dealership's technician inspected my vehicle and found that the flap at the bottom of the sunroof drain was stuck. They cleared the debris, verified proper water flow, and cleaned the drains from the roof down as a precaution. They also advised me to avoid parking under trees. ​Because this is an internal gutter system, a simple clog shouldn't result in immediate, severe cabin flooding over critical electronics. This is a serious safety hazard and a design flaw. Left unaddressed, this issue poses a severe risk for electrical shorts, potential vehicle fires, and toxic mold development. This design vulnerability needs to be formally addressed by the manufacturer.

NHTSA complaint #11751018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I own a 2026 Mazda CX-90 hybrid with approximately 13,000 miles. The vehicle began making a grinding noise while driving, which has progressively worsened over time. It has since developed a hard knocking noise accompanied by noticeable vibration when the vehicle shifts gears. This knocking occurs during normal in-town driving. I have taken the vehicle to the selling/authorized Mazda dealership on two occasions — June 2, 2026 and July 14, 2026. On both visits, the dealer was able to reproduce and confirm the noise and knocking. The dealer stated they are aware other customers have reported the same issue, but that Mazda considers the noise/knocking acceptable and declined to perform a repair. No warning lights or diagnostic trouble codes have appeared at any point; the only symptoms are audible and physical. The vehicle is under both factory warranty and a purchased service/maintenance agreement. It has only been inspected by the selling dealership; no inspection has been performed directly by Mazda North America, law enforcement, or an insurance representative. I am concerned about my safety and the safety of others because a worsening, unexplained drivetrain issue that produces hard knocking and vibration during routine driving suggests a mechanical fault that could progress to sudden failure, and the manufacturer has declined to investigate or repair it further despite the symptom escalating across two documented visits. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA complaint #11750408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I own a 2026 Mazda CX-90 hybrid with approximately 13,000 miles. The vehicle began making a grinding noise while driving, which has progressively worsened over time. It has since developed a hard knocking noise accompanied by noticeable vibration when the vehicle shifts gears. This knocking occurs during normal in-town driving. I have taken the vehicle to the selling/authorized Mazda dealership on two occasions — June 2, 2026 and July 14, 2026. On both visits, the dealer was able to reproduce and confirm the noise and knocking. The dealer stated they are aware other customers have reported the same issue, but that Mazda considers the noise/knocking acceptable and declined to perform a repair. No warning lights or diagnostic trouble codes have appeared at any point; the only symptoms are audible and physical. The vehicle is under both factory warranty and a purchased service/maintenance agreement. It has only been inspected by the selling dealership; no inspection has been performed directly by Mazda North America, law enforcement, or an insurance representative. I am concerned about my safety and the safety of others because a worsening, unexplained drivetrain issue that produces hard knocking and vibration during routine driving suggests a mechanical fault that could progress to sudden failure, and the manufacturer has declined to investigate or repair it further despite the symptom escalating across two documented visits. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA complaint #11750408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I own a 2026 Mazda CX-90 hybrid with approximately 13,000 miles. The vehicle began making a grinding noise while driving, which has progressively worsened over time. It has since developed a hard knocking noise accompanied by noticeable vibration when the vehicle shifts gears. This knocking occurs during normal in-town driving. I have taken the vehicle to the selling/authorized Mazda dealership on two occasions — June 2, 2026 and July 14, 2026. On both visits, the dealer was able to reproduce and confirm the noise and knocking. The dealer stated they are aware other customers have reported the same issue, but that Mazda considers the noise/knocking acceptable and declined to perform a repair. No warning lights or diagnostic trouble codes have appeared at any point; the only symptoms are audible and physical. The vehicle is under both factory warranty and a purchased service/maintenance agreement. It has only been inspected by the selling dealership; no inspection has been performed directly by Mazda North America, law enforcement, or an insurance representative. I am concerned about my safety and the safety of others because a worsening, unexplained drivetrain issue that produces hard knocking and vibration during routine driving suggests a mechanical fault that could progress to sudden failure, and the manufacturer has declined to investigate or repair it further despite the symptom escalating across two documented visits. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA complaint #11750408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

My car is literally stalling out on me. It started by sputtering when I put my foot on the gas a week or so ago. Then today It literally started just losing power while driving. It’s not throwing any codes but that’s super dangerous and this car is only a year old. I am extremely concerned for my safety.

NHTSA complaint #11748301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My car is literally stalling out on me. It started by sputtering when I put my foot on the gas a week or so ago. Then today It literally started just losing power while driving. It’s not throwing any codes but that’s super dangerous and this car is only a year old. I am extremely concerned for my safety.

NHTSA complaint #11748301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:INTERIOR

My driver door would not open from the inside. Doors are unlocked, but only the driver side door will not open from the inside. Driver side door can only open from the outside.

NHTSA complaint #11743856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

Every time I drive the vehicle, it basically snatches me back into the lane aggressively. If I am moving into the next lane, the lane correction is so aggressively, I am afraid it is going to cause a collision. The brakes squeak and squeal constantly. They have oiled the brakes but it didn't work.

NHTSA complaint #11740773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

Every time I drive the vehicle, it basically snatches me back into the lane aggressively. If I am moving into the next lane, the lane correction is so aggressively, I am afraid it is going to cause a collision. The brakes squeak and squeal constantly. They have oiled the brakes but it didn't work.

NHTSA complaint #11740773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

Every time I drive the vehicle, it basically snatches me back into the lane aggressively. If I am moving into the next lane, the lane correction is so aggressively, I am afraid it is going to cause a collision. The brakes squeak and squeal constantly. They have oiled the brakes but it didn't work.

NHTSA complaint #11740773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Hybrid battery recall was replaced and failed a month later for a second time burning other systems and causing a compete failure in the car. It failed in a deserted portion of [XXX] while traveling from [XXX] to [XXX] for important business. This left me stranded in the middle of the [XXX] desert late at night in a dangerous area. It failed on the highway loosing complete power with multiple failures reported on dashboard. I was left stranded in the middle of nowhere with no nearby services or immediate assistance and was forced to remain in the vehicle overnight in unsafe conditions. The vehicle required towing, and I was later informed the issue was again the hybrid battery the same component that had already been replaced under recall less than one month prior. This repeated failure creates a serious safety concern because the vehicle can unexpectedly lose power and leave occupants stranded without warning, even in remote or unsafe locations. In addition it lost power on the highway and that posses a significant safety concern. The vehicle is unreliable given its age and repeated failures, and I am requesting investigation into a potential safety defect involving the hybrid battery system and sudden loss of propulsion/power and damages to other parts. I had 8 different warnings on my dashboard before the car completely died and I couldn’t even open or close windows or lock and unlock doors. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11737974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

Hybrid battery recall was replaced and failed a month later for a second time burning other systems and causing a compete failure in the car. It failed in a deserted portion of [XXX] while traveling from [XXX] to [XXX] for important business. This left me stranded in the middle of the [XXX] desert late at night in a dangerous area. It failed on the highway loosing complete power with multiple failures reported on dashboard. I was left stranded in the middle of nowhere with no nearby services or immediate assistance and was forced to remain in the vehicle overnight in unsafe conditions. The vehicle required towing, and I was later informed the issue was again the hybrid battery the same component that had already been replaced under recall less than one month prior. This repeated failure creates a serious safety concern because the vehicle can unexpectedly lose power and leave occupants stranded without warning, even in remote or unsafe locations. In addition it lost power on the highway and that posses a significant safety concern. The vehicle is unreliable given its age and repeated failures, and I am requesting investigation into a potential safety defect involving the hybrid battery system and sudden loss of propulsion/power and damages to other parts. I had 8 different warnings on my dashboard before the car completely died and I couldn’t even open or close windows or lock and unlock doors. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11737974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

Hybrid battery recall was replaced and failed a month later for a second time burning other systems and causing a compete failure in the car. It failed in a deserted portion of [XXX] while traveling from [XXX] to [XXX] for important business. This left me stranded in the middle of the [XXX] desert late at night in a dangerous area. It failed on the highway loosing complete power with multiple failures reported on dashboard. I was left stranded in the middle of nowhere with no nearby services or immediate assistance and was forced to remain in the vehicle overnight in unsafe conditions. The vehicle required towing, and I was later informed the issue was again the hybrid battery the same component that had already been replaced under recall less than one month prior. This repeated failure creates a serious safety concern because the vehicle can unexpectedly lose power and leave occupants stranded without warning, even in remote or unsafe locations. In addition it lost power on the highway and that posses a significant safety concern. The vehicle is unreliable given its age and repeated failures, and I am requesting investigation into a potential safety defect involving the hybrid battery system and sudden loss of propulsion/power and damages to other parts. I had 8 different warnings on my dashboard before the car completely died and I couldn’t even open or close windows or lock and unlock doors. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11737974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

There is an intermittent issue where the dashboard will indicate that the rear side radar is obscured and turn off all the safety features of the car. This happens typically on a clear day when there should be no issues. Turning off the car resets this. Its unsettling because as there are quite a few blind spots in this vehicle you are dependent on the blind spot warning, especially in heavy traffic. Reported it to dealer but they indicated since its intermittent there isn't much they can do. Ridiculous for a new $45k vehicle

NHTSA complaint #11729657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

There is an intermittent issue where the dashboard will indicate that the rear side radar is obscured and turn off all the safety features of the car. This happens typically on a clear day when there should be no issues. Turning off the car resets this. Its unsettling because as there are quite a few blind spots in this vehicle you are dependent on the blind spot warning, especially in heavy traffic. Reported it to dealer but they indicated since its intermittent there isn't much they can do. Ridiculous for a new $45k vehicle

NHTSA complaint #11729657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

There is an intermittent issue where the dashboard will indicate that the rear side radar is obscured and turn off all the safety features of the car. This happens typically on a clear day when there should be no issues. Turning off the car resets this. Its unsettling because as there are quite a few blind spots in this vehicle you are dependent on the blind spot warning, especially in heavy traffic. Reported it to dealer but they indicated since its intermittent there isn't much they can do. Ridiculous for a new $45k vehicle

NHTSA complaint #11729657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

2025 backup camera not working with 8,500 miles on the car. This is a safety hazard and so far neither Mazda of Everett who broke it will not fix it unless I pay just about $1,300. They claim I have to talk to Mazda to see if they will warranty the part even though I have a 4 year 48,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. There is no damage to the car what so ever and it has been inspected by the dealer since new with a 190 point inspection at 3,700 miles and never a problem with the camera. EITHER THE BACKUP CAMERA IS A BAD DESIGN THAT DOES NOT ACCEPT NORMAL USAGE OR THE DEALER DOES NOT TAKE SAFTEY FEATURES SERIOUSLY and broke it when washing the car.

NHTSA complaint #11729548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I am submitting this complaint regarding my 2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV, leased in April 2025. Since early in my lease, the vehicle has had ongoing drivability issues that have worsened over time and now present a serious safety concern.From the beginning, the vehicle exhibited jerking and hesitation while driving. Initially minor, this has become more frequent and now includes stalling behavior during normal driving conditions, including acceleration and traffic flow. This creates a risk of collision, especially when merging or at intersections.Approximately six months into my lease, the radiator failed and had to be replaced. More recently, while driving, multiple warnings appeared at once: Hybrid System Malfunction, Battery System Malfunction, Oil Monitoring Malfunction, and i-ACTIVSENSE partially disabled. These warnings were documented.Two weeks prior, the dealership reported no diagnostic codes. However, on my most recent visit, I was told via video that the active air shutter is now the issue. The required part is on backorder until August. I was told I could either remain in a non-comparable loaner while still making full lease payments, or continue driving the vehicle in its current condition until the part arrives. I find this unacceptable given the safety concerns.I expressed that I do not feel safe driving this vehicle, but the service advisor stated this is “not a safety concern.” I disagree. A vehicle that jerks, hesitates, or stalls while driving, combined with multiple system malfunctions and disabled safety features, presents a clear safety risk.I also disclosed prior to leasing that I do not have access to charging. I was told this would not be an issue. I am now being told that not charging the vehicle may be contributing to the problem. Service advisors have also indicated these vehicles have known hybrid battery issues.I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle and am concerned for my safety and my family’s safety.

NHTSA complaint #11727400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

Seatbelt got stuck between seat and seat frame. Seatbelt was stuck in the locked position and was neither able to be retracted or pulled out rendering the seatbelt unusable. This is a huge safety concern as we were stranded at night with small children and unable to use the seatbelt. A recall should be made to this vehicle (Mazda cx90). Further Mazda is claiming that seatbelts are not part of the warranty (it’s a <1 year old car) and they are charging $1000 to fix this. This is a huge safety issue to not have a functioning seatbelt and a design flaw that should be fixed. It is too easy under normal use for this to occur.

NHTSA complaint #11726340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.