78 of the
541 complaints filed about the Mazda CX-90
are about the driver-assist systems —
14% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2024.
78
Complaints
14%
Share of all complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance complaints by model year
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.
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.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
The contact owns a 2024 Mazda CX-90. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 70 MPH with the cruise control activated, her husband attempted to deactivate the cruise control before exiting the highway; however, the cruise control failed to deactivate. The brake pedal was depressed, but the brakes failed to stop the vehicle. The contact's husband exited the highway and drove into the median to avoid crashing with other vehicles. The driver turned the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to flip and then slam into the ground, fracturing both axles. The cruise control then deactivated. The contact stated that only the front driver's side air bags deployed. The driver suffered hip and arm bruises, while the contact suffered a lump on the head, and as bruises on the collarbone and arm. The driver received medical attention at the scene, but the contact declined. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard but had not yet been declared a total loss by the insurance company. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the message "Trailer Attached in Tow Mode" was displayed and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the wiring harness due to corrosion. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
NHTSA complaint #11754517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle lurched to a complete stop and engaged the parking brake while entering the on ramp at FDR bridge in NYC. I had my whole family (7 of us) in the vehicle. Cars behind us had to slam on the brakes or swear to not hit us. The worst part is, the car had no option to put it into neutral to move the vehicle to a safe location. I sat praying for 45 minutes while we waited for a tow truck. Cars were flying past us as we were blocking 2 lanes of traffic, one of which was the on ramp. They could not see us as they were coming around a corner. Several accidents almost happened. There was nothing we could do but sit there. This is a known issue with Mazda CX 90 2024 PHEV system. Mazda did not warn me in any way that if the vehicle has an issue with the PHEV system, it was going to disable the vehicle to the point that you are unable to put it into neutral. There was no way to disengage the parking break. The vehicle was towed twice with the break engaged.
NHTSA complaint #11747142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Over my time owning this vehicle i have had several different safety concerns. although they have been resolved by the dealer, i have concerns for anyone purchasing this make and model. 1. lane departure. i have turned off lane detection because i have had the car try to auto correct and jerk me to the left into oncoming traffic 2. i have had incidents where the driver door was unable to be opened from inside. i had to roll down the window to open the door and get out 3. At a speed of 45mph, the vehicle suddenly went into limp mode. the car turned off and luckily i was able to pull over into a safe area. again i experienced the door locking from the inside. all issues and solutions have been documented at dealer services. these issues are of great concern and potentially could have been harmful or fatal. i no longer have trust in this model or company.
NHTSA complaint #11747146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On May 2, 2026, I took my 2024 Mazda CX‑90 to Mazda of Orange because the steering wheel was getting stuck and there was a loud chirping noise when turning the car on and off. The dealership kept my car for 28 days. When I picked it up, they told me the noise was fixed. After three days, the noise returned. The next morning, the car would not start, so I had to jump it and take it back. They said it was the brake assembly line and claimed it was safe to drive when it wasn’t. They also said the bottom battery was giving errors. I had already replaced the top battery in April 2026 for $300, and they replaced the bottom one under warranty. When I brought it in, all dashboard warning lights were on, and the car warned me not to drive over 30 mph. They replaced the battery again but could not explain the warning lights. This was my sixth visit, and they kept blaming rain or fog even when the weather was clear. Two weeks after getting the car back, all warning lights came on again on [XXX]. At [XXX], while taking my husband to the airport, I was afraid to turn the car off. I hit a bump, the lights turned off, then came back on — which makes me think there is an electrical short. Now the transmission jerks hard, especially when the i‑Stop activates. I bought the car in April 2025; it has 47,700 miles, and I have taken it in six times. [XXX] from the mediation department told me he would start a buyback on June 20, 2026, but he is now ignoring my calls. Name: [XXX] VIN: [XXX] Case #: [XXX] License Plate: [XXX] Vehicle: 2024 Mazda CX‑90 (factory warranty still active) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11745969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
The contact owns a 2024 Mazda CX-90. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the dynamic cruise control feature failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle slowed down and then independently accelerated. The contact depressed the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The message “Steering Assist Unavailable” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to several dealers, however the failure was not duplicated. The contact informed the dealers that the vehicle needed to be driven on the expressway for the failure to occur. The contact stated that the failure did not occur while driving the vehicle at slow speeds on the local streets. The contact stated that the failure was persistent while driving on the expressway. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.
NHTSA complaint #11744852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11743320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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 complaint #11739623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11738628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11738628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11737784 — 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.
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.
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 complaint #11734505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The parking cameras will fail to activate unexpectedly when backing up or if the cameras are activated using the manual button. The issue is similar to what is described in Mazda Safety Recall 6223J: "Images of the front-, side-, and rear-view cameras may flicker and, in some cases, may no longer appear on the center display monitor. Improper processing logic in the view monitor camera control module may cause image deterioration. Loss of front-, side-, and rear-view camera images when in reverse and/or using the 360-degree monitor can increase the risk of a crash. There is no warning preceding the occurrence of this defect." I brought this issue to the dealer and Mazda USA but it remains a problem. The issue most recently occured on April 15, 2026, but has happened multiple times in the past.
NHTSA complaint #11733208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.