33 of the
541 complaints filed about the Mazda CX-90
are about the transmission —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2024.
33
Complaints
6%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
I bought my 2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV 10 months ago with 22000 miles on it and no and now has 29000 miles on it. First thing I had a issue with was a Motor Mount was bad, took 12 weeks to get part was told it was safe to drive. Next, since I have had the vehicle I have been having a issue with the transmission making a noise while both shifting from first to second and also on down shifting. It does not happen all the time but is happening. I took the vehicle in to the dealership to have it looked at and they were able to reproduce the issue. When they conferred with Mazda on the issue they were told that it was a known issue but there is no fix for it at this point and was dertermined safe to drive. I also talked to Mazda myself who also told me that it was a known issue but there is no fix and determined it safe to drive. I love the vehicle but to have this noise keep happening and being told they are working on a fix does not make me feel confident in the vehicle with this especially when my wife also drives it. My biggest question is this is a 2024 Mazda and I am told the 2025 also has the same problem. How long is the answer were working on a fix to long to believe that they actually are since there are now 2026 and soon to be 2027 models coming out. I am being told it is only the PHEV vehicles having this issue which explains the reason the PHEV model I believe is being discontinued. Would love to hear from you what my recourse would be. Thanks in advance for your time
NHTSA complaint #11758887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
During normal operation of the car the radiator sprung a leak which could have resulted in leaving us stranded with our young kid. this was verified by the dealership who's only solution has been to replace the radiator at our expense. There were no warning lights or other indications of the damage other than coolant leaking from the bottom of the car
NHTSA complaint #11758910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am reporting a recurring safety-related issue with my 2024 Mazda CX-90 Turbo S Premium involving the mild hybrid system. The first failure occurred at approximately 28,000 miles. While driving, the vehicle displayed multiple warning messages, including "Mild Hybrid Battery Malfunction," "i-Stop Malfunction," and "Engine Malfunction." Shortly afterward, the vehicle entered a reduced-power (limp mode) condition. The loss of normal power made it difficult to safely accelerate and keep pace with surrounding traffic, creating a significant safety concern. The dealership diagnosed the vehicle and replaced the mild hybrid battery. My vehicle remained out of service for approximately one month while repairs were completed. At approximately 56,000–58,000 miles, the same problem occurred again. The vehicle once again displayed the "Mild Hybrid Battery Malfunction," "i-Stop Malfunction," and "Engine Malfunction" warning messages and again entered reduced-power mode while driving. The repeated loss of power created another serious safety concern because the vehicle could not accelerate normally when merging into traffic or driving on higher-speed roads. After diagnosing the second failure, the dealership informed me that, in addition to replacing the mild hybrid battery, corrosion had been found in the wiring harness and internal wiring associated with the hybrid battery system. Those components also required replacement. Due to parts availability, my vehicle remained at the dealership for an extended period before repairs could be completed. This vehicle has experienced the same hybrid system failure twice within approximately 58,000 miles, despite the first battery having already been replaced. I am concerned that this is a recurring defect affecting the mild hybrid electrical system. A failure that causes multiple system malfunction warnings and forces the vehicle into reduced-power mode while driving increases the risk of a crash, especially when merging onto highways
NHTSA complaint #11755124 — 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.
When curving left my steering wheel will get “stuck”. It becomes heavy and then jerks back like it just “unlocked”. I haven’t had to pull it back forcefully, yet, but I’m sure it’s not far off. Went to Mazda dealership who state it’s mechanically related to a rack and pinion within the steering components. My car was part of the initial “sticky steering” recall which the previous owner had done in March of 2024. Happy to allow inspection if needed. My safety, along with the safety of others, is at risk anytime I travel along a curve where I could cross into on coming traffic because I am unable to forcefully move my steering wheel out of the “sticking” position. Potentially deadly. Mainly notice it around speeds of 45+ regardless of weather.
NHTSA complaint #11752549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am writing to formally notify you that I have officially filed comprehensive complaints with the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI, Case #202604748), and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) regarding Wyatt Johnson Mazda. I am submitting my vehicle's official Warranty Vehicle Inquiry Report as evidence of consistent technical issues and mismanagement by Wyatt Johnson Mazda. Please note the following: History of Repeated Technical Issues: The Warranty History shows a long list of repairs, including PCM/TCM reprogramming and other electronic service actions performed by the same dealer. This demonstrates that the vehicle has had ongoing, recurring technical problems that the dealer was well aware of. Contradiction in Dealership's Claims: Despite this extensive record of technical service, when I brought the vehicle in for the steering issue, the dealer claimed there was "no issue." This report clearly proves the dealer has been documenting and performing technical service on this specific VIN since 2023, making their claim of "no issue" highly suspicious and professionally negligent. Evidence of Neglect: The report confirms that my vehicle has been serviced exclusively by this dealer (Dealer 24014). They have full knowledge of the vehicle’s history, yet they chose to ignore the steering defect and attempted to charge me for a repair that should have been addressed under recall or warranty considerations. Bad-Faith Conduct by General Management: Furthermore, the Dealership General Manager persistently refused to acknowledge these documented defects. He went as far as bringing a technician to confront me, and despite me presenting this official warranty history as evidence, they dismissed it entirely and demanded $2,438 for a steering system replacement. I have photographic evidence documenting this interaction and the demand for payment, which confirms their bad-faith efforts to extort r
NHTSA complaint #11750695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
The lower fuel pump is going out. It is a known issue with the car. I was driving out of town and the car started to stall. My steering has become ruggish while on the trip as well, and steering was complicated during heavy winds. The car has been inspected by dealer and both warning lights have been cleared. But the issues still remain.
NHTSA complaint #11747228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11742596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11741525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11738895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11738616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11737446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11736989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Incident 1: While driving my 2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV at low-to-moderate speed, the vehicle suddenly and completely locked up without any driver input. There was no gradual slowing or normal braking behavior. Instead, the vehicle went immediately from moving to an abrupt, forceful stop, as if maximum braking was applied instantly. There were no warning lights, alerts, or audible signals before or during the event, and there were no obstacles or vehicles in front of me. Incident 2 (approximately 6 months later): A second, nearly identical event occurred while I was accelerating or cruising. The vehicle again immediately locked up and came to a sudden stop with no warning and no driver input. There was no progressive braking or deceleration. The stop was instantaneous and extremely forceful, causing me to lurch forward into the steering wheel. There were no hazards or objects present that would justify emergency braking. Additional Details: Both events involved an immediate, full-force stop with no transition or gradual braking. There were no dashboard alerts, warning sounds, or messages during either incident. The behavior did not match any known system alerts (such as door open or limp mode). The dealership was unable to reproduce the issue and found no diagnostic trouble codes. This creates a serious safety risk, especially the risk of being rear-ended during normal driving.
NHTSA complaint #11728149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Started the car to go to work and the check engine light came on, I stop started flashing and wouldn’t turn off. Message says there is a malfunction with the hybrid system and to visit Mazda dealer. I had to drive it to work, so it drove fine. But the lights never went off.
NHTSA complaint #11727151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On several occasions, both starting from stop and at 45 mph, on harder acceleration while operating as EV in normal mode, the vehicle will start accelerating then SLOW suddenly and hard for a few seconds before engaging the gas engine and accelerating as expected. Dangerous when pulling into traffic or attempting to pass.
NHTSA complaint #11726526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am reporting an unresolved safety-related defect with my Mazda CX-90. The vehicle began experiencing repeated malfunctions affecting reliable operation while being driven. The issue was reported to the dealer while the vehicle was still under the manufacturer’s original warranty. The vehicle was taken to a Mazda dealership for diagnosis and repair. The problem has not been resolved, and the vehicle has been held at the dealer for over 30 days. I was provided a manufacturer loaner vehicle because my vehicle has not been deemed reliable to return to service. Mazda North America has escalated the issue and informed the dealer that they are “waiting on Japan” for engineering guidance, indicating there is currently no approved repair or resolution. As of now, no permanent fix has been identified. This defect raises safety concerns because the vehicle’s reliability cannot be assured, and returning the vehicle to service without a confirmed repair could put occupants and others at risk. The extended out-of-service time and lack of an approved repair suggest a potential systemic issue. The vehicle remains available for inspection and is currently in the possession of the Mazda dealer. -
NHTSA complaint #11705191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My new Mazda CX-90 failed to restart after being stopped at a stop sign. After restarting manually, the dash displayed the check engine light and the “i-stop malfunction” light. The car now flashes this warning whenever it is on. There is an open recall for this issue (24V-816) but my local Mazda dealer does not pull anything up when they search my VIN. It appears the recall only applies to these vehicles built between 12/23 and 4/24. My car was built in 11/23. I believe this recall should be expanded to included more vehicles like mine.
NHTSA complaint #11704444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.