2025 Mazda CX-90 Owner Complaints

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 ID

11755075

Incident

Jul 29, 2026

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 ID

11752630

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

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 ID

11751018

Incident

Jun 21, 2026

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 ID

11750408

Incident

Jul 14, 2026

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 ID

11748301

Incident

Jul 4, 2026

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 ID

11743856

Incident

Jun 12, 2026

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 ID

11740773

Incident

Dec 11, 2025

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 ID

11737974

Incident

Apr 18, 2026

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 ID

11729657

Incident

Sep 30, 2025

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 ID

11729548

Incident

Jan 10, 2026

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 ID

11727400

Incident

Dec 22, 2025

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 ID

11726340

Incident

Mar 18, 2026

On 3/19/2026, the vehicle ignition was turned on. Immediately, we received a variety of warnings, including: "charging system malfunction", "i-ACTIVESENSE Partially Disabled", "Hybrid System Malfunction", "i-stop Malfunction", "Charging System Malfunction", and "Critical Systems Failure". Vehicle has only 20,040 miles. On 3/20/2026 8:30 AM, we contacted the Mazda dealer where vehicle was purchased new and they said "we are not sure when we can get to it--it could be several weeks". We had the vehicle towed to this dealer since they were involved in addressing the recall about "fuel sensors". An email was also sent to Mazda corporate so they would be aware of the response we received from the dealer and help with a car rental. It was very fortunate that we were not on the highway when this happened as it would have been an extreme safety risk.

NHTSA ID

11725814

Incident

Mar 19, 2026

On March 14, 2026, I was attempting to turn left into a parking stall within a busy shopping center lot when my vehicle suddenly accelerated unexpectedly. I lost all control of both the steering and the braking systems. This resulted in my vehicle striking a parked car to my left, jumping a cemented planter border, and coming to rest in the adjacent parking stall. Fortunately, the other vehicle was unoccupied, and both my passenger and I were uninjured. Local law enforcement was contacted; however, they indicated the policy officers will not be sent to the seen to file a report as there were no injuries. They did assist in identifying the owner of the other vehicle. I have initiated a claim with my insurance carrier, American National Property and Casualty Co (Claim #10401408), and have opened a case with Mazda Corporate (Case #00428640). Mazda has indicated that they require a report from my insurance provider to proceed with a technical investigation. Please advise what other steps I need to take.

NHTSA ID

11724641

Incident

Mar 14, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Mazda CX-90. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, there was a very strong gasoline odor coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the battery charge was low. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but was not diagnosed. The contact stated that the vehicle was a new vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 28,000.

NHTSA ID

11723070

Incident

Jan 1, 2026

Mileage

28,000 mi

I purchased a new 2025 Mazda CX-90 Plug-In Hybrid, which currently has approximately 16,500 miles. Despite normal daily driving, proper maintenance, and all scheduled services performed at authorized Mazda dealerships, all four original tires have prematurely worn out and require full replacement. This level of tire wear is abnormal and significantly below the expected lifespan for a vehicle of this type. Mazda representatives have verbally acknowledged that premature tire wear is a known issue with this model, reportedly related to the vehicle’s weight and design, yet no corrective action, repair, or warranty assistance has been offered. This defect creates an unexpected financial burden and raises safety concerns for a family vehicle used daily to transport children. Based on current wear, this issue will require tire replacement on a yearly basis, which is unreasonable for a high-purchase-price vehicle of this class. I am seeking a fair resolution, including reimbursement for premature tire replacement and appropriate corrective measures to address the underlying cause of the excessive tire wear.

NHTSA ID

11720084

Incident

Feb 24, 2026

Early December I was driving and attempting to make a left-hand turn across traffic. I press the gas slowly in preparation to cross traffic. Once a car passed I pressed the gas to get across the traffic lanes before other cars got to me and when I pressed the gas, the car completely stopped moving. I sat there, pushing harder & pumping for what felt like forever, but was probably three to five seconds. I had to take my foot off the gas, press the brake, and put it back on the gas to get the car to move. By that point, I had cars stopping & honking at me because I was sitting in the middle of oncoming traffic, unable to move my vehicle. Then (12/15) I was sitting at a stop sign, waiting to turn right. I made my right turn advancing onto the new street and my car stopped moving entirely and started flashing two errors, both hybrid system malfunction and engine malfunction. I tried to get the car moving for a bit, switching gears, pressing brake then gas, etc. After putting the car in park & turning on flashers (I was blocking a lane of traffic) and powering the car off and then back on again the car moved, however, the errors are still there.I called the dealership & brought the car in. After a diagnostic they cleared the code & told me to go. I told them it was not safe to put my children in the vehicle and they needed to identify the root cause and fix the problem.

NHTSA ID

11719758

Incident

Dec 15, 2025

Brakes have been really squeaky and seems like a common problem for other CX90 but no fix. Steering tends to feel “sticky” when doing certain turns and locks when you’re at the max radius and won’t return back

NHTSA ID

11716061

Incident

Feb 4, 2026

The vehicle repeatedly displays warnings including “Acceleration Limited Due to Low Fuel and/or Battery Condition,” Hybrid System Malfunction, and Engine System warnings. These events result in reduced acceleration and loss of power while driving. The condition occurs despite normal fuel levels and routine driving conditions. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership multiple times. Each time, I am told no fault codes are present or the issue cannot be replicated. The warnings continue to recur and remain unresolved. This creates an unsafe driving condition due to unpredictable power limitation. This issue appears to be a known problem affecting Mazda CX-90 vehicles and may be related to hybrid system software or battery management. The vehicle was being driven on a city road (Lake Forrest and University dr in McKinney, TX). Turned right off of a shopping center exit toward Lake Forest Dr. The vehicle lost power all of a sudden and would not accelerate with traffic heading in my direction. The vehicle signaled to stop and place the gear into park. I was able to slowly change lanes and pull into the Chipotle parking lot at 5151 W. University Dr at 10:56 am. I called Mazda Roadside and they came to tow it to El Dorado Mazda dealership. This incident: Date: 01/10/26 Time: 10:56 am Temp: 45° / clear and sunny Previous Incident: 12/04/25 6 pm Parked - Idling at Prosper High School. I-stop and hybrid system malfunction warnings appeared Called El Dorado Mazda- advised it was not a safety issue and sometimes it just needed a software update or the battery was bad. They scheduled a service appt until 12/17/26 due to lack of loaner vehicles available. 12/08/25 / 12:05 pm Clear weather Inspected at El Dorado Mazda Could not be Duplicated. Battery OK Nothing came up on diagnostic machine. Cleared recall. Advised to return if it happened again. Reassured me it was safe to drive and I was not in danger. 12/16/25 Car started from park at home Approx 40-50° 9-10 am 1/10/26-

NHTSA ID

11710144

Incident

Jan 10, 2026

Premature tire tread wear on 2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV equipped with OEM Falken tires. At 21,586 miles, an authorized Mazda dealer measured tread depths at 5/32, 5/32, 4/32, and 3/32 (rear tire at replacement threshold). This level of wear is abnormal for the mileage and creates a safety concern due to reduced wet traction and hydroplaning risk. Dealer inspection dated 12/16/2025. Mazda USA case number 00394959.

NHTSA ID

11705377

Incident

Dec 16, 2025

I was stopped by a railroad crossing and when I started driving, my automatic emergency braking activated and jerked to a stop. This happened two consecutive days in a row. Gratefully no one was behind me, or they would have rear ended my vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11698538

Incident

Nov 8, 2025

The car automatically brakes at lower speeds. This happens about 3x week and typically on a specific freeway entrances but in other locations as well. I believe this is a known phantom braking issue but for some reason my car is not included in the recall.

NHTSA ID

11688747

Incident

Sep 1, 2025

The drive power on my 2025 Mazda CX-90 was SEVERELY reduced last week while making a left turn in front of oncoming traffic. No warning light nor sound from my car appeared at the time of this incident. The vehicle was purchased 5 months ago and there have been other occasions where the power was reduced while turning. This incident, however, was the most dangerous. The turn was made at a traffic light while sitting on a hill yielding to oncoming traffic. The approaching car was moving slow enough to make a safe left turn in front of it, but the lack of power prevented me from making a reasonable (not reckless) fast turn. Fortunately the oncoming vehicle was able to stop in time to prevent an accident.

NHTSA ID

11687238

Incident

Sep 10, 2025

I am writing to formally express my dissatisfaction and concern regarding my recently purchased 2025 Mazda CX-90. I purchased the vehicle on February 15, 2025, and it currently has approximately 1,100 miles on it. Since acquiring the vehicle, I have experienced a persistent and extremely loud squeaking noise from the brakes, which occurs spontaneously. At times, the squeaking is so loud that pedestrians turn to look when I drive by. In an effort to address this issue, I took the vehicle to Royal Palm Beach Mazda for inspection. The service department informed me that this is a known issue with this model and that Mazda has not yet identified a solution. They stated that there was nothing they could do at this time to fix the problem. Additionally, while I was at the dealership, I encountered another Mazda CX-90 owner who was experiencing the same issue. Concerned about the safety of my vehicle, I reached out to Mazda Headquarters, but I was again told that there is not much that can be done. This response is deeply troubling. I purchased a brand-new vehicle expecting a reliable and safe driving experience. Now, I am left questioning whether my brakes are safe and whether this issue will worsen over time. I am particularly concerned about whether the brakes will function properly when I need to stop in an emergency. Given that this appears to be a widespread issue affecting multiple vehicles, Mazda should take responsibility by either issuing a recall or offering to repurchase the vehicle. Driving a brand-new car with a potential brake defect is unacceptable and possibly dangerous. I look forward to your prompt response and a satisfactory resolution to this matter. Please contact me at your earliest

NHTSA ID

11648159

Incident

Mar 3, 2025

Vehicle cabin air vents blow air that is over 101 degrees Fahrenheit with the air conditioning system turned off and the blower turned on. Cabin temperature was set to “lo” and outside ambient temperature was 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a safety hazard as the vehicle should not blow extremely hot air in the cabin and cook its occupants.

NHTSA ID

11626950

Incident

Nov 22, 2024