2024 Mazda CX-90 Problems

What owners report

Owner complaints about the 2024 CX-90 are dominated by steering, which owners describe as sticking, notchy or hard to return to center, often on curves or highway ramps; many say the symptom returned after the 24V022000 recall remedy. A second cluster covers sudden loss of power or hybrid/electrical warning messages, and a third covers coolant leaks traced to a cracked radiator. Reports in this sample span from a few thousand miles to well past 50,000 miles.

1. 1
   Steering

   Sticking / notchy steering, sometimes after recall repair

   • 184 complaints (50%)
   • median 39,900 mi at 2.4 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,136 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the steering wheel sticking or grabbing at a certain angle, most often in left turns or long highway curves, and requiring a firm tug to return toward center. Some say the wheel stays at the held angle when released, and others report a clicking or ratcheting feel. Several complaints state the symptom came back months after the steering recall repair (24V022000) was performed, and some dealers reportedly could not duplicate it or called it a design characteristic. Reported from a few thousand miles up through roughly 60,000 miles, often on ramps, curves and steady-radius bends.

   Recall 24V022000Recall 23V429000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 24V022000 was performed and whether any steering work was done afterward. On a test drive, hold a light constant turn on a ramp and check whether the wheel returns to center on its own without a tug.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I’m going around the corner, the steering feels sort of sticky and either won’t stay in one place or feels a little bit stuck in one place. It sometimes feels like someone else is making micro adjustments to the steering as I’m holding the steering wheel. This has been happening for about the last 10,000 miles on the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #11715953, filed 2026-02

   “Steering is rough and can grab or stick when turning the wheel. Afraid it might lock up while driving. The problem has been confirmed by the Mazda dealership, and the dealer I bought it from. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone else. No warning lamps, I noticed the problem shortly after I bought it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11714909, filed 2026-02
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Sudden loss of power and hybrid/electrical warnings

   • 145 complaints (40%)
   • median 29,000 mi at 1.8 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,619 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe multiple warning messages appearing at once, such as hybrid system, charging system, engine and i-ACTIVSENSE malfunction, followed by the vehicle losing power or refusing to restart. Some owners report the car shutting down while stopped with the idle-stop feature active, and others report it stalling in motion. Dealers in these complaints replaced hybrid batteries, reprogrammed modules or swapped parts, and in some cases vehicles were held at the dealer while parts were on backorder. Reported throughout the first several years of ownership, from under 2,000 miles to about 56,000 miles, sometimes in traffic or at low speed.

   Recall 24V817000Recall 24V815000Recall 24V816000Recall 24V8140004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm which open recalls apply to the VIN and that each has been completed. Ask for service records showing any hybrid battery, 48V cable or software work, and check that no warning messages appear at startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving (less than 2000 miles on the OD) in our 2024 cx90 SE the vehicle started to shift out of timing and everything shut off at once. The vehicle lost all power and all parts shut down. The vehicle would start back up and power steering went out. Our driving speed was at 30mph so it was extremely scary during rush hour traffic. We had to have it towed to the dealership, we're not sure what the issue will be.”

   NHTSA complaint #11629131, filed 2024-12

   “Brought vehicle into Dealer for Service due to Check Engine Light being on and Notification of a Malfunction of the I-Stop System. Service Tech indicates that this is a known issue with the Hybrid Battery in these vehicles that could cause the vehicle to unexpectedly stall. This safety issue is significant enough that they would not let us take our car home while we wait for them to obtain a battery, which are currently on backorder. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11656475, filed 2025-04
3. 3
   Forward collision avoidance

   Unexpected braking from adaptive cruise and collision

   • 59 complaints (16%)
   • median 15,000 mi at 0.7 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe adaptive cruise control braking for vehicles that are not in the lane, such as trucks on a slight curve, and automatic braking engaging without an obstacle. Some owners report the system slowing and then accelerating on its own, or cruise control failing to cancel when the brake is pressed. Dealers in these complaints generally could not reproduce the behavior. Reported from purchase mileage up to about 20,000 miles, typically at highway speeds with cruise control active.

   Recall 24V349000Recall 23V718000

   What to check: Confirm recall 24V349000 and camera-related recalls were completed for the VIN. During a test drive, try adaptive cruise on a curve and see whether the car brakes for adjacent-lane traffic.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “During normal driving conditions going down a state highway, the vehicle lost speed with adaptive cruise control enabled. Noticing the vehicle was losing speed, I depressed the accelerator pedal. The accelerator pedal was unresponsive and unable to accelerate, I had to maneuver off the highway. Luckily, the car behind my vehicle was far enough behind me and my vehicle was going fast enough that I was able to coast to a safe stop on the side of the highway. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11521778, filed 2023-05

   “When using the adaptive cruise control on a multi-lane highway the system will detect trucks/larger vehicles moving into your lane on a slight curve when they are not. The system will apply brakes to avoid a collision. The first time this happened there was no vehicle moving into my lane but there was an 18-wheeler behind me that wasn't expecting my vehicle to brake and they almost rear-ended me. This happened several other times before I understood the problem and turned the system off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11556548, filed 2023-11
4. 4
   Engine

   Cracked radiator and coolant loss

   • 17 complaints (5%)
   • median 46,464 mi at 3.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2026

   Owners report coolant leaking along radiator seams, often found during an unrelated service visit with no warning beforehand. Some describe the coolant reservoir running empty after a replacement radiator was installed, and others report temperature gauge swings, reduced acceleration or a hot engine bay. Complaints state radiators were replaced under warranty or at owner cost. Mostly reported between roughly 39,000 and 46,000 miles, several just around the end of warranty coverage.

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for crusty residue or staining at the radiator seams and hoses. Ask whether the radiator has been replaced and whether coolant has been topped up between services.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle has 43,000 miles and the radiator has failed. Engine light goes off and on about high engine temperature and limits acceleration. Lost acceleration on freeway and was forced to get off on the freeway shoulder. The temperature gauge jumps from normal to high. Engine was extremely hot and potentially a burn hazard when I opened the hood. I've researched Mazda CX-90 owner's online forums and this radiator failure is happening to the 2024 model with several owners just out of warranty stating leaks spraying engine area. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11762557, filed 2026-09

   “The vehicle was leaking coolant. The Mazda dealership Technician concluded it was a cracked radiator. There was no warning sign. Took vehicle in for an oil change and that's when the problem was discovered. Mazda completed service with replacing a new radiator on 2/12/26. On 2/15/26 the coolant is burning in/on engine. Reservoir is completely empty after being capped off during service. I believe the new radiator has cracked again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11718134, filed 2026-02

Buying note. Have any 2024 CX-90 you are considering inspected for steering feel on a curve and for coolant leaks at the radiator, and confirm every open recall for the VIN has been completed rather than just scheduled. Service records showing steering and hybrid-system repairs are worth reviewing closely.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.