Owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, steering, and automatic emergency braking. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2025Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2025 Mazda CX-90: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Nearby years usually share most parts, so their problems are worth checking on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2025 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2025 Mazda CX-90. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.3L 6-cylHybrid | 4WD | 25 mpg |
| 2.5L 4-cylPlug-in hybrid | 4WD | 490 mi range |
NHTSA complaints for the 2025 Mazda CX-90, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The hybrid system shuts the car down, often in the first days of ownership. The dash lights up with "electrical leakage detected" and "hybrid system malfunction" warnings, sometimes with i-Activsense errors. The car then won't shift out of park and has to be towed. Several reports come in at very low mileage, between 12 and 25 miles. One owner says the battery won't charge above 80 percent and the engine light stays on. Dealers often can't find the cause, and cars sit at the shop for weeks. One report mentions parts on backorder for months and the problem coming back after repair.
The wheel binds, sticks or feels notchy in turns. Reports describe it catching when coming out of left turns at 30 to 50 mph. Others say it locks at full lock and won't return to center, or pulls toward the edge of the road and takes real effort to correct. One owner says the notchy feel got much worse over a few days. A wheel that sticks mid-turn or pulls off the road is a loss-of-control risk. None of the reports mention a confirmed fix.
No warning comes before an impact, and the driver-assist system shuts itself off. One crash report describes a rear-end collision below 12 mph with no collision warning or proximity alert first. Another says i-Activsense shuts off with a "front radar obstructed" message when nothing is blocking the sensor. That takes out adaptive cruise and lane keeping, both at highway speeds over 70 mph and in city traffic. The system stays off until the car is fully turned off and restarted.
Power drops sharply when the driver needs it most. Reports describe the car refusing to speed up on a highway grade even with the pedal floored, including a failed pass of a slow truck that forced hard braking. Another describes losing drive power during a left turn in front of oncoming traffic. Both reports describe near-collisions. One notes no warning light or sound when it happened. The problem repeats, with one owner reporting several reduced-power episodes while turning over 5 months of ownership.
Hybrid and engine warnings shut the car down or cut its power. One pattern matches the electrical reports: charging system, electrical leakage and hybrid system malfunction messages appear together. The car shuts off, won't restart or shift into neutral, and needs a flatbed, in one case at 126 miles. Another pattern is a recurring "Acceleration Limited Due to Low Fuel and/or Battery Condition" warning even with normal fuel, which cuts power while driving. Dealers say no fault codes are stored or they can't reproduce the problem, and repairs drag on for weeks.
Loud, unpredictable squealing starts early, around 1,100 miles in one report. A dealer reportedly calls it a known issue with no fix yet, and one steering complaint mentions the same squeal. A separate report describes phantom braking, where the car brakes on its own at low speeds about 3 times a week, often on freeway on-ramps. That owner says their car was not covered by a related recall, so check whether any given vehicle is included.
Excerpts from complaints CX-90 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
I leased this vehicle with 12 miles on it from Werner Mazda in Manchester NH. I drove it home 8 miles without issues parked it in my driveway and it immediately started to broadcast multiple warnings completely locking up. Was unable to move the car out of park. Flatbed had to take the car back to the dealership where they are currently working on the car. No recalls officially reported. A quick search indicates an ESU issue requiring an update.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2025
Hybrid system malfunction Critical malfunction electrical leakage detected on dash board Car died 2 times left us stranded with children Cars at the dealer for the 2nd time with same issue No warnings Happend 3 hours after picking up the car. Then again 5 days after the dealer said it was fixed. Now in dealer 2 weeks with no answer as to what the issue is. But the problem is wide spread and many people looking for answers online with the exact issue.
Filed with NHTSA, February 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
Filed with NHTSA, February 2026
Steering became Notchy and in left turns only steering wheel would bind or stick when exiting a turn at a speed between 30 to 50 mph. Problem became significantly worse over course of a few days.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2025
Near a roundabout the car in front of me started moving and braked. My car didn’t give any forward collision warning or proximity alert before my car hit the other car from back. The speed was less than 12 mph.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2025 has the fewest owner complaints of the 2 CX-90 years we cover, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Recall repairs are free at any Mazda dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024-2025 CX-90 and 2025 CX-70 mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEV). The fuel gauge in the instrument cluster may display an inaccurate fuel reading.
Risk: An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the body control module (BCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 24, 2025. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. The manufacturer's number for this recall is 78251. The information in your report suggests that Mazda may have been aware of this issue more than five business days before filing a report with NHTSA. Please be reminded that under Federal law, this agency is to be notified of all safety defect and/or noncompliance decisions within five business days. 49 CFR 573.6 Significant civil penalties can be assessed for this violation.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024-2025 CX-90 and 2025 CX-70 vehicles equipped with a Dash Electrical Supply Unit (ESU). During vehicle startup, the defroster, seat belt warning, 360° view monitor functions, and the PHEV high-voltage battery cooling system may not function properly.
Risk: An ESU that does not function properly, increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the Dash ESU with improved software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2024. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 7124J.
Cars shoppers compare with the Mazda CX-90, with their own 2025 checklists.
2025 owner complaints, side by side
