Last updated: 2026-10-10
Mazda CX-90 Reliability by Year
Mazda CX-90 reliability is mixed: 2024 draws steering binding and hybrid power loss complaints, while 2025 and 2026 are too new to judge.
Mazda CX-90 Reliability Overview
Early CX-90 model years have a rough record. Owner complaints for 2024 center on a steering wheel that binds in sustained highway curves and, on the plug-in hybrid, sudden power loss with a hybrid system warning. The 2025 and 2026 years show far fewer complaints, but they have had little time on the road, so their clean records prove little. Inspect any used CX-90 closely.
Current generation: 1st gen (2024–2023).
Best & Worst Mazda CX-90 Years
Best Mazda CX-90 Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2024 is the pick only because it is the one year with at least two years on the road, so its problems are fully visible. The 2025 and 2026 years show fewer complaints, but that mostly reflects less time to collect them. A 2024 still carries the heaviest complaint and recall load, so check recall status and steering behavior before buying.
Mazda CX-90 Years to Avoid
Steering leads, with 77 complaints of the wheel binding in sustained highway curves, not returning to center, or clicking back with a jerk. Electrical reports add sudden power loss with a hybrid warning, and the collision avoidance system brakes hard on clear roads. Federal records list 11 recalls for this year.
Mazda CX-90 Reliability Score Trend
Mazda CX-90 reliability has improved in recent years, with newer models scoring an average of 68/100 compared to 38/100 for older years.
Scores 0–100. Higher is better.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 38/100 | Risky |
| 2025 | 63/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 72/100 | Good |
Year-by-Year Reliability
2026 Mazda CX-90
0 recalls · 0 complaints
No complaints or recalls on file yet, though the record is short, and it carries a 5-star federal crash-test rating.
2025 Mazda CX-90
2 recalls · 21 complaints
Rates good and sits mid-pack among CX-90 years, but early hybrid shutdowns and sticking steering mark its owner complaints.
2024 Mazda CX-90
11 recalls · 259 complaints
Weakest of the three scored CX-90 years, with steering binding, sudden hybrid power loss, and 11 recalls.
Viewing a Mazda CX-90 soon? Use a printable inspection checklist for its model year.
Found Your Mazda CX-90? Check Its History
Electrical system (5) problems come up most in Mazda CX-90 owner complaints, and 13 recalls cover the years we track. A VIN check shows whether the car you found had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
Mazda CX-90 Repair Costs
Reliability Rating
2/5
Mazda CX-90 Years to Avoid
See which model years have the most problems
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Compare Mazda CX-90 With Similar SUVs
The Mazda CX-90 competes with other midsize suvs such as Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, and Kia Telluride.
CX-90 vs Toyota Highlander
9 years tracked · 1892 complaints
CX-90 vs Honda Pilot
9 years tracked · 2382 complaints
CX-90 vs Kia Telluride
6 years tracked · 1600 complaints
CX-90 vs Hyundai Palisade
7 years tracked · 1908 complaints
CX-90 vs Ford Explorer
9 years tracked · 2694 complaints
More Mazda CX-90 comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best year for the Mazda CX-90?
- No year is clearly the best. The 2024 model is the site pick because it has enough time on the road to judge, but it has the most complaints. The 2025 and 2026 years look cleaner mainly because they are newer.
- Is the Mazda CX-90 reliable?
- Reliability is mixed, and the CX-90 sits well below average among SUVs on the site. The 2024 year draws many owner complaints about steering, electrical faults, and braking. Later years have too little history to say they fixed those problems.
- What are the most common Mazda CX-90 problems?
- Steering is the most reported area, mainly a wheel that binds in highway curves. Electrical complaints follow, led by sudden power loss with a hybrid warning on the plug-in model. Forward collision avoidance and power train complaints also appear, including false hard braking and loss of propulsion.
- Does the Mazda CX-90 have steering problems?
- Yes. Owners describe a wheel that will not return to center, clicks back with a jerk, or feels like someone is making small corrections. Reports begin around 5,000 miles, and five include crashes. Dealers have replaced steering racks in some cases.
- Are there safety concerns with the Mazda CX-90 adaptive cruise control?
- Owners report false hard braking, mostly on curves or when passing a semi in the next lane, which raises rear-end crash risk at highway speed. Some say a software recall did not fix it. Test the system on a highway drive before you buy.
How we score the Mazda CX-90
Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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