Last updated: 2026-10-10

Mazda CX-90

Mazda CX-90 Years to Avoid

3 scored model years (2024–2026) · model average 58/100

Skip the 2024 model year if you can. Owners report steering that binds in highway curves, sudden hybrid power loss, and false hard braking. It is also the site's pick to buy, but only because it is the one year with enough time on the road to judge fairly.

Verdict

Avoid
2024 38/100
Buy
2024 38/100
Model average
58/100
See years to avoid ↓See best year ↓See all years ranked ↓

Mazda CX-90 Years to Avoid

These model years score significantly below the Mazda CX-90 average of 58/100.

#YearScoreRatingRecallsComplaintsTop Issue
1202438/100Risky11259Steering (77)

Why These Years Should Be Avoided

38
RiskyReliability score: 38 out of 100, rated Risky

2024 Mazda CX-90

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.

11 recalls259 complaintsEst. repair:

Top issues: Steering (77), Electrical System (39), Forward Collision Avoidance (27), Power Train (21), Unknown Or Other (20), Engine (15)

View full 2024reliability report →

What Are Common Mazda CX-90 Problems?

STEERING

80 complaints

Most reported in 2024, 2025

2024: Binding in turns is the most common failure, especially in sustained curves at highway speeds above 50 mph.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

44 complaints

Most reported in 2024, 2025

2024: Sudden power loss with a "Hybrid System Malfunction" warning dominates these reports, mostly on the plug-in hybrid.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

29 complaints

Most reported in 2024, 2025

2024: False hard braking with adaptive cruise control is the main problem.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

22 complaints

Most reported in 2024, 2025

2024: Repeated loss of drive power, with the engine revving as if in neutral, leads this mixed group.

POWER TRAIN

21 complaints

Most reported in 2024

2024: Loss of propulsion is the core complaint.

ENGINE

17 complaints

Most reported in 2024, 2025

2024: Sudden power loss and limp mode account for most reports, often on highway on-ramps or at 70 to 75 mph.

Best Mazda CX-90 Year to Buy Instead

38
RiskyReliability score: 38 out of 100, rated Risky

2024 Mazda CX-90

2024 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.

Score: 38/100 (Risky)11 recalls259 complaints
View full 2024reliability report →
VIN History Report

Found a Safe Year? Check the Specific Car

Even the 2024 Mazda CX-90 has 11 recalls on file. A VIN check confirms the recall work on the exact car and shows its accident, title, and service history.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

All Mazda CX-90 Years by Generation

Mazda CX-90 Reliability Scores by Year

Excellent Good Mixed Risky

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Mazda CX-90 years should I avoid?
Avoid 2024 if you can. Site analysis puts it well below the model's own average, with heavy complaints about steering, electrical faults, and false braking. It also has 11 recalls on file, the most of any year tracked.
Is the 2024 Mazda CX-90 still the one to buy?
It is the site pick only by default. It is the one year with at least two years on the road, so its record is fully known. That record is the weakest of the three years, so buy one only after a careful inspection.
Are the 2025 and 2026 Mazda CX-90 safer from problems?
Not necessarily. The 2025 year has 2 recalls and 21 complaints, and 2026 has none of either. Newer years have had little time to collect reports, so low counts do not show they are more reliable.
Which Mazda CX-90 years have transmission problems?
The data does not tie transmission trouble to a specific year. Power train complaints across all years describe loss of propulsion, limp speed, and rough, delayed shifts between 2nd and 3rd gear. Ask a dealer about any open recall work on a specific car.
What should I check on a used 2024 Mazda CX-90?
Check recall status first, since the year has 11 recalls. Then drive it on a highway, noting any steering binding in long curves. Try the adaptive cruise control for false braking. On a plug-in hybrid, ask about any power loss warnings.

How we score every Mazda CX-90 model year

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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