2024-2025 Mazda CX-90 Hybrid Losing Power Problem

Class Action Investigation

Updated on February 9th, 2025 Author: Sergei Lemberg

Lemberg Law is investigating numerous consumer complaints about 2024-2025 Mazda CX-90 Hybrid (PHEV) vehicles suddenly losing power on the road. Drivers say that when this happens, the vehicle becomes completely inoperable. There are also many reports of drivers being unable to shift the gears and get into neutral so they can push the vehicle out of the road and away from traffic. Even though Mazda has issued a recall for the problem, a growing number of owners state their vehicles aren’t included in the recall and dealerships won’t do anything to help them.

What’s Happening with the CX-90 Hybrid?

There are major issues with the 2024-2025 Mazda CK-90 Hybrid losing power while driving. 2024 complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) vary a lot. Still, the common factor is that vehicles simply stop running, often on highways. The conversation in the CX90 Forum and on Reddit tell the same story. By January 2025, there were very few complaints for the 2025 model, which stands to reason since it hasn’t been on the road for very long.

While the issues that have been voiced are clearly related to problems that have resulted in thousands of 2024 Mazda CX-90 Hybrid vehicles being recalled, descriptions of what happened differ somewhat. The general pattern shows that the problem starts with malfunction warnings and ends when the vehicle loses power and stops wherever it is on the road.

Initially, even though there was a recall, some owners said that their faulty vehicles weren’t covered. Others were furious because they said that they bought their 2024 Mazda CX-90 Hybrid without knowing that there was a recall, only to discover that they were faced with this very same malfunction.

Since then there have been two more recalls for many more vehicles.

Recall

By January 2024, there were 10 recalls involving 2024 Mazda CX-90-PHEV vehicles. Three of these warned that a loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash for various reasons. There was only one recall for the 2025 Mazda CX-90, but this was not related to a loss of drive power.

Ironically, of the two complaints lodged with the NHTSA by December 21, 2024, one describes how the vehicle’s hybrid electrical system failed and the 2025 CX-90 shut down and had to be towed to a dealer. The complaint states, “The message indicated that a high voltage leakage was detected and that the system was hazardous.” It goes on to say, “The dealer’s service center cleared the error and refused to take further action. If this should happen again, on a busy street, serious injury could result.”

NHTSA Campaign 23V719000

The first recall stated that it was a powertrain problem combined with powertrain control module (PCM) and engine control module (ECM) software errors. It warned 4,252 owners of 2024 CX-90 plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicles that the engine and electric motor may shut down unexpectedly, which can result in a loss of drive power. The fix was that dealers would update the software for the control modules free of charge.

The initial safety recall report issued on October 26, 2023, stated that the engine and electric motor of these 4,252 2024 CX-90 hybrid vehicles may shut down suddenly, without any warning, while they are in failsafe mode. Unsurprisingly, the consequent loss of power increases the risk of a crash. While there was no notification before this happened, the recall report stated that the problem was caused by an increase in the temperature of the PHEV system inverter. The temperature increase activates the failsafe mode that is controlled by software in the powertrain control module. Then, the faulty software program simply stops the engine and electric motor from operating. Importantly, the report notifies dealers that while there are no defects in the control modules they must be reprogrammed to align it with the improved powertrain control software.

According to the most recent Recall Quarterly Report update on October 28, 2024, 4,116 of the affected vehicles had been “remedied” — one had been scrapped, stolen, or exported and seven were “unreachable.”

However, on October 31, 2024, Mazda released two more recalls warning that Mazda CX-90 vehicles might lose driver power, increasing a crash risk. This time, a total of 46,390 2024 CX-90 and 2025 CX-70 vehicles were implicated. There is no indication of whether any of the original 4,252 CX-90 hybrid vehicles were included in these recalls.

NHTSA Campaign 24V815000 & 24V817000

NHTSA Campaign Number 24V815000 warns that 31,488 2024 CX-90 and 2025 CX-70 vehicles have PCM and ECM software that may cause the malfunction indicator lights to illuminate along with a loss of drive power. The software was to be updated free of charge.

Owners were contacted in December 2024 and told that the problems were threefold, all of which “may increase the risk of a crash.”

1. Loss of drive power from software errors Specifically, this relates to “improper software” in the PCM and ECM that may result in the malfunction indicator lights illuminating, “potentially activating a fail-safe mode that limits the drive power.
2. Engines may stall at idle from software errors This relates to “improper software” in the PCM and battery energy control module (BECM) that may result in the engine not restarting while idling from auto engine stop (i-stop). “In this condition, the engine warning light will illuminate, a ‘Hybrid System Malfunction’ message will appear, and a warning chime may sound.
3. Loss of drive power in EV mode from software error Due to improper software in the inverter, loss of motor power may occur in EV mode. Improper software in the inverter may activate a fail-safe mode that limits the motor power in EV mode. In this condition, the malfunction indicator lights may illuminate and a warning chime may sound.

Affected vehicles will require the affected modules (PCM/ECM/BECM/inverter) to be reprogrammed with improved software, free of charge.

NHTSA Campaign Number 24V817000 warns that 14,902 2024 CX-90 and 2025 CX-70 PHEV vehicles have inverter software that may cause the malfunction indicator lights to illuminate. Additionally, a loss of drive power may occur while in electric vehicle (EV) mode. Improved inverter software will be installed, free of charge.

Owner’s Experiences

Many of the complaints to the NHTSA and comments made on the CX90 Forum relate to virtually brand-new vehicles. Some say that they experienced warning signals literally as they left the dealership with their shiny, new purchases.

Many of the complaints blame a faulty powertrain, which is not surprising since two of the recalls are listed as powertrain issues. More specifically:

• 23V719000 > powertrain
• 24V815000 > powertrain & engine and engine cooling
• 24V817000 > electrical system

When the first recall was released, lots of owners were saying they regarded the problem as an engine or electrical system problem. Some dealers were saying that the source of the problem was a failed positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater issue. The 2024 recall is regarded as a combined powertrain and electrical system issue. This is no surprise since the complaints we have sourced are also seen as electrical, vehicle speed control, and engine issues.

Many of them report suddenly getting a “Hybrid System Malfunction” message. For example, an owner from California states that when this message and the check engine light appeared, the vehicle began to stall, “slowing down to nearly a full stop almost immediately. When I pressed (the) gas pedal, it would not accelerate.” The Mazda was in EV mode when this happened — with only about 20 miles of electric range left. “I was lucky that no cars were right behind me as the traffic was moving about 60 mph or my car could have been rear-ended when it came to such an abrupt stop.” Fortunately able to switch to gas power mode, the owner drove to the dealer.

“The Hybrid System Malfunction was the most serious and frightening of a series of malfunctions that my car experienced since it was purchased two months ago.”

NHTSA Complaints

Less than a month after buying a 2024 CX-90, a Colorado owner experienced multiple failure messages. The vehicle was towed to a dealership because they couldn’t get it to start or go out of Park. While this owner hadn’t experienced a complete power loss, the Mazda decelerated on the highway after these error messages.

An owner from Maine tells how a 2024 Mazda CX-90 with a bit more than 500 miles suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. Warning signs were popping up on the dash screen including “I-active sense malfunction, hybrid battery malfunction, engine malfunction light on, and on top of these, critical vehicle malfunction.” The car wouldn’t start and wouldn’t switch to neutral. This meant that his wife, who was in the car with his daughter, couldn’t move the car out of the road. “My wife and daughter’s life was put in danger when this vehicle suddenly stopped in the middle of the road with cars passing by on both ways.”

An owner from California tells how, on a busy freeway during rush hour, the Mazda suddenly became unable to accelerate. Fortunately, she was able to pull off, restart, and then limp back onto the road. The car was towed to a Mazda dealership. But they weren’t able to get it off the flatbed because they couldn’t get it into reverse. She was told it was simply “a computer system glitch.”

An owner from South Carolina was on her way to drop her child at school when the vehicle suddenly “gave up power.” The complaint states that it “shuddered with (an) engine malfunction and I-drive malfunction warning. The check engine light came on. This is risky because another vehicle could have smashed into us if on (a) highway or (at) high speed.”

Online Discussion

Multiple threads on Reddit feature CX-90 PHEV owners highlighting problems, including the issue of hybrid engines stalling.

Another CX-90 PHEV Bites the Dust

Another PHEV bites the dust. Shut off while driving. Had to restart and pull into a parking lot.

This Reddit thread features a photograph of the Mazda CX-90 being towed. The text states that the owner got “the dreaded hybrid system malfunction and engine malfunction messages when the vehicle had done less than 2,500 miles. The car had been towed to the dealer and he was awaiting a diagnosis. He notes that he “Never used the app for preheating at all. It’s been above freezing these past couple of weeks.”

Here are a few of the responses:

• “I’ve had mine for 1.5 months (1,200 miles) and this morning I got the same thing while sitting at a red light. Battery 3/4 full, full tank of gas. Car died. Multiple warnings including Hybrid System Malfunction and I Sense. Tried restarting multiple times but kept dying. Locked itself in park. Luckily it was a long red light… After about the 6th restart, it didn’t die and I was able to drive it to work in sport mode.”
• “If there’s a PHEV dashboard error on Reddit then it’s probably from the preheating malfunction. If it’s not from preheating then it’s probably from not getting all the recalls done. If it’s not from getting all the recalls done then it’s probably the water heater failing (that hybrid system leakage error.)”
• “Shut off while driving?? That’s very dangerous, how can they still let these cars drive on the roads?”
• “Mazda should just buy them all back at this point. The damage to their legacy must be pretty alarming?”

2024 CX-90 Turns Off While Driving

In this thread, an owner reports a loss of drive power that is slightly different to most other complaints.

“Anyone have a problem where (the) car turns itself off and (the) dashboard goes blank while driving? Have to coast off (the) roadside, put (the) car in park, and start it again. This is not a hybrid.” He states that the vehicle has about 8,000 miles on the clock and it’s six months old. The issue has happened twice — with the failure turning the motor off/on at a traffic light.”

Comments and advice is varied:

• “My Turbo S kept getting the engine malfunction message. Turns out it is the mild hybrid battery. Dealer said (it was) not safe to drive, as the car could lose all power while driving. Perhaps that’s your issue. The battery is currently en route from Japan via clipper ship. Hopefully it rounds the horn soon without incident. I’ve been stuck in a tiny loaner for 3 weeks now.”
• “Someone’s CX-90 stopped on a railroad track while crossing…. look it up. It wasn’t long ago.” (Comment posted around May 2024)
• “It might be a low battery. I’ve heard of this happening in other vehicles with the auto stop/start feature. This feature really wears on the battery.”

Hybrid System Malfunction

Someone driving a brand new 2024 CX-90 PHEV in 2024 shows an image of the dash that indicates the vehicle had stopped. The Mazda wasn’t even two weeks old.

• “Had a similar thing happen with ours. At first, I thought it was an issue with (the) battery not being charged, and it would go away. Eventually (the) car started losing power and being speed-limited after this happened. Took it in and the dealer said he thought it was a software issue cause couldn’t find anything wrong with it. Mazda had them update the software and replace a fuel pump just in case. Issue has (been) totally resolved since.”
• “It’s most likely a software issue and needs to be updated to not lock the car up like this. I saw people saying their cars lost power in the middle of the road! This is a scary experience, especially with my kids and wife in the car being stuck in front of a geo store late at night.”

The second comment came from someone who updated this comment in October 2024.

• “Mazda said the issue is just a software update which they don’t have from Japan to fix this problem. They cleared the codes and gave me the car back and told me it’s safe to drive.” But the issue recurred and the car went back to Mazda. More than two weeks later there was still no resolution!

A month later, he got the car back after they cleared the codes. But the problems continued. “This will be my last Mazda after being a loyal customer. After leasing 7 cars from them. I’m done.”3

Forum Discussion

The conversation on the CX90 Forum started in June 2023.

A very worried owner who posted on the forum early on said he was “very unhappy” and was therefore joining “the bandwagon.” Within less than 24 hours of leaving the dealership, the CX-90 started flashing warning lights. It “looks like we’re on the pace to have a class-action lawsuit soon…”

Others talked about the battery draining before there were any errors. “I’m curious if maybe the system was trying to regenerate too much (or too little) energy from the ICU,” says one member.

On the battery topic, another owner was advised by a dealership “to drain and recharge all the batteries. Tomorrow morning we’ll get an answer to see if that solves the issues.”

Then there’s the issue of not being able to put the vehicle in neutral. Another forum member stated that because of this, the tow truck couldn’t pull into the driveway and they couldn’t put the Mazda CX-90 into Neutral, so they couldn’t tow it away to be fixed.

In February 2024, an owner was told “the battery on the hybrid (was) going bad.” Because it could take as long as six months to get a new one, they were forced to “take a chance on it tearing up another part like the transmission that would void the warranty.”

Sometimes owners are proactive. One forum member contacted the local attorney general. “He said they have 30 days to try to repair the vehicle or we could sue for purchasing a lemon. So I guess this is where we are. I will never buy another Mazda.”

In November 2024, a forum member shared that he had “got the dreaded hybrid/i-stop/engine malfunction warning.” He states, I love the car but not sure what to think”

Problems with the 2025 CX-90

Even though Mazda hasn’t issued a recall for the 2025 Mazda PHEV, comments on the forum show that the 2025 model isn’t free of the hybrid malfunction problem.

On December 30, 2024. An owner tells how his 2025 CX-90 PHEV with 816 miles “bricked on a cold 7°F night.” The vehicle was only three weeks old. “We drove it to my in-laws’ driveway after the message showed up. But once we parked the car was dead. Same story as all the others. Towed to the dealer by dragging it onto a tow truck. The battery ran down to 0 overnight. When the dealership recharged the battery, the error cleared, and Mazda sent them a 40-page email to check out the problem. But they found nothing so far and won’t release the car. They said it could be a software bug but they don’t know. So (I’m) still waiting.”

CX-90 Engine Losing Power on You? Get Help

Lemberg Law is aware that a large number of 2024-2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV owners are reporting power loss problems. Complaints aren’t identical, but there appears to be a common thread related to vehicles stalling, stopping, and sometimes not engaging in gear on roads and freeways.

So, if you have any kinds of power loss issues while you are driving your 2024 Mazda CX-90 Hybrid, we’d like to hear about it. All you have to do is fill out a contact form or call our Helpline. We will assess your case and determine whether you are eligible to join our new class action investigation. It’s not going to cost you anything because the law says Mazda must pay the legal bills for lemon law cases.

About the Author:

Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."

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