43,752 examples of the 2024 Mazda CX-90 have been recalled by Mazda North American Operations. Their problem is the spring engaging the worm gear in the steering gear assembly. In the worst-case scenario, the subject vehicles may experience a sudden loss of power steering assist.
Mazda became aware of this concern in November 2022. A month later, the second field report alleging a loss of power steering assist followed suit. In March 2023, the Japanese automaker determined that grease was pushed out from the gear teeth. In light of this finding, the company modified the teeth shape of the worm wheel to allow for proper application of grease to the gear.
Fast forward to September 2023, and Mazda realized that its countermeasure didn’t produce the desired effect. Failures occurred on improved parts, which prompted the Hiroshima-based manufacturer to consider further improvement. In December 2023, Mazda determined that excessive spring force causes the grease to be pushed out, causing a sticking condition. The remedy comes in the form of reduced spring force applied to the worm gear.
Mazda isn't aware of any reports of accidents or injuries related to this problem in CX-90 vehicles, but Mazda received five reports of sudden power steering assist loss from the US market between October 2023 and December 2023. The improved steering gear assembly was implemented in production at the Hofu Plant in December 2023.
Recalled vehicles were produced between December 27, 2022 and December 11, 2023. Dealers have been instructed to replace the spring engaging the worm gear with the improved part, and to reapply grease to the gear teeth. CX-90 owners will have to wait until March 18 at the latest to receive notification letters by first-class mail.
Photo: Mazda
The steering gear assembly is made in Japan by Hitachi Astemo, a joint venture between Hitachi and Japanese automaker Honda. This company was formed by the merger of Hitachi Automotive Systems with Showa, Nissin, and Keihin. The biggest automotive supplier from the Land of the Rising Sun, however, is Toyota-controlled Denso.
Turning our attention back to the CX-90, the family-sized crossover is a three-row affair with either six-cylinder turbo muscle or a frugal plug-in hybrid setup built around a free-breathing four. In Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines, Mazda further sweetens the deal with a straight-six diesel (the mild-hybrid 3.3L e-Skyactiv D engine).
The CX-90 will be joined by the CX-70 in the first half of 2024, with the newcomer most likely heading to dealer lots as a 2025 model. The CX-70 is best described as the wide-bodied sibling of the CX-60, the first Mazda production vehicle based on the Large Product Group platform. Regardless of powertrain, the CX-90 and CX-60 both come with an eight-speed automatic transmission rather than the sixer that Mazda uses in transverse engine applications.
At press time, the CX-90 with the straight-six turbo gasser is $39,595 in the United States. Level up to the plug-in hybrid four, and the starting price also levels up to $49,945 (excluding the delivery fee).
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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