NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Recall Query RQ26-002: Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedy
- Open
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Recall Query RQ26-002 on January 26, 2026; NHTSA's investigations file listed it as open on October 23, 2026. NHTSA's investigations file lists the Mazda CX-90 and CX-90 Plug-In Hybrid for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- RQ26-002 (also written RQ26002)
- Investigation type
- Recall Query An investigation into whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or whether its remedy works, run much like a Preliminary Evaluation.
- Status
- Open since January 26, 2026
- Opened
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Mazda Motor Corp.
- Components
- Steering; Steering — Rack and Pinion
- Vehicles and equipment
- Mazda CX-90 and CX-90 Plug-In Hybrid
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Recall Query RQ26-002.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 26 complaints and several Early Warning Reporting (EWR) Field Reports alleging intermittent and brief increases in steering effort (described as “sticky steering”) during the drive cycle in model year (MY) 2024 CX-90 vehicles manufactured by Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) subject to Recall 24V2022. In each complaint, the vehicle had the recall remedy completed prior to the reported incident. Recall 24V022 addresses a sudden and unexpected change of steering effort while driving caused by excessive worm gear friction force. After receiving the recall 24V022 remedy, consumers report sudden increases of steering effort while driving. Sudden and unexpected change of steering effort while driving may increase the risk of a crash. ODI is opening this Recall Query (RQ) to assess the adequacy of the remedy for Recall 24V022 and to identify the cause(s) of the conditions leading to the post-remedy reports. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Recall Query RQ26-002. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
Mazda
All Mazda recallsWhat an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Mazda VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for RQ26-002
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.