Mazda recall query RQ26002
Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedy. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened this recall query about the steering on 2 model years (2024–2025). Opened Jan 26, 2026 and still open — 8 months so far, against NHTSA’s goal of eight months for a recall query. open
What NHTSA says
Source: Office of Defects Investigation, as filedThe 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.
A Recall Query is a look at a recall that already exists — whether its remedy works, whether it reached every vehicle it should have, whether the manufacturer met its obligations. The summary is the agency’s own text from its investigation file, unedited; the opening and closing resumes with the full reasoning are on NHTSA’s site under this number.
What this means for an owner
Source: and what happens nextAn investigation is not a finding that a defect exists, and it puts no duty on anyone. NHTSA opens a Preliminary Evaluation when complaints and other reports suggest a condition worth asking the manufacturer about; it upgrades to an Engineering Analysis when the answers warrant testing; it closes either when it recommends a recall, when the manufacturer recalls on its own, or when no defect trend is found. The agency’s own goals are about four months for a petition, eight for a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query and eighteen for an Engineering Analysis; many run longer.
This one is open. Nothing is owed on the vehicle today; if it becomes a recall, owners are written to and the repair is free. The moment to know is the day the campaign number appears — Recall Watch checks each VIN against every new NHTSA campaign and emails you when one lands, or take a free one-line alert by model year.
Model years it names
Source: as NHTSA filed themA vehicle page’s investigation list carries the same action; a name here is the scope NHTSA opened, not a list of affected VINs.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationIs RQ26002 a recall?
No. A recall query is NHTSA asking questions, not a recall. A safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number and a duty to repair for free; this one has not produced one. Whether one particular vehicle has an open recall is a VIN question at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is RQ26002 still open?
Yes, as of NHTSA’s latest file: opened Jan 26, 2026, 8 months ago.
Which vehicles does RQ26002 cover?
NHTSA opened it on 2 model years: 2025 Mazda CX-90, 2024 Mazda CX-90. That is the scope of the inquiry, not a list of affected vehicles; a recall, if one follows, defines its own population by VIN.