Mazda CX-90 & CX-70 Fuel Gauge Issue Could Cause Engine Stall

Mazda has announced a safety defect affecting certain 2024–2025 Mazda CX-90 and 2025 Mazda CX-70 mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEV) due to a potential fuel gauge malfunction. This issue can cause the fuel gauge to display an inaccurate fuel level, increasing the risk of running out of fuel unexpectedly.

If the vehicle stalls due to an empty fuel tank, it cannot be restarted until refueled — which could lead to a dangerous situation if it happens while driving.

What Causes the Problem

Mazda first began receiving reports of engine stalls in August 2023, which triggered an internal investigation. The automaker found that:

• Abnormal gauge resistance was caused by unintended conductivity in the sub-tank sending unit.
• Over time, ethanol in the fuel reacts with the sending unit’s circuit board, leading to a buildup that interferes with the gauge’s ability to read fuel levels accurately.

Through late 2023 and into 2024, Mazda performed detailed testing to understand the root cause and develop a solution. By April 2025, Mazda had completed production changes that improved the fuel gauge’s control logic, making it more reliable even if conductivity fluctuations occur.

Safety Risk

When the fuel gauge shows more fuel than is actually in the tank, drivers may continue driving until the vehicle unexpectedly runs out of fuel. This causes:

• Engine stall
• Inability to restart the vehicle until refueling
• Increased crash risk, particularly if the stall happens in traffic

Fortunately, Mazda reports that no crashes or injuries related to this issue have been reported as of August 2025.

Mazda’s Solution

To fix the issue, Mazda dealers will update the Body Control Module (BCM) software on affected vehicles free of charge. This software update corrects the fuel gauge reading logic to ensure more accurate fuel level display under all driving conditions.

• Owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed November 1, 2025.
• Mazda’s internal recall number is 78251.
• The NHTSA campaign number is 25V-568.