Mazda Software Problem May Cause Vehicles To Stall While in Motion

More than 260,000 Mazda cars and SUV’s have been recalled, due to software problems that may cause the engine to stall while the vehicle is in motion, posing an increased risk of am accident and injury.

The Mazda recall was announced by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on July 9, after the automaker determined the software controlling the engine may be prone to problems, causing the engine not to run smoothly or stall. To date, no injuries or crashes have been reported in relation with the recall.

The vehicles impacted by the recall are equipped with software that controls how the engine runs. The software is designed to deactivate two out of the four cylinders within the engine to preserve fuel. According to Mazda’s investigation, when the two cylinders are reactivated, it may cause the intake valve rocker arm to come out of position and make contact with internal parts of the engine. This may cause the engine to misfire, stall, or run abnormally.

The recall affects approximately 262,220 model year 2018 through 2019 Mazda CX-5, Mazda6 and Mazda3 vehicles distributed for sale throughout the U.S. to licensed dealers.

Customers are being asked to listen for any abnormal sounds from the engine and be alert for the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) to display on the dash cluster, as this may be a sign the software issue has occurred, and the vehicle could be prone to stall.

Mazda has announced they will begin notifying owners of the issue and will provide instructions on how to schedule a free repair at their local dealer, where dealers will be instructed to reprogram the PCM software.

The recall is expected to begin by August 26, 2019. Customers with additional questions or concerns may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 and reference the recall campaign number 3719F.