Another recall hits Mazda as car maker admits THOUSANDS of vehicles across its popular range have serious defects
- The popular Mazda3 small car is being recalled for the third time in three months
- The latest recall affects 2019 models, relating to a faulty fuel-saving software
- The CX-5 SUV and the Mazda6 are also affected in this recall of 18,719 cars
One of Australia's most popular cars is being recalled for the third time in less than three months.
Urgent repairs are required for the latest-model Mazda3 amid fears a faulty software program designed to save fuel could in fact cause the car to lose power and stall without the ability to restart.
The recall also affects other current-model Mazdas built in 2018 and 2019, including the CX-5, Australia's most popular SUV, and the Mazda6, with 18,719 vehicles affected.
Urgent repairs are required for the latest-model Mazda3 (pictured is a 2019 hatch) amid fears a faulty software program designed to save fuel could in fact cause the car to lose power and stall without the ability to restart
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recall notice is the third for the Mazda3 small car since early May.
It is also the second recall notice for the fourth-generation, BP-series Mazda3 hatch and sedan since it went on sale in Australia this year.
A fault with the Power-Train Control Module software, which controls the fuel-saving cylinder deactivation function, may cause an intake value rocker arm to dislodge and interfere with other engine parts.
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This could cause the engine to stall and lose power without the ability to restart 'increasing the risk of an accident and injury to vehicle occupants and other road users', the recall notice said.
In early July, 2019-model Mazda3s were also recalled over faulty wheel studs that could loosen, potentially causing the car to lose control and result in an accident.
In early May, previous-model Mazda3s built between 2015 and 2017 were recalled over fears the front windscreen wipers could be defective in heavy rain, causing an accident.
The recall also affects other current-model Mazdas built in 2018 and 2019, including the CX-5 (pictured), Australia's most popular SUV, and the Mazda6, with 18,719 vehicles affected
The Mazda3 was Australia's eighth most popular car in June, but its sales were 23.9 per cent weaker compared with the same period in 2018
Mazda Australia will contact all affected owners, who are advised to visit their dealersehip to have their car repaired at no cost.
They can also called the Japanese manufacturer's Australian customer support line 1800 034 411.
The Mazda3 isn't the only new-model small car to be recall only months after going on sale, with the Toyota Corolla recalled in December last year over faulty automatic transmissions that had the potential to cause crashes.
Both Mazda and Toyota have reputations for quality, which makes the recalls all the more surprising.
Mazda3s built between 2015 and 2017 were recalled in May over fears the front windscreen wipers could be defective in heavy rain, causing an accident (pictured is a 2015-built Mazda3)
