Mazda announced it is recalling a total of 262,000 vehicles in the United States due to a software problem that might cause engines to stall, according to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Models affected by the recall include Mazda6 mid-size sedans built from January 15, 2018 to April 22, 2019, CX-5 SUVs built from October 3, 2017 to April 23, 2019 as well as Mazda3 sedan and hatchback units built from September 25, 2018 to May 11, 2019.
The engines installed in the said vehicles have a feature called the cylinder deactivation technology. It is a software that allows the engines to occasionally deactivate two of its four cylinders to save fuel. In the process of reactivation, a software glitch could cause a component called a rocker arm to make unnecessary contact with other parts of the engine. This causes the engine to run rough or stall.
As a result, drivers do not get warning notifications when their vehicle engines are about to stop. Mazda, however, assured that it is not aware of any reports of crashes or injuries related to the software problem.
Dealers have been instructed to reprogram the software without costs to owners of the affected models. Owners can also expect to receive recall notifications from Mazda beginning August 26, 2019.
Recently, the automaker also issued a recall on 270,000 vehicles due to the defective Takata airbags that could explode.
In some cases, chemicals used to inflate the airbags deteriorate and cause sudden inflation, blowing the metal canister in the process and spewing shrapnel. Several reports of injuries and deaths have been reported due to the Takata airbag problem that has also affected other car brands.
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