Mazda Recalls Over 35,000 CX-5 in US Over Defective Lighting

Last February 2, 2020, Mazda North American Operations has issued a product recall for over 35,000 vehicles, namely the CX-5.

The company filed a Part 573 defect notification with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a safety defect, which exists in certain 2016 Model Year Mazda CX-5 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the LED-type daytime running lights may flicker or fail to illuminate while driving.

The said problem stems from the gasket used to attach the wiring connector to the LED daytime running light (DRL) module. The said gasket was not manufactured to Mazda’s specification. As the part deteriorates over time, the gasket can release sulfur which may corrode the LED circuit controlling the DRL. As the corrosion worsens, the circuit may lose continuity, causing flickering and/or failure of DRL illumination. One or both front DRLs on affected vehicles could be affected by this defect.

This poses as a safety threat to pedestrians and surrounding vehicles. If one or both DRLs fail to light up, others may have a reduced ability to detect the vehicle due to its faulty lights, especially when the headlights are off in low light conditions. There is no warning preceding or during the DLR malfunction, so CX-5 drivers may have faulty parts without even realizing it.

Out of 112,235 Mazda CX-5s that were sold in the US in 2016, approximately 36,761 units are affected in the U.S. and U.S. territories.

As of now, there have been no accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of this defect.

In the Philippines, Bermaz Auto Philippines, Mazda’s exclusive distributor in the country, has not yet announced whether or not local CX-5s are also affected by this defect. The local spec Mazda CX-5 is equipped with a 2.5 liter In-line 4 Cylinder DOHC SKYACTIV-G engine that makes 187 hp and 252 Nm of torque. This engine comes hooked up to a SKYACTIV-DRIVE six speed automatic transmission.

As a premium crossover SUV, the inside of the CX-5 is wrapped in leather, including the seats and the shift knob. There is also a seven inch LCD display screen, dual zone automatic climate controls, a 10 way power adjustable driver’s seat, and a 10 speaker BOSE® sound system. There are six airbags all around the vehicle, an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), keyless entry, and a 360° camera with dynamic guidelines. The Mazda CX-5 starts at Php 1.73 million.

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