Recall wrap: New Mazda3 strikes double trouble

Two more product safety recalls have been announced for the 2019 Mazda3 today, bringing the total number to five since the all-new small car was launched last April.

Previous fourth-generation Mazda3 recalls involved 420 Pure models in August because of detaching interior rear-view mirror glass, 3323 hatchbacks in July due to the potential for wheels to fall off and 231 more hatches in June due to faulty seat belt and front passenger airbag deactivation warning lamps.

Today 14,583 examples of the BP-series Mazda3 hatch and sedan on sale between March 26 and December 24, 2019 (see the VIN list here) were recalled due to a software fault that may prevent the engine restarting after entering idle-stop mode until the start/stop button is pushed.

“If the vehicle does not restart in idle stop mode, there is an increased risk of an accident and injury to vehicle occupants and other road users,” said Mazda, which will contact the owners of all affected vehicles to have their powertrain control module reprogrammed.

Separately today, 13,768 MY19 Mazda3s also sold during the same dates (meaning some vehicle are affected by both recalls; see VIN list here) were recalled due to potential false alerts by their autonomous emergency braking systems.

“The Smart Brake Support (SBS) system may falsely detect an object in front of the vehicle, which may initiate the automatic brake function,” said Mazda’s recall notice on the ACCC’s Product Safety Australia website.

“If the automatic brake function is initiated, the vehicle will unexpectedly slow down and stop, increasing the risk of an accident and injury to vehicle occupants and other road users.”

Once again Mazda will contact all affected owners, this time to arrange reprogramming of the SBS control module, free of charge. In both cases concerned owners can contact Mazda Customer Support on 1800 034 411.

Also this week there were two recalls from Volvo Car Australia, affecting MY2014-2017 versions of the Volvo S60, V60, XC60, V40 and V40CC with a four-cylinder diesel engine, in which a valve may leak and cause the engine intake manifold to melt or deform.

The two recalls affect about 1500 vehicles sold between May 1, 2013 and May 31, 2018 (see VIN list here and here).

Volvo says: “If the engine intake manifold melts or deforms, there may be unusual engine operation, activation of the engine malfunction indication light, engine interruption or lack of power, or the possibility of a localised engine bay fire.

“If any of these were to occur, it may pose an accident or injury risk to the vehicle occupant(s) or other road users.”

Other recent recalls since our last wrap include almost 8000 Ford Mondeo vehicles built between 2014 and 2019, in which there’s potential for leaking battery acid to cause a fire risk as a build-up of copper sulphate could heat up and ignite.

Ford will contact the owners of 7828 affected vehicles to arrange inspection and repair.

Meanwhile, Kia is calling back more than 3000 Sorentos over concerns relating to the model’s Frontal Collision-Avoidance Assist (AEB) software.

It’s warned that the 3315 recalled models may fail to pick up stationary vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists, meaning its brake assist function may not activate to avoid a collision.

Kia will contact owners of affected vehicles to have their vehicle inspected.

In other recall news, more than 1000 Toyota Camry vehicles – including hybrids – and 14 new Coaster buses over concerns they’re fitted with faulty seat belts.

The recall includes 1044 Camrys and 14 Coasters built in 2019, with Toyota saying the fault could prevent one of two locking mechanisms in the vehicle’s seat belts from locking as designed in the event of an accident, meaning passengers won’t be properly restrained.

Toyota says it will contact owners (see VIN list here) to organise repairs.

Mitsubishi has recalled 237 examples of its electric i-MiEV (built over 2010-2012), saying extreme weather conditions may lead to a lack of vacuum in the brake booster system, deteriorating brake performance as well as illuminating the brake warning light on the dash.

Owners will be contacted to have their vehicle inspected and repaired.

Elsewhere, 2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class models have been recalled following concerns over the front passenger airbag flap, affecting 48 vehicles.

The German car-maker says the plastic flap on top of the front passenger airbag could tear off as it deploys, either causing the airbag to inadequately restrain the passenger or propel pieces/chunks of plastic into the cabin, increasing the risk of injury to occupants.

Owners of affected V-Class vehicles are required to contact their local dealer to have the matter rectified.

BMW hasn’t escaped the latest round of recalls either.

A total of 2251 BMW X6 and X6 M models built from 2013-2019 have been recalled over faulty ISOFIX brackets within the vehicle floor.

BMW says using the ISOFIX mount in the floor can lead to fatigue fractures on the retaining brackets, which could eventually crack around the welded point in the vehicle, leaving the child seat insecure.

Replacement parts won’t be available until the end of February 2020, when BMW will contact owners.

A separate recall for M5 and M8 performance models built in 2019 (F90 and F92) has also been announced, affecting 54 vehicles.

That’s due to an incorrectly routed section of the wiring harness which may cause a short in the circuit and shift the transmission into neutral. The vehicle may then engage the parking lock when it is restarted.

Affected customers are asked to contact their local BMW dealer to organise repair/replacement.

Finally, 216 Ford Couriers have joined the millions of vehicles affected by the Takata airbag saga. The models affected are those built from November 13, 1998 to March 1, 2000.

To find out if your vehicle is affected by the Takata airbag recall, click here.