Toyota and Mazda sprung tampering with test results

Toyota and Mazda have admitted to doctoring the engine certification and/or crash test data of several key models following an in-depth investigation by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

The investigation is still ongoing, but both Japanese car-makers have detailed the models in question and which protocols were sidestepped.

“The model certification applications in question involve inadequate data in pedestrian and occupant protection tests for three production models (Corolla Fielder/Axio and Yaris Cross) and errors in crash tests and other test methods for four discontinued models (Crown, Isis, Sienta, and Lexus RX),” Toyota said.

Toyota didn’t go into detail about the testing “methods that differed from the government standards” but Mazda did, revealing that “an external device was used to trigger a timed activation of the airbag” on the Mazda6 and Axela during crash testing and that it rewrote the engine control software of the Mazda2 and MX-5 RF for each model’s certification testing.

“In the certification testing for the on-boarded engine output of gasoline engine, the test should have been performed using engine control software in the same condition as a mass-production vehicle, but it was conducted by using control software in which the ignition timing adjust function was partially deactivated,” Mazda HQ said overnight.

Mazda Australia has confirmed to carsales that none of the breaches or irregularities relate to Australian vehicles, meaning shipments of the Mazda2 and hard-top MX-5 should be unaffected.

However, Toyota Motor Corporation has suspended shipments of the Yaris Cross – Australia’s third most popular light SUV so far in 2024 – despite insisting “there are no performance issues that contravene laws and regulations”.

“Therefore, there is no need to stop using the affected vehicles,” it said.

“We sincerely apologise for any concern or inconvenience this may cause to our customers and stakeholders who have placed their trust in Toyota.

“We take it seriously that the problem was discovered at Toyota following the recent discovery of certification issues at Hino Motors Ltd and Daihatsu Motor Co Ltd and Toyota Industries Corporation.”

Mazda Motor Corporation has also apologised, but it wasn’t the only other car-maker caught out in the recent vehicle certification debacle.

According to Automotive News Europe, Honda and Suzuki were also found to have forged certain test results, specifically noise outputs for up to 22 previous models for the former and braking performance “for one model manufactured in the past” by the latter.

Toyota Australia is yet to publicly detail any potential Yaris Cross supply interruptions, but we’ll update this article when it does.

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au