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121,000 Mazda vehicles being recalled over faulty fuel pumps from automotive supplier Denso.
Mazda is the latest manufacturer to recall vehicles as over 121,000 Mazda SUVs and cars are being recalled due to the risk of fuel pump failure. This problem could cause the engine to stall randomly.
A class-action lawsuit was filed against Mazda which alleges the recall is “woefully inadequate” for customers.
The Mazda models at risk include:
- 2019 CX-3 SUVs
- 2018 – 2019 Mazda CX-5 and CX-9 SUVs
- 2018 – 2019 MX-5 Mazda Miata coupes
- 2018 Mazda3 and Mazda6 hatchbacks and sedans
- 2019 – 2020 Mazda2 hatchbacks
The cause of this issue is related to the impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pumps. This part draws fuel from the gas tank and sends it to the high-pressure fuel pump. The impeller may crack or lose its shape, causing the fuel pump to fail.
According to information Mazda submitted to the NHTSA, 121,038 vehicles are recalled in the U.S. to replace the DENSO fuel pumps.
Mazda stated that only 1% of vehicles may have problems and only 4 vehicles had reported fuel pump problems as of September 2021.
Mazda also informed NHTSA, no crashes or injuries have been caused by the fuel pumps but a failed fuel pump can cause random engine stalls, increasing the risk of crashes and accidents.
Mazda Fuel Pump Recall
Fuel pump manufacturer DENSO recalled 2 million fuel pumps in 2020. The fuel pumps were used in many big auto brands including Mazda. Now DENSO is recalling another 1.5 million pumps.
The inspection confirmed the fuel pump failed because a deformed impeller interfered with the body of the fuel pump. Mazda found an impeller could crack as the solvent dried during manufacturing, causing the impeller to absorb too much fuel.
Texas plaintiff Townsend Vance owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5 which “during at least six different usages experienced hesitated and interrupted acceleration and near engine stall out.”
California plaintiff Zachary Haines owns a 2018 Mazda 3 Touring that on “numerous occasions have experienced hesitated acceleration and difficulty with starting the vehicle.”
Neither plaintiff alleges a dealer diagnosed, repaired, or replaced the fuel pump, but both plaintiffs claim the fuel pumps have caused the value of the vehicles to be “significantly diminished.”
Two Mazda owners who filed the class action lawsuit stated that the automaker should include other 2013-2020 Mazda vehicles equipped with DENSO fuel pumps with part number suffix 13350. The class action lawsuit alleges “at least hundreds of thousands of Mazda’s customers in the United States are driving vehicles that pose a serious safety risk.”
Mazda dealers haven’t begun replacing the fuel pumps as NHTSA says recall notices will be mailed in January 2022. But the class action lawsuit is already alleging the recall “failed to adequately repair the Fuel Pump Defect, and often caused additional damage to the fuel pump module and the Vehicle.”
The fuel pump lawsuit also alleges the Mazda recall is “woefully inadequate” because it:
- Failed to include all the Mazda vehicles equipped with defective fuel pumps
- Filed to offer a timely or effective repair
- Failed to warn consumers about the serious safety hazards and recommend customers stop driving their vehicles until they are repaired
- Failed to offer free loaner vehicles until recall repairs are completed
What to do if your Mazda is at risk
If your Mazda SUV or car is at risk, the Mazda will notify you. Mazda currently plans to start notifying owners by January 11, 2022. If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact Mazda at 800-222-5500.
You can also learn if your Mazda CX-5, Miata, hatchback, or a sedan is at risk sooner by visiting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) site. Enter your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) online.
You can also call the NHTSA at 888-327-4236. The NHTSA number for this recall is 21V875, and the Mazda number for this recall is 5321k.
The Mazda fuel pump class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California: Vance, et al., v. Mazda Motor of America, Inc., et al.