Stumbled On Cases Of Emissions Collision And Engineering Tests In Japan, This Is The Affected Mazda Model

JAKARTA - Mazda, an automotive manufacturer from Japan, also stumbled upon a case involving a number of his vehicles in Japan. This problem was only discovered after the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation, and Tourism (MLIT) issued a request for an investigation on January 26, 2024.

During the investigation, Mazda and local authorities investigated 2,403 tests. The results of the investigation found irregularities in a total of five tests in two categories reported to the government on May 30. It is known that 150,878 units of production vehicles and 149,313 units were sold.

One of the irregularities made by manufacturers is irregularities in the hit test involving three models whose production has been stopped. In certification tests for passenger protection in a collision from the front, the external airbag device only comes out on time, not spontaneous activation based on collision detection by onboard sensors.

The affected vehicles include the Atenza produced from November 2014 to April 2018 with a volume production of 29,547 units and units sold in the period January 2015 to May 2018 consisting of 29,505 units.

Then, Axela's model for production in August 2016 to February 2019, volume production of 46,067 units with a sales period of September 2016 to March 2019 with a volume of 46,046 units. Then, the Mazda6 or Atenza model was also affected during the April 2018 production period to April 2024 totaling 22,094 units with a sales period from June 2018 to date with a total of 21,641 units.

"We would like to express our sincere apologies for the inconvenience and concerns caused to customers, business partners, dealers, and all other stakeholders associated with Mazda," Mazda wrote on its official website, Tuesday, June 4.

Furthermore, the second case involved two models that stumbled upon the problem of re-tuning the machine's control software. In testing the on-board engine certification of the gasoline machine, it should have been done using an engine control software that is in the same condition as a mass production vehicle, but was carried out using a controller device that set the timing of the partially disabled scheme.

Vehicles affected by this problem include the MX-5 Roadster RF production from June 2018 to date with a total of 10,930 units during the sales period from July 2018 totaling 10,760 units.

Meanwhile, Mazda2 with 1.5 gasoline engines was also affected by this case with production starting June 2021 totaling 42,240 units with a sales period starting from June 2021 with a volume of 41,361 units.

Thus, shipments on the MX-5 Roadster RF and Mazda2 models have been temporarily suspended since May 30.

Although the model in the first case has been stopped production, the manufacturer has verified internal technicians as well as retested and ensured that a number of vehicles have performance according to legal standards for passenger protection.

There is no safety issue for customers to continue driving affected vehicles. We will immediately take appropriate action such as confirmation of conformity with laws and regulations by consulting with MLIT, "concluded Mazda.