What’s Behind Latest Mazda Recall - Miata Not Included

The reason of the latest Mazda recall is the parking brake – it may either fail to fully release or it may fail to engage and hold the car. That could lead to a crash.

Affected Vehicles

Affected vehicles include Mazda 6s built between 2014 and 2015 and Mazda 3s built between 2014 and 2016.

The parking-brake failures are being caused by water – it can seep into the brake caliper and cause a shaft to become corroded. This shaft may then bind, which could leave the brake stuck on or cause it to not engage. That latter scenario could lead to the car rolling down a hill.

The recall only affects vehicles equipped with a hand-operated parking brake, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

First Report in 2015

Mazda got its first report concerning the problem in Canada in April 2015 and chose to monitor the issue, having not heard of any other reports yet. Thirteen U.S. reports had cropped up by February of 2017, covering both models. Mazda found that a sealing boot wasn’t keeping water out.

One collision was reported in Germany when a Mazda 6 mid-size sedan rolled away and suffered rear-end damage. A similar incident, resulting in bumper damage, occurred in the U.K. It’s not clear if either incident led to any injuries.

Dealership service technicians will check the rear brakes for corrosion, and replace the calipers if corrosion is found. If the rear calipers aren’t corroded, they’ll replace the boot.

Owners of the affected models will be notified beginning August 21st.