Mazda is recalling more than 35k vehicles for a safety defect that can cause the car to unexpectedly stop while driving due to inadvertent activation of the Smart Braking System (SBS) automatic emergency braking system.
The defect is found in certain 2019 and 2020 Mazda3 vehicles.
Incorrect programming of the SBS control software may cause the vehicle to falsely detect an obstacle in front of the vehicle while driving, Mazda says.
In certain cases, the SBS control software may automatically apply the vehicle brakes to prevent or reduce damage from a collision, even though no collision is imminent, the automaker says. If the SBS automatic emergency braking system unexpectedly activates while driving, the risk of a rear-end crash from a following vehicle may increase. There is a warning alarm sound and warning message displayed in the multi-information and active driving displays when this defect occurs.
No injuries or deaths have been reported from the field to date as a result of this defect.
