Mazda has been forced to launch a recall of 560 CX-50s in the U.S. because of a trailer wiring harness that could become damaged. The complication, though, is that a number of vehicles in the recall class had the part installed by dealers, so the automaker can’t as easily track VINs for repairs.
Fortunately, Mazda is so far unaware of any accidents or crashes related to this issue. The problem stems from an improperly installed trailer wiring harness that could become loose, or even completely detached from the CX-50.
That’s an issue, because if the wiring comes loose, it could come into contact with the underbody components, such as the exhaust piping, or debris on the road. That could damage the harness.
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If the wiring breaks while a CX-50 owner is driving, that could lead to a loss of trailer brake lights, which is an issue for following vehicles. Even more alarmingly, it could cause the trailer’s braking system to stop operating, potentially increasing the risk of a crash.
Mazda first became aware of the issue in August 2022 during regular inspection. Employees found that the adhesive mounting brackets were peeling or detached, and the automaker stopped installing the harness to prevent further faulty parts from making it onto the road.
The automaker has been investigating the issue since then, and has not found any field reports related to the concern. Due to the nature of the problem, though, drivers will not have any warning that their trailer wiring harness is loose until big problems occur.
Mazda, therefore, decided to launch a recall campaign, and will start getting in touch with owners on April 28. It has determined, however, that only 311 of the vehicles had the wiring harness installed at the factory, and 249 were installed by dealers.
According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, accessory kits generally aren’t traceable to vehicles by their VIN. Mazda will, therefore, ask dealers to make contact with the original purchasers of the vehicles in order to track down every vehicle that could present this error.
Fortunately, the vehicles are all from the 2023 model year, which will likely make that process easier. When the CX-50s included in the recall do make their way to the dealership, they will have an improved harness kit installed at no cost to the owner.
