Mazda Fuel Pump Recall Leads to Lawsuit


Mazda class action claims the fuel pump recall did not fix the vehicles.

November 19, 2021 – A Mazda fuel pump recall resulted in a lawsuit alleging the recall was “unfortunately insufficient” for customers.

The Mazda fuel pump class action lawsuit was filed four days after Mazda announced a recall of these vehicles.

  • 2018 Mazda Mazda3

  • 2018 Mazda Mazda6

  • 2019 Mazda CX-3

  • 2018-2019 Mazda MX-5

  • 2018-2019 Mazda CX-5

  • 2018-2019 Mazda CX-9

  • 2019-2020 Mazda Mazda2

According to information submitted by Mazda to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 121,038 vehicles are being recalled in the US to replace the DENSO fuel pumps.

Mazda estimates 1% of vehicles have failed fuel pumps, and the automaker told NHTSA that four vehicles had fuel pump problems as of September 2021.

Mazda also told the NHTSA that the fuel pumps did not cause any accidents or injuries, but a failed fuel pump could cause the engine to run rough, stall, and not start.

Recall of the Mazda fuel pump

Fuel pump maker DENSO recalled 2 million fuel pumps in 2020 that several automakers used in their vehicles, including Mazda. Months later, the fuel pump recall expanded to an additional 1.5 million pumps.

DENSO said that a fuel pump impeller could deform if the impeller is cracked and taking in too much fuel. The deformed impeller could hit the fuel pump housing and cause the pump to fail.

According to DENSO, the impeller has a lower density with less surface strength and can break if exposed to solvent drying.

Texas plaintiff Townsend Vance owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5 that “experienced hesitant and intermittent acceleration and near-engine stall during at least six different uses.”

Californian plaintiff Zachary Haines owns a 2018 Mazda 3 Touring that “has experienced hesitant acceleration and difficulty starting the vehicle on numerous occasions”.

Neither plaintiff alleges that a dealer diagnosed, repaired, or replaced the fuel pump, but both plaintiffs claim that the fuel pumps “significantly depreciated” the value of the vehicles.

According to the two Mazda owners who filed the class action lawsuit, the Mazda fuel pump recall should also include other 2013-2020 Mazda vehicles equipped with DENSO fuel pumps with the part number suffix 13350.

And although the U.S. Mazda fuel pump recall includes 121,038 vehicles, the class action lawsuit alleges that “at least hundreds of thousands of Mazda customers in the United States drive vehicles that pose a serious safety hazard.”

Mazda dealers have not yet started replacing the fuel pumps as the NHTSA says recall notifications will be sent out in January 2022 for the pump module and the vehicle. “

The gasoline pump lawsuit also alleges that Mazda’s recall is “woefully inadequate” because it:

  1. Not all Mazda vehicles with defective fuel pumps were taken into account

  2. Submitted to offer a timely or effective repair

  3. Failure to warn consumers of the serious safety risks and advise customers not to drive their vehicles until they are repaired

  4. Free rental vehicles could not be offered until the recall repairs are complete

The Mazda fuel pump class action lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California: Vance, et al., V. Mazda Motor of America, Inc., et al.

Plaintiffs are represented by Blood Hurst & O’Reardon, LLP, and Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, PC

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