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Maz’d hysteria

I have been watching an increasing number of entries on your Mazda 3 technical forum with problems associated with the Dynamic Stability Control unit. As the repair of this problem, a replacement unit, is costing around £1,500 this is a significant issue and it is affecting Mazda 3 models around 3 years, so often just out of warranty. Mazda are offering some degree of contribution depending on number of owners, etc. However, the real issue is that the fault is occurring on low mileage - mine was less than 20,000, it is not an isolated problem, the driver can do nothing to avoid this happening and it is very costly to repair. Therefore this must be a technical fault so why should anyone have to pay so much to get this repaired? Also, even more worrying what happens when the same fault appears in another 20,000 miles or 1-2 years?

Asked on 6 February 2010 by C.T., via e-mail

Answered by Honest John
This seems to be the same module that is failing on Golfs, Tourans, Leons, Alteas, Toledos, Octavias, BMW 1 Series, BMW 3 Series and Volvo S40s/V50s, which are basically the same underneath as your Mazda. Ford does not seem to fit the same unit to the Focus. The fault is with a pressure sensor embedded inside Teves Mk 60 ABS systems and requires replacement of ABS control unit/pump. Seems to be age-related, occurring mainly in 3 - 5 year old cars. Does not necessarily lead to an MoT failure. So far VOSA has refused to issue a vehicle safety recall.
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