Mazda BT-50 2017 Problems

My take on it is that dealers should stop telling lies to their customers. Take your problem straight to Mazda Australia’s customer service division and side-step what is clearly a smoke-screen from your dealer. It is ridiculous to suggest that a relatively new vehicle needs ten seconds to engage a gear after it’s been sitting for a few days.

As for the problem itself, start with the basics. Check for a blocked filter in the transmission (which can slow down the flow of fluid) and make sure that the fluid itself is not just the correct grade and type, but also the proper brand. These modern transmissions are complex and intricate, and even something as simple as the incorrect fluid can create chaos. Beyond those simple fixes, the problem could also be caused by a few other faults. For starters, it could be an accumulator inside the transmission that is failing. The accumulator’s job is to store some hydraulic pressure (created by the transmission’s pump) so that the transmission always has enough pressure and fluid volume available to effect gearshifts. If this accumulator is bleeding off pressure when the car sits, it will need time to refill (again, from the pump) before the unit will be able to select Drive. The other possibility is that the pump itself is slacking off and taking too long to build up pressure within the gearbox. You could also be looking at a pressure valve that has lost the plot and supplying the part of the gearbox it’s responsible for with an incorrect line pressure. Either way, a gearbox that is slow to select gears is often headed for the scrap-bin.

Given that it’s possibly a fairly major problem, it isn’t going to get any better. Your problem is that Mazda didn’t introduce its five-year warranty until August 1, 2018, and vehicles sold before that date were covered only for three years. That said, you’re BT-50 might squeak in, particularly if you pointed this problem out to the dealer some time ago (within the first three years). At that point, it’s a pre-existing condition, and it will be covered by the factory warranty as it occurred within the warranty period, even if the dealer – as it appears in this case – elected to spin you a yarn and do nothing about it.

Opinions are divided on this subject, Steve, but there’s a school of thought that says you shouldn’t tow anything heavy in an overdrive gear. Manual-gearbox Toyota LandCruisers of the last 30 years or so are prime examples of this, and hauling a heavy load in fifth gear in these can destroy a gearbox real quick. But all vehicles will be better off with overdrive locked out while towing; it’s just kinder to the driveline. So, your decision to tow in fifth gear rather than sixth is a sound one.

The only catch with some vehicles is that both fifth and sixth gears are overdriven. But fifth gear in the BT-50’s automatic gearbox is not, it’s 1:1, so you should be fine as long as you don’t exceed the manufacturer’s towing limits at any stage.

As for putting bigger wheels and tyres on the BT-50, you’d actually be altering the gearing, making it taller, which means the vehicle may not cover ground as effortlessly as it does now. Hills and headwinds might require more throttle, too, and that will mean higher fuel consumption.

There is a current recall affecting 30,505 MY 2016-2018 BT-50s. It relates to two front brake issues, one for a potential front brake hose failure, the other for possible front brake calliper cracking. Both could affect the car’s braking. To see if your BT-50 is one of those affected phone Mazda Customer Support (1800 034 411).

There was a recall in November 2017 to fix a problem with a gearshift cable retaining clip that could cause the cable to come in contact and be damaged by the prop shaft. The result was that you couldn’t change gears and could lose drive.

With so many different causes logged on the diagnostic check you would have to think it’s something like the ECU, but it’s a hard one to diagnose. You really need to have it happen when the mechanic is there to witness it.

I agree that it is not an acceptable situation, and believe she has good ground on which to claim a full refund. The car as delivered was clearly not fit for purpose, which is proven by the extended time that Mazda has taken in so unsuccessfully attempting to fix it. I would call in the ACCC.

 There have been other reports of BT-50s and Rangers shutting down, but they can usually be restarted. The problem with that is that the problem doesn't exist when the car is taken to a mechanic to find the cause, but because yours wouldn't restart the mechanic might be able to identify the cause.

I’d guess there’s some serious internal trouble and that you should take it to a transmission specialist to have it assessed.

The official fuel consumption (average) is 10L/100km, which is a guide to what you should get, but it will vary depending on the driving conditions, load carried etc. Yours isn't wildly out, and given that it's new and running in you could expect it to improve as it does more kilometres. I would suggest you report your concerns to the dealer and maintain a log on the consumption you get with the view of presenting it to them at the next service. If it hasn't improved by then you should have plenty of evidence to justify your claim that something is not right.