Mazda BT-50 Problems

It’s possibly a faulty sensor sending the wrong signal to the ECM. Have it checked by your dealer or mechanic.

It won’t be a gearbox fault, and it won’t be air in the fuel. It’s happening on first starts, so look for something that’s amiss with it during the cold start phase. It’s probably not getting the required enrichment. Check the engine sensors.

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.

It’s certainly something that should be fixed under warranty, but it’s not something that would normally be the subject of a recall. Recalls are for issues of safety where there is a risk to life and limb.

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.

It’s hard to believe there was no warning before the engine blew. The engine would not instantly overheat the moment the coolant was dumped and there would have been some signal to indicate all was not well. If Mazda are refusing to talk to you, you could take it to VCAT and make a claim.

While Australian-delivery Mazda BT 50 pick-ups are built in Rayong, Thailand, the platform is also made in South Africa for other markets.

Mazda has confirmed the current BT-50 generation will not be replaced until after 2020, though it has recently received a minor facelift update.