NHTSA complaint #11279123

Owner complaint summary

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH VERY LIGHT SNOW FALLING AND LESS THAN AN INCH OF WET ON THE ROAD, THE "FRONT RADAR BLOCKED" MESSAGE APPEARED! UPON LATER RESEARCH INTO THE MAZDA OWNER'S MANUAL IT INDICATES THE FOLLOWING SYSTEMS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING: MAZDA RADAR CRUISE CONTROL (MRCC) MAZDA RADAR CRUISE CONTROL WITH STOP & GO FUNCTION (MRCC WITH STOP & GO FUNCTION) DISTANCE RECOGNITION SUPPORT SYSTEM (DRSS) SMART BRAKE SUPPORT (SBS) APPARENTLY THE LOCATION OF THE FRONT RADAR IS BEHIND THE EMBLEM IN THE CENTER OF THE GRILL. MAZDA RECOMMENDS THAT THE OWNER CLEAN OFF THE EMBLEM OF ANY DIRT OR SNOW TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IT IS NOT PRACTICAL TO PULL OVER AND CLEAN OFF THE EMBLEM WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN THESE CONDITIONS. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS. THE FRONT RADAR SHOULD BE RELOCATED IN A LOCATION NOT SUBJECT TO ROAD SPLATTER. IT COULD BE LOCATED WITH THE OTHER SENSORS BEHIND THE MIRROR IN THE MIDDLE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD.