Mazda Australia claims to have resolved the bump steer issue which afflicted its BT-50 ute up until the end of 2023, with changes to steering alignment proving successful.
Mazda was forced to update the popular BT-50 after owners of its ute and the Isuzu D-Max ute and MU-X SUV upon which it’s based complained about excessive bump steer.
Bump steer occurs when the vehicle hits a bump in the road and its front wheels steer themselves without any driver input. This trait is more pronounced among vehicles with lifted suspension, and is known to cause premature and uneven tyre wear.
Vehicles sold between 2020 and 2023 demonstrated the fault, leading to the rollout of a no-cost steering alignment fix from April last year.
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Nine months on, Mazda is confident that it has the problem under control.
“Yes it has,” Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi told CarExpert when asked if the fix had been effective.
“It’s been rolled out, and for any of our existing customers who have that issue, we address it free of charge and as quickly as possible.”
Approximately 45,000 examples of the current-generation Mazda BT-50 were sold prior to the completion of the fix, as well as roughly 35,000 MU-Xs and about 75,000 D-Maxs.
Chamberlains Law Firm is currently taking expressions of interest from D-Max, MU-X and BT-50 owners who want to take part in a prospective class action against Isuzu and Mazda for their alleged failure to address the issue.
All Isuzu D-Max and MU-X vehicles delivered in Australia from January 2024 onwards have the revised steering alignment settings, while it’s understood the same applies to the BT-50.
The refreshed 2025 Mazda BT-50 is arriving in showrooms from mid-February, wearing a face which makes it look more like the CX-5 SUV, while there’s also been a number of technology and equipment upgrades.
MORE: Everything Mazda BT-50
