Mazda Resolves Lawsuit, Attorneys Receive $1.9M While Claimants Share $11,500 and a Sandwich

      Chris Tsui

      Today marks a significant victory for lawyers, while Mazda owners involved in a class-action lawsuit over defective infotainment systems secured a much smaller win. As reported by CarComplaints, the case was relatively minor, involving only four plaintiffs whose infotainment systems would lag, reboot, and completely shut down while driving. Now that a settlement has been reached, those four plaintiffs will receive a total of $11,500, while the attorneys representing them will take home an impressive $1.9 million. It seems I chose the wrong profession.

      The problems experienced by customers stemmed from Mazda’s Connect infotainment system, which first appeared in the Mazda 3 in 2014 and continued across various models until 2023 in the MX-5 Miata. The plaintiffs claimed the system would fail completely during driving, depriving them of navigation, phone connectivity, and backup camera functionality. It was alleged that the issues were due to the SD Card-based navigation system causing the software to enter an endless reboot cycle, making it ineffective. This situation was at best frustrating and at worst, potentially hazardous.

      Mazda addressed the issue by issuing technical service bulletins and alerts, along with extending the warranty on the infotainment system in 2019. However, the plaintiffs argued in the lawsuit that the warranty was ineffective, claiming Mazda replaced defective units with others that were just as faulty. Although the lawsuit has been settled, Mazda denies engaging in such practices.

      Catherine Duffy, the primary plaintiff, purchased a 2018 Mazda 3 in October 2018 and began to encounter issues within a few months. By 2020, the infotainment system was completely nonfunctional. Upon taking it to the dealer in September 2020, she was informed she would need to pay $50 for a replacement, as her vehicle was out of warranty. Unfortunately, that unit was also defective.

      Duffy received $4,000 from the settlement, while the other three plaintiffs—Matthew Edlin, Lawrence Mulcahy, and Paula Hall—each received $2,500. Any Mazda customers who personally incurred costs to replace or repair their infotainment systems can file a claim for up to $1,750 in reimbursement. However, this amount pales in comparison to the substantial payouts for the lawyers, which is a common outcome in class action cases like this. The individuals who faced these issues with their brand-new vehicles receive minimal compensation, while those already driving luxury cars benefit significantly.

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