BULLETIN NOTES
This service alert supersedes the previously issued service alert(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text.
Previous Service Alerts:

Date(s) Issued:

SA-006/22

03/09/22 and 02/28/22

SA-032/21

05/11/21

SA-016/19

04/08/19

APPLICABLE MODEL(S)/VINS
2012-2025 Mazda3
2016-2025 CX-3

2016-2025 Mazda2

2024-2025 CX-90

2013-2025 CX-5

2016-2023 CX-9

2020-2025 CX-30

2025 CX-70

2014-2021 Mazda6

2016-2025 MX-5

2023-2025 CX-50

DESCRIPTION
There have been warranty claims submitted for growling or bearing whine noise in differentials, transfer units and
transmissions where the source of the noise was a wheel bearing. This misdiagnosis can lead to multiple repair attempts,
warranty debits, and additional inconvenience and/or cost to the customer. To reduce the chance of this occurring,
please follow the steps outlined in the repair procedure.
REPAIR PROCEDURE
1. Before test-driving the vehicle, visually inspect the tires for excess or unusual wear and verify that they are all the
same size, brand, and overall wear.
NOTE: Tires of different brands, size and/or circumference may cause noise and/or damage to the vehicles
transmission, transfer case and/or differential.
2. Compare the vehicle to another like vehicle (same trim, model year, and tires) to confirm the concern is not a
characteristic of the vehicle.
NOTE: Record the noise heard in the customer vehicle and make a recording in the known good vehicle when
driven under the same conditions.

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3. Check for another published document for the vehicle you are working on that describes the noise.
Is there another published document?
YES:
Follow that repair procedure first and retest.
NO:
Continue to the next step
4. Lift both vehicles in the air.
a. Run both vehicles at the speed the noise is heard on the road.
Are both vehicles equal in operational noise when run on the rack?
YES:
Go to step 5.
NO:
Go to step b.
b. Use ChassisEAR or a stethoscope and listen to each wheel bearing and compare it to the known good
vehicle.
NOTE: Refer to the following video on the use if ChassisEAR for NVH diagnosis: Using ChassisEAR
Are any bearings significantly noisier on the customer's vehicle vs. the known good vehicle?
YES: Replace the suspect bearing(s).
NOTE: If you can hear the noise without ChassisEAR or a stethoscope, make a
recording of it, and then make a recording of the known good vehicle under the same
conditions.
NO: Go to step 5.
5. If the source of the noise was not confirmed in the previous steps, swap the wheels and tires with those from a
known good vehicle.
NOTE: If tires are required, contact the tire manufacturer for warranty replacement. A list of tire manufacturers can
be found under Tire Warranty in the MAZDA WARRANTY POLICIES & PROCEDURES MANUAL on One Mazda.
6. Contact the Technical Assistance Hotline with all of your test results.

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