NHTSA Complaint #10824878 — 2014 MAZDA CX-5

HEADLIGHTS, LOW BEAM. I'VE HAD MY CX-5 TOURING SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW IN JULY 2013. I ALWAYS NOTICED HOW THE HEADLIGHTS, WHEN TURNED ON, ARE VERY BRIGHT FOR A SPLIT SECOND, THEN INSTANTLY DIMS DOWN LOWER. THIS HAPPENED ALL THE TIME THE FIRST 2 YEARS DRIVING IT. I KNEW IT HAD THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR ROAD ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS. SO I THOUGHT IT WAS THE WAY IT SHOULD WORK. ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS AGO, THEY STARTED TO COME ON, AND STAY BRIGHT CONSTANTLY, UNTIL I TURNED THEM OFF THEN ON AGAIN. NOW, THEY WOULD STAY BRIGHT FOR HOURS IF I DON'T TOUCH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THEN WHEN I DO SWITCH THEM TO ANOTHER SETTING; THEY WOULD GO DIMMER AND STAY THERE. AFTER A FEW TIMES DOING THIS, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED OUT. AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THESE (FACTORY) HEADLAMPS ARE SUPPOSED TO TURN ON HIGH THEN LOW IN A SPLIT SECOND. THIS DOES NOT SOUND LOGICAL TO ME, ESPECIALLY SINCE I SPENT 15 YEARS WORKING IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY (FOR OEM SUPPLIERS, AND I ALSO WORKED DIRECTLY WITH FORD, CHRYSLER, MAZDA, OTHERS) FOR A FEW DIFFERENT MAJOR ELECTROMECHANICAL VEHICLE OEM COMPONENTS. UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THESE HEADLIGHTS, WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS SPLIT SECOND BRIGHT THEN DIM FOR THE FIRST COUPLE YEARS, AND SUDDENLY START STAYING BRIGHT FROM THE TIME I START THE CAR? THEY NOW (ERRATICALLY) STAY BRIGHT AS LONG AS I DON'T TOUCH THE SWITCH ARM. WHEN I DO, THEY COME ON BRIGHT FOR A SPLIT SECOND, THEN DIM DOWN. THIS CONDITION IS ERRATIC, PARKED, IN MOTION, IDLING ETC., I HAVE NOTICED ON POORLY LIT BACK ROADS, THAT THE HEADLIGHTS (WHEN "LOW" WERE NOT ADEQUATE TO SEE THE ROAD, AND IS A SERIOUS ROAD HAZARD. I OFTEN TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE DIM HEADLIGHTS. I CAN SEND THE DEALER INSPECTION REPORT UPON REQUEST. THANK YOU. *TR