NHTSA Complaint #11557960 — 2023 MAZDA CX-50

We were driving in a snowstorm during the daytime on a 2-lane highway with directional passing lanes (where it opens and closes, not crossing into oncoming lane to pass) from CO to UT. While passing a semi truck, with traffic in the oncoming lane, and behind us, the auto-braking activated. There were no vehicles in front of us. The alert went off, and the car rapidly slowed from 70 to 35, and applying the gas did not resolve the issue. This almost caused a rear end collision by other cars also trying to pass the semi. We think it was either caused by slush thrown up by the passed truck tires, or a slight curve in the road that made the computer think that someone was in front of us. Whatever it was, it was very dangerous to have the brakes slammed on on a snow road with vehicles all around us.