HELP! :) 2017 Mazda CX-3 Infotainment System Keeps Restarting

General Forums
1

The infotainment system in my 2017 Mazda CX-3 keeps restarting, both when parked and while driving. It powers on normally, stays on the home screen for about 3-4 minutes, then goes black and restarts repeatedly. This started happening about two years after I got the car, around 2019.

Here are some things I’ve noticed:

  • The infotainment system restarts and returns to whatever “audio type” I was using before turning off the ignition.
    • For example, if I was using the CD player, it will boot back up to the CD player when it restarts.
    • If I switch from the CD player to the radio or Bluetooth before it restarts, it will go back to the CD player by default upon rebooting, and vice versa.
  • If I shut down the car while on the radio, it will turn back to the radio when I restart the ignition. This applies to the CD player, radio, and Bluetooth.
  • When using the radio or Bluetooth, it cuts off audio during the restart. After rebooting, the audio resumes, but no controls work during this time. The volume knob might function, but there is no audio, making it hard to tell.
  • When using the CD player and it restarts, the audio continues without interruption, but the screen keeps looping, and none of the controls work except for the volume knob.

Everything else in the car seems unaffected; it’s mostly just the infotainment system. I installed a dash cam today, and it’s unaffected by the restart.

Do I need to replace the unit, or is there a way to fix this issue?

I’m desperate! Please help! lol.

Also, everything is stock, and nothing has been changed or added… except for the oil and maintenance, lol.

2

It sounds like a faulty CMU. This happened in my 2016 CX-5. You can find one on eBay for about $200 and replace it yourself with a screwdriver and a socket set. Mazda will likely charge a couple thousand for the same service.

3

@Blake
I forgot to mention, I’m a total car novice. I can use a ratchet and screwdriver, though. I looked up a CMU on eBay like you suggested, and it looks like just a metal board piece? I don’t have to replace the entire screen or anything?

4

@Uma
Yes, it’s located behind the screen. You’ll need to remove the screen and a few screws, then it just plugs in.

5

Blake said:
@Uma
Yes, it’s located behind the screen. You’ll need to remove the screen and a few screws, then it just plugs in.

Do you recommend getting an OEM part?

6

Uma said:

Blake said:
@Uma
Yes, it’s located behind the screen. You’ll need to remove the screen and a few screws, then it just plugs in.

Do you recommend getting an OEM part?

You’ll need to get an OEM part; it’s not something third parties usually make. The question is whether you want new or used; new ones are about $1000.

7

@Blake
Okay, I’ll look into it. Thanks!

8

If you have a navigation card installed and aren’t using it, try removing it.

9

Merrick said:
If you have a navigation card installed and aren’t using it, try removing it.

Boot loops are usually caused by a couple of things: outdated software and/or a faulty nav card.

10

@Merrick
This worked for me too on my 2017 Mazda 3. I never used the navigation anyway.

11

Merrick said:
If you have a navigation card installed and aren’t using it, try removing it.

Yes. Ejecting the Navigation SD Card is a quick and cheap way to find out if the issue needs hardware replacement or just a new Navigation SD Card.

12

Merrick said:
If you have a navigation card installed and aren’t using it, try removing it.

I’ll give this a try. Thanks!

13

Merrick said:
If you have a navigation card installed and aren’t using it, try removing it.

Wow… This fixed the issue… for now. I went for a drive with music playing from my phone via Bluetooth, and it never restarted once. I feel a bit foolish, LOL. Thanks a lot!

14

Do you have an SD card?

15

Keelan said:
Do you have an SD card?

Yes, I have the navigation card in the slot. I’ll try removing it to see if it helps with the issue.

16

Uma said:

Keelan said:
Do you have an SD card?

Yes, I have the navigation card in the slot. I’ll try removing it to see if it helps with the issue.

Those SD cards caused a lot of issues when I worked at the dealership. They tend to go bad.

17

Our 2017 CX-5 had the same issue. I removed the navigation chip/card that we don’t use, and it has worked normally since.

I’m not sure where it is on the CX-3, but on the CX-5, it’s located at the front of the center console.