NEWS:   Automaker recalls 103,000 Mazda3 for windshield wiper problem

DETROIT NEWS -- June 19,  2011 – Mazda Motor Corp. is recalling 103,000 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles over potentially faulty windshield wiper motors.

The Japanese automaker told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration it is recalling its 2008-2009 Mazda3 built between January and November 2008. In total, Mazda is recalling 408,782 Mazda3 vehicles sold worldwide to address the issue. Some of the vehicles are sold as the Mazda Axela.

Mazda in a notice posted on NHTSA's website today said the ground terminal of the windshield wiper motors may have been accidentally bent during assembly, which could cause the wipers to fail.

In bad weather, the lack of functioning wipers could raise the risk of a crash.

Mazda said it first received reports of the problem in September and December 2009.

In March 2010, because of an "increasing trend of concern," the automaker reopened its investigation, but opted not to mount a recall because the number of incidents was low.

This month, after more incidents were reported, Mazda opted to conduct a recall.

Mazda spokeswoman ...said today that there have been no crashes reported related to the issue.

In total, the company has received 132 reports of the problem worldwide through May 30, including 30 in China, 29 in Japan and 20 in North America, Mazda spokeswoman said.

Mazda dealers will install an additional harness on the wiper motor. Mazda plans to begin notifying owners on July 15. The company will reimburse owners who had previously fixed the windshield wiper motor for the problem.

MORE RECALL INFO:   

• Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3

NEWS:   Wandering spider leads Mazda to recall 65,000 cars

YAHOO NEWS -- March 3,  2011 –  Mazda has a creepy crawly culprit in its new safety recall — a spider.

After discovering spider webs in the vents, the Japanese automaker is recalling more than 50,000 Mazda6 cars from the 2009-2010 model years in the United States and an additional 15,000 vehicles in Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

The company said Thursday a spider could weave a web in a vent connected to the fuel tank system and clog up the tank's ventilation. Pressure on the fuel tank could lead to a crack, causing fuel leakage and the risk of a fire.

Mazda said it was unaware of any fires, injuries or crashes in the vehicles.

Mazda spokesman Jeremy Barnes said dealers had identified 20 cases in which spider webs were found in the vents. The webs were linked to yellow sac spiders, Barnes said, but it was unclear why they were crawling into the Mazda6 rather than other vehicles.

Adding to the mystery, Barnes said the arachnoid attraction to the sporty cars — which the company has marketed with its "zoom-zoom" tagline — had no specific connection to a particular region of North America.

"Perhaps yellow sac spiders like to go zoom-zoom?" Barnes quipped.

The recall involves vehicles with V4 engines built from April 2008 to February 2010.

MORE RECALL INFO:    Mazda 6

NOVEMBER 2010 -- Mazda is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from June 29, 2009, through April 28, 2010. Water may not have been removed completely from the harness connector of the fuel pump due to variations in the fuel tank leak check process performed before vehicle assembly. The connector pin may corrode, potentially causing the pin to break. This could lead to an inoperative fuel pump, engine stall and the inability to restart the engine increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will inspect the fuel pump connector and if necessary it will be replaced and the harness will be repaired free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before December 11, 2010.   10V-600

AUGUST 2010 -- Mazda is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008. These vehicles may have a condition in which a sudden loss of power steering assist could occur at any time while driving the vehicle. Power steering assist is suddenly lost reducing the driver's ability to steer the vehicle as typically expected, and increasing the risk of crash. Due to short supply of parts, the first phase of mailing of owner notification letters will begin on or before September 15, 2010 and the second phase mailing will begin in September 2010 and be completed in February 2011.  10V-374

NEWS:  Mazda recalls 215,000 vehicles in U.S. for steering

YAHOO NEWS -- August 18, 2010 – Mazda Motor Corp will recall 215,000 Mazda 3 and Mazda 5 vehicles sold in the United States because of the risk that they could lose power steering without warning.

The Mazda recall of vehicles from the 2007 through 2009 model years was announced in a filing with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Monday.

Mazda said the vehicles under recall could experience a "sudden loss" of power steering, increasing the risk of a crash. The notification did not detail any incidents.

The defect occurs because rust could break loose from a high-pressure pipe, straining the power steering pump and causing the system to shut down, the Japanese automaker said.

Mazda also said it was facing a shortage of parts to repair recalled vehicles at its dealerships.

The automaker said it would begin to notify affected owners of the recall in September and send notices to all owners by February.

The Mazda recall stems from a customer complaint in the Japanese market in March 2008, NHTSA records show.

Mazda had told dealers to monitor vehicles for the problem in the United States but had not issued a safety recall because it judged that the problem remained relatively rare.

Earlier this year, Mazda said it realized that more U.S. owners were experiencing the loss of power steering.

In June, NHTSA opened a preliminary investigation of the problem.

The Mazda recall comes as the automaker's larger rival Toyota Motor Corp faces continuing scrutiny of its handling of safety recalls. It was fined a record $16.4 million by NHTSA, the maximum then allowed, for moving too slowly to recall vehicles with defective accelerator pedals.

MORE RECALL INFO:    Mazda 3       Mazda 5

NEWS:   Feds investigating Mazda3 for steering problems

USA TODAY -- July 3, 2010 -- The government is opening investigations into possible power steering problems in Mazda3 passenger cars and BMW Z4 sports cars.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened investigations of possible loss of power steering in more than 290,000 Mazda3 sedans from the 2007-2009 model years and nearly 50,000 BMW Z4 sports cars from the 2003-2005 model years.

NHTSA said it has 33 steering complaints for the Mazda3's and reports of three crashes tied to the problem. It has received 107 complaints for the Z4 and one crash report.

Depending on the findings, NHTSA probes may or may not lead to recalls.

MORE RECALL INFO:    Mazda 3

FEBRUARY 2010 -- Mazda is recalling certain model year 2010 CX-9 vehicles equipped with electrically heated front seats. There is a possibility under extremely cold conditions for the seat heater control circuit to overheat and fail due to insufficient electrical grounding. This may cause burn damage of the seat cushion surface, or a risk of smoke/fire. Dealers will install an additional ground harness on the seat heater control system. The seat heater control circuit will be replaced if necessary and/or the seat will be repaired free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before March 9, 2010.  10V-051

MAY 2009 -- Mazda is recalling 7,100 MY 2009 Mazda3 vehicles equipped with dynamic stability control for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 126, "Electronic Stability Control System". The yaw rate measured after completion of the sine with dwell steering input exceeded the test  standards. Improper operation of the electronic stability control. Dealers will inspect and have the unit replaced free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.  09V-187

AUGUST 2008 -- Mazda is recalling 7,200 MY 2007-2008 Mazda6 vehicles with California emission specifications. The metal fuel tanks on the affected vehicles may have had the PVC protective coating on the outside of the fuel tank damaged during the assembly process which may result in reduced corrosion resistance. This could lead to perforation of the fuel tank, causing fuel leakage. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire. Dealers will inspect the bottom surface of the fuel tank for damage to the protective coating and, if necessary, repair the coating or replace the fuel tank. The recall is expected to begin during September 2008.   08V412

August 2007 -- Mazda is recalling 76,000 MY 1998-2002 B-Series trucks equipped with a speed control system. The speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn. This could result in an underhood fire. Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule for this recall. This recall was the subject of an Engineering Analysis, EA05-005, conducted by the Office of Defects Investigation. 07V-347

• Mazda MX-5 Recall -- April 11, 2006 -- ConsumerAffairs.com

• Mazda recalls cars for safety problems -- (April 12, 2006) - Reuters

NHTSA is also recalling 2,600 Mazda MX-5 Miata sports cars because the bolt attaching the horn assembly to the steering wheel hub may fail during driver-side air bag deployment in extremely low temperatures