On the heels of a GM recall of crossover SUVs, a Mazda recall has also been put into effect. The Mazda recall is a little more significant, as it affects a more vital part than the GM recall does. . Similar issues were noticed in Japan over the last few years, and those issues were documented and fixed. To address the issue, Mazda has announced a recall for the United States.
Steer to a dealership
The issue, according to the New York Times, is in the power steering pump and system. The power steering pump starts accumulating rust internally, which can cause rust to enter the pump and cause the power steering to malfunction or shut down. The assistance of the power steering system could fail, making it far more difficult to steer and increasing the chance of an accident. By June 2009, Mazda was aware of the problem but wanted to see just how many cars could be affected.
Japan was where they found out
Mazda began a recall in all but name, dubbed an “improvement campaign,” in Japan after first noticing the defect. There were more incidents noticed there than are observed in America. Mazda preemptively notified Mazda dealers and provided technical data on how the problem should be fixed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started an investigation, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. The NHTSA received 33 reports, of which 3 were from accidents that occurred.
The affected models
The Mazda models that are affected are the Mazda 3 and also the Mazda 5, from model years 2007 to 2009, and there are about 215,000 of them in the U.S. Owners should take them in to an authorized Mazda dealership to have the problem fixed. Issues in the power steering system are significant and should be addressed right away. If the steering column locks up and also you can’t steer the car also, that can lead to a crash.
Discover more on this topic
New York Times
wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/17/mazda-recalls-215000-cars-for-power-steering-problem/
Salt Lake Tribune
sltrib.com/sltrib/money/50126001-79/mazda-vehicles-seat-problems.html.csp
