215,000 cars in Mazda recall

A Mazda recall has just been announced right after a GM recall of their crossover SUVs. The Mazda recall is a tad more significant, as the defect in question is more vital than the GM recall. The GM recall was over some faulty seat belts, but the Mazda recall is over a flaw in the power steering system. Mazda kept on eye on automobiles sold in the United States after noticing the defect in Japan last year. To address the issue, Mazda has announced a recall for the United States.

Steer your Mazda to a dealership

As outlined by the New York Times, the defect is a flaw in the power steering pump system. The power steering system can build rust internally, which can leak into the pump and cause it to malfunction or stop working totally. The assistance of the power steering system could fail, making it far more difficult to steer and increasing the chance of an accident. Mazda knew of the defect by June of last year, and was watching to see if the defect manifested itself in American models.

Japan was the first to discover it

The defect was first noticed in Japan, and Mazda started an “improvement campaign,” tantamount to a recall, last year. The incidence rate was higher than it has been in the U.S. The company issued notices to American Mazda dealerships with technical data on how to fix the problem. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started an investigation, as outlined by the Salt Lake Tribune. It received 33 complaints about the problem, involving three crashes.

The Mazda makes and models

There are 215,000 of the models in question in the United States alone, which are Mazda 3 and Mazda 5 autos from model years 2007 to 2009. If you drive one, take it to the nearest Mazda dealership for the fix. Issues in the power steering system are serious and should be addressed right away. You can wind up in a crash if your power steering locks up, as the vehicle will become much harder to steer.

Citations

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