Has an invasion of spiders resulted in another recall for Mazda? The latest recall from the automaker is the continuation of a previous problem from 2011 involving Mazda 6s. At that time it affected 65,000 vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The problem? Spider nests in the rubber hoses connected to the fuel tank system.
The culprit was yellow sac spiders, whose nests could clog these tubes. The risk was that the fuel tank would crack and leak fuel, sparking a fire if ignited.
At that time, Mazda made software modifications to the affected vehicles that were still in production. They also installed a spring in the line to keep out the spiders. But that wasn’t enough.
It was recently discovered that some spiders managed to get past the spring, into the tube. What did work was the software modification. Mazda reports it’s been effective in preventing the fuel tank from cracking, regardless of the tube getting clogged by a spider’s nest.
This latest recall affects 42,000 Mazda 6 cars (model years 2010 to 2012). These vehicles received the spring installation of the tube, but they didn’t receive the software update. The automaker will check for spider nests and damage to the fuel tank. If cracked, they will make the necessary repairs. They will also reprogram the software to prevent damage. Mazda needs to cover all of its bases because these are parts for which a manufacturer could be held liable if they cause death or injury.
When a Recalled Vehicle Causes Injury or Death
Although spiders are a strange reason for issuing a recall, the fact remains that they pose a fire hazard. Safety-related defects have the potential to cause serious injury or death. Delaying a recall could put lives at risk.
Sometimes it’s not until an accident or injury has occurred that an automaker pulls its vehicles. Whether recalled or not, if a car defect is to blame for someone’s injuries or death, you have a right to file a claim against the automaker, auto parts maker and possibly more parties. To stay abreast of more recalls, sign up for our monthly newsletter, Torts and More.
