Mazda is to recall over 500,000 vehicles worldwide to fix an electro-hydraulic hydraulic power steering system problem.
The global recall total is 514,313 models, with 71,502 originating in Europe. Models affected are the 3 and 5 with an electric pump that lubricates the gear/pinion bearing with power steering fluid.
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In a statement Mazda said: “Residual particles from the inside of the hydraulic pipes may lead to a loss of steering power assist due to failure of the electric oil pump in some instances. During such an event, the power steering malfunction indicator lamp in the instrument cluster will be illuminated and steering resistance will be increased.
“The steering system’s fail safe mode will ensure the mechanical components of the steering system remain completely functioning, allowing the vehicle to be driven safely in the absence of power assist. This will make parking and manoeuvring in small spaces less comfortable, but it will not affect driving safety.”
Mazda insisted only specific models produced between 2 April 2007 and 30 November 2008, could be affected: the first generation 3, with either the 1.6 MZ-CD diesel engine or the 2.0 MZR petrol engine and the 5 with either the 1.8 or 2.0 MZR petrol engines.
In Europe, 40,260 3 and 30,242 5 models will be checked. Owners will be notified starting in October. Dealers will repair the cars free of charge.
Affected vehicles will require cleaning of the steering gear box by flushing all lines with power steering fluid, followed by the replacement of the power steering oil and the installation of a new pipe assembly. The work will require between 90 and 110 minutes, depending on the model.
No cases have been reported in Europe that have led to any injury.
Earlier on Thursday, the automaker said it would recall about 104,000 cars in Canada, Mexico and Taiwan. Cars are also being recalled in Australia and 215,000 in the United States.
However, in New Zealand, owners are being urged only to keep an eye on their power steering, NZPA reported.
Mazda New Zealand marketing manager Glenn Harris said: “It is not a safety-related issue in New Zealand. Even though there may be a loss of the power steering, there are absolutely no circumstances where the steering of the car becomes inoperable.
“So we’ll be managing the repairs of cars for customers as soon as parts become available. We are not recalling any vehicles.”
He warned owners to watch for a malfunction warning lamp on the dashboard.
In the US, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation on 28 June into steering problems in 2007-2009 Mazda 3s, citing 33 complaints alleging steering problems, including three crashes. Most of the 33 complaints alleged loss of power steering assist while driving, making it difficult for the driver to maintain control of the vehicle.
Mazda started fixing vehicles in Japan for the same problem last year and has investigated the issue for two years, Kyodo News reported.
In a letter to NHTSA last week, Mazda said it was first informed of similar steering problems in Japan in March 2008. After receiving additional reports, the company began its own probe in July 2008.
By the summer of 2009, Mazda said it found that the problem was caused by rust forming inside the high-pressure pipe in the power steering system. Rust particles could enter the power steering pump and cause it to go into a fail safe mode and shut down to avoid overheating.
Mazda conducted an ‘improvement campaign’ last summer to repair vehicles in Japan “due to a high occurrence rate of this problem,” according to the letter to NHTSA. But the company did not issue a recall in North America.
Instead it issued a technical service bulletin to dealers since the “occurrence rate was low.”
The service bulletin included repair procedures for customers who reported the steering problems.
Mazda told NHTSA in the letter that in the spring of 2010, “we realised the occurrence rate was increasing in the North American market and then we began to study further field action for the market.”
Mazda also told NHTSA that it “recognises that there is no unreasonable safety risk” but it decided to conduct a voluntary recall “since we do not want any delay for field action on this issue.”
Automakers are required to inform NHTSA within five days of learning that a safety defect exists in one of their vehicles.
It fined Toyota $US16.4m earlier this year for waiting more than four months to recall 2.3 million vehicles with sticking accelerator pedals.
The safety agency is investigating why Toyota waited nearly a year in 2005 to recall trucks and SUVs in the United States with defective steering rods, despite issuing a similar recall in Japan.
Transportation Department spokeswoman Olivia Alair told Kyodo NHTSA was “currently reviewing the recall documents submitted by Mazda and will look at whether any additional action is necessary.”
