Mazda recall affects only few local cars

Mazda’s recall of some 500,000 cars worldwide, to fix power steering flaws in the Mazda 3 and Mazda 5 models, will only affect a small number of owners in Malta.

The Japanese car company yesterday announced it was extending to the European market its special service programme on certain Mazda 3 and Mazda 5 models equipped with an electro hydraulic power assist steering system.

The announcement comes shortly after a voluntary recall for the US and Asian markets.

A spokesman for local agents Gasan Enterprises said the defective model of Mazda 3 had not been sold in Malta but if any Maltese had bought this model from overseas they “should be covered”, and cases would be referred to Mazda individually.

It is estimated that only around 20 car owners in Malta will be affected by this recall.

Owners of potentially affected vehicles in Europe will be notified by Mazda from October and will be requested to contact their Mazda authorised repairer to make an appointment to undertake any necessary rework and parts replacement.

Mazda Europe said in a press release that the affected vehicles were equipped with a hydraulic power steering system with an electrically motorised oil pump that lubricates the gear/pinion bearing with power steering fluid.

“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,” the corporation said.

“This will make parking and manoeuvring in small spaces less comfortable, but it will not affect driving safety,” Mazda Europe said.

Only a few models produced between April 2, 2007 and November 30, 2008 could be affected – the first generation Mazda 3, with either the 1.6 MZ-CD diesel engine or the 2.0 MZR gasoline engine, and the Mazda 5 with either the 1.8 or 2.0 MZR gasoline engines.

The vehicles will require cleaning of the steering gear box by flushing all fluid lines with power steering fluid, followed by the replacement of the power steering oil and the installation of a new power steering pipe assembly. These operations are free of charge for the customer and will take between 90 and 110 minutes, depending on the model, Mazda said.