Corrosion Related Steering Failures May Prompt Recall of Mazda 6s Vehicles
June 11, 2018 (jalopnik.com). According to an article at jalopnik.com, corrosion related steering failures may result in the recall of Mazda 6s vehicles manufactured between 2009 and 2010.*
Reports are surfacing from Mazda 6s owners that rust in their 2009-2010 vehicles has caused, or nearly caused, steering failures. As such, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is looking into the issue to determine if this is a systemic issue among the affected vehicles. This would prompt the recall of over 84,000 2009 through 2010 Mazda 6s vehicles. The corrosion due to rust in the subframe may result in a loss of steering, per the NHTSA. A spokesperson for Mazda confirmed that Mazda is aware of the investigation being conducted by the NHTSA and is being fully cooperative.
The NHTSA report mentions at least 20 complaints, including the following from an owner of a 2009 Mazda 6:
“IN SEPTEMBER 2017 WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THERE WAS A SUDDEN AND SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL FOLLOWING A LOUD KNOCK ORIGINATING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER/SUB-FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED TO THE POINT OF BREAKING. THE STEERING RACK BECAME TOTALLY SEPARATED FROM ITS MOUNTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE RESULTING IN THE STEERING LOSS.”
Another said the issue caused complete control loss on the highway.
“While driving at highway speed (55-65mph) the steering wheel began progressively rotating counter-clockwise with the vehicle remaining straight. The dynamic stability control turned off as if the vehicle was out of control and the vehicle acted as if it were on icy/slick surfaces no longer providing support to the driver. The braking system began to struggle nearly causing an accident on the off ramp of the expressway causing a fishtail with the abs attempting to engage. At this point the steering wheel was registering straight with the steering wheel turned approximately 30 degrees left.”
Luckily, none of these reports resulted in an accident. These are just a few of the over twenty complaints on the NHTSA website. Of the complaints, twenty six were for 2009 Mazda 6s vehicles and two were from the 2010 model. Most of the complaints came from such states as Michigan, New York and Ohio where winters are pretty intense and road salt is frequently used.
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