Mazda 6 Recall after Yellow Sac Spiders Invade Cars
The Mazda Motor Corp. is recalling 65,000 cars which were sold in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Interestingly enough, the problem is not a technical recall caused by malfunction or other related issue, but one spun by yellow sac spiders.
It seems the tiny spiders, for whatever reason, have selected the Mazda 6 model to nest in small rubber hoses that connect to a car's fuel tank system. This can potentially cause problems with functioning with pressurization and ventilation.
Reuters reports"National Highway Safety Commission said the spider webs may restrict a vent line, which could cause the emissions control system to increase pressure in the fuel tank."
The LA Timesdescribes a "worst-case" scenario as resulting in a fuel leak or fire. While no severe incidents have been reported at the time of recall, there have been about 20 instances of yellow sac spiders found embedded within the hoses.
Mazda voluntarily issued the recall. In a correspondenceto theNHTSAon Feb. 25, 2011, the auto manufacturer described the problem and their intent to recall the cars. The automaker has identified the problem to be limited to the 2009 and 2010 Mazda 6 cars.The Associated Press(via Yahoo!) reports the car recall involves vehicles with V4 engines built from April 2008 to February 2010
Approximately 52,000 Mazda 6 cars affected by this recall were sold in the U.S. According to the NHTSA the cars were manufactured at Auto Alliance International, Inc, in Flat Rock, Mich.
Yellow sac spider bites are considered to be "medically significant" according toScience Daily. This type of spider is common to the U.S. region and is known as a nighttime hunter, while resting in their sacs during the day, in the case of Mazda, their preferred home is in the cars. Pest control companyTerminexstates yellow sac spiders are likely the biggest culprit for spider bites in the U.S. Bites tend to cause a large hard and reddened bite on the skin. These types of bites should be examined by a medical professional.
The auto manufacturer has stated that car owners on record affected will be notified starting mid-March and they will do a free of charge inspection/repair to ensure no spiders are nesting in the cars, and, if so, provide a fix. Mazda service departments will clean or replace the hoses as needed, and if spiders are found to have caused an issue, the company will install a new gas tank. Additionally Reuters reported the company will install a spring to prevent the spiders from re-entering.
Consumers can call Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
