Mazda Recall Caused By Spiders

WASHINGTON — Mazda has some creepy crawly culprits in its new safety recall – spiders.

After discovering spider webs in the vents, the Japanese automaker is recalling more than 50,000 Mazda6 cars from the 2009-2010 model years in the United States and an additional 15,000 vehicles in Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

The company said Thursday a spider could weave a web in a vent connected to the fuel tank system and clog up the tank's ventilation. Pressure on the fuel tank could lead to a crack, causing fuel leakage and the risk of a fire.

Mazda said it was unaware of any fires, injuries or crashes in the vehicles.

Mazda spokesman Jeremy Barnes said dealers had identified 20 cases in which spider webs were found in the vents. The webs were linked to yellow sac spiders, Barnes said, but it was unclear why they were crawling into the Mazda6 rather than other vehicles.

Adding to the mystery, Barnes said the arachnoid attraction to the sporty cars – which the company has marketed with its "zoom-zoom" tagline – had no specific connection to a particular region of North America.

"Perhaps yellow sac spiders like to go zoom-zoom?" Barnes quipped.

The recall involves vehicles with 2.5 liter engines built from April 2008 to February 2010.

Owners will be notified by mid-March and told to take their vehicles to dealers for inspection and repairs. Dealers will inspect and clean up the vent line and install a spring to prevent a spider from entering the vent line.

Customers can call Mazda at [phone].

Comments

[studmoose]

02:20 AM on 03/07/2011

Makes you wonder what insects travel over from Asia.

Insects that have no natural predators over here.

[hopeforchangenow]

08:06 PM on 03/05/2011

If it is one spider type - where are the vehicles built? What country is the spider from?

[imayes]

12:14 AM on 03/05/2011

I had a Mazda MPV...2001. Went through 4 02 sensors, one oil pan (drain screw stripped the hole?!?!?!?!?!?), ignition coil (they keep getting wet when it rains), heating line carrying coolant to the back to heat the rear, and the new oil pan was cracked and leaking. All with only 67k miles.

I will NEVER, EVER, EVER, EEEEEEEVER buy a Mazda.

Traded it in for a 2001 Mercedes E430 + 4000 bucks. I believe I made out on that deal :)

[imayes]

12:15 AM on 03/05/2011

Oh, and the Mazda needed the ignition control module replaced too.

[Dacropoly]

09:23 PM on 03/06/2011

I have had 2 Mazda's. The first one was a 3rd gen RX7. I have a Mazda 3 now. Both of them burned oil. Both of them went through headlight bulbs like crazy. I don't know if anyone has had to replace a headlight bulb. Nightmare. I can't wait until I pay this 3 off so I can get rid of it. Horrible cars. Horrible.

[Keyop]

06:24 PM on 03/04/2011

It's the new Mazda spider coup,literally.

[XenuIsUs]

03:20 PM on 03/04/2011

If you want to know where a car was made look at the first digit of the VIN. 1=USA, 2=Canada, 3=Mexico, J=Japan. I think it is interesting the spider chose that vent which sometimes emits gas fumes. I wonder if it is getting high.

[mrm3]

01:16 PM on 03/04/2011

I own a 1997 Mazda 626 and it's my favorite car I've ever driven (and I've driven quit a few - Porsche, Corvette, BMW, BMW M series.....)

While I think this spider nonsense is BS, I also think that at least Mazda stands behind its products and is willing to recall before something catastrophic happens.

[Christine115]

08:17 AM on 03/05/2011

The exact same thing just happened to me. I drive a 2006 Lexus 400h and we were getting condensation on the windows on the inside, a funny smell, and the carpet was completely wet. Brought it back, and they found spider webs blocking the ventilation. They had to replace the carpeting in the whole car, plus fix the ventilation. Thankfully we bought the extended plan. Otherwise we would have been out thousands.

[Michael Shanley]

11:11 AM on 03/04/2011

This sounds liek a lot BS to me. Just fix your cars.

[DFL]

07:46 AM on 03/04/2011

I'll take an american brand car anyday over a mazda or any other import.

[musamt]

09:58 AM on 03/04/2011

It's fine that you want to buy an American brand for whatever reasons, but you should know that the Mazda6 was designed, engineered, developed, and manufactured completely on U.S. soil, with parts and material from American suppliers.

[mrm3]

01:17 PM on 03/04/2011

A) Ford's 'turnaround' is due almost entirely to the engineering prowess of Mazda
B)'Japanese' cars are now 99% American cars, built by well-paid, well-benefitted American auto workers.

Catch up to the 21st Century before it tramples you.

[gizmotastic]

03:13 AM on 03/04/2011

At least the Japanese haven't surpassed good old American extermination know how.

U S A!
U S A!
U S A!

[modernman55]

02:07 AM on 03/04/2011

Even the spiders don't want to go American.

[the964kid]

02:10 PM on 03/04/2011

That made me laugh.

[bradkevans]

01:02 AM on 03/04/2011

Just like grape bubble yum!'

[wonderYrednow]

11:42 PM on 03/03/2011

Someone told me that spiders like to crawl into your mouth when you are sleeping and often they get eaten. One more reason to stay awake.

[stargazer13]

01:35 AM on 03/04/2011

aahhhh eewwhhhhhhhh

[oneyippie]

12:21 PM on 03/04/2011

Guess it's time for a massive mouth recall then...

[Richard Clay]

10:18 PM on 03/03/2011

Boris The Spider?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8dSBWysmnM

[85Percent]

10:00 PM on 03/03/2011

The photo is not a yellow sac spider. Couldn't they have found the right picture? This one does not even look real....its legs don't appear to all come from the underside of the cephalothorax.

[oneyippie]

12:22 PM on 03/04/2011

That spider in the pic should sue for defamation...

[WTFbush]

09:51 PM on 03/03/2011

James Dean was killed driving a spider