Mazda Motor Corporation is a well-known Japanese multinational automaker founded in January 1920 in Hiroshima by Jujiro Matsuda. From 1974 up until 2015, the company had a partnership with the Ford Motor Company. While the corporation had astounding success in the industry, it also had some issues with certain models that they had to issue recalls for them. But did you hear about their vehicles catching fire because of spiders?
Mazda was forced to issue at least two recalls for their Mazda 6 Sedans because spiders could cause their vehicles to catch fire.
The Mazda 6
The Mazda 6 has proven to be a popular model, selling one million units in late February. That’s four years and one month after Mazda’s Hofu No. 2 plant in February 2002 produced the first Mazda6. That is also the quickest any Mazda vehicle has reached the million-mile mark.
The Mazda6, also known as the Atenza in Japan, began production in the United States in October 2002 at a joint venture plant in Michigan shared with Ford. In January 2006, the Mazda6 started production at a new assembly plant in Jilil Province, China.
Given the competitiveness of the segment in which the Mazda6 competes and the fact that it does so on a global scale with minimal modifications, it’s clear that Mazda has created a true world car that many automakers are currently envious of. (Source: Auto Blog)
The Yellow Sac Spiders
Yellow sac spiders can be found on vegetation, under leaf litter, stones, and boards, on structures under window sills and siding, as well as on the corners of walls and ceilings. They are responsible for more spider bites than any other spider, and health care providers frequently misunderstand their bites as brown recluse bites.
They are active hunters, meaning they go out in quest of prey rather than catching it in a web. The spiders attack humans when they become trapped between a person’s skin and sheets, clothing, shoes, and other items during their midnight sorties. (Source: Michigan State University)
Mazda’s Gasoline-Loving Spiders
The company has told federal officials that 42,000 Mazda6 automobiles are being recalled due to a fire risk associated with yellow sac spiders.
Three years earlier, Mazda recalled 52,000 Mazda6 automobiles in the United States due to the same problem. Model years 2010 through 2012 are included in the latest recall.
According to Mazda spokesman Jeremy Barnes, the yellow sac spider is attracted to the hydrocarbons in gasoline and can get into a fuel tank hose. There, it could spin a web that prevents airflow. This could cause the fuel tank to break, perhaps resulting in a fire. Mazda claims that no fires have occurred as a result of the problem.
Mazda created a unique spring to keep the spiders out. However, spiders found a way, so the company made a software modification to relieve pressure on the gasoline tank and prevent cracking. The spring and software in model years 2009 and 2010 were recalled in 2011.
According to Barnes, the carmaker began installing the springs on new cars coming off the assembly line, but not the software. Mazda recalled model years 2010 through 2012 to replace the software after receiving nine customer reports of cracked fuel tanks.
The spring and software have been fitted in more contemporary Mazda 6 automobiles. According to experts, yellow sac spiders are one of the most frequent in the United States. (Source: CNN)