Not many Mazda recalls expected

Not many Mazda recalls expectedCheck your VIN, car owners urged Mazda South Africa is giving a local dealer guidance on the latest recall of vehicles. Novel Mazda has moved quickly to assure owners of Mazda 2, Mazda 6 and RX-8 models that they need not worry, as few vehicles within the affected range are on its database.

This follows the global recall of 19 000 affected vehicles issued recently by the Japanese automaker.

Giving an update to Namibian Sun on the matter yesterday, Novel Mazda spokesperson Hayley Allen confirmed that a recall had been issued and appealed to Mazda owners driving the affected vehicles to check their Vehicle Identification Numbers.

“Novel Mazda has been made aware of the global recall and Namibian Mazda drivers are to take note that only Mazda 2 (year of manufacture from February 2010 to September 2010), Mazda 6 (year of manufacture from March 2005 to December 2008) and Mazda RX-8 (year of manufacture between August 2003 to June 2007) are affected,” said Allen.

According to her, an easy way to see which Namibian vehicles are affected is to check whether Mazda 2, Mazda 6 and Mazda RX-8 Vehicle Identity Numbers (VINs) start with MM6DE, JM6GG or JMZSE.

“VINs are clearly indicated on the licence disc of your vehicle for easy reference. These particular units are equipped with the 'PSDI-4' driver-side air bag inflator, the 'SDI-160' driver-side air bag inflator, or the 'SPI', 'SDI-230' and the 'PSPI' passenger-side air bag inflators,” said Allen.

The recall locally would be done under the guidance of Mazda South Africa.

“Currently, Novel Mazda awaits instructions as to how the recall protocol is to be implemented. Once the process is in place, Novel Mazda will implement the recall as quickly as possible under the guidance of Mazda South Africa and in a way that does not inconvenience any of our customers,” said Allen.

She encouraged owners of these vehicles to contact Novel Mazda. “At present, initial information shows that there are not many vehicles within the affected range on our roads. Customers who have vehicles bought within the production periods stipulated or whose VIN numbers indicate that attention to their vehicles is necessary should contact Mr Shaun Willemse, service advisor at Novel Mazda on 081 453 5098.”

Mazda issued a global recall covering a wider manufacturing period in order to place the highest priority on the safety of Mazda customers.

“The recall is due to an inappropriate production condition and storage of the propellant in the inflator. The density of the propellant may be insufficient in the inflator. This might cause the propellant to ignite abnormally at the time of airbag deployment and potentially result in extremely high inner pressure of the inflator causing a rupture of the inflator case. In a case of a rupture, the airbag might not deploy as designed and may lead to injury,” Mazda said in a statement issued this week.

OGONE TLHAGE