The defect
MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 MAZDA3 AND MAZDASPEED3 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 7, 2008, THROUGH NOVEMBER 28, 2008. THE GROUND TERMINAL OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY BENT DURING ASSEMBLY. IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS THEN OVER TIME THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF THE MOTOR CIRCUIT MAY INCREASE UP TO A POINT THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK.
The risk
THE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION IN ADVERSE WEATHER COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL GROUND HARNESS ON THE WIPER MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JULY 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-222-5500.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Mazda Mazda3 | 2008, 2009 |
| Mazda Mazdaspeed3 | 2008, 2009 |
Components: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda Mazda3 | 2008 | 303 | 2 |
| Mazda Mazda3 | 2009 | 115 | 3 |
| Mazda Mazdaspeed3 | 2008 | 33 | 1 |
| Mazda Mazdaspeed3 | 2009 | 4 | 1 |
Other visibility recalls in 2011
77 of the 597 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2011 concerned the visibility; MAZDA MOTOR CORP filed 20 campaigns in all.
| 11V557000 17 Nov 2011 | NAVISTAR, INC |
| 11V538000 4 Nov 2011 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 11V529000 2 Nov 2011 | CARLEN CORPORATION |
| 11V501000 18 Oct 2011 | CUSTOM VEHICLE OUTFITTERS |
| 11V492000 3 Oct 2011 | STARTRANS BUS CORPORATION |
| 11V467000 7 Sept 2011 | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. |
| 11V445000 26 Aug 2011 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 11V435000 23 Aug 2011 | CUSTOM TRIM OF AMERICA |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2011