The defect
IN CERTAIN HIGH SALT AREAS, THE IDLER ARM IS EXPOSED TO ROAD SALT WHICH CAUSES THE DUST SEAL TO DETERIORATE RESULTING IN IDLER ARM PIN CORROSION. THIS CAUSES THE PIN TO FREEZE AND BREAK. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A BROKEN IDLER ARM PIN COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy
REPLACE PIN WITH ONE OF IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANT QUALITY.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Mazda 626 | 1981, 1982 |
| Mazda GLC | 1981, 1982, 1983 |
| Mazda RX7 | 1981, 1982, 1983 |
Components: STEERING
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 626 | 1981 | 0 | 2 |
| Mazda 626 | 1982 | 0 | 2 |
| Mazda GLC | 1981 | 0 | 2 |
| Mazda GLC | 1982 | 3 | 4 |
| Mazda GLC | 1983 | 0 | 2 |
| Mazda RX7 | 1981 | 0 | 1 |
| Mazda RX7 | 1982 | 2 | 1 |
| Mazda RX7 | 1983 | 0 | 1 |
Other steering recalls in 1985
18 of the 173 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1985 concerned the steering; MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC filed 58 campaigns in all.
| 85V172000 26 Dec 1985 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 85V005000 9 Dec 1985 | FERRARI NORTH AMERICA |
| 85V160000 3 Dec 1985 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 85V157000 26 Nov 1985 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 85V146000 13 Nov 1985 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 85V112000 17 Sept 1985 | OSHKOSH TRUCK CORPORATION |
| 85V094000 23 Jul 1985 | EXECUTIVE IND., INC. |
| 85V091000 18 Jul 1985 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1985