The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WASHINGTON, DC. IN AREAS WHERE LARGE QUANTITIES OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, CORROSIVE PITS CAN DEVELOP ON THE SURFACE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING. REPEATED USE CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE COIL SPRING TO BREAK AND A TIRE COULD BE PUNCTURED FROM CONTACT WITH THE BROKEN COIL SPRING.
The risk
THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GUARD ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL PREVENT THE BROKEN COIL SPRING FROM CONTACTING THE TIRE. IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, MAZDA IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FOR THE LIFT OF THE VEHICLE. IF OWNERS HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THESE FRONT COIL SPRINGS, DUE TO ROAD SALT DAMAGE, MAZDA WILL REIMBURSE THESE OWNERS FOR REASONABLE EXPENSES.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Mazda MX-3 | 1994, 1995 |
| Mazda MX3 | 1992, 1993 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
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 MX-3 | 1994 | 19 | 1 |
| Mazda MX-3 | 1995 | 10 | 1 |
| Mazda MX3 | 1992 | 44 | 3 |
| Mazda MX3 | 1993 | 52 | 3 |
Other suspension recalls in 1997
30 of the 268 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1997 concerned the suspension; MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC filed 58 campaigns in all.
| 97V196004 31 Dec 1997 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC |
| 97V239001 30 Dec 1997 | GREAT DANE TRAILERS, INC. |
| 97V196005 29 Dec 1997 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 97V190004 8 Dec 1997 | STARCRAFT RV, INC. |
| 97V214000 1 Dec 1997 | SHOREMASTER, INC. |
| 97V190003 1 Dec 1997 | JAYCO, INC. |
| 97V190005 28 Nov 1997 | COACHMEN RV COMPANY |
| 97V196002 24 Nov 1997 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1997