2013 Mazda MAZDA2

The defect

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014, 2014-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2013, to December 2, 2015, and 2013-2015 CX-9 vehicles manufactured December 6, 2012, to July 31, 2015. The lower mounting nuts and bolts that attach the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle may loosen, allowing the steering knuckle to separate.

The risk

If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

The remedy

Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower mounting nuts and bolts that secure the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle. If the bolts are loose, they will be replaced and then correctly tightened, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9316D.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 578 vehicles across all model years covered

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA complaint 11251833. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA complaint 11182153. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

99,000 miles

DRIVER'S SEAT CAME UNATTACHED FROM THE FLOOR MOUNTED SLIDES/BRACKETS THAT ALLOW FOR LEG LENGTH ADJUSTMENTS. CAR WAS IN MOTION, TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AND IN THE CENTER OF THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC AT THE TIME. I PULLED OVER AND EXAMINED THE SEAT. WASHERS WERE UNDER THE SEAT, AND THE SEAT WOULD MOVE UP AND DOWN 8-10 INCHES ON THE LEFT (DOOR-SIDE) SIDE. SEAT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO BRACKETS/SLIDES ON THE RIGHT (CENTER-LINE / GEAR-LEVER) SIDE.

NHTSA complaint 11161498. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE 2011 MAZDA 2 MODELS RELATED TO A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTER MECHANISM BECOMING LOOSE. BASED ON THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ISSUE, MY 2013 MAZDA 2 IS EXHIBITING THE SAME ISSUE. THE SEAT 'ROCKS' BACK AND FORTH, AS IF IT'S ONLY PARTLY SECURED. I CONTACTED MAZDA AND THEY REITERATED THAT THE 2013 MODEL IS NOT CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER THEIR RECALL, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM IS CLEARLY PRESENT ON MINE. IT IS MAZDA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT ALL SEAT MECHANISMS ARE FUNCTIONING SAFELY AND SECURELY. THE ISSUE WAS NOTICED EARLIER THIS YEAR AND HAS SUBSEQUENTLY GOTTEN WORSE.

NHTSA complaint 11105202. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

8,000 miles

CLUNKING NOISE AND FEEL, AND EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING MECHANISM DURING LOW SPEED TURNS. THE PROBLEM BEGAN DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. INTERNET FORUMS INDICATE THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE CAUSE IS FAILURE OF PART NUMBER DR613210XF, KNOWN AS THE ENERGY ABSORBER SHAFT. MAZDA IS AWARE OF THE FLAW.

NHTSA complaint 11072302. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.