Mzda Recall

MONTEREY, Calif. -- Mazda Motor Co. is recalling more than 200,000 Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles from the 2007-2009 model years because of faulty power-assist steering pumps and pipes. Mazda alerted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the recall on Thursday, Robert Davis, Mazda's senior vice president of product development and quality, told Automotive News. The recall comes after NHTSA opened an investigation in June into power steering failures in the Mazda3 from the 2007-2009 model years. NHTSA received 33 complaints of power-assist steering failures in Mazda3 vehicles from the 2007-2009 model years, and loss of steering control was reported as the cause of three crashes, according to NHTSA investigation documents. Vehicles that experience a power steering failure “will require more physical effort to steer, but at no time is the vehicle undrivable,” Mazda said on its Web site. It also posted a video explaining what drivers should do if the problem happens. Owners of the vehicles can go to dealerships to replace the power steering pump and pipes connecting it to the steering rack. Read more from Automotive News.