Friday, March 04, 2011

FIRST SNAKES ON A PLANE, NOW SPIDERS IN A CAR

My understanding is that the recall applies to all 2009 and 2010 models of the Mazda 6.

SPIDERS IN FUEL TANK PROMPT MAZDA RECALL

The Straits Times
March 4, 2011

CHICAGO - MAZDA has a creepy problem: a common spider species seems to have developed a hankering for making nests and weaving webs inside the engines of its sporty Mazda 6 sedan.

The Japanese automaker said on Thursday it will be recalling 65,000 vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico to outfit them with special screens to keep the spiders out.

'There doesn't seem to be any particular reason why he's chosen the Mazda 6,' spokesman Jeremy Barnes told AFP.

While the spider problem sounds silly, Mr Barnes said it can be dangerous. The webs and nests can block air flow in the fuel tank's vent and this could cause the tank to leak or even catch fire. So far there have been no accidents or fires, but Madza isn't taking any chances.

Since the problem wasn't restricted to a particular geographic region, Mazda thought it best to recall all its affected vehicles in areas where the yellow sac spider lives, Mr Barnes said.

The problem was first discovered in October 2009 when a dealer found a spider web in a canister vent line when a customer brought their Mazda 6 in for repairs after it started leaking fuel. -- AFP

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