According to a Mazda spokesman, the hydrocarbons in gasoline attract yellow sac spiders that can sometimes find their way into the fuel tank hose. Once inside the hose the spider may weave a web blocking the flow of air through the tube. As a result the fuel tank could crack, and a cracked fuel tank is very real fire hazard. This of course is not ideal.
Toyota and Mazda are certainly not the only vehicle manufacturers at fault. General Motors announced a 41,000 vehicle recall because the fuel pumps inside the vehicles were cracking due to the sweltering summer heat, and Ford Motor Co. recalled 74,000 vehicles because the electric hybrid system inside the vehicles were prone to overheating.
Now the fact of the matter is that nobody is perfect. While a recall may hurt a manufacturer's reputation for a period of time, it does not define the company. However, if a manufacturer made a habit of recalling their vehicles it would be another story.
The Next Step & Determining If Your Vehicle Has Been Recalled?
This past Thursday House Democrats passed the Vehicle Safety Improvement Act, which expands public access to vehicle defect and safety information. It also allows the NHTSA to dish out harsher penalties to automakers who violate safety laws.
As a consumer you can find out if your vehicle has been recalled for any reason by submitting your vehicle information at SafeCar.gov.
Even the smallest mistakes can not be tolerated when lives are at stake. We place our trust in auto companies, and they should be held fully accountable for their mistakes, no matter how small.
What do you think the penalty should be for repeat safety offenders?
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