Owner Letter
(CENTRAL)Dear Mazda Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Mazda Motor Corporation has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety may exist in the following Mazda models operated in certain areas:
1977-1980 GLC 1979-1983 GLC Wagon 1979-1982 626 1979-1983 RX-7 Salt-induced corrosion of the steering idler arm pin may on a small percentage of the subject vehicles gradually result in hard or stiff steering operation or poor steering return. This condition occurs mostly in the Great Lakes area and north eastern part of the U.S.A. where large quantities of road de-icing salt are customarily used. If the above condition were to occur, the resulting progressively harder steering effort could ultimately cause fracture of the idler arm pin. This is most likely to happen when maximum steering effort is applied, as in sharp turns at low speed or in parking. The risk of pin fracture in normal traffic is very small. Should pin fracture occur, however, an increase in the left turning radius will be experienced. Owners of affected Mazdas whose vehicles are registered in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky and the District of Columbia should after February 14, 1986, visit any authorized Mazda dealer for free replacement of their vehicle's idler arm. This service should normally require approximately one-half hour (0.5 hr.), but we recommend that you make an advance appointment with your Mazda Dealer to minimize your inconvenience. Should you have previously paid for repairs to replace an affected idler arm which had fractured due to excessive corrosion damage, Mazda will reimburse you for the repair cost. Your request must be supported with proper evidence of the repair, such as a paid repair order. (A replacement of the idler arm due to normal wear is not reimbursed by this campaign.) Please write to the following address to request reimbursement. Mazda P.O. Box 17154 Long Beach, CA 90807
Attention: Warranty Department
If you no longer own the vehicle listed above, please complete the enclosed Change of Ownership and mail it as soon as possible. Any problems encountered in this campaign should be discussed with your nearest authorized Mazda dealer or Mazda distributor listed in your Owner's Manual. If your dealer or distributor does not remedy the defect without charge within reasonable time, you may wish to notify the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C. 20590, or call the hot-line telephone number (800) 424-9393. For residents of Washington, D.C, call 426-0123. We apologize for this inconvenience. However, to assure that your Mazda will serve you to your full satisfaction, we believe it is important that you have this repair made.
Owner Letter
(Other than 20 States and District of Columbia)
Dear Mazda Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Mazda Motor Corporation has determined that a detect which relates to motor vehicle safety may exist in the following Mazda models operated in certain areas:
1977-1980 GLC 1979-1983 GLC Wagon 1979-1982 626 1979-1983 RX-7 Mazda Motor Corporation is recalling these vehicles registered in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky and the District of Columbia. In those states, large quantities of road salt are used in winter months. Salt-induced corrosion of the steering idler arm pin may on a small percentage of the subject vehicles gradually result in hard or stiff steering operation or poor steering return.
If the above condition were to occur, the resulting progressively harder steering effort could ultimately cause fracture of the idler arm pin. This is most likely to happen when maximum steering effort is applied, as in sharp turns at low speed or in parking. The risk of pin fracture in normal traffic is very small. Should pin fracture occur, however, an increase in the left turning radius will be experienced. If your vehicle was operated in the listed states for an extended period of time, or if you have recently moved to one of these states, or if you have experienced hard or stiff steering operation or poor steering return, you should after February 14, 1986 bring your Mazda vehicle to the nearest authorized Mazda dealer for an inspection and, if the stiffness or partial seizure is found, to have the idler arm replaced. Inspection and/or replacement will be provided to you free of charge. This service will normally require approximately one-half hour (0.5 hr.), but we recommend that you make an advance appointment with your Mazda Dealer to minimize your inconvenience. Should you have any questions on this matter, please contact any authorized Mazda dealer or your Mazda distributor listed in your Owner's Manual. If your dealer or distributor does not remedy the defect without charge within reasonable time, you may wish to notify the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C. 20590, or call the hot-line telephone number (800) 424-9393. For residents of Washington, D.C., call 426-0123. We regret any inconvenience this may cause you.