Mazda Recalling 109,000 Tributes For Potential Loss Of Steering

Report Receipt Date: APR 04, 2014


NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V174000

Potential Number of Units Affected: 109,000 

Manufacturer: Mazda North American Operations

SUMMARY:

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model 
year 2001-2004 Tribute vehicles manufactured May 22, 2000, through 
December 19, 2003, originally sold, or currently registered in,
Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, 
New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, 
West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. These vehicles 
may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of 
the lower control arm.

CONSEQUENCE:

A separation of the lower control arm can result in a
significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:

Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. Parts are not currently 
available. Mazda expects to send an interim notification around 
May 19, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a 
second letter to come in to have the part installed. If customers 
bring their vehicles to a dealer before reinforcement crossbraces 
are available, dealers will inspect the subframe and either inform 
customers that the vehicle is safe to drive until the remedy parts are available or provide a rental vehicle until parts are available 
if an immediate repair is needed. Owners may contact Mazda 
at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7514D.