Mazda 6 recall: Beware the yellow sac spider and the web it weaves

[joseephuss]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2011/03/mazda_6_recall_beware_the_yell.html

Mazda 6 recall: Beware the yellow sac spider and the web it weaves

In Friday's terrifying news story of the day, a tiny spider's web might crack apart your car engine and start a fire. But only if you have a Mazda 6. And no one has any idea why this is happening.

The news has forced Mazda to recall 65,000 cars in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The spider is the yellow sac spider. Mazda dealers reported 20 cases of webs being found in a vent connected to the fuel tank system. The webs could clog the ventilation system, applying pressure to the fuel tank, which could then crack and cause a fuel leakage. The Associated Press reports:

 

[Concord]

My sister has this car and is taking it in today.

Freaky

 

[vta]

By all accounts of personal conversations with Mazda owners, Mazda is a horrible car company. I think we need our consumer advocate nyc on the job for this one!

Everyone I've known, from RX-8 (especially this bomb) to 3 to 6 owners, horrible stories of garbage cars that constantly have mechanical failure to garbage treatment from the company in these matters. Known problems where some garages won't even touch the car or Pep Boys not even carrying parts for them.

They look cool but that's not enough.

 

[Route 66]

I owned both a Mazda 6 and an RX8 and had no problems with either one. Granted I traded them in after a few years and got something else.

 

[xout]

I've got a 2004 6 right now.. no problems ever really.

I want something better, but it's because I've had the car 5 years now.

 

[rkell87]

GF has an '07 3 and has had no problems. i like it too it has a lot of pick up for 4 cylinder

 

[casmith07]

Our family owned Mazdas in the 90s. They were workhorse cars back then.

Nowadays not so much.

 

[Duane]

By all accounts of personal conversations with Mazda owners, Mazda is a horrible car company. I think we need our consumer advocate nyc on the job for this one!

Everyone I've known, from RX-8 (especially this bomb) to 3 to 6 owners, horrible stories of garbage cars that constantly have mechanical failure to garbage treatment from the company in these matters. Known problems where some garages won't even touch the car or Pep Boys not even carrying parts for them.

They look cool but that's not enough.

Totally untrue about Mazda. I've owned two and they've been fantastic cars with very little problems. My current Mazda, a 99 Miata, has ~100K miles on it and the only parts I've replaced have been the battery, brakes and starter.

 

[the kid 05]

Totally untrue about Mazda. I've owned two and they've been fantastic cars with very little problems. My current Mazda, a 99 Miata, has ~100K miles on it and the only parts I've replaced have been the battery, brakes and starter.

might want to look into changing the distributor and spark plugs and spark cables

 

[vta]

Totally untrue about Mazda. I've owned two and they've been fantastic cars with very little problems. My current Mazda, a 99 Miata, has ~100K miles on it and the only parts I've replaced have been the battery, brakes and starter.

Maybe so, but I'm not making it up. Besides, your car is over 10 years old, have you had any newer models and have they fared just as well? The people I know have had later models, the 3, 6 and especially the RX-8, which the owners of those tell me is especially notorious for engine troubles.

I almost bought one between my Acura's and all the bad news I got shut that idea right down.

I do know someone who also owns an older Miata and it's still cranking, so I have to give it up for that one at least.

 

[Duane]

might want to look into changing the distributor and spark plugs and spark cables

I missed a few of the wear items like that, belts, hoses and tires but I haven't had any major component issues (knock on wood).

 

[Route 66]

The RX8 is a different breed altogether and the reason some people have difficulties with them is they don't know how to maintain them or drive them.

The rotary needs to be in the proper power band during daily driving and that is around 4,000 rpms or so according to the service tech when I had one. He said some people think they are taking care of their rotary by babying it but it wont last as long unless its exercised and wound the way its supposed to.

They also drink oil and they can be prone to engine flooding if not warmed up. Every time I got ready to wash it, instead of starting it up in the garage and putting it in the driveway to wash, I would just put it in neutral and roll it out like a giant hotwheel.

The car had no torque so I learned to appreciate big blocks.