Orlando Personal Injury Lawyer Monitoring Mazda Fuel System Recall

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on March 27, 2011

Many automakers have come under fire in recent years due to safety defects, but the latest recall involving Mazda cars is something no automotive designer or manufacturer could have anticipated. Mazda has announced a recall for thousands of its vehicles because of a fuel line problem that could result in potentially dangerous cracks and leaks. The recall involves a spider species and its fondness for the smell of gasoline. The Yellow Sac spider, a species common here in the U.S., likes the smell of gasoline so much that it builds its webs in the emission systems of automobiles. The design of the fuel system in Mazda6 vehicles allows these gas-loving spiders to crawl in and build webs, which can lead to a restriction in the vent line that can cause the emission control system to increase pressure in the fuel tank.

Mazda says the buildup of pressure in the fuel tank could lead to cracks in the tanks, causing leaks and potential fire hazard. Mazda has announced that the recall involves 52,000 Mazda6 models, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is monitoring developments in the recall. The Mazda6 is named the Atenza in Japan, but it is unknown whether these Mazda models are experiencing similar fuel line problems in that country.

“While it’s very rare, this spider’s distinguishing characteristic is that it likes the smell of gasoline, caused by the hydrogen oxide,” said automotive journalist Mitsuhiro Kunisawa.
“Once it smells the gasoline from outside, it will go inside. In the United States, it’s a relatively common type of spider.”

Spiders are able to smell the fuel due to two pipes coming out of the Mazda6 gas tank, a very unusual design. Kunisawa said the design allows gas vapors to escape that are strong enough to lure the spiders, but not strong enough to kill them. No other Mazda models are involved in the recall, and Mazda is encouraging Mazda6 owners in the U.S. to visit their local Mazda dealer to have the problem corrected at no cost. Auto technicians will install a spring in the fuel line that will prevent spiders from entering the fuel system.

Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham has seen many automotive recalls over the years, but this is the first recall due to invasive spiders. From the time he began practicing law in 1977, he has helped countless clients injured in accidents caused by defective vehicles involved in recalls. Have you been injured in a fire or accident caused by a clogged Mazda6 fuel line or an accident involving another recalled vehicle? If so, you need experienced, effective legal representation. Call Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.