Lemon Law News – Water Logged Brake Calipers Cause Mazda Recall

Mazda North American Operations issued a recall for more than 200,000 vehicles after finding problems with their parking brake calipers.

The company sent the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) a safety recall report on June 22, 2017. The recall covers 227,814 2014-2016 Mazda 3 vehicles built between Oct. 25, 2012 and Dec. 1, 2014 and 2014-2016 Mazda 6 vehicles built between Jan. 6, 2014 and Sept. 2, 2016.

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Water can infiltrate the affected vehicles’ brake calipers, causing their parking brake actuator shafts to corrode and possibly bind. This can damage the brakes and impede their function, and in some cases cause the parking brake to drag while driving and increase crash risk.

Mazda stated in the report “inappropriate sealing performance of the rear brake caliper protective boot on hand-operated parking brake” systems can allow water inside, especially in cold conditions. Water can corrode the brake actuator, which under continuous use can inhibit the actuator shaft’s sliding motion. In extreme cases the shaft can become stuck in the brake caliper body, causing parking brake malfunction. This can let the vehicle move when parked on a slope, creating a safety hazard.

The manufacturer said they received corroded caliper reports in April 2015. They developed a new sealing design for the caliper in December 2015 and began evaluating its effectiveness. Malfunction reports from U.S. and European markets continued, and the company continued working on a fix. The company then decided on a safety recall in June 2017.

Mazda will notify owners and dealers will check the parking brake actuator shafts, replacing any that are corroded free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 21, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda’s number for this recall is 1217F. Concerned Mazda owners can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.

Your vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.

If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide your recalled vehicle’s loss value, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to assist you.  Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.

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