Stacy94PGT

Reuters / May 29, 2003

TOKYO -- Mazda Motor Corp. said on Thursday it plans to recall more than 174,000 vehicles worldwide, including the hot-selling Mazda6 sedan, after reports of a defective fog lamp which in one case caused the bumper to catch fire.

The Mazda6 is called the Atenza in Japan.

There have been no reports of any accident resulting from the defective parts, according to Mazda's report submitted to Japan's Transport Ministry. The automaker declined to disclose the estimated cost of the recall.

The news deals a heavy blow to Mazda, coming on the same day that it announced the Mazda6 had snapped up 50 awards in 22 countries since its launch a year ago.

Mazda had attributed the big jump in profits it reported for the business year ended in March largely to the popularity of the Mazda6, especially in its crucial European market.

Japan's fifth-largest automaker, owned one-third by Ford Motor Co., said it would recall 78,505 vehicles in Japan and about 96,000 overseas, including the United States, Canada and the UK.

Of the cars to be recalled in Japan, 37,386 are Mazda6s produced between March 2002 and May 16 of this year.

The other models to be recalled are the MPV multi-purpose vehicle built between May 1999 and February 2003 and Miata sports cars made between December 1997 and February 2003.

Mazda said the front fog lamp in all three models was not wired properly.

The Mazda6 also was reported to have a faulty brake oil tank that could fail to illuminate the brake lamp, the automaker said.

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Stacy94PGT
My first car was a 67 Mustang Coupe, 2nd one was a 67 Cougar XR-7, 3rd one was a 66 Mustang Coupe. Why did I get rid of these cars for ? I know why, because I'm stupid, stupid, stupid.

My next Ford.....