Tokyo, Aug 19 (DPA) Japanese carmaker Mazda Motor Corp is to recall some 288,000 vehicles over possible loss of power steering in major overseas markets including Europe and Australia, increasing the number of overseas recalls to 513,000, a company spokesman said Thursday.
The recall applies to 2007-09 model year versions of Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2007 through November 2008. The vehicles were produced in Japan and sold abroad.
Mazda had already recalled 215,000 vehicles in the US this week over similar problems. Its joint venture in China also announced last week that it recalled 10,691 vehicles imported from Japan over similar problems.
Tests on these vehicles suggested that rust in the hydraulic pumps for power steering could lead to a sudden loss of power steering while driving the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash, Kyodo News reported Wednesday citing the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
