US Mazda6 recall caused by petrol-sniffing spiders
Spider infestation could cause fires in 42,000 US Mazda6 cars
Petrol-sniffing spiders have forced Mazda to recall around 42,000 of its 6 family car in the US market.
The yellow sac spider is attracted to the scent of petrol and will weave its web in engines, causing an air-blockage and build-up pressure.
In a set of documents it passed to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Mazda explained: "A certain type of spider may weave a web in the evaporative canister vent line, potentially causing a restriction in the line.
"If this occurs, the fuel tank pressure may become excessively negative when the emission control system works to purge the vapours from the canister.
"As the canister is purged repeatedly during normal operation, the stress on the fuel tank may eventually result in a crack, potentially leading to fuel leakage and an increased risk of fire.
While Mazda said it did not know of any of its cars catching fire as a result of yellow sac spider infestation, it admitted it is a problem that has plagued their US-market cars since at least 2009. In 2011, 52,000 Mazda6 cars were recalled across the US for the same issue, but Mazda rectified the problem by designing fitting covers over engine vents to stop the spiders from getting inside the car.
However, some yellow sac spiders were particularly determined, and have continued to set up home in their vehicles.
The recall of Mazda6 models built from 2010 to 2012 will begin at the end of April 2014.
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