The forward attachment of the lower control arm may corrode
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Mazda North American Operations is recalling 109,000 model year 2001-2004 Tribute vehicles manufactured May 22, 2000, through December 19, 2003.
The vehicles were originally sold, or are currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.
These vehicles may experience excessive corrosion at the forward attachment of the lower control arm.
A separation of the lower control arm can result in a significant loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will install a newly designed reinforcement cross-brace, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Mazda expects to send an interim notification around May 19, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the part installed.
If customers bring their vehicles to a dealer before reinforcement crossbraces are available, dealers will inspect the subframe and either inform customers that the vehicle is safe to drive until the remedy parts are available or provide a rental vehicle until parts are available if an immediate repair is needed.
Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7514D.
