Mazda Motor Corporation has issued a defective auto recall for more than 190,000 CX-7 SUVs because of a potentially dangerous steering control defect. The recall involves vehicles manufactured from February 14, 2006 through May 9, 2012. This announcement comes after just last year Mazda recalled approximately 190,000 CX-9 SUVs for the same issue. When the recall begins, owners will be notified and instructed to take their vehicle to a Mazda dealer for the necessary repairs at no charge to consumers. The risk associated with this defect could lead to devastating car crashes and Providence car accident lawsuits.
What is a Safety Defect?
A vehicle defect includes any type of flaw in the performance, construction, a component or design of a motor vehicle. A safety defect is defined as a problem that exists of a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment, which poses a risk to motor vehicle safety and may exist in a group of vehicle of the same design or manufacture, or items of equipment of the same type and manufacture.
For example, with Mazda, the problem occurs when water gets into the front suspension ball joint fittings causing corrosion and ultimately loosening the joint fittings. Water from roads where salt is used in the winter months were noted to have a higher risk of this corrosion. When a ball joint corrodes, it can separate from the lower suspension control arm, leading to a loss of steering control.
Examples of Vehicle Safety Defects
Here are just a few examples of safety defects that often spur recalls:
- Steering components that break or disintegrate suddenly causing partial of complete loss of vehicle control.
- Gas pedals that may break or stick.
- Seats or seat backs that fail unexpectedly during normal use.
- Problems with the engine or fuel system components that could cause a fire when the vehicle is in a crash, in motion or even while parked and not running.
- Airbags that fail to deploy in a crash or deploy suddenly when they are not supposed to do so.
- Seatbelts and seat restraint system parts that fail to restrain and protect vehicle occupants in the event of a crash.
What Should I Do If My Vehicle Has Been Recalled?
If your vehicle has been recalled, it would be a good idea to take it to the dealer right away to make the necessary repairs. If you are in the market to buy a used vehicle, be sure to check safecar.gov to ensure that it hasn’t been recalled. If it has been recalled for a safety defect, make sure it has been repaired. These steps can help avoid a serious car accident.
Contact a Providence Car Accident Lawyer
If you or someone you know has been injured a Providence car accident, contact one of our experienced Providence car accident lawyers located at 390 Broadway, Providence, RI 02909. You may be entitled to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost income and pain and suffering, among other losses. No fees are received unless you win your case. For a free (no obligation) case evaluation, call us at 401-831-8600 or toll free at 1-800-992-6878. You may also fill out our contact form online.
Paul d’Oliveira
Attorney Paul d’Oliveira has been practicing personal injury and disability law for over 30 years. He started his personal injury law practice in 1989 with two offices in Fall River, MA and East Providence, RI. Today his firm has 16 offices in RI and Southeastern, MA.
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