Mazda, the Japanese automaker, is recalling more than 50,000 Mazda6 cars from the 2009-2010 model years in the United States and an additional 15,000 vehicles in Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
The yellow sac spider, which is relatively common in the United States, is attracted to the smell of gasoline- once it smells the gasoline from outside, it will go inside. While inside the gas tank the spider could weave a web in a vent connected to the fuel tank system and clog up the tank’s ventilation. Pressure on the fuel tank could lead to a crack, causing fuel leakage and the risk of a fire.
The affected model, the Mazda6, has two pipes coming out from its gas tank, which is extremely rare and means that the smell of gasoline is strong enough to draw the spider in but not strong enough to kill it.
The recall involves vehicles with V4 engines built from April 2008 to February 2010.
Owners will be notified by mid-March and told to take their vehicles to dealers for inspection and repairs. Dealers will inspect and clean up the vent line and install a spring to prevent a spider from entering the vent line.