Mazda recalls Mazda3 for fuel tank fault

By Chris Chase

Sep 30, 2016

Summary

Defective tanks could cause gasoline leak

Mazda and Transport Canada have recalled more than 21,000 examples of the Mazda3 compact car to inspect fuel tanks that could spring a leak.

These cars, sold in the 2014, 2015 and 2016 model years, have defective fuel tanks on which a weld could fail and result in a fuel leak. Naturally, the real concern is that the leaking fuel could catch fire if exposed to an ignition source.

Mazda is asking its dealer service departments to inspect the fuel tanks in the affected cars, and replace the tank where necessary.

This is the second fuel tank-related recall affecting late-model Mazda3s; about a year ago, some of the same cars were called back for dealers to inspect evaporative emissions control components that could cause a fuel leak.

Meet the Author

As a child, Chris spent most of his time playing with toy cars in his parents’ basement or making car sounds while riding his bicycle. Now he's an award-winning Algonquin College Journalism grad who has been playing with real cars that make their own noises since the early 2000s.