Issue ID | 233569 |
Internal NHTSA # | 727108 |
Manufacurer | MAZDA MOTOR CORP |
Brand | MAZDA |
Model | 626 |
Model Year | 1998 |
File date | 01/08/00 |
Component | STEERING:RACK AND PINION |
Product type code | VEHICLE |
Description of the problem | Steering rack gear broke in two with no warning, car went out of control, crossed highway, down a small embankment and into the trees (narrowly missing an oncoming small truck). My wife was driving and was suffered aggravation to existing back and leg problems. She said she heard a "clunk" and the car took off across the road. At first she thought she hit something in the road to cause the car to go out of control. I checked the car out at the towing companies lot that night and determined that the left front control arm was loose under the rubber boot on the drivers side of the car. I asked the dealer now repairing the car to save any steering parts. They replaced the rack and pinion as a unit and i now have it. I have not disassembled it but it is obviously broke under the boot where the rack exits the rack and pinion housing on the driver's side. Comment: cars shouldn't break like this with only 61,000 miles on them. This car has received regular lubrication maintenance and when i have driven it recently showed no sign of impending steering problems such as clunks, tight steering, road wander, etc. It was just fine until it broke. *ak |
Vehicle Mileage at Failure | |
Number of Occurences | 1 |
Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
City and State | EDMOND, OK |
VIN pattern | 1YVGF22COW5XXXXXX |
Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | Y |
Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
Was incedent reported to police? | Y |
Was medical attention required? | |
Was part original equipment? | |
No. of injured persons | 1 |
No. of fatalities | 0 |
Date of purchase | 01/08/98 |
Was original owner? | Y |
Anti-lock brakes | N |
Cruise control | Y |
Number of cylinders | |
Drive train type | FWD |
Transmission type | |
Vehicle speed | 50 |
DoT tire identifier | |
Tire size | |
Location of tire code | |
Type of tire failure code | |
Was defective tire repaired? | |
Date of manufacture | |
Type of child seat code | |
Type of restraint | |
Dealer's name | |
Dealer's telephone number | |
Dealer's city | |
Dealer's state code | |
Dealer's ZIP code |