Mazda recalls 217,500 Tributes to repair throttle, echoing Ford fix
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The Tribute recall will address "inadequate clearance" between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector, Mazda said in NHTSA filings. |
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(Reuters) -- Mazda Motor Corp. is recalling 217,500 Tribute SUVs in the United States due to a problem with the throttle that could make it difficult to slow down a vehicle after a driver fully or nearly presses down the accelerator.
The move comes a day after a similar recall by Ford Motor Co. of 2001 to 2004 model Escape SUVs. Ford and Mazda jointly developed the affected Escape and Tribute models, and they were assembled by Ford.
The Japanese automaker's recall affects vehicles made for the 2001 to 2006 and 2008 model years that were equipped with the 3-liter, V-6 engine and speed control.
Ford recalled 423,634 Escapes in the United States and 484,600 worldwide for the problem.
U.S. safety regulators are investigating whether the throttle issue was a factor in the death of a teenager driving an Escape in Arizona earlier this year. There have been 68 reported complaints of stuck throttles, including nine injuries and the Arizona fatality.
The problem in these vehicles stems from "inadequate clearance" between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector, Mazda said in its filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Mazda said its 2005, 2006 and 2008 Tributes used an engine cover for its 3-liter, six-cylinder engine that was similar in design to the 2001 to 2004 model Tributes. As a result, the company also recalled those models. Mazda did not make a 2007 Tribute, according to the automaker's NHTSA filings.
Ford spokeswoman Marcey Zwiebel said Ford changed its engine covers for the 2005 model year.
"We have determined that the engine cover in the 2005-2008 Escape isn't affected by the issue," she said. "In 2001-2004, it was one large engine cover. In 2005, we moved to two smaller engine covers."
Vince Bond contributed to this report.
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