Announcing The All New Mazda Spider
We momentarily interrupt our recall-fatigue induced editorial policy. This one is too good to pass up. Mazda has developed a clinical case of arachnophobia, and is recalling 65,000 cars. Cheiracanthium inclusum, the yellow sac spider, has developed a liking for Mazdas and decided to move in. Let’s check the calendar first. No, it’s not the first day of April.
Spider nests in the rubber hoses of the fuel systems could cause pressurization and ventilation problems in their cars, says Mazda. Worst case: Fuel leaks, flaming infernos, blowing-up cars, you are hosed.
So far, 20 cases of spiders in Mazdas were found, which prompted the company to recall all 65,000 Mazda6 cars of the 2009 and 2010 model years in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and submit them to despiderfication.
Why the spiders lay their eggs into Mazdas only, and why they are particular to the hosiery of the 4-cylinder Mazda6 only, remains a mystery. “We really don’t know how they’re getting in,” Jeremy Barnes, a spokesman for Mazda North American Operations, told the Los Angeles Times.
There is another theory. “Perhaps yellow sac spiders like to go zoom-zoom?” Barnes quipped to the BBC.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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Acura TSXs suffer from spiders in the EVAP system...
Dang, If the fuel vapors and a pressurized system don't deter them, what will - Black Flag in the tank?
Spiders are still a lesser worry to Mazda than why they can't build an entry-level car that won't rust to hell in 6 years. Just again today I saw a last-gen Mazda 3 with bubbling rear fenders. You'd think they'd have learned after the Protege 5, but they haven't. It's a shame, because otherwise I could see myself buying one. At least the Miata seems to be rock solid (and arachnid-free).
is it possible that these eggs were in there from the beginning in Japan, and happened to hatch when the temp and time were just right? perhaps the hose suppliers had a case of spiderfestation and didn't know about it...