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Mazda Announces MPV Recall and Customer Service Action

29 March 2000

Mazda Announces MPV Recall and Customer Service Action

    IRVINE, Calif., March 28 Mazda North American Operations
(MNAO) today announced it is voluntarily recalling certain 2000-model-year MPV
minivans for reprogramming of the vehicle's Powertrain Control Module (PCM).
    Mazda has found that 2000-model MPV minivans built between March 31, 1999
and November 28, 1999 may have inappropriate programming of the PCM that could
cause them to not comply with Federal onboard diagnostic requirements.
    Mazda is asking owners of the affected vehicles to bring them to an
authorized Mazda dealer for reprogramming of the PCM.  The repairs should take
less than one hour.
    In addition, Mazda announced that it will ask owners of all 2000-model MPV
minivans to bring the vehicles to an authorized Mazda dealer for the
installation of front bumper reinforcement plates.  The reinforcement plates
will enhance front bumper performance and will be added at no charge to the
consumer.  The repairs should take less than one hour.
    As a result of tests performed on the 2000-model MPV by an independent
testing facility, Mazda found that the front bumper, despite meeting Federal
passenger car bumper standards, did not perform up to expectations in a
low-speed impact.  Mazda has redesigned the front bumper system, and MPVs with
the redesigned and upgraded bumper system should begin arriving in Mazda
showrooms by the end of April.
    The 2000 MPV, like all Mazda vehicles, meets or exceeds all Federal
vehicle standards.
    Mazda North American Operations is responsible for the sales and
marketing, customer parts and service support of Mazda vehicles in the United
States.  Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., MNAO has more than 750 dealerships
nationwide and is owned by Mazda Motor Corporation, Hiroshima, Japan.