Mazda preliminary evaluation PE18006
Front Subframe Corrosion. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened this preliminary evaluation about the front on 2 model years (2009–2010). Opened May 21, 2018, closed Nov 2, 2018 after 5 months. It led to safety recall 18V631000. became a recall
What NHTSA says
Source: Office of Defects Investigation, as filedIn a letter dated September 14, 2018, Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a defect in the front subframe assemblies of model year (MY) 2009 through 2010 Mazda6 vehicles in certain states with high road salt use in winter months (Recall 18V-631). The recall covers approximately 48,814 vehicles that were sold or ever registered in the following states and District of Columbia:Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Mazda indicated that the recalled vehicles may have insufficient paint coating on the front cross member, which after continuous use in salt states may cause premature corrosion of the cross member. As the corrosion progresses over time, the structural integrity of the mounting point at the passenger side of the lower control arm may deteriorate and cause the steering alignment to change. If the steering alignment changes significantly while the vehicle is in motion this may increase the risk of a vehicle crash. ODI's analysis of complaints it has received from the public (VOQ's) and Mazda complaint data submitted in response to the information request letter for PE18-006 identified a total of 53 non-duplicative reports alleging incidents in which front cross-member corrosion had progressed to the stage of complete or partial separation of the subject steering or suspension components and another 98 reports alleging premature and/or excessive corrosion of the subject components with no separation. Mazda's recall will inspect the subframe and apply structural reinforcements, anti-corrosive wax and an AC drain tube free of charge. In cases of excessive corrosion, the subframe will be replaced free of charge. All 53 complaints alleging complete or partial separations involved vehicles that will be covered under Mazda's recall, resulting in a failure rate of 108.6 reports per 100,000 vehicles (R/100k) in the recalled population. When all complaints are analyzed by region, 150 involve vehicles included in Mazda's recall (307.3 R/100k) and just 1 involved a MY 2009 through 2010 Mazda6 vehicle not included in 18V-631 (2.8 R/100k). The field data indicate that Mazda's recall adequately covers vehicles with a risk of experiencing premature corrosion-related failure of the subject steering and suspension components in the subject vehicles. Based on Mazda's safety recall, this investigation is closed. The following VOQs allege loss or compromised steering control while vehicle was in motion:11115277, 11115790, 11128449, 10706604, 10846298, 10899584, 11019306, 11033821, 11048014, 11074634, 11078734, 11080014, 11083781, 11090944, 11091913, 11098279, 11101718, 11102209, 11102796, 11110606, 11110773, 11112830, 11113461, 11113963, 11114039, 11114567, 11114939, 11115303, 11119368, 11119423, 11121341, 11123997, 11124647, 11128648, 11128774, 11130281, 11132046, 11133295, 11133511, 11138829, 11139187, 11139486The following VOQs allege subframe corrosion detection prior to subframe failure:11141172, 11131161, 11129747, 11129349, 11129185, 11128591, 11128223, 11124644, 11122948, 11120047, 11119752, 11119362, 11118786, 11118242, 11115432, 11114568, 11114477, 11114061, 11105334, 11104096, 11103756, 11103724, 11101659, 11100420, 11099962, 11097874, 11084411, 11081783, 11034064, 11025276, 10956316Some VOQs have been omitted from this list due to duplicate VOQ submission between ODI records and Mazda records.
A Preliminary Evaluation is the first formal stage: NHTSA has decided the complaints and other information it screened are worth a closer look, and asks the manufacturer for its own data on the condition. The summary is the agency’s own text from its investigation file, unedited; the opening and closing resumes with the full reasoning are on NHTSA’s site under this number.
What this means for an owner
Source: and what happens nextAn investigation is not a finding that a defect exists, and it puts no duty on anyone. NHTSA opens a Preliminary Evaluation when complaints and other reports suggest a condition worth asking the manufacturer about; it upgrades to an Engineering Analysis when the answers warrant testing; it closes either when it recommends a recall, when the manufacturer recalls on its own, or when no defect trend is found. The agency’s own goals are about four months for a petition, eight for a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query and eighteen for an Engineering Analysis; many run longer.
This one became a recall. The campaign page carries the manufacturer’s filed defect, risk and remedy, the build window and every model year covered; whether one specific vehicle is included is settled by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Model years it names
Source: as NHTSA filed themAlso named: 2009 Mazda MAZDA6; 2010 Mazda MAZDA6.
A vehicle page’s investigation list carries the same action; a name here is the scope NHTSA opened, not a list of affected VINs.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationIs PE18006 a recall?
No — it is the investigation that led to one. Recall 18V631000 is the campaign; its page carries the remedy.
Is PE18006 still open?
No. It closed on Nov 2, 2018 and led to recall 18V631000.
Which vehicles does PE18006 cover?
NHTSA opened it on 2 model years: 2009 Mazda MAZDA6, 2010 Mazda MAZDA6. That is the scope of the inquiry, not a list of affected vehicles; a recall, if one follows, defines its own population by VIN.