2009 Mazda Mazda3

On certain vehicles, the ground terminal of the windshield wiper motor may have been inadvertently bent during vehicle assembly.  Over time, the electrical resistance of the motor circuit may increase, causing the wiper motor to become inoperative.  Loss of windshield wiping capability, should it occur during a rainy/snowy day, may compromise the driver's ability to see the road and its users, which could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury.  Correction: Dealers will install an additional ground harness to the wiper motor.

On certain vehicles with Electro-Hydraulic Power Assist Steering (EHPAS), rust had formed inside the high-pressure pipe on the power steering system during manufacturing due to improper processing.  Rust particles may detach from the pipe walls and enter the motorized power steering pump, causing damage to the pump bearings.  As a result, gear lubrication may be reduced, leading to an increased load on the motor.  Should this happen, there is the potential for the power steering system to enter the fail safe mode in order to prevent overheating, resulting in the power steering warning lamp to light and the motorized pump to stop which could lead to a loss of power assist and the required steering effort will increase.  Correction: Dealers will flush the power steering system and repair as necessary.