Spider infestation leads to recall of 65,000 Mazdas

Under the heading of strangest recalls ever, Mazda today is weaving the most bizarre of all: 52,000 Mazda6 in the U.S. are being recalled because of possible spider webs. The fear is that they can lead to blockages that will eventually cause fuel tanks to leak.

The recall of 2009 and 2010 Mazda6s is due to "a certain type of spider" that "may weave a web in the evaporative canister vent line and this may cause a restriction in the line," the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says on its website. Another 13,000 of the cars sold in Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico are also being recalled.

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The web may restrict the line and cause pressure problems in the fuel tank as the emission control system tries to purge vapors. The pressure could cause the fuel tank to eventually crack, resulting in spillage. Mazda has found 20 cases so far, says Jeremy Barnes. The problem involves the Yellow Sac spider, which lives predominately in the U.S. and apparently it doesn't like cold.

"Why it chose the Mazda6 over any other vehicle I'm not sure," Barnes told Drive On. " Apparently, the spider likes to go zoom zoom." The Mazda6 is built in Flat Rock, Mich., and the recall covers only the four-cylinder version.

Dealers are going to inspect the vent tubes and if they find spider webs, are going to remove them. All cars will get a spring inserted in the pipe that keeps the spiders from getting inside -- before they can weave a web of destruction.