SAFETY checks are to be carried out on more than 10,000 Mazda cars in the UK following reports of a potential power steering problem.
Owners of certain Mazda3 and Mazda5 models are being asked to have their cars inspected.
Mazda is stressing there is no safety issue with cars which were built between April 2007 and November 2008.
The models involved are 1.6-litre diesel and two-litre petrol engined versions of the Mazda3 hatchback and 1.8 and two-litre petrol engined Mazda5 MPVs.
In the UK, Mazda is contacting owners of 10,268 vehicles who may be affected and asking them to return the cars to local dealers during October.
The inspections are to check for possible residual particles in the power steering pipes which could cause the hydraulic power assistance system and its electric pump to overheat and shut down.
The company says that even without power steering the cars remain safe to drive.
In a statement Mazda UK said: “In the UK there have been only two reports of a power steering problem on the Mazda5 and none on the Mazda3 - therefore the special service programme for both cars is a precautionary measure.
“Mazda has not received any reports of an accident or injury associated with this issue.”
If a car suffers a problem with its power steering a malfunction warning lamp will be illuminated, alerting the driver.
Mazda says that fixing the electric oil pump and the associated power steering parts will take between 90 and 110 minutes, depending on model, and will be free of charge to the customer.