Mazda issues recall for SUVs over possible loss of steering control.

The AP (8/26) reports Mazda announced Friday it “is recalling more than 190,000 CX-7 sport utility vehicles because of a potentially dangerous steering control defect” in which “water may enter the front suspension ball joint fittings,” corroding ball joint elements that “could eventually result in a loss of steering control.” According to documents filed with NHTSA, the affected vehicles were manufactured between February 2006 and May 2012.

        Reuters (8/26) reports that NHTSA documents say water that “is contaminated with salt” and then gets into “the front suspension ball joint fittings” can “corrode and separate” the ball joint “from the lower control arm.”

        Also reporting are Automotive News (8/26, 185K), Cars (8/26, 897K), Fortune (8/26, 7.04M), Consumerist (8/26, 61K), and Law360 (8/26, 19K).