Mazda recalls 46,000 vehicles in Japan due to brake defect

TOKYO - Mazda Motor Corp., Japan's fifth-largest carmaker, will recall 46,047 vehicles in five models due to a brake problem, the transport ministry said Thursday.
The rear wheels of those commercial vehicles produced between December 2003 and March 2005, including the Bongo and Titan, could lock because of weak braking system parts, a ministry report said.
Mazda, which is 33.3 percent owned by Ford Motor Company of the United States, has received reports of 21 cases of such malfunction in Japan but no accidents, it said.

05/19/2005 11:05 GMT