Mazda US has just issued a recall involving 227,814 units of the Mazda3 and Mazda6 over the possibility of a parking brake failure. We reached out to Bermaz Motor (official Mazda distributor in Malaysia) and are pleased to say that Malaysian models are not affected at all.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA), the parking brake on the affected models have defective seals at the rear brake calliper protective boot which can result in water and debris entering the actuator shaft. This will cause corrosion over time and potentially cause the shaft to be stuck in the brake calliper body. 
In extreme cases, the defected part will decrease the parking brake force or to cause brake drag (brakes are engaged even when pedals are not applied) while driving. This poses a safety risk as the vehicle may move by itself if parked on a slope, even if the parking brake is engaged.
The models affected by the recall are Mazda6 assembled in Hofu Plant, Japan between 2014 to 2015 and Mazda3 manufactured between 2014 to 2016 at Mazda’s Mexico plant. Only those equipped with the lever-type manual handbrake are affected.
All owners are currently in the process of being notified for repair works, with charges fully borne by Mazda US.
Once again, vehicles sold in Malaysia are not affected by the parking brake recall but certain models are involved in the Takata airbag recall. Full list of the affected vehicles can be found here.
