LOS ANGELES -- Mazda North American Operations will give $500 to customers affected by the recall of the 2006 Mazda5 compact minivan. Mazda also will give Mazda5 owners a new warranty start date of Dec. 1, regardless of when the vehicle was purchased.

Mazda already has given loaner vehicles to Mazda5 owners, whose vehicles were recalled in September when reports arose of fires caused by heat buildup in the exhaust system. About 2,700 vehicles have been recalled in North America. Mazda is installing a heat shield and recalibrating the transmission's electronic control unit to prevent fires. -MARK RECHTIN