| Components - Details | |
|---|---|
| NHTSA Complaint Number: 004290809 | Incident Date: Jul, 10 2004 |
| Consumer's City: KISSIMMEE | Consumer's State: FL |
| Vehicle Transmission Type: AUTO | Manufacturers Name: Mazda Motor Corp. |
| Model Name: TRIBUTE | Model Year: 2003 |
| Vehicle Involved in a Crash: No | Component's Description: Engine and engine cooling:engine |
| Vehicle Involved in a Fire: No | Persons Injured: 0 |
| Vehicle's VIN#: 4F2YZ94183K | Date added to File: May, 25 2021 |
| Date Complaint Received: Jul, 29 2004 | Complaint Type: IVOQ |
| Incident Reported To Police: No | Purchase Date: Jun, 24 2003 |
| Was Original Owner: Yes | Anti-lock Brakes: No |
| Number of Cylinders: 6 | Date of Manufacturer: - |
| Was Vehicle Towed: - | Description of the Complaints: Drove my 03 mazda tribute in typical florda afternoon rainstorm vehicle stalled in middle of road almost causing vehicles following to crash from behind luckily i coasted off to the side quickly after few tries restarted vehicle however after restarted vehicle now making loud rattling sound from engine proceeded to drive rest of way home-about a mile from where stalled prior to pulling into driveway loud pop & grinding from engine coasted into driveway & realized engine blown-oil pouring out underneath thinking this was warranty issue (vehicle well maintained & only year old) took vehicle to local mazda dealer for repair after having vehicle 3 weeks they now told me that cause of stall & blowing of engine was water from rain or puddles splashing up got into air intake of engine water was pulled into cylinders where it cant be compressed & piston rods bent & broke until they punctured through blowing engine dealers service dept stated air intake for vehicle is located behind front grille about headlight level right where most rain & splashing would end up at front of vehicle-so not very well protected-would not take much for water to get into causing failure mazda would not repair vehicle under warranty-recommended my auto ins would pay for repair i feel this is serious design flaw with vehicle esp considering many smaller vehicles were driving around in same conditions without incident & if this can happen to me in the conditions & speeds i was driving i would think it could be potential cause of future accidents from these vehicles stalling in wet conditions not only is it safety concern-also would be consumer concern because it can blow engine & if mazda wont repair vehicles when this happens there will be many upset consumers mazda tribute & ford escape essentially same vehicle so this would apply there also i feel both ford & mazda should recall these vehicles & either relocate or better protect air intake so this kind of thing should not happen. *ak |
