NHTSA Complaint #10037474 — 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE

ON AUGUST 29TH, 2003 I WAS DRIVING IN MY 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. AS I SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, THE CAR SUDDENLY HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. I HAD NO STEERING AND NO BRAKES AND I WAS QUICKLY HEADED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO REACT IN TIME AND PULL UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. ONCE I REGAINED MY COMPOSURE, I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN RESTART THE CAR. THE ONLY TIME I HAVE DRIVEN IT SINCE IS TO TAKE INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY WERE VERY SYMPATHETIC TO MY SITUATION AND LATER ADVISED ME THAT A TECHNICAL BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX IT. THEY EXPLAINED THERE WAS NO RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS SITUATION. ON SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2003 I CALLED MAZDA CUSTOMER CARE AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY INFORMED ME THAT MAZDA IS AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND THEY DO NOT FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY ALSO INDICATED IT ONLY HAPPENS IN LESS THAN 1% OF ALL OF THEIR VEHICLES AND THEY DID NOT WANT TO CAUSE "PANIC" AMONGST THEIR CAR OWNERS. I FEEL I WAS LUCKY TO ESCAPE WITHOUT INJURY OR WITHOUT GETTING INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I FEEL OTHER MAZDA OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. LEWIS PASKIN. *AK