NHTSA Complaint #10050671 — 2003 MAZDA MAZDA6

RUST HAS BEGUN TO FORM UNDER THE WEATHER STRIPPING OF THE DOORS AS WELL AS ON THE SASH ON THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR. CAR WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH 2003. IN A SERVICE BULLETIN (09-020/02) MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS CLAIMS IT IS NOT RUST BUT A ORANGE/YELLOW SURFACE STAIN CAUSED BY NEGATIVE REACTION WITH A LUBRICANT USED AT THE FACTORY. HOWEVER THE FOLLOWING EMAIL IS FROM MAZDA OPERATIONS STATING IT IS INDEED RUST. SO WHICH IS IT? "OCTOBER 22, 2003 OWNER NULLUNIT2000" RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL FROM MAZDA AND POSTED IT IN THE RUST PROBLEM TOPIC AT MAZDA6CLUB.COM. THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO YOU. MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS HAS BECOME AWARE OF A SURFACE RUST SITUATION ON THE DOORS OF CERTAIN MAZDA6 SEDANS BUILT AT THE COMPANY'S AUTO ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTION FACILITY IN FLAT ROCK, MICHIGAN. WHEN THE DOOR-SASH WEATHER-STRIPPING IS INSTALLED ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE, A SOAPY WATER SOLUTION IS USED TO EASE INSTALLATION OF THE STRIPPING INTO A CHANNEL ON THE DOOR. DURING THE AFFECTED TIME PERIOD, THAT SOAPY SOLUTION WAS FOUND TO HAVE INCLUDED A SUBSTANCE THAT HAS CAUSED SURFACE RUST TO APPEAR ON THE CHANNEL UNDERNEATH THE DOOR WEATHER-STRIPPING ON A NUMBER OF VEHICLES. THE SOLUTION HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER JULY 22, 2003 ARE NOT AFFECTED. MAZDA IS WORKING ON A SERVICE PROCEDURE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION AND WILL BE NOTIFYING OWNERS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO GIVE US YOUR OPINION ABOUT OUR E-MAIL SERVICE. CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO COMPLETE A BRIEF, ONLINE SURVEY. HTTP://WWW.ZOOMERANG.COM/SURVEY.ZGI?F3TSHLV0X57GC4NHRSHLSH44 REGARDS, LISA LASKY" I CERTAINLY DID NOT INTEND TO PURCHASE A CAR THAT WILL EVENTUALLY RUST THROUGH. PLEASE LOOK INTO THE MATTER.*AK