NHTSA Complaint #10051474 — 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE

AFTER SITTING FOR 2 DAYS IN FEBURARY OF 2003, MY 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE HAS A HARD START AND EXTRAME HESITATION WHEN DRIVING. LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHO SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY BUSTED SPARK PLUG. I OKED A TUNE UP. IN MARCH 2003 AFTER SITTING TWO DAYS, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY FOUND A CALLAPSED HOSE. I HAVE NOT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO SIT FOR 2 DAYS AGAIN BUT DID NOTICE A SLIGHT HESITATION OFF AND ON AND IT IS NOW DECEMBER 2003 AND THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE. AND LIKE OTHER COMPLAINTS, IT STARTS AT ELEVATION BETWEEN 45-50 MPH. AFTER 55 IT'S FINE. IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME. AS OF 1-2-04 I HAVE A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO WARNING HOWEVER, I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER WITH NO PROBLEMS. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES THE VEHICLE STARTED WITH NO PROBLEM.*AK