NHTSA Complaint #10079020 — 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE

THE STEREO UNIT ON THE MAZDA SPEED PROTEGE IS VERY DEFECTIVE. THIS UNIT IS MANUFACTURED BY KENWOOD. THE STEREO SUFFERS FROM MULTIPLE INTERMITENT FAILURES AND PROBLEMS. THE MOST NOTICABLE ARE AS FOLLOWS: VOLUME DIMS AND SURGES AFTER THE STEREO IS ON WHEN USING THE DEFROSTER ON THE VEHICLE. SUB-WOOFER BLOWS OUT UNDER NORMAL USAGE, PRONOUNCED WHINE WITH THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN LISTENING TO THE RADIO, RANDOM LOCK UP OF THE STEREO FACE PLATE REQUIRING USING THE SYSTEM RESET BUTTON TO GET IT TO OPERATE NORMALLY AGAIN. THE CAR HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THESE ISSUES AND EXCEPT FOR THE BLOWN SUB-WOOFER REPORTS NO PROBLEM FOUND. THE SUB-WOOFER HAS BEEN ON ORDER FOR 2 MONTHS WITH NO EXPECTED DELIVERY DATE. *AK