NHTSA Complaint #10088504 — 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE

UNABLE TO OPEN DOORS FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE. AFTER 90000 MILES DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS BECAME INOPPERABLE WITHIN 2 DAYS OF EACH OTHER. DRIVER'S SIDE COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE WHILE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR COULD BE OPENED BY ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW AND LIFTING UP ON OUTSIDE HANDLE. SHOP DETERMINED THAT HANDLE(CHROMED PLASTIC) INSIDE DOOR MECHANISM(MAZDA PART#EC01-58-330N)CRACKED. THE HANDLE HAS A 1/16TH" RAISED CATCH THAT CRACKED OFF ON BOTH HANDLES. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED JUST 10MONTHS LATER @109K ONCE AGAIN BOTH HANDLES WERE INVOLVED BUT THIS TIME THEY WERE 1 WEEK APART. THE PARTS COST (AS OF 8/24/04) 52.29 + LABOR EACH. I HAVE OLD PARTS. NO CHILDREN USED THESE DOORS ONLY 2 ADULTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION DUE TO THE INABILITY TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY OR THE NEED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY. YOU MUST FIRST ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW & REACH OUTSIDE OR IF THE VEHICLE IS OFF YOU MUST RESTART TO OPEN ELECTRIC WINDOWS IF YOU HAVE POWER AT ALL, IF NOT YOU ARE STUCK INSIDE AND UNABLE TO EXIT. *AK