NHTSA Complaint #10105305 — 2003 MAZDA MPV

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY MINI VAN. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH WHEN THE RIM ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED. THE RIM COMPLETELY CAME APART, AND THE TWISTED METAL CUT MY TIRE. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE RIM COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED THE VAN LIFTED OFF THE GROUND. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND SKIDDED ACROSS TWO LANES OF THE INTERSTATE. LUCKILY, THE INCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR DURING A BUSY TIME. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT, AND THE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE RIM, TIRE, AND HUBCAP. WE DID NOT HIT A POT HOLE OR ANY OTHER OBJECT IN THE ROAD. I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH FAULTY RIMS. I HAD MY 16 MONTH OLD CHILD IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. THE FAULTY RIM COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT, IF IT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED DURING A BUSY TIME OF DAY. THE VEHICLE HAS 18,500 MILES, AND HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED. THE TIRES WERE CHECKED AND ROTATED TWO MONTHS AGO. ALSO, I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO HAVE TWO SEPARATE RECALLS REPAIRED IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS. NEITHER OF RECALL NOTICES WERE RELATED TO THE WHEELS NOR THE AXLES. THE MAN WITH THE TOWING SERVICE SAID THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN A RIM DAMAGED LIKE THIS ONE WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN SOME TYPE OF ACCIDENT. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOMEONE LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER.*AK *TC