NHTSA Complaint #10114588 — 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE

I HAVE A 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN LATE FEBRUARY JUST BEFORE GOING ON A BUSINESS TRIP ABOUT AN "ACCELERATOR CABLE" PROBLEM. SHORTLY AFTER I RETURNED FROMMY TRIP AND BEFORE I COULD BRING THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH !!!!!! IT WAS ICY AND SNOWY AND IN TRAFFIC !!! THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. I HONKED THE HORN, PUT ON FLASHERS AND WAIVED PEOPLE OUT OF MY WAY, GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND WHEN I GOT SLOW ENOUGH, THREW IT IN PARK AND PULLED THE KEY. MAZDA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED THE CAR, GAVE ME A RENTAL AND FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT I COULD HAVE DIED! THIS WAS BAD - REALLY BAD! I AM SO THANKFUL THAT MY WIFE WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR !!!! I UNDERSTAND THAT SINCE THEY SENT A RECALL NOPTICE OUT, THEY FEEL THERE IS NOTHING MORE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT I DISAGREE !!! THIS IS A LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM! THEY SHOULD CALL, OR DO SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS RECALL IS PERFORMED IMMEDIATELY! FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH. MAZDA SENDS OUT SO MUCH MAIL, THAT I AM WORRIED MANY PERSONS MIGHT DISREGARD AND NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL. GREATER EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO NOTIFY TRIBUTE OWNERS OF THE PROBELM AND URGE THEM TO GET THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED IMMEDIATELY! I WAS VERY VERY FORTUNATE, BUT I IMAGINE THAT OTHERS WILL NOT BE.