NHTSA Complaint #10118707 — 2002 MAZDA MAZDA6

I HAVE A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE ES V-6, I PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY, 2002. I BEGAN COMPLAINING OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES (...SPECIFICALLY BATTERY CHARGING/MAINTAINING CHARGE), AT 15000 MILES. INITIALLY, THE CAR WOULD LOSE BATTERY CHARGE; BUT IN JANUARY, 2005, THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE BATTERY WAS DETERMINED TO BE FAULTY; AND WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. THE MILEAGE WAS 29,527. APRIL 22, 2005... I WAS IN THE WEST-BOUND LANES OF INTERSTATE 90, IN SPOKANE, WA. THE FREEWAY IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, WITH 3' SHOULDERS; THEN CONCRETE BARRIERS. IT WAS 5:30 PM, RUSH HOUR. THE CAR DIED COMPLETELY; NOT EVEN ENOUGH ELECTRICAL POWER TO ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY FLASHING LIGHTS. I IMMEDIATELY DIALED 911 AND THE STATE PATROL; AS I COULD SEE THE POTENTIAL, FOR A MAJOR, MULTIPLE CAR CRASH! I EXITED THE CAR AND GOT OUTSIDE THE CONCRETE BARRIER, RUNNING BACK ABOUT 100 YARDS; WAVING TO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO SLOW DOWN, AND "MERGE." I THEN RAN BACK TO THE CAR; AND GOT OUT MY EMERGENCY BATTERY BOOSTER, ATTACHING IT DIRECTLY TO THE BATTERY. I WAS FRIGHTENED OF BEING RAMMED; BUT FELT IT IMPORTANT TO WARN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE BOOSTER HAD ENOUGH RESERVE POWER, TO START THE ENGINE!! I DROVE DOWN THE SHOULDER, WITH THE HOOD UP; UNTIL I REACHED THE NEXT EXIT. I PULLED OFF ON THE SHOULDER, CLEAR OF TRAFFIC...FEARFUL THE BOOSTER WOULD NOT KEEP THE CAR RUNNING MUCH LONGER. THE STATE TROOPER PULLED-UP, AND CONGRATULATED ME FOR "BEING VERY COURAGEOUS; BUT PERHAPS FOOLISH."SHE COULD SEE THE WEST-BOUND LANES, FROM PINES ROAD, WHERE SHE CROSSED THE FREEWAY, TO GET TO ME. TRAFFIC WAS "BACKING-UP" VERY QUICKLY...AND FAR TO THE EAST! SHE WAS VERY SURPRISED THERE HAD BEEN NO MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE DEALER INFORMED ME, THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE BATTERY IS ONLY 3000 MILES "OLD." IS THERE AN ONGOING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THAT WILL LEAVE ME STALLED AGAIN; OR CAUSE A FIRE?! THERE ARE ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION, TRANSMISSION, AND VALVE TRAIN. *AK