NHTSA Complaint #10121970 — 2001 MAZDA 626

IN AUGUST 2001, I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW MAZDA 626. IN MAY 2003, I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. AT 23,000 MILES, THE FOLLOWING HAD TO BE REPLACED: TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY, THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR SUB-TANK. AT 31,000 MILES, MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 11 DAYS IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE FOLLOWING: MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, VALVE IDLE AIR CONTROL, THERMOSTAT GASKET AND THE THROTTLE BODY GASKET. NOW AT 48,000 MILES, I RETURNED FROM A TRIP, GOT IN MY CAR AND STARTED DRIVING. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES, I NOTICED THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS REALLY HOT, THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY THE CAR DIED AND STARTED SMOKING (LEFT MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF STRANDED ON THE 405 FWY AT MIDNIGHT). I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW ENGINE (ENGINE LONG BLOCK, ALL WATER HOSES, RADIATOR, KNOCK SENSOR, GASKET SET AND SPARK PLUGS). THE COST: $8400. THEY OFFERED TO REDUCE THE COST TO $5200, HOWEVER I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS HELPFUL FOR THE CAR IS PROBABLY WORTH LESS THAN THAT AND EVEN IF THEY DID REPLACE THE PARTS I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THEY WOULD JUST START FALLING APART AGAIN. I DRIVE MY CAR LESS THAN 10 MILES A DAY, SO I DEFINITELY DO NOT THINK THAT ALL THIS DAMAGE IS FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, RATHER I BELIEVE THAT MAZDA IS MAKING INFERIOR PARTS.