NHTSA Complaint #10128391 — 1997 MAZDA 626

WIFE WAS DRIVING 75 MPH ON TURNPIKE WHEN SHE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THERE WAS NO BLINKING LIGHTS, NO NOISE, NO ANYTHING TO ALERT HER THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM. IT JUST QUIT. ADDITIONALLY, SHE WAS NEARLY INVOLVED IN A HIGH SPEED REAR-END COLLISION. LUCKILY, THE INDIVIDUAL BEHIND HER SWERVED AND MISSED HER CAR. SHE COASTED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE SHE WAS, AGAIN, NEARLY HIT. ONCE STOPPED, SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR TO DO ANYTHING IN ANY GEAR. I HAD TO TRAVEL OVER AN HOUR TO GET HER. IT WAS 97 DEGREES AND SHE WAS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITHOUT ANY SHELTER EXCEPT FOR HER CRIPPLED VEHICLE. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED, SHE HAD BEEN IN THE HEAT LONG ENOUGH TO START EXPERIENCE MUSCLE CRAMPS FROM ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET SOMEONE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE ISSUES? IF SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT, MAZDA WOULD HAVE HAD A LAWSUIT ON THEIR HANDS. IS THIS WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE? SOMEONE JUST NEEDS TO "COWBOY UP" AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. ADDITIONALLY, I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT IT WILL COST ABOUT $2000.00 TO FIX. THIS IS WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION THAT SUPPOSEDLY HAS NEW PARTS AND SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO SUDDEN FAILURE LIKE THE OEM TRANSMISSIONS (PER THE TRANSMISSION SUPPLIER).