NHTSA Complaint #10137172 — 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE

DT: THE CONTACT STATED ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WOULD NOT WORK. ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR STOPPED WORKING. TWO DAYS AGO THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE INSIDE OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR STOPPED WORKING. THE ONLY WAY THE CONTACT COULD GET OUT OF THE CAR WAS TO REACH OUTSIDE THE CAR OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. IF THE ELECTRICAL WINDOWS OF THE CAR STOPPED WORKING HE WOULD BE TRAPPED IN THE CAR. HE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHEN HE FIRST STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS, AND THE DEALER SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A GROMMET, CHEAP PLASTIC PIECE, THAT CONNECTED THE LATCH TO THE HANDLE WAS BROKEN. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND THE DEALER TOLD HIM THERE WAS NO RECALL.*AK UPDATED 1/19/2006 - THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVER'S INNER AND OUTER DOOR HANDLE AND THE INNER DOOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *NM