NHTSA Complaint #10194870 — 1999 MAZDA PROTEGE

WE OWN A MAZDA PROTEGE 1999. BOTH THE HEADLIGHTS & BRIGHT LIGHTS FAILED. WE TRIED REPLACING BULBS & A RELAY, NEITHER OF WHICH WORKED. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT AN INDEPENDENT AUTOMOBILE ELECTRICAL SHOP. THE OWNER STATED THAT THE INTERNAL WIRING FOR THESE COMPONENTS BURNED OUT. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN INTERNAL FIRE BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. THE WIRES WERE NOT EXPOSED UNDER THE HOOD SO WE COULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT THEY WERE WEARING THIN. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MAZDA USA AS THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MAZDA. I AM DISTRESSED THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING A CAR KNOWN TO HAVE FAULTY WIRING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ENGINE AND/OR INTERIOR FIRE. MAZDA USA ADVISED ME THAT THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND I WAS FACING A $700 COST FOR REPAIRS. I WAS HOPING MAZDA WILL HELP WITH THIS, BUT AS YET THEY HAVE NOT, AND MY DAUGHTER WAS WITHOUT A CAR TO DRIVE AT NIGHT.*AK