NHTSA Complaint #10233476 — 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE

BOUGHT MAZDA TRIBUTE 2003 FROM CARMAX ON 06/26/08. MOTHER WAS DRIVING TRUCK W/MY DAUGHTER (6), WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED AND COLLIDED W/VAN IN FRONT OF HER. TWO HRS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL CARMAX. EXPLAINED TO THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND ASKED WERE THERE ANY RECALLS ON THE TRUCK. THE LADY IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID SHE DID NOT KNOW AND GAVE ME THE TOLL FREE NUMBER TO MAZDA. I CALLED FROM THEIR FACILITY AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL FOR THE ABS MODULE. I EXPLAINED THAT TO THE SERVICE PERSON. THE MANAGER CAME OUT TO SPEAK WITH ME AND SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. BECAUSE I HAD GEICO INSURANCE, THE MANAGER SAID THAT THERE WAS AN ADJUSTER ACROSS THE STREET FROM THEIR BLDG. BY THIS TIME IT WAS 17:45. I RENTED A VEHICLE TO GET MY FAMILY HOME AND CALLED THE CARMAX THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM. I SPOKE WITH LAURIE DOOLITTLE, THE MANAGER OF CARMAX IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, SHE ADVISED ME THERE WAS NOTHING THAT SHE COULD DO BUT SHE WOULD CHECK WITH SOMEONE HIGHER THAN HER. SHE CALLED ME BACK AROUND 1805 AND SAID THAT IT IS UNFORTUNATE WHAT HAPPENED, HOWEVER "THE ABS MODULE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BEING DRIVABLE". I WAS IN SHOCK. ME AND MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! WE ONLY HAD THE TRUCK 5 DAYS! I CALLED THAT MORNING BEFORE ACCIDENT TO GET A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE WITH LOWER MILES AND LOWER PRICE TRANSFERRED IN TO THE CARMAX IN CHARLOTTESVILLE! AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO CARMAX'S CUSTOMER SVC (HEADQRTR) REPEATEDLY HEARING THAT I WAS AT FAULT FOR THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE I DID NOT REGISTER THE VEHICLE WITH MAZDA. WENT TO CHVILLE CARMAX TO SPEAK W/LAURIE DOOLITTLE IN PERSON. I ASKED HER TO REBUY THE CAR. LAURIE SAID NO. I HAD AN APPLICATION FROM CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND STARTED TO FILL IN THE BLANKS AND NOTED THE TIME AND DATE OF THE REQUEST TO REBUY THE CAR DUE TO THE RECALLS THAT WERE ON MY VIN. (07/07/08 TIME 17:05) TODAY 07/08/08, GEICO STILL WORKING ON IT! *TR