NHTSA Complaint #10234605 — 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE

MAZDA TRIBUTE 2001 - MODEL ES V6 - FWD 1. THE VEHICLE IS 7 YEARS OLD. THE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY WELL TAKEN CARE OF. MILEAGE AND GAS FILLS, ALONG WITH ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS ARE METICULOUSLY KEPT. DEALER MAINTENANCE ONLY. 2. INSIDE DRIVER DOOR HANDLE IS POORLY CRAFTED PLASTIC COASTED WITH SILVER OVERLAY. HANDLE PERFORMS LOCK, RELEASE, AND LATCH FUNCTIONS. THE HANDLE CAME COMPLETELY APART UNDER TENSION CAUSING MINOR INJURY TO WRIST. UPON INSPECTION OF THE HANDLE, IT APPEARS TO HAVE CRACKED ALMOST EXACTLY UPON A MOLD SEEM. THIS WOULD INDICATE THAT THE HANDLE IS NOT TESTED FOR STRENGTH TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH PROPER EXIT ENTRY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS POTENTIALLY CAN RESULT IN PROBLEMS EXTRICATING THE VEHICLE IN TIME OF EMERGENCY. 3. DEALER MAINTENANCE IS THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE PROPER INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE FAILED PART. HOWEVER, THIS IS EXTREMELY COST PROHIBITIVE IN MOST SITUATIONS FOR A PART OF THIS QUALITY TO ONLY BE REPLACED WITH A PART OF THE SAME QUALITY. PLASTIC STAMPING INSIDE THE HANDLE INDICATE 00 AND 5. *TR