NHTSA Complaint #10234651 — 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE

DRIVING CAR IN POURING TROPICAL RAINSTORM AT ABOUT 40MPH IN HEAVY SOUTHBOUND THREE LANE TRAFFIC. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE RUNNING ON LOW. TURNED WIPERS TO HIGH, THEY RAN FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE, THEN STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL INTO CENTER LANE U-TURN TURNAROUND AND SIT THERE WITH FLASHERS ON UNTIL RAIN SUBSIDED (THIS IN ITSELF IS DANGEROUS). WIPERS WOULD NOT RUN AT ALL AFTER THAT. THERE WERE 1 ADULT AND 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR. RETURNED HOME. CHECKED FUSE AND IT WAS OK. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR REVEALED THAT THE GROUND WIRE HAD BROKEN OFF AT THE LOOP WHERE IT HELD IN PLACE BY THE WIPER MOTOR MOUNTING BOLT (WITH WASHERS). I SUSPECT THAT THE SHARP EDGES OF THE STEEL WASHERS HAD CUT THE BRASS GROUND WIRE LOOP OVER TIME. I ALSO SUSPECT THAT THIS LOOP HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND THAT WHEN THE WIPERS ARE TURNED ON HIGH, THAT THE MOTOR VIBRATES IN THE RUBBER MOUNT BUSHING, AND THE BRASS GROUND LOOP SHANK JITTERS OFF OF THE LOOP (WHERE IT IS NORMALLY JUST LYING UPON DUE TO GRAVITY), THUS CAUSING THE MOTOR'S GOUND CIRCUIT TO OPEN, AND THE WIPERS TO FAIL. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 69,000 MILES ON IT. THE IS A 5 CENT PART THAT HAS PUT OUT FAMILY IN HARMS WAY TWICE NOW. IF THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISOLATED INCIDENT ON MY VEHICLE, I PREDICT THAT THERE WILL BE DEATHS AND INJURIES CAUSED WHEN DRIVERS CANNOT SEE WHERE THEY ARE DRIVING. *TR