NHTSA Complaint #10243886 — 2002 MAZDA MPV

I WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 MAZDA MPV, WITH ONLY 59000 MILES ON IT. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2002. IN THIS INCIDENT, I SUDDENLY FOUND THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 38 MPH, I TRIED TO ACCELERATE (TO 40 MPH), AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INSTEAD. I REPEATEDLY TRIED THIS, AND THE VEHICLE KEPT SLOWING INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING. WE TURNED THE CAR OFF, CHANGED DRIVERS IN THE SHOULDER, AND REPEATED THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, JUST WORSENING OF THE PROBLEM, WITH EXTREME SLOWING. WE MANAGED TO GET THE VAN TO A SERVICE STATION. WE WERE JUST INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SOMETHING APPARENTLY SNAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION, WITH NO WARNING. THE CAR WILL GO IN REVERSE, BUT WILL NOT GO FORWARD. WE WERE HEADED FOR THE HIGHWAY THAT DAY, AND ARE FORTUNATE THIS HAPPENED WHERE IT DID, NOT ON A HIGHWAY, BUT ON A SMALLER ROAD RIGHT NEAR A SERVICE STATION. WE ARE VERY LUCKY AND EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH MAZDA. THIS SEVERE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM COULD HAPPEN WITH NO WARNING, ON A WELL-MAINTAINED VEHICLE WITH RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. THE ENGINE IS BEING REBUILT FOR $2400, AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BORROW A CAR FOR THE DURATION OF THE REPAIR. AND BY THE LOOKS OF IT, MANY OWNERS OF THE 2002 MAZDA HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM! *TR