NHTSA Complaint #10262364 — 2008 MAZDA CX-7

WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW FROM A MAZDA DEALER. FROM THE TIME WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAVE NOTICED EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILDUP AROUND THE EXHAUST OPENINGS AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ARE GETTING RED HOT. THE CHROME EXHAUST TIPS ARE NOW DISCOLORED DUE TO THE HEAT. THIS VEHICLE WAS CHECKED SEVERAL DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, WHERE ACCORDING TO THE MAZDA DEALER, THERE WERE NO ISSUES. WE MOVED, AND A NEW MAZDA DEALER IS SERVICING THE VEHICLE. TODAY, 03-18-09 IT WAS AGAIN CHECKED DIAGNOSTICIANS WITH NO ISSUES. WHEN THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES OR MORE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM GETS EXTREMELY HOT. IT IS THIS "LAYMAN'S OPINION" THAT THIS ENGINE IS RUNNING VERY RICH, "STARVING FOR AIR". I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL EVENTUALLY CATCH FIRE FROM THE EXCESSIVE HEAT GENERATED AT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND TRANSMITTED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. (LAST TRIP BACK FROM PHILA AREA WAS 03-11-09...I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT PARKING IT IN THE GARAGE UNTIL IT COOLED DOWN). *TR