NHTSA Complaint #10263609 — 1991 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS HOUSED IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. MAZDA RECENTLY DEVELOPED A NEWER BATTERY MODEL CALLED A FLOODED CELL BATTERY. HE NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING AROUND THE CAPS AND HE WAS CONCERNED WITH LIQUID ACID BEING PRODUCED BY THE BATTERY. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY IF IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BATTERY WOULD HAVE TO FAIL AN ELECTRICAL TEST IN ORDER FOR THEM TO MAKE THE REPLACEMENT. THE ELECTRICAL TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 24,000. UPDATED 12/08/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPLACED HIS BATTERY IN AUGUST 2007. HIS CONCERN WAS THAT MAZDA WAS SELLING FLOODED BATTERIES AS AN OEM REPLACEMENT FOR THE AGM BATTERY THAT CAME STANDARD IN HIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED ACID LEAKING AROUND THE CELL CAPS. UPDATED 12/10/09