NHTSA Complaint #10267670 — 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 40 MPH. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 40 MPH ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT QUICKLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE DECELERATION FAILURE, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO HEAR THE NOISE. SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2008, THE CONTACT HAS SPENT $7,000 AT TWO DEALERS. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN SERVICED AT PEP BOYS. IN ADDITION, THE CYLINDERS MISFIRE. ONE OF THE DEALERS PERFORMED A COMPRESSION TEST ON THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING VARIOUS ISSUES SINCE 2006. THE FUEL PUMP, SPARK PLUG WIRES, AND ALL OF THE GASKETS, INCLUDING THE HEAD GASKET, HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHAKES SIGNIFICANTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT THE TIME OF THE DECELERATIONS. OCCASIONALLY, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 200,000.