NHTSA Complaint #10291054 — 2007 MAZDA CX-7

WE OWN A 2007 MAZDA CX7. WE TOOK A VACATION TO FLORIDA FROM OHIO. ON THE WAY BACK, WE BEGAN TO SMELL BURNING RUBBER. I STOPPED TO CHECK IT OUT, BUT EVERYTHING LOOKED TO BE IN ORDER AND NOTHING WAS LEAKING. WE THEN LOST AIR CONDITIONING AND THE SMELL BECAME MORE PREVALENT. MINUTES LATER, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR BASICALLY BEGAN SHUTTING DOWN. ALL CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOK. NO POWER STEERING. THIS HAPPENED AT 1AM IN THE HILLS OF WEST VIRGINIA, AND WE WERE LUCKY TO COAST INTO A MOTEL. THIS LEFT US STRANDED AT THE MOTEL, AND UPON OPENING MY HOOD - THERE WAS COOLANT ALL OVER THE ENGINE BAY AND THERE WERE SHREDS OF RUBBER FROM THE BELTS THAT HAD SNAPPED OFF. THE SHREDDED BELTS WERE STILL SITTING INSIDE THE ENGINE BAY, AND EVERYTHING WAS STILL SMOKING. THE CAP HAD POPPED OFF OF THE RADIATOR, WHICH IS WHY THERE WAS A COOLANT MESS EVERYWHERE. WE HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE CLOSEST MAZDA DEALERSHIP (1 HOUR AWAY). WE WERE THEN LEFT WITHOUT OUR VEHICLE FOR A MONTH WHILE THEY WERE TRYING TO RETRIEVE PARTS. IT WAS DURING THIS TIME THAT I FOUND OUT THIS ISN'T AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, AND I FEEL MAZDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ASAP. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY WIFE, TODDLER, AND INFANT - AND THIS PUT US IN A VERY FRUSTRATING SITUATION. I WAS GLAD I WAS DRIVING AND NOT MY WIFE, AS IT COULD HAVE PUT HER STRANDED SOMEWHERE. THIS IS INEXCUSABLE THAT A CAR, WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES ON IT, WOULD HAVE THIS MUCH DAMAGE. THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THESE FAULTY COMPRESSORS. *TR