NHTSA Complaint #10297235 — 2007 MAZDA MAZDA3

MY 2007 MAZDA 3 WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND IN THE LEFT LANE AT 75MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT; WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WAS STIFF AND THE WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. THE CAR CONTINUED GOING LEFT OVER THE RUMBLE STRIPS AND INTO THE DIRT SHOULDER. AT THIS TIME THE CAR THEN SHOT RIGHT NEARLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE FLOW OF SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC, WHERE I BEGAN TO GO OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT. THE CAR THEN HIT THE DIRT SHOULDER AND ROLLED 2 TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE CAR WAS FACING NORTH AND ON ITS SIDE WHEN IT FINALLY SETTLED. ONLY 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE CRASH I NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I ALSO NOTICED A FEW DAYS LATER THAT IN THE USUAL SPOT WHERE I PARK, THERE WAS WHAT LOOKED LIKE CLEAN OIL DRIPS (THEY COULD HAVE BEEN BRAKE FLUID OR POWER STEERING FLUID, BUT THE COLOR WAS THAT OF CLEAN OIL). THE CAR HAS NEVER LEAKED BEFORE. THE CAR HAS BE DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT. THE MAZDA3 HAD APPROX 56000 MILES, AND WAS THE STANDARD SPORT MODEL HATCHBACK WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT WAS PURCHASED IN OCT. 06. *TR