NHTSA Complaint #10341220 — 2007 MAZDA CX-7

FROM 4/14/10 THRU 4/22/10 MY WELL MAINTAINED MAZDA CX-7 WITH 19,767 MILES WAS SERVICED AT ROHRICH MAZDA IN PITTSBURGH, PA FOR A TIMING CHAIN REPAIR. ON 5/11/10 WITH 20,000 ON THE VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING TO A LOCAL SUPERMARKET, MY WIFE BEGAN TO SMELL GASOLINE. AFTER 1-2 MILES OF DRIVING WITH THIS SMELL, THERE WAS A LOUD "POP" AND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE WITH FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. ERIE INSURANCE ASSIGNED A SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR WHO DETERMINED THE FIRE'S CAUSE TO BE "UNDETERMINED" DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE COMPONENTS. HOWEVER, HIS OPINION WAS THERE WAS IMPROPER REASSEMBLY WITH THE RECENT REPAIR. ROHRICH MAZDA DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY CLAIMING IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REPAIR & RECOMMENDED WE FOLLOW UP WITH MAZDA DIRECTLY. TWO OTHER VEHICLES WERE ALSO DAMAGED IN THE PROCESS. FORTUNATELY NO OTHER INJURIES OCCURRED. THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED TO THIS CAR WITH ONLY 20,000 MILES ON IT! *TR