NHTSA Complaint #10342589 — 2007 MAZDA CX-7

PURCHASED A USED 2007 CX-7 WITH 31,000 MILES (STILL UNDER WARRANTY, ALLEGEDLY). DROVE IT FOR FOUR MONTHS TO THE DAY, 34,000 MILES ON IT NOW. WHITE SMOKE, KNOCKING ENGINE. MAZDA REQUESTS PAST OIL CHANGES WHICH I HAVE ONE. MAZDA PRESENTS ME WITH A $4,100 ESTIMATE TO FIX REPLACE THE TURBO, ENGINE REPAIR AND TIMING CHAIN. NOTICE THAT IN JANUARY OF 2008, MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS PUT OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 01-002/08 DESCRIBING THIS EXACT PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE BULLETIN CLEARLY STATES "ONLY TO VERIFIED CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ON VEHICLES ELIGIBLE FOR WARRANTY REPAIR." GREAT! IT CAN BE FIXED, MAZDA SAYS SO! OH, WHAT? NOT SO FAST. MAZDA TECH SAYS THERE IS A SLUDGING PROBLEM THEREFORE VOIDING THE WARRANTY. BUT THE SERVICE BULLETIN SAYS IT CAN BE FIXED DUE TO MY COMPLAINT. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I DISCOVER THAT THE TURBO SYSTEM IN THIS CAR HAS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM CAUSING WAY! TO MUCH HEAT FOR NORMAL USE, THEREFORE BURNING OIL, THEREFORE CAUSING SLUDGE. MAZDA USES THIS "EVIDENCE OF SLUDGE" CAUSED BY THEM! TO CLAIM THAT THE OWNER DID NOT MAINTAIN THEIR VEHICLE, THEREFORE "YOUR WARRANTY HAS BEEN VOIDED." MAZDA IS TRYING TO AVOID A RECALL ON THIS FOR OBVIOUS COSTLY REASONS. I HAVE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY AND HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON MY CASE. *TR