NHTSA Complaint #10346647 — 2008 MAZDA CX-7

THIS NARRATIVE IS ABOUT TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE IN A MAZDA CX-7 2008. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. I GOT REGULAR OIL CHANGES WELL WITHIN THE MANUAL RECOMMENDED 5000-7500 MILES. ONE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK, THE CAR SIMPLY STOPPED ACCELERATING WHEN I HIT A SMALL HILL. THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO WARNING, NOTHING. I DROVE THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO MAZDA SERVICE. AS I WAS DRIVING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID IN FACT COME ON. UPON LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT IT AN DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND THAT THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. I HAD A WARRANTY YET MAZDA REFUSED TO COVER IT DUE TO "LACK OF MAINTENANCE" FROM OWNER. I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND WAS TOLD IF I WENT THE ROUTE OF ANOTHER ENGINE FROM A DIFFERENT MECHANIC OR MANUFACTURER, THAT THE ENGINE WOULD BE BRANDED. THEREFORE, I ENDED UP PAYING $7600. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND STORY AFTER STORY WITH THE SAME PLOT LINE. THIS ENGINE MUST BE RECALLED. IT IS FAULTY AND DANGEROUS AND MAZDA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT FOR FINANCIAL REASONS. *TR