NHTSA Complaint #10347916 — 2007 MAZDA CX-7

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK DURING RUSH HOUR. SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT OUTSIDE VEHICLE AND INTO THE CABIN. FEARING AN ENGINE FIRE, PULLED OFF TO LEFT SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. OPENED HOOD (WITH MUCH TREPIDATION) TO OBSERVE PROBLEM. SMOKE CONTINUED TO EMANATE FROM PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEAR SERPENTINE BELTS - NO OBVIOUS FIRE. LET VEHICLE SIT FOR 5 MINUTES AND RESTARTED - SAME PROBLEM. SHUT OFF A/C, AND SMOKE AND NOISE DISCONTINUED. IDLED FOR 5 MINUTES - NO MORE APPARENT PROBLEMS WITH A/C OFF. PULLED BACK ON TO HIGHWAY AND CONTINUED TRIP HOME. DID SOME ONLINE INVESTIGATION AND DEDUCED THAT A/C COMPRESSOR HAD SEIZED. ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, INCLUDING CATASTROPHIC FAILURES FOR OTHER MAZDA CX7 OWNERS. ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE OF A COMPLETE COMPONENT REDESIGN FOR 2008 MODEL YEAR. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER FOLLOWING MONDAY - A/C COMPRESSOR HAD SEIZED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT TO THE TUNE OF $1300 AT MY COST (12,000 KM OVER WARRANTY). NO HELP FROM THE DEALER, AND NO HELP FROM MAZDA. ZOOM-ZOOM APPEARS TO REPRESENT HOW QUICKLY MAZDA RETREATS FROM CUSTOMER SUPPORT. *TR