NHTSA Complaint #10349658 — 2008 MAZDA MAZDA3

POWER STEERING LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON THEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING LEADING TO HEAVY STEERING. ACCORDING TO OWNERS MANUAL, WE WERE ADVISED TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, THEN BACK ON. EVEN THEN, THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND I LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN, LEADING TO VERY HEAVY STEERING. AFTER THOSE TWO INCIDENTS THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO BE WORKING OK. THERE IS PLENTY OF POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR. I CALLED MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE IN DETAIL AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE LIGHT IS NOW OFF AND NORMAL STEERING RESUMED - HE ADVISED THERE IS NO NEED TO BRING IN THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE LIKE MY WIFE WHO LACKS UPPER BODY STRENGTH. THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO TURN THE WHEEL WITHOUT POWER STEERING IS A LOT, EVEN FOR A MAN LIKE ME. SLOW SPEED STEERING IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING. *TR