NHTSA Complaint #10372591 — 2010 MAZDA MAZDA3

I PURCHASED MY 2010 MAZDA 3 IN AUGUST 2009. IN DECEMBER 2010, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I ENGAGED THE CLUTCH AND I FELT A POP UNDER MY FOOT AND THE CLUTCH BECAME STUCK. WHEN IT FINALLY CAME BACK UP IT VIBRATED AND JERKED ITSELF BEFORE GOING BACK TO STARTING POSITION. I PUT THE CAR IN FIRST GEAR AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR ACCELERATED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. TO SEE IF THE CLUTCH WAS CATCHING, I PUT THE CAR IN FIRST GEAR AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE CLUTCH WITHOUT GIVING IT GAS. THE CAR DID NOT TURN OFF AS IT NORMALLY WOULD IF I DID NOT GIVE IT GAS WHILE IN FIRST GEAR. THE CLUTCH FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT 20,100 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND I MIGHT HAVE TO REPLACE THE FLYWHEEL. I WAS ADVISED THE CLUTCH WAS CONSIDERED A WEAR ITEM AND COULD NOT BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE SUDDEN AND PREMATURE NATURE OF THE FAILURE, I AM SPEAKING WITH MAZDA IN AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR