NHTSA Complaint #10384337 — 2003 MAZDA MAZDA6

CAR ENGINE STOPPING WHILE RUNNING AND A NO START. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WARNINGS OVER A LONG TIME. ONE REPAIR BY MAZDA ON THE GAS CAP REPAIR, BUT I HAVE ALSO UNCOVERED A RECALL ON LEAKING SEALS AT THE TANK ON 2003 MODELS, 03V-531. SERVICE LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON FROM 10/18/10 -10/30/10. WHILE OUT OF TOWN THE CAR SAT AIRPORT PARKING ON MY RETURN IT STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING AT A LIGHT 11/22/10, BUT ALL LIGHTS AND RADIO STATIONS WERE ACTIVE, SO NO BATTERY PROBLEM. AFTER ADJUSTING THE FILLER GAS CAP SEVERAL TIMES I FOUND IT WASN'T CLOSING AND COULD BE PULLED RIGHT OFF. WE HAVE MADE SURE THE CAP IS ON TIGHTLY EACH TIME AND SINCE CANCELLED THE DEALER APPOINTMENT FOR A $100 INSPECTION, NO LIGHT SINCE. 2/9/11 AFTER DRIVING 35 MILES THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART, AAA CAME OUT AND NO BATTERY TROUBLE, BUT A 30 MILE TOWING WAS REQUIRED TO MY HOME. THE VEHICLE SITS IN A GARAGE AVG TEMP OF 35-45F. THE NEXT MORNING AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND USING BOTH KEYS IT RESTARTED AND WE TOOK IT INTO A DEALER. @2 DAYS LATER THEY FIND A "SERVICE BULLETIN" 901-009/07) FROM 2007. POSSIBLE @ -30C (ZEROF) THE NO START OR CRANK DUE TO MOISTURE WITHIN THE MAIN RELAY AND/OR FUEL PUMP RELAY. THAT NIGHT 25-30F IN NOV NO WAY CLOSE. ON 02/12/11 WHILE DRIVING ON IS77 THE CAR QUITE RUNNING AGAIN, 911 CALLED AS I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNDER HEAVY FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. THIS WEEK ON 2/22 WHILE IN THE GARAGE HESITANT TO TURN OVER AGAIN BUT DID START ON THE 3RD TRY, VEHICLE TEMP READING WAS 47F. SO NOW FOR 2 NEW PARTS FOR 2003-2005 MODELS AND $450+ REPAIRS CAN BE MADE. THE PARTS ARE IN AND PER THE BULLETIN LOOKS MORE LIKE A BY-PASS OPTION THAN REPLACING A DEFECTIVE OEM PART. CUTTING OUT WHILE DRIVING IS VERY SERIOUS, AS MUCH SO AS ACCELERATION ON A TOYOTA. SINCE MY COMPANY IS TIED TO THE TIRE/WHEEL & AUTO MFG AND WE CONDUCT 1/2 DOT TIRE TEST FOR THE USA, I'M PRETTY SURE I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT ON DEFECTS. *TR