NHTSA Complaint #10386566 — 2008 MAZDA CX-9

THIS COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO HOW THE 2008 MAZDA CX9 HANDLES WHEN THE ROAD CONDITIONS HAVE A LAYER OF SNOW OR ICE. WHEN DRIVING ON A FLAT SURFACE THE CAR IS FINE. WHEN DRIVING UP A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE, THE CAR DOES NOT PERFORM. THE TIRES THAT ARE PUT ON THIS CAR FROM FACTORY ARE NOT GOOD, WHICH CAUSES THE TRACTION CONTROL TO ENGAGE FREQUENTLY. THE PROBLEM ARISES WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL IS ON. PER THE MANUAL, THE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON TO REDUCE RPM. WE HAVE FOUND THAT WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL IS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER - IT FEELS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL - THERE IS NO ENGINE SOUND WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THIS LEAVES THE DRIVER STUCK WITH ABSOLUTELY NO POWER TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THERE IS NO POWER TO MOVE OUT OF OTHER DRIVERS WAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH BOTH DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES. WE HAVE REQUESTED SOMEONE DRIVE WITH US SO WE CAN REPLICATE THE SITUATION. THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET US AN APPOINTMENT RIGHT AWAY. THE LAST REQUEST TO MAZDA SERVICE WAS FEB. 2011, IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT WE WANTED TO BRING THE CAR IN SO SOMEONE COULD DRIVE IT IN THE SNOWY CONDITIONS. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL US WHEN THEY COULD FIT US IN. WE DID NOT RECEIVE A CALL FOR 3 DAYS. WE HAD TO CALL THEM. THE ROADS WERE CLEAR WHEN WE FINALLY GOT AN APPOINTMENT AND COULD NOT REPLICATE THE SITUATION. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR