NHTSA Complaint #10393774 — 2008 MAZDA MAZDA3

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 MAZDA 3 ON I-75 ON 3/22/2011 WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST THE POWER STEERING AND THE CAR BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. I CONTINUED DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT UNCONTROLLABLY, STRUCK A ROAD SIGN, AND ULTIMATELY ENDED UP IN A DITCH. THIS ALL OCCURRED 12 DAYS AFTER I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE RECALLED POWER STEERING PUMP. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS CAN HAPPEN ONLY 12 DAYS AFTER THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND PUMP LINE WERE REPLACED. I WONDER IF THE PUMP HAD INDEED BEEN REPLACED OR IF A NEW PUMP WAS INSTALLED CORRECTLY. OR MAYBE THE NEW PUMP IS JUST AS DEFECTIVE AS THE OLD PUMP!!! IT WILL COST $8,000-$10,000 TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE AND I AM NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $1,000 INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE. THE ONLY GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE SIDE IMPACT AND HEAD AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED AND THAT I WAS NOT INJURED BADLY. I FEEL THAT MAZDA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HOW THEY HAVE HANDLED THIS RECALL. I HAVE READ MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AND OTHERS AND THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT THIS ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. *TR