NHTSA Complaint #10439224 — 2009 MAZDA MAZDA5

ON DEC.8,2011, I WAS DRIVING EASTBOUND ON INTERSTATE HWY 167., THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD GONE FLAT. I WAS ABLE TO GET ON THE AUXILIARY ROAD WITHOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. I INSPECTED THE TIRE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY HOLES. I USED A PORTABLE TIRE INFLATER AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE TO A TIRE REPAIR STATION. THE TIRE WAS REMOVED AND UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE ENTIRE INNER SIDE OF THE TIRE HAD BEEN WORN OFF. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE OTHER TIRES AND SHOWED ME THAT THE SAME TYPE OF WEAR WAS EVENT ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. IT WAS THEN THAT THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS COMMON IN MAZDAS' AND THAT A SIMPLE PART HAS BEEN USED ON MAZDA5S' TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I TAKE MY VEHICLE FOR REGULAR CHECKUPS AND FLUID CHANGES EVERY FOUR MONTHS. YET NOT ONCE WAS I EVER TOLD OF THIS POTENTIAL DANGEROUS HAZARD, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL HAD IT OCCURRED ON AN OPEN HIGHWAY, WHERE THERE ARE NUMEROUS TURNS ON STRETCHES OF ROAD THAT LOCATED ON CURVES AND ARE WELL OVER 200 FEET ABOVE GROUND. (I HAVE THE TIRES INVOLVED). *TR