NHTSA Complaint #10448964 — 2007 MAZDA CX-7

OUR 2007 MAZDA CX7 SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND I WAS FORCED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN THE CENTER MEDIAN OF THE HIGHWAY, AS I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT DUE TO OTHER TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BROKEN PIN ON THE VARIABLE VALVE TIME ACTUATOR (VVT). THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE (NO WARNING LIGHTS) PRIOR TO THE ENGINE STOPPING. DEALERSHIP HAS INDICATED THAT COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS RECOMMENDED BY MAZDA. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE IS AWAITING ARRIVAL OF AN ADJUSTER FROM EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY TO SEE IF REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT WILL BE COVERED. ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENT AND FREQUENTLY OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE, YET MANUFACTURER HAS NEGLECTED TO INITIATE A FULL RECALL. RATHER THEY ISSUED A "SERVICE BULLETIN" (#01-002/08) THAT ADDRESSES A VVT NOISE WHEN STARTING ENGINE. BULLETIN STATES "SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A LOUD TICKING NOISE FROM THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING. (VVT) THIS IS CAUSED BY THE LOCK PIN OF THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING ACTUATOR NOT FULLY ENGAGING. HEAT TREATMENT HAS NOW BEEN ADDED AROUND THE HOLE OF THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING ROTOR LOCK TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING." IT IS BELIEVED THAT HAD MY VEHICLE EXHIBITED ANY SYMPTOMS, I COULD HAVE HAD THE SERVICE BULLETIN REPAIRS MADE, AND THE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE BROKEN PIN WOULD HAVE MOST LIKELY BEEN AVOIDED. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL, AND NOT ADDRESSED BY A SERVICE BULLETIN. THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE, AS DISCOVERED VIA THE INTERNET, THAT MULTIPLE CX7 VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS EXACT SAME TYPE OF FAILURE WHERE THE VEHICLE HAS SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS CONSTITUTES AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. *TR