NHTSA Complaint #10457592 — 2007 MAZDA CX-7

WE HAVE A MAZDA CX7, 2007, THAT WE PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN APRIL 2007. WE HAVE HAD ALL OIL, FILTER AND OTHER SERVICES BY OUR LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN ACCORDANCE TO MAZDA GUIDELINES. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH DOWN INTERSTATE 81 WITH OUR 10 YEAR OLD SON IN THE CAR, OUR MAZDA STOPPED WORKING. LUCKY FOR US WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF OF THE ROAD AND CALL A TOW TRUCK, WHO TOOK US TO A LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE WE HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR UNTIL MONDAY (IT WAS A SATURDAY AFTERNOON) AND FIND OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION HOME (70 MILES AWAY) ON MONDAY MORNING MY HUSBAND RECEIVED A CALL FROM MAZDA STATING THAT OUR VVT PLUG CAME APART CAUSING THE ENGINE TO JUMP TIME AND THAT WE COULD PAY TO HAVE A VVA KIT ORDERED AND INSTALLED TO SEE IF IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM, AT A COST OF $1300, BUT THIS MAY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE DUE TO THE PLUG COMING APART OUR ENGINE LOST COMPRESSION. AND IF THIS WAS THE CASE, WE WOULD BE OUT THE $1300 AND IT WOULD COST AN ADDITIONAL $7950 FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. WHEN WE QUESTIONED THEM ABOUT THE "SERVICE BULLETIN" RELEASED RE: THE PROBLEMS THEY WERE HAVING WITH THIS VVT THEY SAID THAT THEY REALLY COULDN'T HELP US WITH THIS.... OUR CAR WAS OVER IN THE MILEAGE... WELL TO ME A PROBLEM THEY RECOGNIZE AND ADMIT TO THEY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF NO MATTER WHAT.. HAD WE HAVE KNOW OF THIS PENDING PROBLEM, WE WOULD HAVE OPTED TO HAVE THIS KIT REPLACED LONG AGO AND GLADLY PAID THE $1300 INSTEAD OF BEING OUT A CAR, THAT WE REALLY HAVE ENJOYED, AND NOW LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO REPLACE AN ENGINE!! OH AND BY THE WAY.. DON"T LET MAZDA DO THIS FOR YOU!! IT IS MUCH CHEAPER TO HAVE YOUR ENGINE REBUILT AND REPLACED BY AN OUTSIDE SOURCE. WE HAVE CONTACTED A MACHINE SHOP IN VIRGINIA WHO WILL PAY SHIPPING AND DO THIS FOR US FOR $3000 AND WE HAVE A LOCAL MECHANIC THAT WILL DO THE WORK FOR $1000 OH AND THEY GIVE YOU A 5 YEAR WARRANTY!! MAZDA NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE. *TR