NHTSA Complaint #10466319 — 2009 MAZDA TRIBUTE

REAR TAILGATE DOOR SWITCH OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT OPERATE WHEN DEPRESSED. WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE TAILGATE/REAR HATCH ENTRANCE THE SWITCH THAT IS DEPRESSED WILL NOT OPEN THE TAILGATE CAUSING ENTRY TO THE REAR TO BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE VEHICLES AFT PASSENGER'S DOORS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE NEW AND EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THE PROBLEM IS NOT REPEATABLE CREATING A NOW OUT OF WARRANTY ISSUE. FAILURE OF THE INABILITY TO ACCESS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE INABILITY TO REACH SOMEONE TRAPPED IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE CREATES A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. *TR