NHTSA Complaint #10554222 — 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD THEM CHECK OUT SOME NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. DEALER SAYS THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL IS VERY RUSTED (ACTUALLY RUSTED THROUGH IN SPOTS) AND NOT STABLE. NOISE IS COMING FROM AROUND THE REAR SHOCK AREA WHICH IS VERY DETERIORATED AROUND THE SHOCK MOUNT AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE SHOCK MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED. THE SAME THING IS STARTING TO HAPPEN ON THE OTHER REAR WHEEL WELL BUT MOST OF THE DAMAGE IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE IS NO VISIBLE RUST ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. WE WERE REFERRED TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP BUT THE REPAIR WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE TOO FIX. WE'VE REGULARLY SERVICED THIS VEHICLE AT THE DEALER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT NEW. I'VE CHECKED ON-LINE AND HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE OCCURRING IN MAZDA TRIBUTES AND FORD ESCAPES IN THE 2004-2005 MODEL YEARS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT BEING REPAIRED DUE TO COST. *TR