NHTSA Complaint #10586385 — 2004 MAZDA MAZDA6

RE: MAZDA 6 V6 MADE IN THE FORD/MAZDA AUTO ALLIANCE FACTORY IN FLAT ROCK, MI. THE MILES/SPEED I LISTED ARE ACTUALLY N/A - THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HAS EXISTED FOR MOST OF THE 10 YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS CAR. I COMPLAINED ABOUT SMELLING BURNING OIL COMING INTO THE CAR'S CABIN SINCE THE CAR WAS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD, BUT THE MAZDA REPAIR TECHS APPEARED TO "NEVER NOTICE THE SMELL". IT WAS MORE THAN A YEAR OR SO AFTER MY WARRANTY ENDED - DESPITE A DOZEN INSTANCES OF COMPLAINING TO MAZDA DEALERS OF THIS SMELL - THAT I REALIZED MY PROBLEM WAS OIL LEAKING FROM MY V6 MOTOR'S TIMING CHAIN COVER. THE OIL LEAKS DOWN THE SIDE & BOTTOM OF THE MOTOR & DRIPS (ONLY WHILE DRIVING, NEVER WHILE RESTING) ONTO THE TOP OF ONE OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM'S CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. THE INTENSE HEAT OF THE CONVERTER VAPORIZES THE OIL, THE RESULT OF WHICH ENTERS THE CAR'S CABIN THROUGH THE HVAC SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN ADDING A QUART OF OIL ALMOST EVERY TWO MONTHS FOR YEARS NOW, BREATHING THIS CARCINOGENIC VAPOR AND WORRYING ABOUT AN ENGINE FIRE FOR THE BETTER PART OF A DECADE NOW. LEADING UP TO DISCOVERING THE LEAK, I HAD REPLACED MY VALVE COVER GASKETS & OIL PAN & GASKETS AT GREAT COST. THE PROPER REPAIR FOR THIS WOULD LIKELY REQUIRE REMOVING MY CAR'S ENGINE & A 12 HOUR REPAIR AT $100 PER HOUR, AND THAT'S JUST THE LABOR. WHEN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, IT APPEARS IN ONLINE FORUMS TO BE A CONSISTENT PROBLEM FOR HUNDREDS (LIKELY THOUSANDS) OF OWNERS, AND VARIATIONS OF THIS FORD-MADE V6 ENGINE ARE INSTALLED IN A DOZEN FORD AND MAZDA CARS. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT OVER THE YEARS FORD - KNOWING THIS WAS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM - ADVISED IT'S DEALER NETWORK TO KEEP HUSH-HUSH AND PRETEND TO NOT UNDERSTAND OR NOTICE THE PROBLEM IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID A COSTLY RECALL CAMPAIGN. I FEEL THAT THE TIME HAS COME FOR FORD, NOT MAZDA, TO PAY THE PIPER, AND I WOULD LIKE MY CAR REPAIRED WITHOUT A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP PLACED UPON ME. *TR