NHTSA Complaint #10596455 — 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE

I AM THE CURRENT OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE I. BOUGHT IT THROUGH NORTH SHORE BANK OFF LEASE... I TAKE GOOD CARE OF THE CAR AND HAVE IT MAINTAINED REGULARLY . RECENTLY THE REAR PASSENGER AREA HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD BANGING NOISE, I THOUGHT IT MAY BE A BROKEN SHOCK OR SOMETHING TO THAT AFFECT. I TOOK IT INTO GOODYEAR IN RACINE WI. COME TO FIND THE WHOLE WHEEL WELL IS ROTTED OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.. THE MECHANIC SAID HE COULD NOT FIX IT AND TAKE IT TO RACINE AUTO BODY ALSO IN RACINE, WI. THEY ALSO SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN TO A CAR OR SUV EVER BEFORE. HE SAID IT HAS TO BE DUE TO A BAD FACTORY PROCESS OR SOME FLAW THAT HAD BEEN WHEN THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. THEY WANT $1600.00 TO FIX THE AREA AND I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THE FLAW FROM THE MAZDA MANUFACTURER. I FEEL IT ISN'T SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT MORE DAMAGE BEING ADDED. I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE SOME SORT OF HELP OR REPLACEMENT OF THE FACTORY FLAW. THE CAR IS IN FAIRLY DECENT SHAPE AND AT THIS POINT I CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW CAR.. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY OTHER SIMILAR ISSUES ON ANY OF YOUR OTHER VEHICLES. *TR