NHTSA Complaint #10702723 — 2011 MAZDA CX-9

THE MAZDA 2011 CX-9 CROSSOVER SUV SEEMS TO HAVE A DEFECT IN THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT (PTU). MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS ISSUED A LETTER TO MAZDA OWNERS INFORMING ABOUT A SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE REPAIR OF THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT (PTU) ON "CERTAIN 2010-2011 CX-9 ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JULY 28, 2009 THROUGH DECEMBER 2, 2013." I QUOTE THE LETTER. ON MARCH 18, 2015, I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WHEREBY MY 2011 CX-9 MADE A GRINDING AND SNAPPING SOUND WHEN IN REVERSE MODE. THIS BEHAVIOR WAS FOLLOWED BY A PUNGENT ODOR IN THE CABIN. I CONTACTED THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND TRIED TO GET AN IMMEDIATE APPOINTMENT TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT ACCOMMODATE ME NOR EXPRESSED ANY AWARENESS OF THE SYMPTOMS. YET, THE LETTER WAS PUBLISHED SINCE LAST YEAR. I CONTACTED A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HAD THEM INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER FROM MAZDA. IN FACT, THE MECHANIC IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH MAZDA AND LINCOLN BRAND VEHICLES. CURRENTLY, I AM HAVING TROUBLE GETTING IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP OR MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS. I CALLED SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE UNRESPONSIVE. IS NHTSA AWARE OF THIS PTU DEFECT AND WHAT WAS NECESSARY TO REQUIRE A RECALL/REPLACEMENT OF THE PTU 'PRIOR' TO INEVITABLE FAILURE AS WE EXPERIENCED? THANK YOU. *TR