NHTSA Complaint #10730280 — 2008 MAZDA CX-9

UPON ENTERING A PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE, SKIDDED TO A SUDDEN STOP, AND THEN WOULD NOT MOVE. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL SIDEWAYS RESTING AGAINST THE INNER FENDER, ALONG WITH SEVERAL METALLIC PARTS AND FLUID ON THE GROUND. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WHEN NEW, AND WHERE WE ALWAYS HAVE IT SERVICED . THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD SAID THE AXLE BROKE AND WE WERE LUCKY IT DID NOT OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY 15 MINUTES SOONER. THE DEALER REPLACED A LEFT BROKEN BALL JOINT, AXLE AND CONTROL ARM, AS WELL AS BROKEN FENDER LININGS AND MOLDINGS. THIS COST US OVER $2000. WE HAD COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE ABOUT A NOISE WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE, BUT WERE TOLD WE ONLY NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. I NOW BELIEVE THE DEALER DID NOT PROPERLY INSPECT THE BALL JOINT, WHICH WAS ALREADY DAMAGED AND FAILING. TWELVE MONTHS AFTER THIS INCIDENT THE LEFT CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. AND EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THAT THE DRIVESHAFT, TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMISSION ALL REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, COSTING US ANOTHER $5000 IN REPAIRS. I AM SUSPICIOUS THAT ALL OF THESE FAILURES MAY BE RELATED TO THE INITIAL INCIDENT WHEN MY CX-9 SKIDDED TO THE SUDDEN STOP ON THE LEFT BROKEN AXLE. BUT WHEN I CONTACTED MAZDA REGARDING ALL OF THESE ISSUES MY CASE WAS COMPLETELY DISMISSED AS THE VEHICLE HAD OVER 100,000 MILES AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY COVERAGE. I HAVE NEVER SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT UNTIL I FOUND OUT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION INTO 2008 CX-9'S WITH BROKEN BALL JOINTS, EXACTLY AS WHAT OCCURRED IN MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AT OUR DEALER, AND I REALLY DO NOT BELIEVE THE BALL JOINT SHOULD HAVE BROKEN AS IT DID. I AM GRATEFUL WE WERE NOT TRAVELING 60 MPH. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS MAZDA VEHICLE.