NHTSA Complaint #10862115 — 2004 MAZDA MAZDA6

THE V6 MOTOR IN MY MAZDA 6S HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL FOR ALMOST 10 OF THE 12 YEARS I'VE OWNED IT. THE OIL LEAKS OUT OF THE FAULTY SEALS ON THE TIMING CHAIN COVER IN FRONT OF THE PASSENGER, AND THE OIL DROPS ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS OIL VAPORIZES AND THAT VAPOR ENTERS THE CABIN IN SLOW SPEED DRIVING AND WHEN STOPPED AT INTERSECTIONS. I COMPLAINED ABOUT A BURNING OIL SMELL MANY TIMES WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE MAZDA SERVICE TECHS ALWAYS PRETENDED LIKE THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, I AM FINDING THIS IS A RAMPANT PROBLEM WITH ALL FORD AND MAZDA CARS AND SUVS WITH THIS "DURATEC" 3.0 V6 WHICH WAS MADE BY FORD. IT IS INSTALLED IN MANY FORD, MERCURY AND MAZDA VEHICLES. I CARRY A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WITH ME IN THE EVENT I HAVE AN UNDER HOOD FIRE, AND I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT MY HEALTH AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF BREATHING THIS VAPOR. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS SEAL FAILURE IS DAUNTING. I HOPE MHTSA CAN SEE THAT FORD HAS BEEN COVERING UP THIS DEFECT, ENDANGERING LIVES AND THE HEALTH OF DRIVERS AS WELL AS CREATING A TOUGH FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE OWNERS TO FIX THE ISSUE. I GAVE A DATE ON THE FORM BELOW, SINCE IT WAS REQUIRED, BUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2006 OR SO.