NHTSA Complaint #10884212 — 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE

2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE, APPROX. 101,000 MILES. COMPLETE FAILURE/RUST-THROUGH OF REAR, PASSENGER-SIDE WHEEL WELL CAUSING SEPARATION OF SHOCK/STRUT FROM THE FRAME. AS INDICATED IN THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ, EXPERIENCED LOUD CLUNK AND SWAYING OF THE VEHICLE, BROUGHT TO OUR LONG-TIME MECHANIC WHO INDICATED HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT AND BASED ON AGE/CONDITION THERE IS NO WAY THIS SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP AFTER SPEAKING TO MAZDA CUSTOMER CARE (REP INDICATED THAT RECALL FOR SUB-FRAME CORROSION SHOULD ADDRESS THIS) ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED BUT CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE CORROSION AND SHOCK SEPARATION. WHEN I CALLED MAZDA BACK AND ASKED HOW IT IS POSSIBLE TO ISSUE A RECALL ON A KNOWN ISSUE FOR RUST BUT ONLY ADDRESS ONE CONTACT POINT ON THE FRAME AS, CLEARLY, THE ENTIRE FRAME IS MADE/COATED WITH THE SAME MATERIALS, WAS ADVISED BASICALLY NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND IT IS POSSIBLE A FUTURE RECALL COULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE AND AS A CURRENT OWNER OF A 2014 MAZDA 6 (AND PAST OWNERS OF 6 OTHER MAZDA'S) I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A SAFETY ISSUE SUCH AS THIS IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED. AS EVIDENCED BY THIS WEBSITE AND MULTIPLE OTHERS, THIS ISSUE AFFECTS 2001-2006 MAZDA TRIBUTES (& FORD ESCAPES) AND WAS ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE A DEFECT IN THE MATERIALS USED AS EVIDENCED IN RECALL# 14V-174. EXCESSIVE CORROSION IS NOT LIMITED TO A SINGLE ATTACHMENT POINT ON THE FRAME, TO EVEN IMPLY THAT IT WOULD BE IS AVOIDANCE OF LIABILITY BY THE MANUFACTURER(S) AT BEST, CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE IS A BETTER DESCRIPTOR. IT IS THE ENTIRE FRAME THAT IS DEFECTIVE AND THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED, THE COMPLAINTS SEEM TO BE INCREASING SO IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS-THE ORIGINAL RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED ASAP