NHTSA Complaint #11128193 — 2011 MAZDA MAZDA6

VEHICLE HAS A 3.7L V6 DURATEC ENGINE DESIGNED BY FORD. I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 55MPH, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, THEN VEHICLE SHUT OFF, AND I LOST BOTH POWER AND STEERING. WAS ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT CRASHING. STEAM/SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE HOOD AND THE TEMP GAUGE WAS PINNED AT H. DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT COOLANT HAD GOTTEN MIXED WITH OIL AND ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. COST TO REPAIR - $7400 USED $13K NEW ENGINE. TOLD IT WAS NOT DUE TO ANY NEGLECT OR MAINTENANCE ISSUE. IT WAS A WATER PUMP FAILURE. THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THIS ENGINE. THE WATER PUMP IS INTEGRATED INTO THE ENGINE AND TIMING CHAIN. WHEN THE PUMP FAILS IT DAMAGES THE ENGINE, ALLOWING COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE OIL. NUMEROUS FORD AND MAZDA OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT BECAUSE IT USUALLY HAPPENS AT OR AFTER 100K MILES THE MANUFACTURERS DO NOT REPORT IT. THEY WILL ALSO DO NOTHING TO HELP THE CUSTOMER WHO IS LEFT WITH A HUGE REPAIR BILL OR A TOTALED CAR. PLEASE HELP ME AND OTHER OWNERS. I HAVE RESEARCH WITH THE NAMES OF OTHER OWNERS WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR FORD OR MAZDA.