NHTSA Complaint #11151624 — 2013 MAZDA CX-9

THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT THE TIME ON A BUSY CITY STREET. WE NOTICED SOME NOISES WHICH WAS SOUNDING LIKE METAL CLANKING. THIS BECAME LOUDER IMMEDIATELY IN THE SPAN OF 5MINS AND THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR WENT OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS BECOMING UNRESPONSIVE TO BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF COMMUTE TRAFFIC. LUCKILY WE GOT THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE SHOULDER WITHOUT ANY INJURIES TO ANYONE. UPON GETTING THE VEHICLE CHECKED BY A ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC, IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERNAL WATER PUMP (SUGGESTED AS A BAD DESIGN BY THEM AND MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR STALLING SITUATIONS ON THE INTERNET) SOMEHOW MIXED UP THE COOLANT AND THE OIL FORMING A SLUDGE AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE AND LACK OF LUBRICATION CAUSED THE METAL CLANKING. THIS HAS RENDERED THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE ONLY AFTER 5YEARS. SEEMS LIKE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS RAISES SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT IF THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY OR IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC, THERE COULD BE SERIOUS LOSS OF LIFE OR INJURY TO THE PASSENGERS. UPON CHECKING WITH MAZDA, IT WAS RULED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS YET. THIS STANCE FROM MAZDA IS BEING UTTERLY NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAWS AND PUTTING A PRODUCT OUT IN THE MARKET.