NHTSA Complaint #11154523 — 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE

I HAD THE OIL CHANGED IN PAHRUMP, NEVADA AT ROUND 10 AM. AFTERWARDS, I DROVE THE VEHICLE AROUND TOWN FOR SEVERAL HOURS, LOADING IT UP WITH BELONGINGS BECAUSE I WAS MOVING 160 NORTH ON HWY 95. AFTER STOPPING IN BEATTY, NEVADA, MY SUV SPUTTERED. I TOOK THE SUV OUT OF OVERDRIVE INTO DRIVE TO SEE IF IT WOULD BACKFIRE TO GET THE DIRT OR WATER OUT OF THE FUEL LINE FROM JUST FILLING UP. ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD, I HEARD A BELT SQUEAL. THINKING MY TRANSMISSION MAYBE GOING OUT DUE TO THE FACT I HADN'T DRIVEN IN DRIVE FOR SOME TIME, I CONTINUED ON MY WAY PRAYING THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION. IT WASN'T UNTIL I REACHED THE 88 MILE MARKER, DID THE SQUEAL HAPPEN AGAIN. THEN WHITE SMOKE FOLLOWED. I THOUGHT, WELL THERE GOES THE RADIATOR TOO. JUST PAST THE 92 MILE MARKER, THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. I STILL HAD WHITE SMOKE AND NO SHOULDER. I DECIDED I HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AT 7 P.M. I WENT OVER INTO THE DITCH WITHOUT TURNING OVER WITH MY BELONGINGS. IMMEDIATELY, I NOTICED THE OIL AND OIL PAN LIGHTS ON. MY HEADLIGHTS WERE STILL ON. I CALLED A FRIEND WHO TOLD ME TO GET OUT IMMEDIATELY. I CALLED 911 AT 7:05 P.M. THEY TOLD ME TO RUN. WITHIN A MINUTE A SMALL FLAME CAME SHOOTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CONTINUED TO BURN FOR OVER ONE HOUR UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH FOAM. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A COUPLE OF SEASONED MECHANICS. THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE OIL FILTER WAS DEFECTIVE. ANOTHER SAID AFTER LOOKING AT WHAT WAS LEFT... ONLY THE SHELL, THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT UNDER THE HOOD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY, SAFECO HAS IT IN THEIR FORENSICS LAB TO DETERMINE FAULT. I GOOGLED FIRES IN MAZDA TRIBUTES 2002 AND RAN ACROSS A RECALL. I DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTICE AND HAVE CHECKED THE MAZDA WEBSITE USING MY VIN NUMBER. NOTHING ON MY VEHICLE EVER BEING RECALLED FOR THIS FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE PICTURES ON MY PHONE BUT LOST MY COMPUTER TO LOAD TO SITE.