NHTSA Complaint #11205750 — 2008 MAZDA CX-9

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-9. WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND STRUCK A CURB, WHICH SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONTACT QUICKLY SHIFTED INTO PARK. IN ADDITION, EACH TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE SOUND OF BLOWING AIR WAS HEARD FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RAY SKILLMAN MAZDA DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PHYSICALLY DIAGNOSED. THE TECHNICIANS VERBALLY INFORMED ME IMMEDIATELY OF BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE BASED ON THE SYMPTOMS CONVEYED. THE PROBLEM STEMMED FROM A DEFECTIVE BRAKE BOOSTER. I DID CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER (MAZDA CORPORATE OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA) PRIOR TO CONTACTING THE NHTSA. MAZDA WAS UNCOOPERATIVE ON ANY AGREEMENT OF REPAIRS DUE TO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD ENDING THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF." DUE TO THE UNETHICAL STANDING OF MAZDA FAILING TO ISSUE A RECALL, MYSELF AND FAMILY WERE PUT IN GREAT DANGER WHEN I EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE FAILURE. HAD WE BEEN AWARE OF THE FACT THAT MAZDA KNOWINGLY DISCOVERED THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT, I WOULD HAVE BEEN PROACTIVE IN ADDRESSING THE ISSUE PRIOR TO HAVING AN ALMOST TOTAL LIFE LOSS AND VEHICLE DAMAGE. I REQUESTED TO ESCALATE MY CONCERNS, AND SPOKE WITH A SUPERVISOR THAT SUGGESTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND STATED THEY MAY OR NOT AGREE TO COVER SOME IF ANY OF THE CHARGES. AFTER MY VEHICLE SAT ON THE LOT FOR 5 DAYS AS WE TRIED TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT, MAZDA AGREED TO COVER 50% OF THE REPAIR COST (PARTS, LABOR, AND DIAGNOSTIC FEE.) IN ADDITION, THE TECHNICIANS ALSO DISCOVERED AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT NOT LUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD. THEY DETERMINED ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN AN INDICATOR OF SOME SORT OF BRAKE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,493. *TR*JB