NHTSA Complaint #11233480 — 2010 MAZDA MAZDA3

DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD THAT CANNOT WITHSTAND EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT, RESULTING IN THE DASHBOARD MELTING, EMITTING A NOXIOUS SMELL AND TAKING ON A REFLECTIVE QUALITY. WHEN THE DASHBOARD BECOMES REFLECTIVE, DRIVERS TRYING TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO SEE PAST THE IMAGE OF THE DASHBOARD IN THE WINDSHIELD. MAZDA FAILED TO NOTIFY CONSUMERS TIMELY RE: THE DEFECT. WHEN CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS WERE FILED, MAZDA WAS FORCED TO TAKE ACTION. THEY OFFERED A LIMITED EXTENDED WARRANTY TO FIX THE "COSMETIC ISSUE" THAT RESULTED. HOWEVER, BRIGHT LIGHT REFLECTING OFF THE MELTED DASHBOARD IS TEMPORARILY BLINDING, CAUSING A HARSH GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND OBSCURING VISION, PUTTING THE DRIVER AND OTHERS AT RISK. IN ADDITION, MAZDA IS FAILING TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON VEHICLES OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY DATE, STATING THAT IT IS THE CONSUMER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO OBTAIN SERVICE WITHIN A TIMELY MANNER. UPON CONTACT OF MAZDA CORPORATE OFFICE, THERE IS NO RECORD OF ME EVEN OWNING THE VEHICLE AND MY VIN NUMBER IS STILL LISTED UNTIL THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE FROM 7 YEARS AGO. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A SINGLE NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL OR WARRANTY EXTENSION SINCE TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE IN 2012. OFFICIAL START DATE OF THE DASHBOARD MELTING IS UNKNOWN, HOWEVER HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. UPON CONTACT OF THE DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS ISSUE, I WAS NOTIFIED I WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY WINDOW AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST. *TR