NHTSA Complaint #11289195 — 2008 MAZDA CX-9

MAZDA CX-9 PROBLEM 130,000 MILES-ON NOVEMBER 25TH, AS I WAS DROPPING MY CHILDREN TO THEIR SCHOOLS, THE DEFROST SUDDENLY STOPS WORKING. I TRY TO TURN THE FAN/HEATER ALL THE WAY, BUT TO NO AVAIL. I HAD TO USE A TOWEL TO WIPE THE WINDSHIELD. AS I PULLED INTO A CURVED SIDE, THE ENGINE TURNS OFF, I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY TO OFF, THEN STARTS THE ENGINE AGAIN, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I PULLED OUT AND DROVE ABOUT SIX HUNDRED FEET AND PARKED. I CALL A MECHANIC AND I DROVE IT AGAIN FOR A MILE TO THE SHOP. HE OPENS UP THE HOOD AND POUR IN SOME COOLANT AND ALL THE COOLANT WERE ON THE FLOOR. HE IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME THAT COOLANT LEAKS AND OIL IS PROBABLY MIXED AND CAUSES THE ENGINE FAILURE. HE TOLD ME I HAD TO CHANGE THE ENGINE, BECAUSE FIXING IT WILL COST ME OVER TEN GRAND. I DROVE IT HOME, THEN THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I TOOK TO A DIFFERENT SHOP, THEY DID THE DIAGNOSIS AND RELATE THE SAME STORY THAT CHECK CODES SHOWED THREE CODES: P0016, CRANK POSITION SENSOR CORRELATION BANK ONE SENSOR A. 1285 CYLINDER HEAD OVER TEMPERATURE, 1299 CYLINDER HEAD TEMP PROTECTION. THE CODES INDICATE AN OVERHEAT SCENARIO THAT RESULTED IN ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THEY CHECK OIL AND FOUND MILKY SUBSTANCE INSTEAD OF OIL. PRESSURE CHECK FOR COOLANT LEAK PUSHED MILKY OIL OUT OF DIPSTICK TUBE. HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING AND THE COOLANT HAS CONTAMINATED THE ENGINE OIL. THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, ASSEMBLY AND FLUSH COOLING SYSTEM. THEIR TOTAL ESTIMATE IS $10,900. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS SERVICE REPAIR. I CANNOT EVEN SPEND THAT MUCH OF MONEY ON ANOTHER CAR. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR THINKING THAT IT WILL TAKE US FOR SOME TIME BEFORE WE'LL NEED ANOTHER CAR. I CONTACTED MAZDA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS, "WISH THERE WERE NEVER PART FAILURES", NOW, I'M STUCK. SO THIS IS MY STORY!!! SAFETY ISSUES: SUDDEN ENGINE SHUT OFF, DEFROST MALFUNCTION AND STEERING WHEEL.