NHTSA Complaint #11318576 — 2013 MAZDA CX-9

IN 2011 WE LEASED A CX9 AND WE ENJOYED IT SO MUCH THAT WE DECIDED TO PURCHASE A CX9 IN 2013. JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I HAD AN EXPERIENCE THAT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING. I WAS DRIVING AND REALIZED THE HEAT WAS NOT COMING ON AND THAT WAS UNUSUAL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SOON AFTER THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. I AM FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. I NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND WE HAD IT BROUGHT TO MAZDA IN DANBURY, CT. WE FOUND OUT THE NEXT DAY THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE WERE SHOCKED AND THEN VERY UPSET TO FIND OUT THAT IT WOULD COST 10,000 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. WE HAVE HAD OUR CAR SERVICED REGULARLY BY COLONIAL MAZDA IN DANBURY, CT. NOW WE HAVE A CAR THAT IS WORTH NOTHING. NOW WE ARE PUT IN A POSITION TO REPLACE OUR CAR AND HAVE NOTHING TO TURN IN TO DEFER THE COST. WITH RESEARCH WE HAVE FOUND THAT DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE MANY MAZDA CX9 HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO THE WATER PUMP LEAKING, THE TRANSFER CASE LEAKING, AND ANTIFREEZE GOING INTO THE ENGINE. IN OUR OPINION, AND APPARENTLY TO MANY CASES WE HAVE READ ONLINE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED IN TO FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ON A SIDE ROAD, SOMEONE ELSE MAY NOT BE AS FORTUNATE. THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE IF FLAWED AND IS MORE THAN LIKELY WHY MAZDA IS NOT HAVING A RECALL, BECAUSE IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR.