NHTSA Complaint #11408557 — 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6

WATER LEAK IN TRUNK AREA LEADING TO ABOUT A 2-INCH PUDDLE OF WATER ACCUMULATION INSIDE THE TRUNK AT THE LOCATION OF THE SPARE TIRE AREA. ISSUE WAS NOTICED ON APRIL 16, 2021. THE WATER ACCUMULATED ON TOP AND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SPARE TIRE. THE PARTS OF THE VEHICLE ARE BEGINNING TO BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED --MOLD, ETC. THERE WERE ITEMS STORED AROUND THE SPARE TIRE 'E.G. FLAT TIRE REPAIR KIT, EMERGENCY BLANKET, ETC. THAT DEVELOPED MOLD DUE TO THE ACCUMULATED WATER AND WERE THROWN AWAY UPON INSPECTION. IN ADDITION TO THE SPARE TIRE AREA ACCUMULATING SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER, THE SPARE THE COVER (I.E.PLASTIC HONEYCOMB TYPE THAT SITS DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE SPARE TIRE) IS AFFECTED WITH THE EVAPORATION/CONDENSATION OF THE ACCUMULATED WATER. ALL OTHER PARTS OF THE TRUNK AND VEHICLE ARE WERE NOT WET TO THE TOUCH. THE SOURCE OF THE WATER IS UNKNOWN. AND IT WAS NOT A USER ERROR TYPE OF ISSUE 'THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STORED WITH ALL WINDOWS, DOORS, TRUNK, AND HOOD CLOSED. CONCERN IS THAT THE ACCUMULATION OF WATER WILL LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF MOLD INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND AN UNHEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS OCCUPYING THE CAR. ADDITIONALLY, IT WILL LEAD TO VEHICLE CORROSION SINCE THE AREA WHERE THE WATER ACCUMULATES IS NOT INTENDED TO BE CONSISTENTLY HOLDING WATER. ATTACHED ARE SEVERAL PHOTOS SHOWING THE AFFECTED AREA. NOTE THAT THE PHOTOS ONLY SHOW THE ACCUMULATED WATER THAT WAS UNDERNEATH THE SPARE TIRE AFTER THE WATER ACCUMULATED ON TOP OF THE SPARE TIRE (INNER SECTION OF THE SPARE TIRE METAL WHEEL WHICH LAYS UP WHEN STORED IN THE VEHICLE'S TRUNK), CLOSE TO 2-INCHES WORTH, WAS REMOVED ALONG WITH THE SPARE TIRE ITSELF. I DID NOT THINK OF TAKING PHOTOS OF THE ISSUE UNTIL AFTER I REMOVED THE SPARE TIRE AND THE ACCUMULATED WATER. PLEASE LOOK INTO THE MATTER AND CONSIDER ISSUING A RECALL THAT WOULD ALLOW MAZDA TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.THANK YOU.