NHTSA Complaint #714498 — 1995 MAZDA MILLENIA

I WAS ADVISED THAT THE CV AXLE BOOT WAS STARTING TO CRACK AND THAT REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO AVOID AXLE PROBLEMS. I IMMEDIATELY HAD THE BOOTS REPLACED. A SHORT TIME LATER, I STARTED EXPERIENCING A VIBRATING/SHAKING IN THE FRONT END THAT RESEMBLED A "FLAT TIRE". AFTER BEING CHARGED A $50.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT AXLE SHAFTS NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 80,000 MILES AND FOR AN AUTOMOBILE OF THIS TYPE, THIS TYPE OF FAILURE DID NOT SEEM NORMAL. AT MY REQUEST, I WAS GIVEN THE PARTS REMOVED AND HAVE THEM AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION. I WROTE TO MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT WAS ADVISED THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE REPAIRS AND CORRESPONDENCE TOOK PLACE IN OCT. & NOV. 1998. I RECENTLY READ IN CONSUMER REPORTS THAT YOU MAINTAIN A DATABASE OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND DECIDED I NEEDED TO DOCUMENT MY PROBLEM. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION OR WOULD LIKE TO EXAMINE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THANK YOU. JEAN CALDERWOOD