NHTSA Complaint #754687 — 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE

I BOUGHT MY TRIBUTE IN AUGUST AND JUST HAD THE FIRST SERVICE DONE RECENTLY SO WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2001, I WAS NOT EXPECTING ANY PROBLEM. I WAS GOING ABOUT 45 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I COULDN'T STEER THE CAR. THE POWER STEERING HAD CEASED AND I BELIEVE THE BRAKES ALSO. I VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED THE CAR. I PROCEEDED TO FIND A PHONE TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE AND WHEN I GOT THE CAR TOWED TO RIDGEFIELD MAZDA I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND HE WAS ALMOST CERTAIN HE KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. HE TOLD ME MAZDA HAD GOTTEN SEVERAL TRIBUTES COME IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH IS THE IGNITION FAILS AND EVERYTHING GOES OUT LIKE THE STEERING ETC. JUST WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. OBVIOUSLY, MAZDA KNEW OF THE PROBLEM, AND I QUESTIONED HOW THEY COULD NOT NOTIFY OTHER DRIVERS OF THIS MALFUNCTION. HE TOLD ME IT WASN'T CONSIDERED A RECALL AS OF YET EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD SEVERAL CUSTOMERS COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE TRIBUTE IS A NEW VEHICLE AND I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY STILL BE KINKS/BUGS TO WORK OUT WITH A NEW VEHICLE BUT THIS ISN'T A MINOR PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE THIS CHECKED INTO AND IF POSSIBLE, MAKE IT A RECALL SO THIS WON'T HAPPEN TO OTHER DRIVERS. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR TO A SAFE LOCATION, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. I WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE. THANK YOU.. *AK