2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE Structurebody Problems

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A NOISE LIKE THE ROOF WAS BEING RIPPED OFF. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO INSPECT I NOTICED THAT THE GLASS FROM MY SKYLIGHT WAS GONE. APPEARS THE GLUE DETERIORATED LETTING WINDOW BECOME LOOSE AND THEREFORE BLOWING OFF. GOOD THING DIDNT HIT ANY OTHER VEHICLES.

DRIVING ONE DAY, THE CAR VEERED SUDDENLY INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE THERE. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS CRACKED AND THE CAR'S FRAME WAS RUSTED SO BADLY THE CAR COULD NOT BE JACKED UP.

I OWN A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE FROM NEW. IT CURRENTLY HAVE AROUND 94000 MILES, MECHANICALLY AND COSMETICALLY MAINTAINED. JUST RECENTLY I STARTED HEARING A BANGING NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER REAR AREA. I HAVE SOME STUFF IN THE CARGO AREA ON THAT SIDE SO I FIGURED IT WAS BOUNCING AROUND. SO I REMOVED EVERYTHING AND STILL HAD THE BANGING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I DISCOVERED A PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL AND SHOCK TOWER ROTTING AWAY...THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE...IT PRESENTS MUCH DANGER TO ALL OCCUPANTS AND OTHER VEHICLES OCCUPANTS!!! THIS SHOULD NEVER BE AND SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT IT IS NOT. LOTS OF 2001 TO 2010 MAZDA TRIBUTES, FORD ESCAPES AND MERCURY MARINERS, ARE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HAVE THE MANUFACTURER MAKE GOOD ON THIS DEFECT.

"TAKATA RECALL" MY CAR IS RUSTED UNDERNEATH FROM THE GAS PUMP AND UNDER. ON JULY 11TH, 2019 . I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON A STREET WHEN MY PASSENGER SIDE REAR STRUT CAME OUT FROM THE RUST. SOMETIMES AFTER PUTTING GAS IN MY CAR AND DRIVING OFF INSIDE OF MY CAR WILL START TO SMELL LIKE GAS. SINCE IT IS RUSTED UNDER AND AROUND.

RUSTED OFF RIGHT REAR STRUT MOUNT. DRIVING IN CITY, STARTED HEARING BANGING NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR.

UNDERCARRIAGE CORROSION HAS CAUSED TOTAL CORROSION TO RIGHT REAR WHEEL, WHICH AS CAUSED THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK TO BREAK OFF. THE CORROSION IS NOT NORMAL AND SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT

TOP OF WHEEL WELL ON BOTH SIDES IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT - THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUE AND APPARENTLY HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WHILE BUT IT IS HARD TO NOTICE SINCE IT IS BEHIND THE CLOSED DOOR THAT IT IS APPARENT AND SINCE I AM USUALLY DRIVING, I WOULD NOT HAVE NOTICED IT. I WAS HAVING MY FLEX PIPE REPLACED AND HAVE BEEN NOTICING SOME ANGING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AT THIS POINT, I AM ASSUMING IT IS COMING FROM THE BODY ROTT WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE A DRIVING HAZARD AT THIS POINT. I SAW THAT SOME VEHICLES IN 2004 AND PRIOR WERE RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT APPARENTLY NOT MINE PR MADZA. APPARENTLY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN!

SUBFRAME CORRODED AND A PIECE OF IT FELL OFF COMPROMISING THE AXLE, WHEEL BEARING, AND SEIZED THE RIGHT REAR ROTER. UPON MAZDA TAKING THE TRUCK TO REPAIR THE SUBFRAME THEY NOTED THAT THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE HAD CORRODED RIGHT WITH THE SUBFRAME BEYOND REPAIR. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN DENIED A LOANER VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A CURRENT RECALL ON SUBFRAME FOR CORROSION. I AM STILL WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE OUTCOME IS GOING TO BE. I'VE MISSED 2 DAYS OF WORK ALREADY DUE TO THIS

ADDING MY TRIBUTE TO THE LIST OF REAR PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK/STRUT RUSTING THROUGH THE BODY..VERY DANGEROUS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO MOMENTARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SOME MINOR BRUISING AND SWELLING TO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE BODY, BUT DID NOT RECALL HOW THEY OCCURRED. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE SCENE AND RETRIEVED BY AN EYEWITNESS. THE CONTACT LATER VERIFIED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS FRACTRURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME VERY SLOWLY. THE LOCAL DEALER (OAK LAWN MAZDA, 6750 95TH ST, OAK LAWN, IL, 60453) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN VERY SLOWLY TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD FRACTURED. A REMEDY WAS NOT PROVIDED DUE TO THE DEALER AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK MOUNT HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,826. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

RIGHT REAR WHEEL RUSTED OUT, REAR STRUT COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED. DEALER WONT REPAIR.

THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK TOWER BROKE AWAY FROM THE BODY ,CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK HARD RIGHT ,AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR,THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, I CROSSED INTO THE MIDDLE LANE CUTTING OFF THE AUTO IN THAT LANE . HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE DRIVING SKILLS OFF THE OTHER DRIVER AND MYSELF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE SHOCK THEN TORE THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE UP CAUSING A FLAT. WHEN I CALLED MAZDA THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAD NO PLANS TO RECALL THE VEHICLE FOR THIS MOST COMMON PROBLEM.THIS VEHICLE HAS A RECALL FOR RUST ON THE FRONT FRAME MOUNT BUT NOT ON THE RUST PROBLEMS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLES. I FEEL THEY USED INFERIOR METAL IN THE ENTIRE AUTOMOBILE AND SHOULD REPAIR THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,165.

2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE, APPROX. 101,000 MILES. COMPLETE FAILURE/RUST-THROUGH OF REAR, PASSENGER-SIDE WHEEL WELL CAUSING SEPARATION OF SHOCK/STRUT FROM THE FRAME. AS INDICATED IN THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ, EXPERIENCED LOUD CLUNK AND SWAYING OF THE VEHICLE, BROUGHT TO OUR LONG-TIME MECHANIC WHO INDICATED HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT AND BASED ON AGE/CONDITION THERE IS NO WAY THIS SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP AFTER SPEAKING TO MAZDA CUSTOMER CARE (REP INDICATED THAT RECALL FOR SUB-FRAME CORROSION SHOULD ADDRESS THIS) ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED BUT CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE CORROSION AND SHOCK SEPARATION. WHEN I CALLED MAZDA BACK AND ASKED HOW IT IS POSSIBLE TO ISSUE A RECALL ON A KNOWN ISSUE FOR RUST BUT ONLY ADDRESS ONE CONTACT POINT ON THE FRAME AS, CLEARLY, THE ENTIRE FRAME IS MADE/COATED WITH THE SAME MATERIALS, WAS...

RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT HAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. THIS MAY RESULT IN SUSPENSION FAILURE AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. PHOTOS OF EXTENSIVE RUST CONDITION WIDELY AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE) AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO SUPPLY THE REMEDY PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS DUE TO RECEIVE AN INSPECTION AND MAY NOT PASS DUE TO EXTENSIVE PREMATURE RUST AND CORROSION THAT PROGRESSED FOR MONTHS BEFORE NOTIFICATION OF THE MANUFACTURERS RECALL. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME TO PROVIDE THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

A VERY LOAD BANGING SOUND IS COMING FROM MY RIGHT PASSENGER WHEEL WELL AREA. IT APPEARS THE SHOCK-ABSORBER MOUNTING LOCATION IS RUSTED AWAY AND BREAKING OFF. I CAN SEE INSIDE MY CAR THROUGH THE SPEAKER GRILL NOW. FIRST OCCURED WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND DRIVING OVER A ROAD WITH SMALL POTHOLES. THE REST OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR SEEMS OK.

THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL HAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION THROUGH THE FRAME OF MY VEHICLE. THE CORROSION HAS SPLIT MY FRAME IN HALF AND LEFT WHOLES SURROUNDING THE SPLIT. MY SHOCK TOWER IS EXPOSED AND CORRODED MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE IS SPLITTING IN THE SAME EXACT PLACE.THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND OBVIOUS DEFECT. DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A DIRT ROAD AT 35 MPH (APPROX.) A LOUD SNAP AND DUST ROLLING THING THROUGH THE REAR SPEAKER MOUNTED ON THE WHEEL WELL. I THEN PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE CAR AND FOUND THAT IT WAS ALL RUSTED OUT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HAD AN ABNORMAL LOUD SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK SUPPORT IN THE WHEEL WELL HAD ROTTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT PART OF THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. IN ADDITION, THE BRACKET WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

RIGHT REAR SHOCK HAS BROKEN THROUGH WHEEL PANEL AND CAN BE SEEN FROM THE TRUNK AREA. LEFT REAR SIDE HAS STRESS FRACTURES AND I ASSUME WILL ALSO BREAK THROUGH EVENTUALLY. TOOK CAR TO BODY SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WHEEL PANEL HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND THAT IT WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX BECAUSE TO PROPERLY FIX THE CAR ONE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHEEL PANEL AND ANY OTHER METAL AREA ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR THAT IS RUSTED. IS NHTSA WILLING TO TAKE THE CAR TO TEST THE UNDERCOATING AND METAL TO DETERMINE IF THEY MEET PROPER STANDARDS? I WENT ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER MADZA TRIBUTES AND EVEN FORD ESCAPES. CAN YOU HELP?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL HOUSE PANEL AND SHOCK WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, WHOM ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL HOUSE PANEL AND SHOCK WERE SEVERELY CORRODED DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL HOUSE PANEL AND SHOCK AND THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL HOUSE PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

EXTENSIVE RUST IN THE BACK PASSENGER WHEEL WELL WHICH HAS CAUSED THE SUSPENSION TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR. *TR

THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL HAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION THROUGH THE FRAME OF MY VEHICLE. THE CORROSION HAS SPLIT MY FRAME IN HALF AND LEFT WHOLES SURROUNDING THE SPLIT. MY SHOCK TOWER IS EXPOSED AND CORRODED MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE IS SPLITTING IN THE SAME EXACT PLACE.THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND OBVIOUS DEFECT. THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE WAS JUST RECALLED AND REPAIRED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MAZDA HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE ALREADY. EXCESSIVE CORROSION HAS ALSO OCCURRED ON THE FORD ESCAPE MADE FROM THE SAME LINE. MAZDA NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND CORRECT THIS BEFORE A SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITY OCCURS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS RUSTING CAUSING THE STRUT BRACE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED A MANUFACTURERS RECALL THAT WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

WHILE LOOKING FOR A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR FOUND THAT THE SHOCK MOUNT ASSEMBLY WAS BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. YOU COULD SEE THROUGH TO THE INTERIOR FABRIC, LEAVING SHOCK AND MOUNT ATTACHED TO NOTHING. SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. *TR

THIS WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. I RECENTLY HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE RIGHT AND LEFT INNER WHEELHOUSE PANELS ON MY 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE INNER WHEELHOUSE PANELS WERE RUSTED THRU AND THE SHOCKS THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THOSE PANELS WERE LOOSE DUE TO CRACKS IN THE PANELS AND WERE BANGING UP AGAINST THE CAR. I DON'T CONSIDER THAT MUCH CORROSION THAT CAUSED THE PANELS TO BREAK LOOSE FROM THE CAR BODY AS NORMAL WEAR & TEAR NOR PART OF SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE WATCHED UNDER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. I HAVE KEPT CARS LONGER THAN 10 YEARS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM! IT WAS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD AND SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT IN A SERIOUS AUTO ACCIDENT. PLEASE RECOMMEND A RECALL ON 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTES DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN THEIR QUALITY CONTROL AND PROCESSES. *TR

EXCESSIVE CORROSION AT REAR SHOCK MOUNT. REAR WHEEL WELL AND SHOCK MOUNT REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME, REAR SHOCK TOWER, AND WHEEL WELL WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (SUSPENSION) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT PROVIDING A SUFFICIENT REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

I NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD A KNOCKING COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE I THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD SHOCK AT FIRST SO I PULLED OVER TO CHECK IT OUT AND THE REAR SHOCK BRACKETS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND ARE BREAKING AWAY FROM THE MAIN FRAME. I CONTACTED MAZDA ON APRIL 10 2014 AND THEY SAID THEY HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING TO MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES AS WELL AS MANY FORD ESCAPES. THEY HAVENT PROVIDED ANY OTHER INFO ON ASSITANCE WITH REPAIRS OR A RECALL. THE CAR IS NO LONGER DRIVEABLE UNTIL IT GOES THROUGH MASSIVE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SHEET METAL AND FRAMING IN THE REAR WHEEL WELL. *TT

INSIDE BOTH REAR WHEEL WELLS, THE BODY IS RUSTING OUT SUBSTANTIALLY AROUND THE SHOCK TOWER BRACKET. IT IS SO BAD THAT THE SHOCK TOWER CAN BREAK LOSE AND THE CAR WILL BE A DANGER TO DRIVE. THIS IS DOCUMENTED TO HAVE HAPPENED TO MANY SIMILAR 2004-2006 MAZDA TRIBUTES AND FORD ESCAPES (MADE ON SAME FACTORY LINE). IT IS A DIFFICULT AND COSTLY REPAIR. HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PAGES/2005-FORD-ESCAPE-2004-2006/397923900236108. *TR

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD THEM CHECK OUT SOME NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. DEALER SAYS THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL IS VERY RUSTED (ACTUALLY RUSTED THROUGH IN SPOTS) AND NOT STABLE. NOISE IS COMING FROM AROUND THE REAR SHOCK AREA WHICH IS VERY DETERIORATED AROUND THE SHOCK MOUNT AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE SHOCK MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED. THE SAME THING IS STARTING TO HAPPEN ON THE OTHER REAR WHEEL WELL BUT MOST OF THE DAMAGE IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE IS NO VISIBLE RUST ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. WE WERE REFERRED TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP BUT THE REPAIR WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE TOO FIX. WE'VE REGULARLY SERVICED THIS VEHICLE AT THE DEALER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT NEW. I'VE CHECKED ON-LINE AND HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE OCCURRING IN MAZDA TRIBUTES AND FORD ESCAPES IN THE 2004-2005...

THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH INCLUDING THE REAR SHOCK MOUNTS. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE METAL TOGETHER WAS THE OUTER UNDERCOATING SPRAY. MY 18 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN THIS CONDITION. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND SEE THAT OTHER MAZDA TRIBUTE AND FORD ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT'S AN OBVIOUS MANFACTURE'S DEFECT THAT IS OCCURRING NATIONALLY AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION. *TR