2006 Mazda MAZDA5

THERE ARE TWO SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS MINI VAN. THE FIRST ONE IS FOR THE DOOR HANDLES/LATCHES ON THE BACK SLIDING DOORS ON DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IT AND APPARENTLY IT WAS FIXED IN 2009 BUT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AGAIN THAT IS GETTING WORSE. WHEN I TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR TO GET MY CHILD OUT THE DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT ENGAGE, I HAVE TO TRY TO OPEN FROM INSIDE AND SOMETIMES THAT DOES NTO ENGAGE, SO THEN I HAVE TO SLIDE THE LOCK BACK AND FORTH AND CONTINUE TO TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR UNTIL IT FINALLY OPENS. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM IF WE WERE EVER TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT ETC. I CALLED MAZDA AND THEY SAID RECALL IS CLOSED AND THEY CAN NOT HELP ME UNLESS I WANT TO PAY DIAGNOSTIC FEE OF 140 AND THEN WHATEVER THE REPAIR IS ON TOP OF THAT. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE BRAKES. THEY DO NOT WORK WELL UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS, BUT WHEN IT RAINS SOMETIMES THEY STOP WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I'VE ALMOST BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THEY SUDDNELY GO SOFT AND JUST STOP WORKING. I HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY PUMP THE BRAKES TO TRY TO GET ANY TRACTION AND THEN STOP DRIVING UNTIL THEY DRY OUT. WE'VE HAD THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED AND MECHANICS SAY NOTHING IS WRONG, BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS IS JUST A BAD DESIGN AND SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG. WE CAN'T AFFORD A NEW CAR BUT DON'T' FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR, NOT SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITY AS WELL. THE LOSS IS SUDDEN AND CAUSES THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS STEERING BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THIS IS DANGEROUS. I ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD ONCE AND HIT A MEDIAN ON ANOTHER OCCASION. ITS LIKE A TIME BOMB, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR. DASH LIGHTS ALL LIGHT UP AS WELL AND SOMETIMES POWER IS RESTORED BUT THE ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR IS NOT. CAR IS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL YET STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL ISSUE AND MAZDA CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUE. ADDITIONAL VEHICLES NEED TO BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST AS THERE ARE MORE VEHICLES AFFECTED OUTSIDE OF THE VIN'S INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. SINCE. ACCORDING TO MAZDA, THEY COMPLY WITH NHTSA WHEN ISSUING RECALLS, MORE VEHICLES NEED TO BE INCLUDED AS THERE IS A MULTITUDE OF MAZDA 5 OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALL VEHICLES.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR FLEW OPEN WITH MY 5 AND 3 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR. WHEN I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO CLOSE IT I COULD SEE THAT THE LATCH WAS FROZEN OPEN. I COULD NOT GET IT TO LATCH AGAIN UNTIL THE TEMPERATURE HAD BEEN WARMER FOR HALF THE DAY. IT HAS BEEN COLDER THAT 25 DEGREES FOR THE LAST 3 DAYS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 5. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,481.

THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES STIFF WHILE IN MOTION AND A WARNING YELLOW STEERING LIGHT TURNS ON ON DASHBOARD. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. WE EVEN HAD IT CHECKED WITH A MECHANIC WHO COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE CAR COOLS DOWN, THE STEERING STARTS WORKING AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, SINCE WHILE DRIVING, THE WHEEL BECOMES INOPERATIVE, THEREFORE, MAY CAUSE A TRAGIC ACCIDENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT IMPACT. AS A RESULT, SMALL PIECES OF GLASS FELL ON THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS TO THE HANDS THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO AVOID A COLLISION AND MERGED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE SUN ROOF THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,914.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 5. WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CAUGHT FIRE. A POLICE OFFICER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 139,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC GUARD AROUND THE TIRE FRACTURED AND DETACHED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE LINE WAS CUT BY THE PLASTIC AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A ROCK WALL. THE BRAKE CALIPER AND DRIVER DOOR WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.