SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WAS ROUGH SOMETIMES. I CHECKED THE TORQUE ON BOLT OF DRIVER'S SIDE ENGINE MOUNT AND IT WAS LOOSE. IT TURNED UNDER 30 FEET-LB. BOLT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 70-80 FEET-LB FROM THE FACTORY. AFTER BOLT WAS TIGHTENED TO SPEC SHIFTING BECAME A LOT SMOOTHER. I WAS CONVINCED THAT IF BOLT WAS NOT TIGHTENED FAIL…
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SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WAS ROUGH SOMETIMES. I CHECKED THE TORQUE ON BOLT OF DRIVER'S SIDE ENGINE MOUNT AND IT WAS LOOSE. IT TURNED UNDER 30 FEET-LB. BOLT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 70-80 FEET-LB FROM THE FACTORY. AFTER BOLT WAS TIGHTENED TO SPEC SHIFTING BECAME A LOT SMOOTHER. I WAS CONVINCED THAT IF BOLT WAS NOT TIGHTENED FAILURE OF DRIVER' S-SIDE ENGINE MOUNT BOLT WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN A COUPLE THOUSAND MORE MILES. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 3000 MILES ON IT -ENGINE WOULD HAVE DROPPED OVER LEFT SIDE DRIVESHAFT, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. REFER TO INVESTIGATION PE07015 . *AK
NHTSA ODI #10190851
1,750 miles · Apr 27, 2007
Power Train
I DID MAJOR RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. MOST OF THE INFO I USED WAS FOUND HERE: HTTP://WWW.MAZDA3FORUMS.COM/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=68975.0;ALL. I STARTED READING HERE JUST FOR FUN AND DISCOVERED THAT I MAY HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ON MY HANDS. THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT BOLT ON MY 2007 MAZDASPEED 3 LOOSENED AT 18-20 FT-…
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I DID MAJOR RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. MOST OF THE INFO I USED WAS FOUND HERE: HTTP://WWW.MAZDA3FORUMS.COM/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=68975.0;ALL. I STARTED READING HERE JUST FOR FUN AND DISCOVERED THAT I MAY HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ON MY HANDS. THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT BOLT ON MY 2007 MAZDASPEED 3 LOOSENED AT 18-20 FT-LBS OF TORQUE!! THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. NO LESS THAN 5 PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS BOLT FAIL AND THEIR ENGINE HAS FALLEN ONTO THE FRAME OF THE CAR!! THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. MANY OTHERS HAVE FOUND THAT THIS BOLT IS NOT TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SPECS. I RAISED THE TRANSMISSION ABOUT 1 INCH (TO RELIEVE PRESSURE) BEFORE CHECKING THE TORQUE ON THE BOLT. I APPLIED BLUE LOCKTIGHT AND RE-TORQUED TO 75 FT-LBS. THERE WERE NO METAL SHAVINGS ON THE BOLT AND IT LOOKED FINE. THE THREADS INSIDE THE MOUNT ALSO APPEARED FINE. I ALSO HAD A STRANGE NOISE FROM THE LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR THAT STARTED WITH LESS THAN 300 MILES ON THE CAR!! YOU COULD FEEL A VIBRATION AND IT WAS VERY LOUD AND AUDIBLE. IT SOUNDED LIKE A LOW PITCHED GROAN OR SOMETHING RUBBING. IT WAS INTERMITTENT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. ODDLY, APPLYING THE BRAKES STOPPED THE SOUND AND VIBRATION, EVEN IF YOU JUST BARLEY TOUCHED THEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD REPRODUCE THE ISSUE, BUT COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE PROBLEM LESSENED THE MORE I DROVE THE CAR. EVEN SO, I ALWAYS FELT LIKE SOMETHING DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. AFTER LOCKING DOWN THE BOLT TO CORRECT SPECS, I HAVE NOTICED THAT EVERYTHING FEELS MUCH MORE SOLID NOW. THE NOISES HAVE GONE AWAY AND THE SHIFTER LINKAGE IS FIRM AGAIN, NOT "SPONGY" LIKE BEFORE. SINCE MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE, I FEEL THAT MAZDA NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN BY ISSUING A RE-CALL. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10189078
8,063 miles · Apr 10, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
I WAS ROLLING IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AND WENT TO SECOND GEAR DOING MAYBE 15 MPH AND HEARD A CLUCK. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS REFLECTORS ON THE ROAD AS THAT WAS WHAT IT SEEMED LIKE. I MADE A TURN , AND AS THE THUNK PERSISTED, I IMMEDIATLY STOPPED AND POPPED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED THE MOTOR FELL FORWARD IN THE THE RADIATIO…
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I WAS ROLLING IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AND WENT TO SECOND GEAR DOING MAYBE 15 MPH AND HEARD A CLUCK. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS REFLECTORS ON THE ROAD AS THAT WAS WHAT IT SEEMED LIKE. I MADE A TURN , AND AS THE THUNK PERSISTED, I IMMEDIATLY STOPPED AND POPPED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED THE MOTOR FELL FORWARD IN THE THE RADIATIOR. IT WAS DUE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE TRANSMISSION MOUNT THAT CAME LOOSE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10187417
2,300 miles · Mar 15, 2007
Power TrainStructure
MAZDASPEED3 TRANSMISSION/ENGINE MOUNT. THESE HAVE BEEN FAILING ON A QUITE A FEW 2007 MAZDASPEED3 CARS. MY DEALER WOULD NOT EVEN CHECK MINE UPON REQUEST. MANY DEALERS EITHER CLAIM TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT, OR ARE NOT GIVING THE PROPER SERVICE ON THIS. MAZDA CANADA/USA IS ALSO CLAIMING IGNORANT ON THIS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AS M…
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MAZDASPEED3 TRANSMISSION/ENGINE MOUNT. THESE HAVE BEEN FAILING ON A QUITE A FEW 2007 MAZDASPEED3 CARS. MY DEALER WOULD NOT EVEN CHECK MINE UPON REQUEST. MANY DEALERS EITHER CLAIM TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT, OR ARE NOT GIVING THE PROPER SERVICE ON THIS. MAZDA CANADA/USA IS ALSO CLAIMING IGNORANT ON THIS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AS MAZDA HAD FLOWN ENGINEERS FROM JAPAN TO THE US TO REVIEW A COUPLE OF CASES, AS REPORTED BY ANOTHER MEMBER. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS THIS MOUNT HOLDS THE ENGINE IN THE CAR, AND CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE INJURY OR WORSE IN MY OPINION. BTW, I WORK AS AN ENGINEER. I HAD TO CHECK MY BOLT MYSELF AND FOUND IT TO BE LOOSE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10185202
6,000 miles · Mar 14, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
2007 MAZDASPEED 3 : TRANSMISSION MOUNT BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED MIS-SHIFTS, LOUD CLUNKING NOISES AND STABILITY DEGRADATION. ASKED DEALER TO TIGHTEN BOLT BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET THEM TOO. ON PERSONAL INSPECTION BOLT WAS LOOSE AND TRANSMISSION WAS FREE TO MOVE AROUND. AFTER TORQUING BOLT TO SPEC ALL PREVIOUS MENTIONED SYMPTOMS WEN…
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2007 MAZDASPEED 3 : TRANSMISSION MOUNT BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED MIS-SHIFTS, LOUD CLUNKING NOISES AND STABILITY DEGRADATION. ASKED DEALER TO TIGHTEN BOLT BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET THEM TOO. ON PERSONAL INSPECTION BOLT WAS LOOSE AND TRANSMISSION WAS FREE TO MOVE AROUND. AFTER TORQUING BOLT TO SPEC ALL PREVIOUS MENTIONED SYMPTOMS WENT AWAY. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10185062
Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2007
Power Train
I HAVE HEARD VIA MAZDA3FORUMS.COM THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE DRIVERS SIDE TRANSMISSION MOUNT AND I DECIDED TO CHECK MY OWN SINCE I HAVE WORKED ON CARS FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS...AND I DO NOT TRUST DEALER SERVICE. I ATTACHED A TORQUE WRENCH TO THE BOLT AND PROCEEDED TO GET ABOUT 1/3 TO 1/2 A TURN OUT OF THE BOLT WITH…
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I HAVE HEARD VIA MAZDA3FORUMS.COM THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE DRIVERS SIDE TRANSMISSION MOUNT AND I DECIDED TO CHECK MY OWN SINCE I HAVE WORKED ON CARS FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS...AND I DO NOT TRUST DEALER SERVICE. I ATTACHED A TORQUE WRENCH TO THE BOLT AND PROCEEDED TO GET ABOUT 1/3 TO 1/2 A TURN OUT OF THE BOLT WITH ABOUT 50 FT/LBS AS MY STARTING POINT. I THEN REMOVED THE BOLT, COVERED IN RED LOCATED AND REINSTALLED, TORQUING THE BOLT TO 90 FT/LBS. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND OWNERS OF THIS NEW CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CHECK THEIR MOTOR MOUNTS FOR FEAR OF FAILURE WHEN THE MOUNTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE RIGHT FROM THE MANUFACTURER.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10184762
1,800 miles · Mar 7, 2007
Power Train
I HAD READ REPORTS OF TRANSMISSION MOUNT BOLT FAILURE WITH MY NEW CAR THAT HAD RESULTED IN THE ENGINE FALLING OUT OF THE ENGINE BAY ONTO THE GROUND. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REASON THIS WAS HAPPENING WAS DUE TO A TRANSMISSION MOUNT BOLT THAT HAD WORKED ITS WAY LOOSE UNTIL THE POINT OF BREAKING OFF. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO THE AT…
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I HAD READ REPORTS OF TRANSMISSION MOUNT BOLT FAILURE WITH MY NEW CAR THAT HAD RESULTED IN THE ENGINE FALLING OUT OF THE ENGINE BAY ONTO THE GROUND. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REASON THIS WAS HAPPENING WAS DUE TO A TRANSMISSION MOUNT BOLT THAT HAD WORKED ITS WAY LOOSE UNTIL THE POINT OF BREAKING OFF. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF SEVERAL DEALERS ACROSS THE USA BY SEVERAL OWNERS AND NONE SEEMED TO SHOW ANY INTEREST IN CHECKING THE PROBLEM FOR FREE, SINCE NO OFFICIAL SERVICE NOTICE HAD COME FROM MAZDA AND THEY WOULD NOT BE PAID FOR THE LABOR OF CHECKING IT OUT. AS A PREVENTABLE MEASURE, I CHECKED MY BOLT PERSONALLY AND HOOKED UP A TORQUE WRENCH TO SEE HOW TIGHT IT WAS. I STARTED AT 10LBS AND WENT UP IN 2LB INCREMENTS. I WAS ABLE TO TIGHTEN THE BOLT BEGINNING AT 26 FT/LBS. I GOT ALMOST A FULL TURN BEFORE IT BOTTOMED OUT AND THEN I SET A FINAL TORQUE AT 75 FT/LB. I THEN REMOVED THE BOLT, COVERED IT IN RED THREAD LOCKER AND REINSTALLED IT AGAIN TO 75 FT/LBS. I BELIEVE THE TORQUE SPEC FOR THIS MOUNT BOLT SHOULD BE BETWEEN 70 TO 90+ FT/LBS SO, I AM UNDER THE ASSUMPTION IT WAS QUITE LOOSE AND CERTAINLY DANGEROUS. THIS COMPLAINT REFERS TO THE DRIVERS SIDE TRANSMISSION MOUNT BOLT. *JB
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE NO. 4 LEFT SIDE ENGINE MOUNT BOLT MAY LOOSEN IF A SUDDEN RAPID ACCELERATION IS REPEATEDLY PERFORMED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUOUSLY DRIVEN UNDER SUCH CONDITION, THE NO. 4 ENGINE MOUNT BOLT MAY LOOSEN AND PULL OUT OR BREAK, ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO BE OUT OF POSITION. IN EXTREME CASES, THE DRIVE SHAFT MAY BECOME DETACHED. IF THIS OCCURS THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER AND WILL COME TO A STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NO. 4 ENGINE MOUNT BOLT WITH A MODIFIED ONE, AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE NO. 4 ENGINE MOUNT RUBBER AND BRACKET WITH NEW ONES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALLBEGAN ON JULY 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 800-222-5500 .
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ACCESSORY ALL WEATHER FLOOR MATS, THERE IS INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE FLOOR MAT AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THIS SITUATION IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MIGHT GET STUCK BEHIND THE FLOOR MAT, WHICH MAY PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM PROPERLY DECELERATING WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THE FLOOR MATS TO DEALERS AND WILL BE SHIPPED A NEW FLOOR MAT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 7, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE07015 · Failure Of Engine/transmission Mount
Opened Mar 13, 2007 · Closed Jul 13, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline; Power Train:manual Transmission
ON JULY 2, 2007 MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA REGARDING THE LEFT HAND SIDE (LHS) ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS IN APPROXIMATELY 5,700 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 MAZDASPEED3 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 26, 2006 THROUGH MAY 19, 2007 (MAZDA RECALL 4607F, NHTSA RECALL 07V-295).ACCORDING TO MAZDA, THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT COULD LOOSEN UNDER REPEATED LOADS PRODUCED DURING RAPID ACCELERATIONS.LOOSE BOLTS COULD PULL OUT OR BREAK, ALLOWING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO DROP ON THE LEFT SIDE.WHEN THE ENGINE DROPS, THE DRIVESHAFT MAY BECOME DETACHED AND DISABLE THE VEHICLE.MAZDA WILL REPLACE THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT RUBBER AND BRACKET WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY.MAZDA STATED IN ITS LETTER THAT IT CONTINUES TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO UNREASONABLE RISK OF ACCIDENT OR INJURY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONDITION, CITING THE LACK OF ACCIDENTS AND CONTENDING THAT MOST OF THE REPORTED INCIDENTS WERE IDENTIFIED BY OPERATORS BEFORE THERE WAS ANY EFFECT ON VEHICLE OPERATION. ODI DISAGREES WITH MAZDA.ALTHOUGH ONLY ABOUT HALF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAD ENTERED SERVICE BY THE CUTOFF DATE OF THE FAILURE DATA SUBMITTED BY MAZDA, ODI'S ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 36 SUBJECT VEHICLES WITH REPAIRS FOR LOOSE OR BROKEN LHS MOUNTING BOLTS.ODI VERIFIED 17 INCIDENTS OF BOLT FRACTURE RESULTING IN THE ENGINE DROPPING IN THESE VEHICLES, INCLUDING AT LEAST 10 THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE DISABLEMENT.ALL OF THE BOLT FRACTURES OCCURRED IN THE FIRST 7 MONTHS OF VEHICLE SERVICE, WITH 8 FAILING WITHIN 4 MONTHS.THESE FAILURES RESULT IN A RELATIVELY HIGH FAILURE RATE WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER ODI INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING DEFECT CONDITIONS WITH SIMILAR SAFETY CONSEQUENCES THAT RESULTED IN SAFETY RECALLS, PARTICULARLY WHEN CONSIDERING THE VERY SHORT SERVICE LIFE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION. ODI INTERVIEWED OWNERS TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE LHS BOLT DEFECT.MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE INTERVIEWED WHO EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FALL INCIDENT INDICATED THE EVENT DISABLED THE VEHICLE, SOME BEING STRANDED IN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.AT LEAST THREE-QUARTERS OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO INCREASE SPEED, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN CHANGE IN ACCELERATION.EACH OF THESE DRIVERS EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EVENT, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING STRUCK BY TRAILING OR CROSSING TRAFFIC.IN ONE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANES AFTER THE LHS MOUNT BOLT BROKE, STOPPING IN THE ROADWAY AFTER STRIKING A CURB. BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, ODI STRONGLY DISAGREES WITH MAZDA'S CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SAFETY RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFECT IN THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED BASED ON MAZDA'S RECALL.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MAZDA'S CAMPAIGN REMEDY AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
ON JULY 2, 2007 MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA REGARDING THE LEFT HAND SIDE (LHS) ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS IN APPROXIMATELY 5,700 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 MAZDASPEED3 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 26, 2006 THROUGH MAY 19, 2007 (MAZDA RECALL 4607F, NHTSA RECALL 07V-295).ACCORDING TO MAZDA, THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT COULD LOOSEN UNDER REPEATED LOADS PRODUCED DURING RAPID ACCELERATIONS.LOOSE BOLTS COULD PULL OUT OR BREAK, ALLOWING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO DROP ON THE LEFT SIDE.WHEN THE ENGINE DROPS, THE DRIVESHAFT MAY BECOME DETACHED AND DISABLE THE VEHICLE.MAZDA WILL REPLACE THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT RUBBER AND BRACKET WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY.MAZDA STATED IN ITS LETTER THAT IT CONTINUES TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO UNREASONABLE RISK OF ACCIDENT OR INJURY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONDITION, CITING THE LACK OF ACCIDENTS AND CONTENDING THAT MOST OF THE REPORTED INCIDENTS WERE IDENTIFIED BY OPERATORS BEFORE THERE WAS ANY EFFECT ON VEHICLE OPERATION. ODI DISAGREES WITH MAZDA.ALTHOUGH ONLY ABOUT HALF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAD ENTERED SERVICE BY THE CUTOFF DATE OF THE FAILURE DATA SUBMITTED BY MAZDA, ODI'S ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 36 SUBJECT VEHICLES WITH REPAIRS FOR LOOSE OR BROKEN LHS MOUNTING BOLTS.ODI VERIFIED 17 INCIDENTS OF BOLT FRACTURE RESULTING IN THE ENGINE DROPPING IN THESE VEHICLES, INCLUDING AT LEAST 10 THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE DISABLEMENT.ALL OF THE BOLT FRACTURES OCCURRED IN THE FIRST 7 MONTHS OF VEHICLE SERVICE, WITH 8 FAILING WITHIN 4 MONTHS.THESE FAILURES RESULT IN A RELATIVELY HIGH FAILURE RATE WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER ODI INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING DEFECT CONDITIONS WITH SIMILAR SAFETY CONSEQUENCES THAT RESULTED IN SAFETY RECALLS, PARTICULARLY WHEN CONSIDERING THE VERY SHORT SERVICE LIFE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION. ODI INTERVIEWED OWNERS TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE LHS BOLT DEFECT.MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE INTERVIEWED WHO EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FALL INCIDENT INDICATED THE EVENT DISABLED THE VEHICLE, SOME BEING STRANDED IN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.AT LEAST THREE-QUARTERS OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO INCREASE SPEED, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN CHANGE IN ACCELERATION.EACH OF THESE DRIVERS EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EVENT, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING STRUCK BY TRAILING OR CROSSING TRAFFIC.IN ONE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANES AFTER THE LHS MOUNT BOLT BROKE, STOPPING IN THE ROADWAY AFTER STRIKING A CURB. BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, ODI STRONGLY DISAGREES WITH MAZDA'S CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SAFETY RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFECT IN THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED BASED ON MAZDA'S RECALL.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MAZDA'S CAMPAIGN REMEDY AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.
Power Train:manual Transmission
ON JULY 2, 2007 MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA REGARDING THE LEFT HAND SIDE (LHS) ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS IN APPROXIMATELY 5,700 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 MAZDASPEED3 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 26, 2006 THROUGH MAY 19, 2007 (MAZDA RECALL 4607F, NHTSA RECALL 07V-295).ACCORDING TO MAZDA, THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT COULD LOOSEN UNDER REPEATED LOADS PRODUCED DURING RAPID ACCELERATIONS.LOOSE BOLTS COULD PULL OUT OR BREAK, ALLOWING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO DROP ON THE LEFT SIDE.WHEN THE ENGINE DROPS, THE DRIVESHAFT MAY BECOME DETACHED AND DISABLE THE VEHICLE.MAZDA WILL REPLACE THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT RUBBER AND BRACKET WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY.MAZDA STATED IN ITS LETTER THAT IT CONTINUES TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO UNREASONABLE RISK OF ACCIDENT OR INJURY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONDITION, CITING THE LACK OF ACCIDENTS AND CONTENDING THAT MOST OF THE REPORTED INCIDENTS WERE IDENTIFIED BY OPERATORS BEFORE THERE WAS ANY EFFECT ON VEHICLE OPERATION. ODI DISAGREES WITH MAZDA.ALTHOUGH ONLY ABOUT HALF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAD ENTERED SERVICE BY THE CUTOFF DATE OF THE FAILURE DATA SUBMITTED BY MAZDA, ODI'S ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 36 SUBJECT VEHICLES WITH REPAIRS FOR LOOSE OR BROKEN LHS MOUNTING BOLTS.ODI VERIFIED 17 INCIDENTS OF BOLT FRACTURE RESULTING IN THE ENGINE DROPPING IN THESE VEHICLES, INCLUDING AT LEAST 10 THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE DISABLEMENT.ALL OF THE BOLT FRACTURES OCCURRED IN THE FIRST 7 MONTHS OF VEHICLE SERVICE, WITH 8 FAILING WITHIN 4 MONTHS.THESE FAILURES RESULT IN A RELATIVELY HIGH FAILURE RATE WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER ODI INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING DEFECT CONDITIONS WITH SIMILAR SAFETY CONSEQUENCES THAT RESULTED IN SAFETY RECALLS, PARTICULARLY WHEN CONSIDERING THE VERY SHORT SERVICE LIFE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION. ODI INTERVIEWED OWNERS TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE LHS BOLT DEFECT.MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE INTERVIEWED WHO EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FALL INCIDENT INDICATED THE EVENT DISABLED THE VEHICLE, SOME BEING STRANDED IN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.AT LEAST THREE-QUARTERS OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO INCREASE SPEED, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN CHANGE IN ACCELERATION.EACH OF THESE DRIVERS EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EVENT, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING STRUCK BY TRAILING OR CROSSING TRAFFIC.IN ONE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANES AFTER THE LHS MOUNT BOLT BROKE, STOPPING IN THE ROADWAY AFTER STRIKING A CURB. BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, ODI STRONGLY DISAGREES WITH MAZDA'S CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SAFETY RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFECT IN THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED BASED ON MAZDA'S RECALL.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MAZDA'S CAMPAIGN REMEDY AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.
2007 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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