2003 Mazda Protege

THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING UNCONTROLLABLY THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND PULL OVER. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT TIRE HAD BLOWNED. THE DRIVER CALLED FOR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE TIRE SIZE AND DOT NUMBER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH BACK RIGHT TIRE WENT FLAT INSTANTLY WITHOUT WARNING. TIRE MAKE: BRIDGESTONE POTENZA P195/55R15. THE TIRE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF WEAR OR DAMAGE AND WAS ONLY DRIVEN ON FOR 25,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP (PEPBOYS) AND THEY FOUND THAT THE INSIDE STEEL BELT HAD BROKE AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO FAIL. I REPLACED THAT TIRE WITH ANOTHER BRAND (COST $100), AND STILL HAVE THE DAMAGED BRIDGESTONE TIRE FOR EVIDENCE.*AK

I HAVE A 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, I PAID EXTRA FOR A SIDE AIRBAGS AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE PACKAGE. ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 20TH OF 2004, I WAS BROAD SIDED BY A 1990 HUGE CHEVY WORK PICK UP. I WAS GOING 40 MPH, I ESTIMATE THE TRUCK AT THE SAME. MY SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IF I HAD NOT SEEN THE TRUCK COMING AND OFFSET THE ANGLE OF IMPACT, MY BROTHER AND I WOULD MOST LIKELY BE IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW. WHEN I CONTACTED MAZDA CONSUMER AFFAIRS, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT GUARANTEED TO DEPLOY AND ?MADE A NOTE IN MY FILE THEY FAILED TO DEPLOY.? AT NO POINT DURING THE BUYING PROCESS WAS I TOLD THEY WERE NOT GUARANTEED. WHEN TALKING TO MAZDA?S CONSUMER AFFAIRS, I WAS ALSO TOLD THEY WOULD NOT LOOK INTO THE FAILURE UNLESS MY INSURANCE COMPANY CAME AFTER THEM. *NM

CLUTCH APPARENTLY FAILED TO ENGAGE TRANSMISSION AFTER BEING DRIVEN 15 MILES TO WORK WITH NO APPARENT SYMPTOMS THAT IT WAS GOING TO FAIL. VEHICLE HAS PREVIOUSLY HAD A MOTOR MOUNT BREAK THAT WAS COVERED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THE MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE CAUSED A MISALIGNMENT OF THE DRIVE TRAIN WHICH RESULTED IN THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH. MAZDA HAS REFUSED TO COVER THE CLUTCH AS A WARRANTY REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THEY DID THE MOTOR MOUNT REPAIR. AT THE TIME THE MOTOR MOUNT FAILED THE MOTOR OR TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING AN AWFUL RACKET. THE CLUTCH SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS UNDER AN AWFUL STRAIN! *JB

ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE'S EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL. *NM CONSUMER PUT 2 MONTH OLD CHILD IN THE CAR SEAT AND PROCEEDED TO GET IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT STARTED TO ROLL. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET SOMEONES ATTENTION TO GET THE BABY OUT OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE DOOR WAS OPEN IT HIT A PARKED VEHICLE CAUSING ONE OF THE HINGES ON THE DOOR TO BREAK AND DENTED THE DOOR QUITE A BIT. CONSUMER WAS INJURED WHILE TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.