2000 Mazda MPV complaints

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT, AND TIRES WEAR EXCESSIVELY DUE TO THE SUSPENSION.*JB

INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKER,INCREASE IN BRIGHTNESS,AND GET DIM. THIS OCURS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER OR HEATER IS IN USE AT NIGHT WITH THE USUAL NIGHT DRIVING LIGHTS ARE ON.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATES THE TETHER STRAPS WERE INCORRECTLY INSTALLED AT THE THIRD SEAT BY THE MAZDA DEALER. THE CONSUMER STATES AFTER GOING TO THE MANUFACTURER TO CONFIRM THE INSTALLATION WAS WRONG. THE CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER MAZDA DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION THAT THE TETHER ANCHOR WAS INCORRECTED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATES THE CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN SERVERLY HURT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DETECTED. PLEASE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

ON 3/9/02, LEFT HOME TO HEAD FOR BANK. ABOUT 2 MINUTES/3 STREETS DOWN, CAR WAS SMOKING AND BLACKISH OIL WAS GUSHING FROM ALL AROUND HOOD AREA. CAR BROKE DOWN AND COULD NOT RE-START.FIRE/SHERIFF DEPT CAME AND CAR WAS TOWED TO OAK TREE MAZDA WHERE CAR WAS SERVICED ON 1/29/02. ON 3/11/02 PETER POTMAN OF OAK TREE MAZDA CALLED AND TOLD ME ENGINE OIL WAS MIXED WITH COOLANT DUE TO OIL PUMP FAILURE. ENGINE LOCK IS CRACKED AND HAD TO REPLACE WITH NEW ENGINE. 10 DAYS LATER ON 3/21/02. PETER CALLED AND SAID CAR WAS READY TO PICK-UP.THEY TESTED EVERTHING AND CAR WAS "WONDERFUL". I PICK UP CAR 2:30 PM AND HEADED HOME AND AT 4:00 LEFT HOME TO GO TO BANK BEFORE PICK UP DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL. WITHIN MINUTES CAR WAS SMOKING AGAIN AND SMELL LIKE IT WAS BURNING. CALLED PETER AGAI AND HE SENT FOR THE TOW TRUCK TO TOW IT BACK TO THEM. NEXT DAY ON 3/22/02, PETER TOLD ME THEY COULD FIND NO NEW OIL LEAKAGE. SMOKING/BURNING CAME "POSSIBLY" FROM RESIDUE OIL FROM PREVIOUS (3/9/02) INCIDENT. THEY'D TRY TO DETAIL CLEAN ENGINE AGAIN TO MAKE SURE NO MORE RESIDUE OIL IS LEFT TO BURN. N 3/25/02, PETER OFFERED TO DRIVE MY CAR HOME (60 MILES ONE WAY) AND BACK THE NEXT MORNING (120 MILES ROUND TRIP) TO MAKE SURE. I SAID OK AND ON 3./26/02, PETER CALLED AND SAID HE WASN'T COMFORTABLE WITH GIVING ME CAR BACK AS HE COULD SMELL BURNING OIL FROM INSIDE OF THE CAR AS THE HE WAS DRIVING. HE'D DRIVE MY CAR HOME AGAIN 3/26/02 EVENING AND WOULD LET ME KNOW TOMORROW (3/27/02). I'VE COMMUNICATED WITH MAZDA'S DAREN (X1179) S

BELT RUNOUT WITH ONE TIRE. THIS MAY BE RELATED TO RECALL - 00V113001. MAZDA CLAIMS TIRES MEET 94 LOAD RATING. HOWEVER, THE EARLY FAILURE OF A TIRE LEADS ME TO THINK THAT THE TIRES ARE TOO SMALL AND DO NOT MEET THE 94 LOAD RATING. ALSO, THE LABELS ISSUED BY MAZDA SAY TO USE A REPLACEMENT TIRE THAT IS A 205/65 15 94S AND INFLATE IT TO 35 PSI. THIS IS WRONG. ONLY 3 TIRES ARE AVAILABLE IN THAT SIZE WITH A LOAD RATING OF 94. THEY ALL REQUIRE YOU TO INFLATE THE TIRES TO 44 PSI OR GREATER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. MAZDA IS SUGGESTING OWNERS UNDER-INFLATE THE TIRES BY 9 TO 16 PSI. THE STANDARD TIRE RATING FOR A 205/65 15 IS A 1992. *AK (TIRESIZE: 205/65 15)

MAZDA RECOMMEND A 205/65/R15 94S FOR THIS VEHICLE, THEY EVEN MAILED OUT THESE STICKERS FOR APPLYING TO CAR DOOR FRAME TO COVER EARLY PUBLICATION STICKER 205/65/R15 92S. WHEN LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT TIRE ALL SHOPE (SEARS, DUNLOP, GOODYEAR ETC SHOW 205/65/R15 92S RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT. THIS IS WRONG! 92 IS LESS LOAD CAPABILITY AND IT DOES'NT AGREE WITH DOOR STICKER RECOMMENDATION.

WHILE DRIVING COULD STEP ON THE BRAKES PEDAL AND EXPERIENCE AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 01 V 382 000 FROM MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT 65MPH WHILE EXITING OFF A RAMP, THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION.*AK *SLC

CLOCKING NOISE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED AT LOW SPEED, MOVING FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. NO RECALL OR DESIGN FOR THE BRAKES ATTACHMENT PAD CLIPS WHICH ARE CAUSING THE CLOCKING NOISE.

WHILE SITTING IN PASSENGER'S SEAT CHARGE WENT OFF, BLEW PASSENGER'S SEAT UP, AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT TIGHTENS WITH MINIMAL MOVEMENT, RETRACTS, LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT RELEASE. PASSENGER MUST UNBUCKLE SEAT BELT DUE TO EXTREME DISCOMFORT.*AK

TIE ROD END IS NOT PROPERLY ALIGNED WHICH HAS CAUSED THE TIRES TO PREMATURELY WEAR. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

DUE POSSIBLY TO POOR ALIGNMENT, INCORRECT COIL SPRINGS, ALL FOUR TIRES WORN DANGEROUSLY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. MAZDA ISSUED "BULLETINS" ON THESE PROBLEMS TO DEALER BUT DID NOT NOTIFY OWNERS. THERE WAS ALSO A "BULLETIN" ON A BRAKE PROBLEM, NOT REPORTED TO OWNER.*AK (DOT NUMBER: FD9L TIRESIZE: 65R15)

ALL FOUR YOKOHAMA Y376 TIRES WERE COMPLETELY BALD, ABSOLUTELY NO TREAD WAS LEFT ALTHOUGH THE TIRE HAD BEEN ROTATED AS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, THE TIRES WERE EXPECTED TO LAST ONLY 25000, HAD A TREAD RATING OF ONLY 200 AND A SIDEWALL RATING OF ONLY 92S, THE CONSUMER IS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD EQUIP THIS VEHICLE WITH INFERIOR TIRES, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL COVERED BY THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WARRANTY BUT SINCE THEY PURCHASED A DIFFERENT BRAND TIRE THE WARRANTY WAS NOT HONORED, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AND HESITATES WHEN APPLYING ACCELERATOR PEDAL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER SHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO HAVING REPAIRS COMPLETE FOR SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM SSP43, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SLC

TIRES ARE WEARING BADLY ON OUTSIDE EDGE. I HAVE KEPT TIRES INFLATED TO 35 PSI (THEIR MAXIMUM LIMIT). I FIRST NOTICED THIS WHEN I HAD THE TIRE ROTATED-THE REAR TIRES WERE WORN, THE FRONT ONES WERE NOT. NOW THAT FOUR MONTHS HAVE ELAPSED SINCE LAST ROTATION, I SEE THE SAME WEAR PATTERN ON THE REAR TIRES (WHICH WERE THE FRONT TIRES PRIOR TO ROTATION). THESE SAME TIRES HAD NORMAL WEAR PRIOR TO ROTATION. I HAD TO ALIGNMENT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD BY AN INDEPENDENT TIRE SHOP THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS WELL WITHIN TOLERANCES-THIS WAS DONE JULY 28, 2001. FAIRWAY MAZDA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS TO BE A WARRANTY OR DEFECT ISSUE SINCE THE BRUNT IS ON ME TO PROVE THAT I HAVE FAITHFULLY KEPT TIRE PRESSURE AT 35 PSI. I HAVE A 1984 HONDA PRELUDE THAT HAS THREE YEAR OLD TIRES, HAS ITS TIRES ROTATED ALOT LESS FREQUENTLY, AND IS ALIGNED LESS FREQUENTLY AND ITS TIRES ARE WEARING NORMALLY AND EVENLY AND I CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE AS OFTEN OR LESS THAN I DO THE MAZDA. BASED ON THIS, I BELIEVE THERE TO BE A DEFECT EITHER IN THE TIRES OR THE VAN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.*AK (DOT NUMBER: FD9LNHL229 TIRESIZE: P205/65R15)

TREAD SEPARATION AND EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR DISCOVERED ON BOTH FRONT TIRES DURING ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION MAINTENANCE. THE RUBBER HAD PARTED IN A COUPLE OF PLACES ON BOTH TIRES REVEALING THE TIRES' STEEL BELTS UNDERNEATH. TIRES WERE IMMEDIATELY REPLACED - WE ARE STILL IN POSSESSION OF THE FAULTY TIRES.*AK (DOT NUMBER: FD9LNHL289 TIRESIZE: P205/65R15)

THE NEW VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT, AND WAS CORRECTED BY ALIGNMENT REPAIR. HOWEVER,THE PROBLEM REOCCURED THE CONSUMER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES,BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. *YH

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE MOTOR OFF OR TAKE THE KEY OUT, DEALER FOUND A WIRE WHICH HAD GOTTEN HUNG UP IN THE SHIFT MECHANISM, 5000 MILES LATER, DEALER FOUND THE CABLE AND SHIFT LINKAGE HANGING UP UNDER THE DASH, REPAIRS WERE MADE AND ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK AGAIN, CONSUMER FEELS THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REPLACED. *YH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 55MPH IN RAIN IT HYDROPLANED. MANAGED TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD AFTER VEHICLE LANDED. NOTICED ALL 4 TIRES HAD VERY LITTLE TREAD. MAZDA INDICATED NOTHING TO DO WITH TIRES AFTER BEING CONTACTED. INFORMED BY MECHANIC TIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHANGED AT 20,000 MILES. P215/60R16 ON A 2000, MAZDA, MPV WITH 20,000 MILES. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT.*AK *SLC

FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK AT ALL. BACK RIGHT SEATBELT SHOULDER HARNESS DID NOT WORK. VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND THEN PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS IN FRONT. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT MY VAN WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS HIT MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS SITTING IN THE 3RD ROW SEAT WEARING A LAP/SHOULDERBELT FLEW FORWARD ENOUGH TO HIT HER HEAD AND FACE ON THE BACK OF THE SECOND ROW SEAT. IT SEEMS THAT THE SHOULDER PART OF THE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK AT ALL DURING IMPACT WHICH ALLOWED HER THAT MUCH MOVEMENT. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE FRONTAL IMPACT WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WHICH PUSHED THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE VAN INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

WHILE TRAVLING AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND WHILE MAKING A U-TURN CONSUMER WAS HIT ON THE SIDE OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIR BAGS, BUT THEY DID NOT DEPLOY. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT LOCKS UP AND BECOMES EXTREMELY TIGHT WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN OR WHEN PASSENGER SLIGHTLY MOVES. *AK THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED IT, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURED. *YH

THE DOOR LABEL AND THE TIRE SPECIFICATION TABLE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL IS INCORRECTLY MARKED, THE TIRES DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS A RESULT OF THIS RECALL (DUNLOP). NLM

CONSUMER STATES HAVING TROUBLE STARTING VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE IGNITION WIRES HAD BEEN GNAWED BY A RODENT AND THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THE VEHICLE DESIGN ALLOWS FOR ENTRY OF OUTSIDE RODENTS AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO WIRING. *JB

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES VIOLENTLY OVER 50 MILES/HR THEN SUBSIDES

DRIVER'S AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN CRASH. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35 MPH. UPON IMAPCT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN INJURY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THE CAMBER BOLT ON THE 2000 MAZDA MPV NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED THIS HAS CAUSED MY DRIVER SIDE TIRE TO WEAR DOWN UNEVENLY AND BECOME FLAT. THIS HAD NOT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING , BUT IF IT WE WERE DRIVING THIS VERY WELL COULD HAVE CAUSED A BLOW OUT. BOTH MAZDA & YOKOHAMA WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WEAR ON THE TIRE WITH ONLY 14,777 MILES. *AK

WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED FROM A POINT JUST ABOVE THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOUNT, THEN FOLLOWING A LINE ALONG THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TILL THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD WHERE IT THEN CURVES DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. NEAR THE BOTTOM CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD IS A TINY CHIP, ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PINPRICK. APPARANTLY THIS IS WHERE A SMALL OBJECT STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED THIS LARGE CRACK. I WOULD THINK THAT THERE MUST BE A DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD, OR THE STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE, FOR SUCH A LARGE CRACK TO STEM FROM SUCH INSIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE SURFACE OF THE WINDSHIELD. AS THE EDGE OF THE WINDSCREEN IS WELL BELOW THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SIGHT, SOME PROTECTION FOR IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNED INTO THE VEHICLE IF IT IS SO FRAGILE THAT ANY TINY PEBBLE COULD DESTROY A WINDSHIELD. *AK

YOKOHAMA TIRES P205/65R15, DOT FD9LNHL0300 ARE FAULTY, CONSUMER HAD TIRES REPLACED. *SLC

SEAT BELT BUCKLE IN 2ND ROW IS DESIGNED SO THAT IT IS FORWARD OF SEAT CRACK AND CANNOT MOVE TO A COMPLETELY UPRIGHT POSITION. THIS CAUSES MAJOR MOVEMENT/ISECURE BELTING OF A CHILD CONVERTIBLE BOOSTER SEAT, ESPECIALLY FRONT-TO-BACK MOVEMENT. THIS MOVEMENT OCCURS EVEN WITH THE TETHER ANCHOR STRAP INSTALLED. WE COMPLAINED TO MAZDA AND WANTED THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES REPLACED (TO MATCH THE REDESIGNED AND WORKABLE SEAT BELTS IN THE 2001 MODELS) OR THE ENTIRE SEAT REPLACED WITH THE 2001 SEATS. SO FAR, WE HAVE HAD LITTLE SUCCESS GETTING ANY FEEDBACK FROM MAZDA. ADDITIONALLY, ONCE WE BEGAN PURSUING THIS WEITH MAZDA, THREEE DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMPANY HAVE INFORMED US THAT NO CHILD SEATS OF ANY KIND ARE TO BE USED IN THE 2ND ROW OF THE 2000 MPVS. HOWEVER, THEY WENT AHEAD AND INSTALLED A TETHER ANCHOR MOUNTING KIT BEHIND THE SECOND ROW (AS THEY HAVE DONE FOR MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS TOO). DOESN'T THAT IMPLY THAT YOU COULD USE CHILD SEATS IN THE SECOND ROW? IF YOU TRULY CANNOT INSTALL CHILD SEATS IN THE 2ND ROW OF THE 2000 MPVS, THEN AN ENTIRE YEAR'S WORTH OF MPVS WERE SOLD UNDER FALSE PRETENSES AS MOST MINIVAN OWNERS HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND BELT THEIR CAR SEATS IN THE SECOND ROW. ALSO, THE 2000 MPV USER MANUAL ILLUSTRATES PUTTING CHILD SEATS INT HE 2ND ROW -- CONTRADICTING WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY BY MAZDA. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT A MAJOR VEHICLE MANUFACTURER CAN SELL MINIVANS WHICH APPARENTLY ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR SAFE USE OF CAR SEATS IN THE 2ND ROW. PROBABLY MANY UNINFOR

VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL CARGO LOAD VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEED (NOTICEABLE BETWEEN 60-70MPH). THE VIBRATION BECOME APPARENT WHEN VEHICLE IS UNDER MAXIMUM MANUFACTURE RECOMMENDED CARGO WEIGHT (CARRYING 6 PASSENGERS). AT THIS CARGO WEIGHT, THE VIBRATION WORSENS AND NOTICEABLE UPON ACCELERATION, LOW CRUISE SPEED, AND HIGHWAY SPEED.

VEHICLE SEVERELY PULLED TO THE LEFT AND VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 OR MORE MPH. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER'S SHOP ON SEVEN OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LEVELED PROPERLY, THE PASSENGERS SIDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH OR MORE HIGHER THAN THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE SPRINGS WERE UNEVEN AND REFUSED TO FIX, FINALLY THE DEALERSHIP APPROVED FIXING THE VEHICLE. *MJS

CAR SAFETY SEAT WAS STRAPPED IN MIDDLE ROW ON PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT. WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A PASSENGER SIDE COLLISION IT CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL, AND SEAT BELT, THAT HELD CAR SAFETY SEAT, UNBUCKLED WHILE VEHICLE WAS ROLLING OVER.*AK THE TWO YEAR TODDLER WAS INJURED DURING THE ACCIDENT. *YH

THE BRAKES BECAME SQUEEZY, NOISY, AND RUSTY. *SLC

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SOME TIME WITHOUT ANY INDICATION ALL VEHICLE'S GLASS SHATTERED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ALWAYS HAVE HAS ISSUES WITH THESE TIRES AND FR-480 TIRES( DOT NUMBER: 027476 TIRE SIZE: 22570R15 )

SEAT BELTS LOCK UP WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING, THEY DO NOT RELEASE. I BELIEVE DESIGN DEFECT IN THAT BELTS ARE TOO SHORT. MIDDLE SEAT MOVES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. WHEN IN THE LEFT POSITION, IT LOCKS UP IMMEDIATELY. MANUFACTURER SAYS OPERATING NORMALLY.

VIBRATION WILL OCCUR WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, FEELS LIKE ITS COMING FROM DRIVETRAIN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE, NOR FIX THE DEFECT. *AK *ML

THE FIXED SEAT BELT ANCHORS PREVENT SAFE INSTALLATION OF CHILD AND INFANT CAR SEATS. THE POINT WHERE THE BUCKLE ENGAGES THE ANCHOR IS TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE CAR SEAT TO PROPERLY SECURE THE CHILD SEAT. THE CHILD SEAT HAS TOO MUCH FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AFTER THE SEAT BELT IS BUCKLED AND TIGHTENED.

SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEMS KEEPING OUR 2-YEAR OLD'S CAR SEAT SECURED PROPERLY. THE SEATBELTS IN THE MIDDLE SEATS AND REAR SEAT WILL NOT TIGHTEN AND/OR LOOSEN AFTER BUCKLING, CAUSING THE CAR SEAT TO SHIFT AND MOVE EASILY. I FELT WE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING WRONG AND FINALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN IT TO THE DEALER. AFTER OVER AND HOUR AND THROUGHT THE EFFORTS OF A SERVICE ADVISOR AND A LEAD SERVICE TECHNICIAN, IT WAS DETERMINED THERE MUST BE SOME SORT OF DESIGN FLAW IN THE SEATBELT WHICH PREVENTED THE BELTS FROM LOCKING PROPERLY. THEY ALSO DID NOT FEEL THAT INSTALLING A TETHER WOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM TO AN APPROPRIATE DEGREE OF SAFETY. THEY ALSO CALLED MAZDA HEADQUARTERS WHO INFORMED THEM THAT YES, THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE SEATBELTS BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A RESOLUTION AT THIS TIME AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL. THE SERVICE ADVISORS ONLY RECOMMENDATION TO ME IS THAT I FIND ANOTHER CAR SEAT THAT MIGHT WORK WITH THESE SEATS. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NONE. THUS, EACH TIME MY FAMILY AND I RIDE IN THE CAR, MY 2-YEAR OLD'S LIFE IS AT STAKE SINCE WE CANNOT SAFELY INSTALL A CAR SEAT WITHIN THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ME ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN ON SEEKING REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM. WE WILL ANXIOUSLY AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE. *AK

WHILE AT MY MAZDA DEALER I WAS INSPECTING THE NEW MPV. ONE OF THE MAJOR FEATURES OF THE NEW MPV IS THE DROP AWAY REAR SEAT. WHILE TRYING TO SEE HOW EASY THE SEAT WAS TO FOLD AWAY, I CAUGHT MY FINGER IN THE SEAT PORTION AS IT FOLDED AWAY. IF YOU COMBINE THE SMALL TOLERANCE OF WHERE MY FINGER WAS CAUGHT AS WELL AS THE VELOCITY OF THE FOLD AWAY ASPECT OF THE SEAT THIS INFLICTED SEVERE PAIN ON MY HAND. I FEEL AS A CONSUMER THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE VEHICLE AND IS A DANGER TO ADULTS AS WELL AS A GREATER DANGER TO CHILDREN! *AK

THIS IS OF UTMOST CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN IN CAR-SEATS OR BOOSTER SEATS. THE SEAT BELT ANCHORS FOR THE 2ND AND 3RD ROW SEATS ARE OF SOLID, INFLEXIBLE CONSTRUCTION. THIS INFLEXIBLE CONSTRUCTION COMBINED WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE ANCHORS DOES NOT ALLOW THE SAFE INSTALLATION OF MOST INFANT CAR SEATS AND TODDLER BOOSTER SEATS. OUT OF SEVEN INFANT AND BOOSTER SEATS TRIED, ONLY ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO BE INSTALLED SOMEWHAT CORRECTLY. THE PLACEMENT AND INFLEXIBILITY OF THE ANCHORS REQUIRES THAT THE LAP PORTION OF THE SEATBELT BE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 7 INCHES AWAY FROM THE INTERSECTION OF THE SEAT FACE AND BACK. THIS ACUTALLY PULLS A TYPICAL CAR SEAT AWAY FROM THE SEAT BACK AND DOES NOT WORK SAFELY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL ROUTE CAME TO A STOP AND WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A DODGE RAM, TRAVELLING 60MPH WHICH HIT THE REAR HATCHDOOR AND FLEW OPEN. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

AT 30-35 MPH /IN RAINSTORM, DROVE OVER PUDDLE ABOUT 2-3 INCHES DEEP, AND VEHICLE ON FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AND REAR WHEEL CAME OFF THE GROUND , TEARING STEERING WHEEL OUT OF DRIVER'S HAND, ALMOST CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK