1998 Mazda Protege

Defect. Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.

Risk. If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Straight-on, front-end collision occurred, that destroyed radiator and folded hood. Air bag did not deploy.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA PROTEGE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE IGNITION SWITCH ALONG WITH THE KEYS BECAME HOT TO THE TOUCH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ORDERED UNKNOWN PARTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED SKYLAND MAZDA AT (828) 667-52132 AND THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION STEERING PRODUCES A GRINDING NOISE. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING RACK AND PINION HAS MALFUNCTIONED. MIDAS ASKING FOR $1400 AND SAYS THIS IS COMMON MAZDA PROTEGE 1998 PROBLEM. I FOUND SIMILAR ALREADY EXISTING COMPLAINT BY SOMEONE ELSE (REFERENCE NUMBER: 10083656). *TR

I WAS DRIVING ALONE MY 1998 MAZDA PROTEGE ALONG A LOCAL ROUTE IN TEWKSBURY MA IN LIGHT RAIN AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH WHEN A CAR A FEW CARS AHEAD OF ME MADE A QUICK STOP FOR A LEFT TURN. SEVERAL CAR BEHIND STOPPED WITHOUT PROBLEM, BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AND SKID ALL THE WAY INTO THE CAR AT FRONT WHICH WAS A 2002 CAMRY. AT THE TIME THE CAR AT FRONT OF ME HIT THE BRAKE I TAPPED ON MY BRAKE ALMOST AT THE SAME TIME AND THERE WERE ABOUT 10 CAR LENGTH DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE 2002 CAMRY THAT I HIT EVENTUALLY. THE TRACTION PROVIDED BY MY TIRES ARE EXTREMELY LOW ESPECIALLY IN WET. THE TIRES I WAS RIDING ON ARE 4 GOODYEAR INTEGRITY P175/70R13 THAT I INSTALLED IN MAY 2005 IN ALLIED TIRES AND SERVICE IN GAINESVILLE, FL 32607. I HAD ABOUT 40K MILES ON THEM AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT. MY CAR PASSED THE MA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION IN JAN 2008, AND MY MOST RECENT VISUAL CHECK ON THE TIRES SHOWED THERE WERE ENOUGH TREAD LEFT. FROM DAY ONE I NOTICED THESE TIRES WERE EXTREMELY SLIPPERY COMPARED TO OTHER TIRES, A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THROTTLE OR BRAKE COULD CAUSE TIRE SPIN IN EVEN DRY CONDITION, IN WET IT'S MUCH WORSE. AS A SAFETY DRIVER I CONSIDERED MYSELF, I ALWAYS DROVE WELL UNDER SPEED LIMIT WITH EXTREME CAUTION, AT THAT TIME I DIDN'T CONSIDER THESE TIRES AN IMMINENT HAZARD SO I TOOK NO ACTION AND CONTINUED USING THEM UNTIL THIS ACCIDENT. I DEEPLY REGRETTED THIS. I SINCERELY REQUEST YOUR FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THE GRIP PERFORMANCE ON THIS LINE OF TIRES. I AM A SAFE DRIVER WITH 7 YEAR OF CLEAN RE

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN VEHICLE WITH ONLY 65,800 MILES. *JB

VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS INSPECTION DUE TO A CRACK IN THE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE AND MID-PIPE. DEALER REPLACED BOTH AT MY EXPENSE. *JB

THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE LOOSE AND WILL NOT RETRACT BACK IN TO NORMAL POSITION. *JB

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *BF THE VEHICLE IS ON ITS 4TH TRANSMISSION. *TC

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH 1999 MAZDA PROTEGE LX.*MR DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT MAZDA BECAUSE THEY WERE PRIMARILY A HONDA DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE THEY SUGGESTED THE PROBLEM HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE GAS. THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE COMPUTER AND TOLD THE CONSUMER IF THE PROBLEM RECURRED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A MAZDA DEALER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE, BUT EVERY TIME THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. OVER THE COARSE OF A FEW MONTHS THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONENTS THAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY DIDN'T. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE DRAIN PLUG WAS NOT PUT BACK PROPERLY AND FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING. *NM

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS FOR NO REASON. INTERMITTENT TIMES CAR WILL DOWNSHIFT TO LOWER GEAR WHEN FOOT REMOVED FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHETHER ON STREETS OR FREEWAY. CAR IS RENDERD UNUSABLE BY WIFE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, AN OBJECT APPEARED ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CONSUMER RAN OVER THE OBJECT WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BUMBER AND UNDER THE VEHICLE. *LA *SC *JB

THE VEHICLE'S EXHAUST MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A CRACKED WHICH GREATLY REDUCED THE ENGINES PERFORMANCE AND POWER. *NLM

THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DROP INTO A LOWER GEAR, AN THE ENGINE ACTED AS THOUGH IT WOULD STALL AND THEN BUCKED ERRATICALLY. *TS *JB

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK IN 1998 MAZADA PROTEGE. RECENTLY THERE HAS BEEN A BURNING SMELL IN THE CABIN. MY MECHANIC FOUND THAT IT IS DUE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK AND TOLD ME THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 95-98 PROTEGE. HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE IN THE BULLETIN. I TOOK HIS SUGGESTION AND CALLED THE DEALER, BUT THE ANSWER WAS NEGATIVE. I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THE MONOXIDE FROM THE EXHAUST COULD POTENTIALLY KILL A PERSON IN SILENCE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE WINDOW OPEN MOST TIME, JUST TO BE SAFE. I HOPE THAT MAZDA WILL PLACE A RECALL ON IT

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH , VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED BY A MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE HEATING CORE HAD RUSTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS.

THE VEHICLE STALLS WHEN PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH. WHEN PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH, THE IDLE DROPS TO 0 AND THE CAR SHAKES BEFORE RETURNING TO IT'S NORMAL IDLE SPEED, APPROX. 500 RPM, OR IT JUST STALLS. THIS HAS CAUSED HARROWING MOMENTS WHEN PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH AND BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON EXIT RAMPS AND PULLING INTO PARKING SPOTS. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO (2) MAZDA DEALERS 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME I AM TOLD THAT IT IS THE GAS I USE, BUT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 40,000 MILES NOW AND IS GETTING WORSE. DT

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED BACK IN 09/01. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE REPLACED FOR FREE! I LEFT PAYING $66.11 TO REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE A PORTION OF THE AC UNIT ON 05/23/02. ONE MONTH LATER APPROXIMATELY 6/25/02 I THEN HEARD A LOUD EXHUST NOISE. I HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT BY A FRIEND WHO FOUND THAT THE MANIFOLD HAD A SIGINIFICANTLY LARGE CRACK. MOREOVER, THE SMELL WITHIN THE PASSENGER CAMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE IS EXTREME TO THE POINT WHEN WE GET OUT OF THE CAR WE HAVE THE SMELL OF EXHUST FUMES IN OUR HAIR AND CLOTHES. THE SMELL IN THE CAR IS VERY OVERWHELMING, THAT WE MUST RIDE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN FOR FRESH AIR AND LETS JUST SAY WE ONLY GET RELIEF FOR JUST A SHORT WHILE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN BECAUSE WE LIVE IN FLORIDA AND IT IS USUALLY TOO HOT & HUMID TO HAVE THE WINDOWS OPEN DURING THE DAYTIME. ON LONGER DRIVES IT TENDS TO MAKE ME SLEEPY ALSO MY 5 YEAR OLD RIDES IN THIS VEHICLE AND HAS A HISTORY OF ASTHMA. THIS TO ME IS A GREAT HADZARD TO ALL OF OUR HEALTH ESPECIALLY TO HIS. I WONDER IF THIS IS ALL RELATED TO EACH OTHER. OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH? SINCERELY, [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

COVERINGS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE KEY LOCKS THAT PREVENT MOISTURE FROM ENTERING THE LOCK WERE MADE FROM PLASTIC. THIS PLASTIC BECOMES BRITTLE AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF EXPOSURE AND USE AND CAN BREAK. WHEN THE PART BREAKS, PIECES FROM THE BROKEN COVER CAN EASILY BE LODGED IN THE LOCK RENDERING THE LOCK UNUSABLE (AS HAPPENED TO ME).

CAR WILL THRUST FORWARD, JERKING CAR & PASSENGERS - MANUFACTURER SAYS DETECTED IN 1996-1998 MODELS AS NORMAL.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING RIGHT, IT WOULD REV HIGH AND NOT SHIFT BACK DOWN WHEN SHE STEPPED ON THE GAS, CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE HER FOOT OFF THE GAS TO GET IT TO COME BACK DOWN. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, DEALER SAID A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED AND THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. VEHICLE WASTHEN TAKEN TO A NATIONALLY KNOWN SERVICE SHOP FOR A SECOND OPINION AND WAS TOLD THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH HAD COME APART, CONSUMER LETTING THEM DO THE REPAIRS BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH INITIAL SERVICE FROM DEALER. *YD

CALIPER AND ROTOR FAILED WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES, DEALER SAID IT IS TYPICAL AND SAID THE PARTS USED ARE POOR. OTHER VEHICLES I OWNED EXERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE MUCH LATER IN VEHICLE LIFE (75,000 MI +). *AK

CALLED MAZDA DEALER IN REGARDS TO CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT SINCE IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I HAVE CALLED 25 DIFFERENT SALVAGE YARDS IN GEORGIA AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A HOT ITEM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I CAN'T GET ONE. TO BUY ONE FROM THE DEALER WILL COST ME OVER $300.00 . I KNOW THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS.*AK

RE:MANIFOLD. A CRACK BEGINS FROM THE ENGINE SIDE.DEALER STATED THE FIRST IT HAPPENED A STONE MUST HAVE COME UP & HIT IT. THIS IS AN IMPOSIBILITY. NOW AFTER REPLACING IT IT HAS OCCURRED AGAIN.CRACK IS IN THE SAME PLACE.BEGINNING FROM THE ENGINE SIDE. EVERY TIME THIS OCCURS, EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.RE: WINDSHIELD.WIPERS DO NOT CLEAN THE DRIVER SIDE & HAVE NEVER DONE SO SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR.WIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED & DOES NOT HELP.IN A DRIVING RAIN I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO 50 MPH TO WIPE CLEAN.*AK

TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN IT HAS SET FOR LONG PERIODS. *AK

PART WARRANTY 80,000, I LIVE 75 MILES FROM NEAREST DEALER. DEALER QUOTED 900.00 TO REPLACE PART AND REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY SINCE IT WAS 1,000 MILES OVER BY TIME VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHOP. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, MAZDA AMERICA AND THEY ENTERTAINED IDEA OF FIXING UNDER WARRANTY THEN CHANGED MIND BECAUSE DEALER TOLD THEM I HAD NOT HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE LIKE OILO CHANGES, TIRE REPLACEMENTS ETC. DONE AT DEALERSHIP. I THINK THIS IS. *AK

CONSUMER HAD A REAR COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. *AK THE SEAT BELT FAILED DURING THE COLLISION *YH

VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN BRIDGESTONE TIRE SIZE P18565R/14, AND WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL FOR A MOMENT. BRIDGESTONE WAS CONTACTED.*AK

CONSUMER HAD STATE INSPECTION DONE. THEY FOUND THAT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS CRACKED.VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPAIRED AT THE DEALER, AND EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS TO BE HONORED. DEALER FOUND NO STRESS TO THE AREA & DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED. DEALER CONTACTED CONSUMER STATING THAT BECAUSE NO STRESS WAS FOUND EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS NO GOOD. *AK

AFTER MANY TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ONCE TO A LOCAL BRAKE SHOP, I CONTINUE TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH EXTREMELY SOFT BRAKES. THIS IS MOST PROBLEMATIC WHEN IT RAINS. I'VE HAD THE DEALERSHIP "TIGHTEN" THEM AND REPLACE PADS THREE TIMES, BUT WITHIN A COUPLE OF

THIS PROBLEM DIDN'T RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE PROBLEM I AM HAVE IS THAT MY CAR IS MAKING A VERY BAD KNOCKING NOISE EVERYTIME I APPLY THE BRAKES BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BY TO DENNIS EAKIN MAZDA ABOUT TWO WEEK AFTER I PURCHASE IT. THEY INFORMED ME IT WERE THE BRAKE CALIPERS SLIDES. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE SLIDES. THE SLIDES CAN IN AND WERE REPLACED. THE NOISE STOPPED FOR ABOUT TWO OR THREE WEEKS AND STARTED BACK. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE AGAIN TO DENNIS EAKIN AND THIS TIME THEY INSTALLED A NEW AND IMPROVED CALIPERS SLIDES. THE NOISE STOPPED FOR ABOUT 5 WEEKS AND IS NOW MAKING THE SAME KNOCKING, KNOCKING NOISES EVERYTIME I APPLY THE BRAKES. THIS NOISE WORRY ME BECAUSE IT DEALING WITH THE BRAKES OF THE CAR AND AS YOU KNOW THE BRAKES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT, POSSIBLE KILLING MYSELF, OR SOMEONE ELSE. THEREFORE, I AM REQUESTING YOU INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATIION WITH THE BRAKE CALIPERS SLIDES ON THE MADZA PROTEGE, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE PERSON THAT THIS VEHICLE IS GOING TO MAKE SOME NOISE S AND THAT THEY WOULDN'T REPLACED THE CALIPERS. THIS COULD TURN OUT TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEMS, AGAIN I REMIND YOU THAT WE ALL TALKING ABOUT THE BRAKES ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP ME IF POSSIBLE ON THIS DANGEROUS MATTER. I AM CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM, BUT I THINK THEY JUST WANT TO SAVE SOME MONEY AND NOT HAVE TOREPLACE THE

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT IS STUCK, WILL NOT RETRACT OUT, WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW PASSENGER TO PUT IT ON, RESULTING IN LOSS OF PROTECTION. *AK

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE PLASTIC DOOR LOCK COVERS BROKE, CONSUMER HAD THEM REPLACED WITH METAL ONES TO PREVENT FUTURE BREAKAGE. NLM

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE TRANSMISSION IS JUMPING AND SHIFTING VERY HARD, AND THERE IS SOME KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE SOMETIMES LURCHES FORWARD. MANUFACTURER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 55MPH CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED AND THEN WAS HIT FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO THE BACK OF A EIGHTEEN WHEELER, AND NIETHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING PERFORMANCE, AND RESULTING IN A CRASH. PREVIOUSLY, THE BRAKE PADS BEEN CHANGED. DEALER DETERMINED THAT MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I HAVE RETURNED MY CAR FOR REPAIRS A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES SINCE NEW PURCHASE IN JULY 1998. THE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE CAR STILL HAS AN EGG SMELL. IT ALSO HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING AT LOW SPEEDS. I FILED A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT IN MAY 1999. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS NOT COMPLETELY FAILED, CAR IS STILL BEING DRIVEN DUE TO FACT THAT DEALER IS 90 MILES AWAY. PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN CAR IS STILL COLD. WHEN VEHICLE IS SLOWED FOR AN INTERSECTION OR STOP SIGN, IF YOU DON'T COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THERE IS A VERY HARD "THUMP" FELT UPON ACCELERATION. HAS BEEN GETTING NOTICEABLY WORSE WITH TIME. AS FAR AS THE DOOR HANDLE IS CONCERNED, ONE DAY IT JUST STOPPED WORKING, THE HANDLE MOVES IN AND OUT, IT JUST DOESN'T OPEN THE DOOR.

WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON BRAKES VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE PARKING BUMP & HIT A BRICK WALL. NO PHYSICAL INJURIES. PRIOR TO ACCELERATION, HAD VENICLE AT DEALER & THE TIMING BELT WAS ADJUSTED. *AK

DIVERS SIDE SEAT FAILED IN A MINOR REAR END COLLISON. SEAT BACK BROKE AND FELL DOWN INTO REAR SEAT . NO OCCUPANTS IN REAR SEAT. ALSO, NO INJURIES. *AK

BRAKE PADS FAILED. *YC

TAPE DECK IS NOT WORKING. YH

MAZDA ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN 014/98 DATED 12/9/98 REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION "SHIFT SHOCK" PROBLEM ON THE VEHICLE, MOST PRONOUNCED IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR SHIFTING. DEALER (NEIL HUFFMAN MAZDA IN LOUISVILLE, KY) ATTEMPTED REPAIR ON 12/29/98, PER BULLETIN, BUT PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN 500 MILES LATER. PROBLEM NOW WORSE THAN BEFORE REPAIR. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER ON 1/26/99, BUT THEY CLAIM THAT HARD SHIFTING IS NORMAL. DEALER WOULD NOT TAKE FURTHER ACTION. PLAN TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER WITHIN NEXT 7 DAYS REGARDING PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMITION HESITATES AND JERKS WHEN SHIFTING,AND SHIFTS INTO PASSING GEAR AT ANY TIME.IT HAS SERGED AHEAD FROM STOP NEARLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES SINCE JUNE 1998 WHEN I BOUGHT IT "NEW" FOR HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION. EACH TIME THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND TELL ME IT IS A NORMAL CONDITION FOR IT TO HESITATE. THE CAR DOES IT BADLY AT LOW SPEEDS BUT RUNS GREAT AT HIGHWAY AND INTERSTATE SPEEDS. THERE IS DEFINATELY A PROBLEM THAT THEY SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF, BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THEY CONTRIDICT THEMSELVES BY SAYING IT IS A NORMAL CONDITION, BUT THEN THEY ALSO TRY TO FIX IT? I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER PROTEGES OFF THEIR LOT, AND THEY DO NOT HESITATE. MINE DID NOT EITHER WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE WASTED MANY DAYS OFF OF WORK, DRIVING ALMOST TWO HOURS ONE WAY, AND MANY MILES WASTED OFF MY WARRANTY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. YOUR ASSISTANCE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND JERKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR.

AT LOW SPEEDS OF 5 MPH, WHEN GOING DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE,LIKE A DRIVEWAY, A PIECE OF METAL HIT THE ROAD AND THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE BOTTOMED OUT. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. ALSO, THE ORIGINAL PIRELLI TIRES WERE RATED AT 32 LBS. NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO PREVENT FRONT END OF CAR TO BE HIT WHEN GOING DOWN AN INCLINE AT 5 MPH. CHANGED TO YOKOHOMA TIRES 330 RADILAS TIRES 0F 35 LBS, SIDE WALLS MUCH STIFFER AN VEHICLE ROCKS SOLIDLY. *AK