2013 Mazda MAZDA6

The contact owns a 2013 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that the vehicle had been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V631000 (Suspension, Structure) where a coating was sprayed on the passenger side lower control arm and the area was drained. After receiving the recall repair, the contact became aware that the vehicle was pulling to the right and the steering wheel was tilted to the left. The front passenger’s side tire was slightly turned inward. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the front cross member on the passenger’s side was rusted, causing several fractures. After inspecting the damaged area, the mechanic confirmed that it was the area that was repaired under recall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was 67,000.

RELATED TO MAZDA RECALL NUMBER 2818I - FRONT FRAME ROTTING OUT. THEY APPLIED A BANDAID FIX UNDER THE RECALL, TO ONLY 1 SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE PART THEY USED DOES NOT EVEN CONNECT TO THE ACTUAL SUSPENSION PIECES THAT ARE ROTTING OUT OF THE FRAME. IT IS BASICALLY A PLATE TO KEEP THE ROTTING FRAME FROM SEPARATING COMPLETELY ON ONLY 1 SIDE. THE PROBLEM IS THE ENTIRE FRAME IS STILL ROTTING AT A CRAZY EXCESSIVE RATE. I HAVE HAD MANY USED, OLDER VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A CAR SO NEW ALMOST RENDERED UNDRIVABLE DUE TO THE FRAME CONDITION. MY MECHANIC SAID IT SHOULD HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED GIVEN HOW MUCH CORROSION/RUST IS ON THE ENTIRE FRAME INSTEAD OF ONLY A BRACKET ON ONE SIDE... AND THE FIX THEY PERFORMED IS NOTHING MORE THAN A LIABILITY TREATMENT TO KEEP THE CAR FROM COMPLETELY FALLING APART AND KILLING SOMEONE WHEN THE FRAME FAILS ON THAT SIDE. THE FRAME WAS LEFT IN PLACE AND IS ROTTING FASTER THAN I HAVE EVEN SEEN ON A VEHICLE ESPECIALLY AT LESS THAN 10YEARS OLD AND LESS THAN 100K MILES. NHTSA NEEDS TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS RECALL AS SOME DEALERS ARE DOING THE BEAR MINIMUM TO 'FIX' THE ISSUE INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE FRAME AS THEY SHOULD BE....SOME OF THE CARS WERE NEWER AND WERE NOT YET EXPERIENCING THE HEAVY RUST AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL BUT FAST FORWARD A YEAR OR TWO AND THE ENTIRE FRAME IS NEARLY JUNK COVERED BY A FANCY METAL PLATE ON ONLY 1 SIDE THAT IS SIMPLY INTENDED TO KEEP THE ROTTING FRAME FROM SEPARATING AND NOTHING ELSE...IT DIDN'T AT ALL 'FIX' THE PROBLEM. I CANNOT SUBMIT PICS RIGHT NOW, BUT GIVEN THIS IS RELATED TO A PREVIOUS RECALL NOT SURE IT IS NECESSARY...LOOK INTO HOW THEY ARE 'BANDAIDING' SOME OF THE 2013'S WHILE REPLACING THE ENTIRE FRAMES ON 2011'S...IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE SAME REPAIR AND THE 'BANDAID' FIX DOES NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE ACTUAL PROBLEM OF PREMATURE ROT ON THE FRAME. I CAN SEND AN EXAMPLE OF BOTH UPON REQUEST.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA MAZDA6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, HE NOTICED A SPIDER RUNNING ACROSS THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT KILLED THE SPIDER BUT A FEW DAYS LATER, ANOTHER SPIDER EMERGED AND BIT THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. UPATED 7/16/14*CN UPDATED 08/15/17*CN