NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
12 reportsClear category filter33,800 miles · Mar 9, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
I HAVE AN 2007 MAZDA MAZDASPEED3 BOUGHT IN MAY 2007. I HAD THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLT REPLACED DURING AN ASSOCIATED RECALL IN AUGUST 2007. A FEW MONTHS LATER IT FAILED (JULY 2008). THE BOLT HAD BACKED OUT, AND SHEARED THROUGH THE LAST FEW THREADS. I HEARD THIS LOUD BANG, FOLLOWED BY CLUNK-CLUNK NOISES AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER INTO …
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I HAVE AN 2007 MAZDA MAZDASPEED3 BOUGHT IN MAY 2007. I HAD THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLT REPLACED DURING AN ASSOCIATED RECALL IN AUGUST 2007. A FEW MONTHS LATER IT FAILED (JULY 2008). THE BOLT HAD BACKED OUT, AND SHEARED THROUGH THE LAST FEW THREADS. I HEARD THIS LOUD BANG, FOLLOWED BY CLUNK-CLUNK NOISES AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER INTO A GAS STATION. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ON THE RIGHT LANE AT 30 MPH IN 3RD GEAR. I HAD IT TOWED TO JIM ELLIS MAZDA OF MARIETTA (GA). THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINEERS FROM MAZDA HAD A LOOK AT IT AND THE WHOLE MOUNT BRACKET AND THE BOLT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. BUT OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS I'VE BEEN HEARING A SLIGHT CLUNKING NOISE ESPECIALLY DURING SLOW TURNS, SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN ON LAST MONDAY (03/02/09) TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. THEY FOUND THAT THE STEERING RACK FLOW CONTROL VALVE WAS POPPING AT TIMES AND REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD ALSO ASKED THEM TO HAVE A LOOK AT MY MOUNTS, JUST TO BE SURE. I GOT MY CAR BACK ON THURSDAY AND WAS TOLD THAT MY MOUNTS WERE FINE. BUT ON FRIDAY (03/06/09) I STILL HAD THOSE CLUNKING SOUNDS ON SLOW TURNS AND WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOTS/BACKING UP. I ALSO NOTICED SOME ODD VIBRATIONS ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL WHILE GIVING GAS AND DURING IDLE. THE LAST TIME HAD THESE VIBRATIONS WERE JUST BEFORE THE MOTOR MOUNT FAILED ON ME. SO I DECIDED TO HAVE A LOOK INTO MY MOUNTS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT MY CLOCK AND TRIP METERS WERE NOT RESET. IF THE DEALER HAD INSPECTED MY MOUNTS THEY WOULD'VE BEEN RESET WHEN THE BATTERY IS BEING REMOVED. THAT RAISED MY SUSPICIONS. I REMOVED THE BATTERY AND TRIED TURNING THE MOUNT BOLT. IT WAS I COULD TURN IT WITH JUST ONE HAND. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM WHAT TO DO. THE ASKED TO BRING THE CAR OVER AFTER TIGHTENING IT, OR GET IT TOWED IF I COULDN'T. I TIGHTENED THE BOLT AND IT TOOK ME ABOUT 6 TURNS TO FULLY TIGHTEN IT!!! THE BOLT WAS ALMOST OUT AND I CAUGHT IT BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAD OCCURRED. THE DEALER HAS RE TIGHTENED THE BOLT NOW. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10261307
26,478 miles · Feb 12, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
HAD MOTOR/TRANSMISSION MOUNT RECALL DONE ON MY 2007 MAZDASPEED3 DONE AS SOON IT RELEASED IN 2007. FEB 2009 WITH 26000 MILES ON THE CAR THE MOTOR/TRANSMISSION MOUNT BRACKET TORE APART WHILE DRIVING. AXLES, AND ALOT OF OTHER PARTS, DAMAGED. NEEDLES TO SAY THANK GOD I WAS ONLY DOING 5MPH WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED. CAR WAS REPAIRED A…
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HAD MOTOR/TRANSMISSION MOUNT RECALL DONE ON MY 2007 MAZDASPEED3 DONE AS SOON IT RELEASED IN 2007. FEB 2009 WITH 26000 MILES ON THE CAR THE MOTOR/TRANSMISSION MOUNT BRACKET TORE APART WHILE DRIVING. AXLES, AND ALOT OF OTHER PARTS, DAMAGED. NEEDLES TO SAY THANK GOD I WAS ONLY DOING 5MPH WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED. CAR WAS REPAIRED AT MAZDA DEALER, AND BEFORE I PICKED UP VEHICLE AFTER SUPPOSEDLY BEING FIXED, MOTOR/TRANSMISSION MOUNT FAILED AGAIN WHILE THE MAZDA TECH WAS DRIVING VEHICLE. MAZDA HAS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS THAT THEY DO NOT SEEM TO WANT TO ADDRESS PROPERLY. THEY REALLY NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM NOW BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED SERIOUSLY. NOT AN ACCEPTABLE PROBLEM ON ANY CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10258514
11,700 miles · Dec 5, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA SPEED 3. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE MOTOR MOUNT BROKE WHEN HE SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. AS A RESULT, THE DRY SHAFT PULLED FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND TORE THE CB AXLE BOOT. THE CONTACT INSTALLED AN INTAKE MANIFOLD PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGIN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA SPEED 3. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE MOTOR MOUNT BROKE WHEN HE SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. AS A RESULT, THE DRY SHAFT PULLED FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND TORE THE CB AXLE BOOT. THE CONTACT INSTALLED AN INTAKE MANIFOLD PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #07V295000) HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO THE INSTALLATION OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 11,700.
NHTSA ODI #10210923
16,000 miles · May 28, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE. MY TRANSMISSION/MOTOR MOUNT FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FALL IN THE ENGINE BAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHERS AS POSTED ON HTTP://WWW.MAZDA3FORUMS.COM/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=68975.0. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10191833
Mileage unknown · May 18, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
2007 MAZDA ASPEED 3 IS PRONE TO MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE, I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM ADDRESS LOOSE MOTOR MOUNT, WHICH ACCORDING TO RECENT DATA ON THE WEB , IS PRONE TO POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IF THE MOUNT FAILS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10191205
2,000 miles · May 15, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
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
4,224 miles · May 14, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
HAVE A 2007 MAZDA SPEED 3 WITH 4224 MILES 4 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. REPORTED A STRANGE POPPING SOUND TO THE DEALER ON SATURDAY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT NORMAL , AND TO DROP OFF THE CAR AT THE EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. WHILE DRIVING TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE I TURNED LEFT ON A STREET AND ACCELERATED ONCE INTO 2ND GEAR. I ACCELLERATED…
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HAVE A 2007 MAZDA SPEED 3 WITH 4224 MILES 4 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. REPORTED A STRANGE POPPING SOUND TO THE DEALER ON SATURDAY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT NORMAL , AND TO DROP OFF THE CAR AT THE EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. WHILE DRIVING TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE I TURNED LEFT ON A STREET AND ACCELERATED ONCE INTO 2ND GEAR. I ACCELLERATED SOME MORE AND HEARD A LOUD BANG, AND THEN SEVERAL SEQUENTIAL POPS AND NOISES. I POPPED THE HOOD TO SEE THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE MOTOR HAD FALLEN DOWN. SO FAR THE DEALER NOTED THAT IT WAS A MOTOR MOUNT/BOLT FAILURE , AND THE ESTIMATE WAS STILL TO COME ON HOW MUCH TO FIX THE CAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10190646
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
3,500 miles · Mar 18, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
I WAS SHIFTING INTO SECOND ON MY 07 MAZDASPEED 3 AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE ENGINE MOUNT OR BOLT BROKE AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DROP.
NHTSA ODI #10185466
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
IN THE SPIRIT OF BEING PROACTIVE; I WILL LIKE TO SHARE A POSSIBLE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WITH ALL NEW 2007 MAZDASPEED 3 CARS. FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAVE BEEN OBSERVING ON VARIOUS WEB FORUMS A DISTURBING TREND OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE DRIVER SIDE MOTOR MOUNT BOLT COMING LOOSE CAUSING THE MOTOR TO FALL WHILE DRIVING. I'M …
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IN THE SPIRIT OF BEING PROACTIVE; I WILL LIKE TO SHARE A POSSIBLE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WITH ALL NEW 2007 MAZDASPEED 3 CARS. FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAVE BEEN OBSERVING ON VARIOUS WEB FORUMS A DISTURBING TREND OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE DRIVER SIDE MOTOR MOUNT BOLT COMING LOOSE CAUSING THE MOTOR TO FALL WHILE DRIVING. I'M INFORMING THE NHTSA IN HOPES THAT AN INVESTIGATION WILL ENCOURAGE MAZDA INTO A RECALL/TSB BEFORE THIS ISSUE CAUSES A SERIOUS INJURY/FATALITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10185228
NHTSA investigations
1PE07015 · 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.
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