NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
38 reports11,700 miles · Apr 2, 2009
Power Train
2007 MAZDASPEED3. DRIVING 25 MPH AND SUDDENLY HUGE LOAD SOUND UNDERHOOD FOLLOWED BY MUCH CLANKING AND KNOCKING AS I COASTED TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR COULD NOT BE ROLLED. ENGINE DROPPED 2-3 INCHES AND DRIVER SIDE AXLE BROKE AND DANGLED FROM WHEEL. CAR WENT TO SHOP AND AXLE, CV JOINT, COMPLETE TRANSMISSION, FAN, AND …
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2007 MAZDASPEED3. DRIVING 25 MPH AND SUDDENLY HUGE LOAD SOUND UNDERHOOD FOLLOWED BY MUCH CLANKING AND KNOCKING AS I COASTED TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR COULD NOT BE ROLLED. ENGINE DROPPED 2-3 INCHES AND DRIVER SIDE AXLE BROKE AND DANGLED FROM WHEEL. CAR WENT TO SHOP AND AXLE, CV JOINT, COMPLETE TRANSMISSION, FAN, AND A VARIETY OF SMALLER PARTS ALL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CAR IS CURRENTLY STILL IN SHOP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10264029
33,800 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
16,900 miles · Jul 31, 2008
Power Train
MAZDA SPEED 3 ENGINE MOUNT FAILURE, ENGINE FELL OUT OF B OTTOM OF CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10236548
11,390 miles · Jul 5, 2008
Power Train
MY TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY POPS OUT OF SECOND GEAR WHEN I LET OFF THE GAS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10233220
15,000 miles · Apr 14, 2008
SuspensionTires
I INSTALLED THE AFTERMARKET MAZDASPEED LOWERING SPRINGS ON MY MAZDASPEED3, CAREFULLY FOLLOWING THE SUPPLIED INSTRUCTIONS. THE INSTRUCTIONS REQUIRE REMOVING THE BUMP STOPS FROM THE STRUT MOUNTS. I THOUGHT THIS WAS STRANGE, BUT I DID IT, AND LATER FOUND THAT MY RIGHT-FRONT TIRE TREAD SURFACE HAD MADE CONTACT WITH THE TOP OF THE …
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I INSTALLED THE AFTERMARKET MAZDASPEED LOWERING SPRINGS ON MY MAZDASPEED3, CAREFULLY FOLLOWING THE SUPPLIED INSTRUCTIONS. THE INSTRUCTIONS REQUIRE REMOVING THE BUMP STOPS FROM THE STRUT MOUNTS. I THOUGHT THIS WAS STRANGE, BUT I DID IT, AND LATER FOUND THAT MY RIGHT-FRONT TIRE TREAD SURFACE HAD MADE CONTACT WITH THE TOP OF THE INSIDE OF THE FENDER. THE RESULT WAS DEEP CIRCUMFERENTIAL GROOVES IN THE TIRE, AND THE PLASTIC FENDER LINER WAS COMPLETELY WORN AWAY IN ONE AREA. THIS IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SINCE IT COULD LEAD TO A TIRE BLOWOUT. AND YES, I AM CERTAIN THAT THE INSTRUCTIONS SHOW THE REMOVAL OF THE BUMP STOPS. I HAVE THE INSTRUCTIONS AND PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10224508
8,811 miles · Mar 30, 2008
Power Train
AT 8,811 MILES THE NUMBER 4 ENGINE MOUNT (DRIVER'S SIDE TRANSAXLE TO FRAME) FAILED EVEN THOUGH RECALL 4607F HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED AT 826 MILES ~8 MONTHS AGO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10222709
8,780 miles · Dec 21, 2007
SteeringTires
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA SPEED 3. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A FULL SKID AND STRUCK A CURB. FIVE MILES LATER, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING ABILITY AND THE WHEEL TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FAILED STEERING RACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE D…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA SPEED 3. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A FULL SKID AND STRUCK A CURB. FIVE MILES LATER, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING ABILITY AND THE WHEEL TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FAILED STEERING RACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS SELLING VEHICLES WITH SUMMER TIRES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,780. UPDATED 01-30-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED FAILURE WARN ABOUT TO SUMMER RATED TIRES. UPDATED 01/18/08 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10212489
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
9,900 miles · Nov 27, 2007
Suspension
REAR WHEEL STABILIZER BOLT LOOSE AND DAMAGED. MAKES A "CLUNK" SOUND WHEN GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS. BOLT IS LOOSE AND WILL COME OFF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10210062
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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