2003 Mazda Protege

WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY TO MY HOME AFTER WORK THE CAR STALLED AT A STOP LIGHT. )WHEN RESTARTED THERE WAS A LOUD CLANKING/HAMMERING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS THEN THE SOUND WENT AWAY, THE CELL LIT UP AND THE ENGINE STARTED SHAKING. WHEN CHECKED FOR CODES A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER -4 WAS FOUND. (THE SPARK PLUG ON CYLINDER 4 HAD BEEN SMASHED FLAT BY A FOREIGN OBJECT THAT CAUSED THE HAMMERING NOISE, NOTHING WAS FOUND INSIDE THE CYLINDER , USING A MAGNET. THE SPARK PLUG WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR WORKED AS NORMAL. UPON INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET I FOUND RECALL 3005C FOR THE VEHICLE THAT DESCRIBES MY PROBLEM AND IF NOT FIXED CAN CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. WHEN CONTACTING MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT IN RANGE FOR THIS RECALL AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE MY CAR HAS 61000 MILES AND EVEN THOUGH THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY IS STILL ACTIVE, THE REGULAR WARRANTY IS OVER.*AK

I PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW IN JAN 04. WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY, I FELT A "HICCUP" IN THE ENGINE AT WHICH TIME IT RAN VERY POORLY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME. THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD ALSO JUMPED ABOUT 25% OFF DRIVE PULLEYS. I WAS TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN AT THIS TIME AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION. TECHNICIAN IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AS AN ENGINE MISFIRE AND INSTALLED A NEW BELT. I DECIDED NOT TO HAVE SERVICE STATION PERFORM ANY ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSIS PREFERRING TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP INSTEAD. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT A SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED AND CAME APART. DEALERSHIP THEN REPLACED ALL SPARK PLUGS. VEHICLE RAN FINE. APPX 1 MONTH LATER, EXACT SYMPTOMS OCCURRED - ENGINE HICCUP, ROUGH IDLE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AGAIN I TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. MASTER TECH WAS ASSIGNED TO MY VEHICLE THIS TIME AND DETERMINED CAUSE TO BE SHUTTER VALVE SCREWS HAD COME LOOSE FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND ENTERED ENGINE CAUSING DAMAGE TO SPARK PLUG. TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME OF RECALL # 3005C THAT HAD BEEN ISSUED AND THAT HE WOULD CONTACT HIS REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER TO REQUEST THE REPAIR BE COVERED BY MAZDA. REGIONAL SVC MGR DECLINED TO COVER COSTS STATING MY SPECIFIC VIN WAS NOT IN THE EFFECTED RANGE AND THAT MY MILEAGE WAS TOO HIGH. I LOOKED UP THE RECALL AND DETERMINED THE RECALL ISSUE DATE TO BE 6/1/05. AT THAT TIME MY MILEAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN 40,000 TO 50,000 MILES. I THEN CONTACTED MAZDA USA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE - REFERENCE NUMBER 112751060. I WAS TOLD THAT MAZDA WOULD NOT COVER THE EXPENSE BECAUSE MY VIN # WAS NOT IN THE RANGE OF EFFECTED VEHICLES. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT VIN RANGE WAS DETERMINED BY THE NHTSA AND NOT BY MAZDA AND THAT IT WAS ILLEGAL FOR MAZDA TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR EXPENSE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A LIE ON THE PART OF MAZDA. I BELIEVE MAZDA IS NOT ACCEPTING ITS' RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CONSUMER BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE ADMITTING THE PROBLEM IS LARGER THAN THE ORIGINAL SCOPE AND WILL COST THE COMPANY A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY. *JB

FOR OVER TWO AND A HALF YRS, MY CAR HAS HAD A ROUGH IDLING NOISE AND THE ENGINE OFTEN HESITATES AND WANTS TO TURN OFF. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE ENGINE HAS HESITATED AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. VERY RECENTLY A LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM MY ENGINE. (YOU COULD HEAR A RATTLING NOISE) IT SOUNDED LIKE A PIECE OF METAL RATTLING AROUND IN THE ENGINE. A YEAR AGO I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF A RECALL (RECALL 3005C) TO GET IT CHECKED OUT (THIS IS WHAT THE LETTER FROM MAZDA ASKED ME TO DO) MY CAR WAS THERE ONLY TWO HOURS AND ONLY LOOKED AT MAYBE ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES. I RECEIVED AN OIL CHANGE AND THEN THEY WERE TO INSPECT IT DUE TO THE RECALL. WHEN I RETRIEVED MY CAR THEY GAVE ME A CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION, BUT INFORMED ME THAT NOTHING HAD BEEN FIXED AND THAT THEY WERE ONLY AUTHORIZED TO INSPECT. THAT IF THE PART BROKE THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A RECALL. HERE I AM ONE YEAR LATER AND I HAD MY CAR LOOKED AT AND IT APPEARS THAT TWO OF THE SCREWS MUST HAVE COME LOOSE DUE TO THE RECALL. (THEY WERE FOUND IN MY EXHAUST) I GOT NO HELP FROM THE DEALER. I FOUND THE RECALL INSTRUCTIONS ONLINE FROM MAZDA TO THE DEALER WHICH INSTRUCTS THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE PARTS IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED ON ANY PREVIOUS OCCASION (WHICH WAS PROCEDURE B). AND IF IT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY WORKED ON THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH PROCEDURE A WHICH INSTRUCTS THEM TO DO AN AIR COMPRESSION INSPECTION FOR INTERNAL DAMAGE AND GIVE A CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. THEY DID THE WRONG PROCEDURE ON MY CAR AND NEVER ACTUALLY DID WHAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR MY CAR TO BE LEGAL AND OK TO DRIVE. THEY ARE NOW AVOIDING MY CALLS AND NOT RETURNING NUMEROUS E-MAILS OR VOICE MAILS. I HAVE BEEN TRYING THE DEALER AND MAZDA THEMSELVES. ON TUES .I RECEIVED NOTHING BUT RUDE MOCKING FROM EACH PLACE TELLING ME THAT IT WAS MY PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TRYING EVERYDAY SINCE AND I HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. *NM UPDATED 2/23/2007 - INTAKE MANIFOLD SHUTTER AND VARIABLE TUMBLE CONTROL VALVES.*NM

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA PROTG. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM SPLIT IN HALF AND THE STRUT WENT THROUGH THE FENDER ALONG WITH THE UPPER CONTROL ARM. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL. WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT THE GROUND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AS A RESULT. THE POLICE FILED A REPORT; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT FEELS THAT SOME OF THE INFORMATION IS INCORRECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY HITTING SOMETHING IN THE ROAD; THE CONTACT DISAGREED. THE DEALER WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR UNDER THE WARRANTY. *AK

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT 2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE HAS BEEN IDLING AT A HIGH RPM. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN EXXON STATION AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A NEW SPEED CONTROL CABLE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED, AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE SPEED CONTROL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MAZDA DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL, BUT THEY DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH IDLING HAPPENED FREQUENTLY, BUT NOT EVERY TIME SHE STARTED THE CAR. IT ALSO HAPPENSED WHEN SHE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS SIGNS OR INDICATOR LIGHTS PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. *AK

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON 12/27/06 AT 35 MPH, HAD HIGH BEAM HEAD LIGHTS ON ,AND HE TRIED TO TOGGLE THE HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM AND ALL THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PLAYED WITH THE TOGGLE SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON SECONDS LATER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ON 12/29/06. THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT VEHICLE, AND TOLD THE CONTACT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HASN'T HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE, BUT DID FIND A RECALL #06E038000.*AK UPDATED 03/07/07. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN HESITATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THE COMPUTER GAVE A CODE STATING A MISFIRE IN THE FIRST CYLINDER. THE SPARK PLUG WAS TAKEN OFF AND THE GAP WAS CLOSED. THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS THEN TAKEN OFF AND THE SCREW HAD COME OFF, THIS CLOSED THE GAP ON THE SPARK PLUG. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BEING REPLACED.

I HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE TIRES ON MY 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. FIRST THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO GET USED TO THE LOW-RISE TIRES. I DIDN'T DRIVE IN ANY SNOW THAT FIRST WINTER, BUT THE WINTER OF 2004-2005 I WAS DOING DOUGHNUTS ON OVERPASSES & STREETS. THE DEALER GAVE ME THE CUSTOMER CARE PHONE # BECAUSE "THEY DON'T HANDLE TIRES". CUSTOMER CARE SAID, "I CAN'T HELP IF YOU LIVE IN EXTREME CONDITIONS." ALL HE COULD OFFER ME FOR A SOLUTION WAS TO BUY WINTER TIRES & RIMS (AS THEY AREN'T INTERCHANGEABLE) FOR ABOUT $2,000. A MAN IN MY OFFICE SAID HIS FAMILY WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIRS. I TRIED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH MAZDA TO NO AVAIL. I THOUGHT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY RECOURSE, BUT RECENTLY I WAS IN FOR SERVICE TWICE & A SERVICE REP TOLD ME HE HAS THE SAME MODEL CAR & IT IS SO UNSAFE HE WON'T LET HIS WIFE DRIVE IT. HE ENDED UP PUTTING ON OVERSIZED TIRES TO MAKE IT SAFER. SHORTLY THEREAFTER A SALESPERSON WHO SAID HE WAS IN SERVICE PRIOR TO SALES SAID THAT THEY KNEW THEY PUT THREE-SEASON TIRES ON THAT MODEL. HE ALSO RECOMMENDED BUYING A SET OF WINTER TIRES/RIMS AS THEY DON'T MAKE ALL-SEASON TIRES FOR THAT CAR. BOTH OF THESE MEN SAID I SHOULD CALL THE CUST CARE LINE AGAIN & NOTIFY YOU IF THEY WOULDN'T HELP. THE DEALER WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE CC #. I AM A GOOD DRIVER MY DAD TAUGHT DRIVING SCHOOL & LEARNED TO DRIVE FROM HIM. THESE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS. I SHAKE EVERY TIME I HAVE TO DRIVE IN THE SNOW & AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS. I HAVE LEARNED TO PROTECT MYSELF IN THE RAIN (THE CAR SLIPS); I WATCH THAT NO CARS ARE CLOSE WHEN I PULL OUT OF A STOP SO I DON'T SLIDE INTO THEM. I ALSO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND ABOUT OTHER DEFECTS (IT'S VERY HARD TO PUT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE; THEY TOLD ME TO JUST PLAY WITH IT, TRY PUTTING IT IN 1ST GEAR, THEN TRY REVERSE. THEY SAID IT WOULD LOOSEN IN TIME, BUT IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN HARDER). PLEASE HELP ME. I AM A WOMAN ALONE & NEED ASSISTANCE IN THIS. *JB

MY ENGINE FAILED CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. MY CAR REQUIRED ABOUT $1,000 WORTH OF REPAIRS, USING USED PARTS, AND I HAVE PERMANENT ENGINE DAMAGE THAT WILL ULTIMATELY SHORTEN THE LIFE OF MY ENGINE. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS DUE TO LOOSE SCREWS LOCATED IN THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD, THAT ALLOWED FOR A BAFFLE OR BUTTERFLY VALVE TO BREAK AND ENTER MY ENGINE. THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM WAS RECALLED BY MAZDA FOR VEHICLES MADE FROM MARCH OF 2003 TO JULY OF 2003, MINE WAS MANUFACTURED IN FEBRUARY OF 2003, AND THEREFORE WAS NOT RECALLED. I KNOW OF AT LEAST THREE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS VERY SAME ISSUE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE HAD TWO SEPARATE MAZDA SERVICE MANAGERS CONFIRM THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL - LOOSE SCREWS IN AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD. I NEED THIS INVESTIGATED TO DETERMINE IF MORE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED. *JB