2005 Mazda Tribute

REAR INNER WHEEL WELL SHOCK MOUNT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. SHOCK COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY FROM FRAME ON PASSENGER SIDE WITH DRIVERS SIDE CONDITION SOON TO FOLLOW. PROBLEM NOTED 04/27/15 AT 95,000. MILES. PHOTOS TAKEN OF ISSUE. PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON RESIDENTIAL STREET. HEARD NOISE IN REAR OF VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY BOUNCING IN THE REAR END.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SHOCK MOUNT WAS CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

WHILE DRIVING, MY PASSENGER AND I NOTICED A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL. AFTER INSPECTING IT, WE DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE WHEEL WELL WAS RUSTED OUT AND THAT THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM WAS DISCONNECTED. HENCE, THE ENTIRE AREA IS BEING CUT OUT AND REBUILT. AFTER SPEAKING WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM MAZDA, MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF ANY CONSIDERATION OF ASSISTANCE FROM MAZDA BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE.

UPON BRINGING MY 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE INTO THE MAZDA SERVICE CENTER FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL WAS HEAVILY RUSTED AND THE SHOCK WOULD SOON BREAK THROUGH THE RUST AND DISENGAGE FROM THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED MAZDA CORPORATION TO INITIATE A COMPLAINT AND INVESTIGATION. AFTER THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATED THE ISSUE (CONTACTING THE DIAGNOSING MAZDA SERVICE CENTER), I WAS INFORMED MAZDA CORPORATION WOULD NOT REPAIR MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS ISSUE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL, THE VEHICLE WARRANTEE EXPIRED, AND MAZDA WAS UNAWARE OF ANY SIMILAR ADDITIONAL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. THIS TRIBUTE HAS 109.000 MILES AND BASED ON THE DEALERS SERVICE CENTER ASSESSMENT IS IN IMMACULATE CONDITION: ALWAYS GARAGE PARKED, NO OTHER RUST EXISTS (INCLUDING THE UNDERCARRIAGE) ON THE VEHICLE, ALL MAINTENANCE FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER, AND THIS VEHICLE NEVER INCURRED BODY DAMAGE (NO ACCIDENTS). AS ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, WE INITIALLY PURCHASED THE CORROSION PROTECTION AND EXTERIOR PAINT SEALANT (THE RUSTPROOFING MATERIAL IS STILL VISIBLE WITHIN THE WHEEL WELL). WE HAVE BEEN VERY RESPONSIBLE AND LOYAL MAZDA ORIGINAL VEHICLE OWNERS, ALTHOUGH AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE I HAVE DISCOVERED HUNDREDS OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS WHICH OBVIOUSLY RELATES TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD FOR UNSUSPECTING DRIVERS OF THIS VEHICLE. I AM APPALLED THAT MAZDA AND THE NHTSA HAVE NOT INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED THIS VEHICLE TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT. IT IS TIME TO TAKE ACTION AND RESPONSIBILITY TO REDUCE THE SAFETY HAZARD FOR ALL OWNERS AND DRIVERS, ESPECIALLY SINCE MAZDAS OWN INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THEY WERE UNAWARE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS. OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS NOT THE TRUTH BUT INSTEAD A COVER UP RESPONSE TO AVOID CULPABILITY.

WHILE REPLACING THE BRAKES ON MY 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE, I DISCOVERED THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL COMPROMISED BY EXCESSIVE RUST. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR QUALITY DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS VEHICLE AND SIMILAR FORD AND MERCURY MODELS (ESCAPE AND MARINER). I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS CAR, BUT ONLY NOW NOTICED THE RUST. SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE CALLING FOR FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL/REPAIR FOR THESE VEHICLES FOR THIS ISSUE. I AGREE WITH THEM.