Mazda MPV acceleration problems

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ACTUATOR CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V234000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #10583207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WE DRIVE TO LAKE TAHOE IN MY MPV VAN WITH 5 PEOPLE IN IT. THE VAN JERKED WHEN DRIVING ACCELERATING FROM 40 TO 50 MPH. WE CHANGED DRIVER ON THE WAY, AND BOTH DRIVER FELLED THE SAME THING. IT SEEMS A TRANSMISSION SHIFT SHOCK OR SHIFT FLARE. THEN WHEN "GOOGLE" THE PROBLEM ON INTERNET, I FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR MAZDA MPV 5-SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION. MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN FAILURE AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF THE "SHIFT FLARES". THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. MAZDA SHOULD OFFER FREE REPAIR FOR THIS COMMON FAILURE OF THEIR PRODUCT. I'M ENGINEER AND I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CARS AND CHANGE ALL OIL AND ATF ON SCHEDULE. MY FORD MINIVAN 96 AREOSTAR HAVE RUN MORE THAN 260 K MILE WITH ORIGINAL ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. IT IS STILL RUNNING STRONG.

NHTSA complaint #10525428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN DAILY, THE ENGINE WOULD FAIL TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

NHTSA complaint #10487181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS ON I-75 WHEN I ACCELERATED HARD WHILE TRYING TO MERGE INTO A GAP IN HEAVY, MERGING TRAFFIC. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR MY VAN CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AS THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AT A HIGH RPM. I STABBED AT THE ACCELERATOR WITH MY FOOT TO SEE IF I COULD UNSTICK IT, BUT IT ONLY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO REV EVEN HIGHER - TO FULL-THROTTLE. I JABBED AT IT MULTIPLE TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I TRIED TO LIFT THE GAS PEDAL WITH MY FOOT BY JAMMING IT UNDERNEATH THE PEDAL AND PULLING IT UP, BUT IT FLOATED FREELY AND CONTINUED TO FALL BACK TO ITS FULL-THROTTLE POSITION. ALTHOUGH I WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM I PULLED IT AWAY FROM THE PEDALS AND, AS EXPECTED, THERE WAS NO EFFECT. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF MY VAN BY APPLYING EXTREMELY HEAVY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN NEUTRAL AND DRIVE. DURING THAT TIME I WAS STILL JABBING AND LIFTING THE ACCELERATOR WITH MY RIGHT FOOT TRYING TO 'UNSTICK' THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS ENTERING AND CROSSING AND OVERPASS THAT WAS UNDERGOING CONSTRUCTION. CONCRETE BARRIERS LINED BOTH SIDES OF THE HIGHWAY AND BRIDGE WHERE THE EMERGENCY LANES WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN LOCATED. I HAD TO MAINTAIN SOME SPEED, FOR FEAR OF BEING REAR-ENDED, WHILE SEARCHING FOR THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO PULL OVER. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY ASCERTAIN THAT THE SCREWING MECHANISM FROM AN UNSECURED AIR HOSE CLAMP HAD SNAGGED THE THROTTLE ARM - THE CLAMP ATTACHES THE HOSE TO THE ENGINE. AS I PUSHED HARDER ON THE GAS PEDAL IT FURTHER EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM BY LOCKING THE ARM IN A MORE WIDE-OPEN THROTTLE POSITION. THE CLAMP HAD BEEN LEFT UNSECURED FROM PREVIOUS WORK DONE AT A MAZDA DEALERSHIP. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, THIS COULD HAVE ALSO OCCURRED IF THE CLAMP HAD BEEN SECURED, BUT NOT POSITIONED OUT OF THE WAY OF THE ARM.

NHTSA complaint #10468926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AND SET. COMING UP TO RED LIGHT. HIT CANCEL ON CRUISE LEVER AND IT DID NOT DISENGAGE. THE TURNED IT OFF WITH THE BUTTON. LIGHT WENT OFF BUT WAS STILL ENGAGED. I ALSO WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES IN A PANIC.....STILL NOT DISENGAGING. PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL.....ENGINE RPMS WENT TO REDLINE...I THEN TURNED IGNITION OFF BEFORE CRASHING INTO THE CARS STOPPED AT THE LIGHT......VERY VERY SCARY. SAW RECALL AND OTHER PEOPLE WITH EXACT SAME PROBLEM. CALLED MAZDA AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATES ON THE RECALL....THEREFORE NOT THEIR PROBLEM. HOW CAN THEY SAY VEHICLES MADE 3 MONTHS BEFORE ARE UNSAFE BUT OTHER ONES ARE NOT.....ISN'T IS POSSIBLE THEY GOT THE DATES OF MANUFACTURE WRONG? I A PERSONS LIFE NOT WORTH FIXING THIS KNOW ISSUE???

NHTSA complaint #10451445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MPV WAGON. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 90 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY INSPECTED IT AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA complaint #10410479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT A PART OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BEEN TIGHTENED WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,298. UPDATED 02/23/11 *BF UPDATED 02/28/11

NHTSA complaint #10355973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, SHE ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FORCE IN ORDER TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. AFTER SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISCONNECTED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

NHTSA complaint #10353362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

LATELY WHILE DRIVING MY CAR WILL SUDDENLY JUMP FORWARD. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE SO WHEN GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. ALSO, THE ENGINE IS BECOMING MORE HOT, EVEN AFTER ONLY RUNNING FOR A FEW MINUTES AND A STRANGE SMELL IS EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP HERE AND THEY HAVE SAID NOTHING ABOUT THE SITUATIONS. THEY CLAIM, I AM PUSHING TOO HARD ON THE GAS, WHICH I DON'T DO. THEY ALSO SAY TO MAKE SURE I HAVE ENOUGH COOLANT IN THE ENGINE WHICH I ALWAYS DO. I AM AFRAID THE ENGINE WILL CATCH FIRE OR SOMETHING WITH THE WAY IT IS RUNNING. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS MY MAIN CAR TO GET AROUND WITH FOR THE CHILDREN. THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. I AM TIRED OF TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NOT GETTING AN ANSWER.

NHTSA complaint #10200241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2000 MPV CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE SHE WAS WAITING FOR THE PARTS FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO ARRIVE AT THE DEALER, SHE AND HER HUSBAND EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE IDLED HIGH AND FOR SEVERAL MINUTES THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, BUT IT CONTINUED TO IDLE OVER 4000 RPM. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT IT OFF. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RECREATE OR DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER DECIDED TO LOWER THE IDLE. THE PROBLEM DID RECUR FOR A SECOND TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10177485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THROTTLE PEDAL WAS STICKING UPON COLD START. PEDAL HAD TO BE STEPPED ON HARDER THAN USUAL UPON START WHICH THEN CAUSED VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. VEHICLE SEEMED FINE AFTER FIRST PUSH OF PEDAL. DEALER HAD TO CLEAN OUT CARBON DEPOSITS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN PAST 2 YEARS. WORRIED THAT PEDAL WOULD POSSIBLY STICK WHILE DRIVING WHICH WOULD DEFINITELY BE A SAFETY ISSUE. THESE DEPOSITS HAVE OCCURRED DESPITE USING TECHRON GAS ADDITIVE. VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT HAS ALSO COME ON MANY TIMES IN PAST - THESE ALSO MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO CARBON BUILDUP.

NHTSA complaint #10170179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TRANSPORT CANADA HAS ISSUED TC RECALL #: 2004376 FOR A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT. MY WIFE ANDI WERE INVOLVED IN THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS INVOLVING AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCES, NEARLY RESULTING IN CRASHES! IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES, (MINUS 25 DEGREES FARENHEIT), I ATTEMPTED TO STOP WHILE APPROACHING A LINE OF VEHICLES STOPPED AT A TOLL BOOTH. MY VEHICLE BEGAN SLOWING WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT AT AN UNEXPECTEDLY REDUCED AND INADEQUATE RATE. MY VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED VIRTUALLY ONE INCH FROM THE STOPPED VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME AT THE TOLL BOOTH! I RELAYED THIS EXPERIENCE TO MY WIFE. SHE THEN REPORTED TO ME THAT ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASSIONS, SHE HAD SIMILAR VEHICLE STOPPING PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING LOCALLY. SHE CLEARLY REMEMBERS EXCLAIMING TO MY DAUGHTER (A PASSANGER) AT THE TIME OF ONE OF THOSE INCIDENTS: "WE HAVE NO BRAKES!" BOTH MY WIFE AND I ARE VERY EXPERIENCED IN DRIVING IN "WINTER CONDITIONS," AND BELIEVE THE VEHICLE'S BEHAVIOR WAS MARKEDLY DIFFERENT FROM REDUCED STOPPING DISTANCES CAUSED BY POOR WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS. SINCE THE AFOREMENTIONED PROBLEMS MIMICKED PARTIAL 'BRAKE FAILURE,' I HAD A LOCAL GARAGE CHECK THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR ANY PROBLEMS. ALSO, WHILE AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN SO. BURLINGTON, VT ON FEB. 11, 2005, I EXPLAINED THE STOPPING PROBLEM, AND REQUESTED AN EXAMINATION OF THE VEHICLE. BOTH NOTED THAT THE BRAKES SEEMED TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. SINCE WE: 1) OPERATE SAME VEHICLE/ MODEL/ AND ENGINE ; 2) RECURRINGLY EXPERIENCE THE IDENTICAL DRIVING CONDITIONS LISTED IN THE RECALL; AND 3) HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL NEAR-ACCIDENTS, I REQUEST THAT YOUR OFFICE TAKE ACTION SO THAT MANDATORY REPAIRS OF THIS APARENT DEFECT (A SAFETY HAZARD IN CANADA!) BE IMPLEMENTED BEFORE WINTER SET IN AGAIN! MAZDA NATIONAL CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, AT 1-800-222-5500, ON JUNE 7, 2005 RESPONDED THAT THERE IS NO US RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE; THE RECALL APPLIES ONLY TO CANADIAN VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10128196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

DT: THE CONSUMER TOOK HIS VEHICLE IN FOR WARRANTY WORK ON THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, SO THE DEALER DID A CHECK AND FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER SAYS THAT THEY RECYCLED UNUSED GAS BACK THROUGH THE INTAKE TO BE BURNED, THIS CAUSED CARBON BUILDUP. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE CARBON BUILDUP WAS TOO BAD AND COULD NOT BE CLEANED, PART HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER HAD TWO OTHER MECHANICS LOOK AT THE PART AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD CLEAN THE PART AND THEN PUT IT BACK ON. THE CONSUMER SAID THE PART READ FORD BUT THE VEHICLE IS A MAZDA. CONSUMER SAYS THAT PROBLEM IS THE RECYCLED UNUSED GAS GOING BACK INTO THE INTAKE; THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. THE CONSUMER HAD THE DEALER PUT THE NEW PART ON, THEN THE CONSUMER STOPPED PAYMENT ON THE CREDIT CARD USED TO PAY FOR SERVICE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS PART. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THE PART WAS ONLY GOOD FOR APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES THEN IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT IF HE CLEANED THE PART, IT WOULD ONLY LAST FOR 20,000 MILES. CONSUMER SAYS THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW IF IT IS HIS FAULT OR THE DEALERSHIPS FAULT FOR TRYING TO SELL MORE PARTS. CONSUMER HAS DONE RESEARCH ON CARBON BUILD UP ON THE INTERNET AND HAS FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY INTAKE WITH THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER SAYS THAT DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THIS IS WHY MAZDA USES A DIFFERENT MOTOR NOW. CONSUMER SAYS THAT VEHICLE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF CUT OUT ONCE IN A WHILE, BUT HE DOESN'T THINK HE CAN REALLY TELL ANY DIFFERENCE IN WITH NEW THE PART. *JB

NHTSA complaint #10128117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

DT: CONTACT STATES: LAST WEEK SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HER GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK. SHE PUT ON THE BRAKE AND THERE WAS A FUNNY NOISE, THE ENGINE WAS REVVING), BUT THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. FINALLY, SHE HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND THE PEDAL BECAME UNSTUCK. SHE CALLED MAZDA, AND MAZDA SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CALLED THEM, AND THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS ON A CABLE THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND THAT THROTTLE BOX ON THE WAS THE PROBLEM; WHICH WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10126841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

DT: CONTACT STATES: LAST WEEK SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HER GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK. SHE PUT ON THE BRAKE AND THERE WAS A FUNNY NOISE, THE ENGINE WAS REVVING), BUT THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. FINALLY, SHE HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND THE PEDAL BECAME UNSTUCK. SHE CALLED MAZDA, AND MAZDA SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CALLED THEM, AND THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS ON A CABLE THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND THAT THROTTLE BOX ON THE WAS THE PROBLEM; WHICH WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10126841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.