1998 Mazda B-SERIES TRUCK: complaints, problems and recalls

THE INTERIOR LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY.*JB INTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO STAY ILLUMINATED WHEN THE DOORS ARE CLOSED.*MR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008935 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE THE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS PRESSING THE CLUTCH, THE PLASTIC COVER RIPPED OFF AND CAUSED THE DRIVER'S FOOT TO RELEASE THE CLUTCH. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE CONTACTED. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048710 at NHTSA ↗

1998 MAZDA B2500 SE EXTENDED CAB: PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE IDLE SPEED DURING IDLE SITUATIONS (E.G., STOP SIGN, STOPLIGHT, GARAGE START) W/ CLUTCH DISENGAGED; ENGINE REVS FROM 1000 RPM TO 3000 RPM AND THEN QUICKLY BACK DOWN TO 1000 RPM. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT COULD BE A POTENTIAL ROOT CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT.

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051327 at NHTSA ↗

I NOTICED FROM TSB#97-24-14, NOV 1997 THAT THE WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT WAS A RECALL PROBLEM FOR THE 1998 FORD RANGER PICK-UP, MY MAZDA B3000 HAD A BURNED OUT PAD SWITCH AND MODULAR FOR THE AIRBAG. THE 1998 MAZDA B3000 AND FORD RANGER ARE EXACTLY THE SAME TRUCK, HOW COME THE 98 MAZDA DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10056648 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE BRAKING ABRUPTLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER WAS NOT HURT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057399 at NHTSA ↗

B4000 TRUCK CONTINUOUSLY OVERHEATS. THERMOSTATS HAVE BEEN REPLACE 4 TIMES. TRUCK HAS BEEN WORKED ON BY CERTIFIED MECHANICS AT FORD DEALERSHIP. 2002 TRUCK OVERHEATED. THERE WAS COOLANT IN THE OVERFLOW BOTTLE BUT NONE IN THE RADIATOR. RADIATOR LEAKED AND HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. I REPLACED RADIATOR AND HEADS. 2004 REPEAT OF SAME INCIDENT OCCURED.

Owner-reported narrative. 146,151 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090957 at NHTSA ↗

THE INTERIOR LIGHT STAYS ON AS A RESULT OF READING THE DOOR AJAR. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME THAT I'VE HAD TO FIX THIS.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10105607 at NHTSA ↗

DT: CONSUMER WAS PULLED OVER FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. HE CHANGED THE FUSE. WHEN CHANGING THE FUSE HE NOTICED SMOKE, AND FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE SWITCH. THE SWITCH WAS CORRODED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. THE DEALER HAD NOT LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AS STATED IN THE FORD RECALL EVEN THOUGH HIS VEHICLE IS NOT A FORD, HOWEVER FORD DID MANUFACTURER THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 12/07/05. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10143325 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-08-07 (August 7, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. AN INTERIM NOTICE WAS SENT TO OWNERS ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2007, DIRECTING THEM TO HAVE THE SPEED DEACTIVATION CONTROL SWITCH DISCONNECTED TEMPORARILY. A SECOND NOTIFICATION LETTER TO OWNERS WAS IN FEBRUARY 2008 ADVISING THEM TO RETURN TO DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF THE REPAIR PART. OWNERS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES WHO DID NOT RECEIVE A PHASE 2 NOTICE AND HAVE NOT HAD THE RECALL COMPLETED WILL BE NOTIFIED BEGINNING AUGUST 6, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

Reported: 1997-11-06 (November 6, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY 4X2 AND 4X4 PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L ENGINES. THE FLEXIBLE SECTION OF THE CHASSIS MOUNTED FUEL LINE THAT CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE LINE COULD CONTACT THE MANIFOLD.

Consequence: THIS COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE, OR IN SOME CASES, CAUSE A FUEL LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL CLIP TO HOLD THE FUEL LINE IN THE INTENDED DESIGN POSITION.

Reported: 1999-03-31 (March 31, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1998-1998 MAZDA B-SERIES TRUCKS (B2500, B3000 AND B4000) EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL AND BUILT FROM JANUARY 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999. A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CAN INTERFERE WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO PULLEY AND NOT ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE WHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL.

Consequence: IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLES. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE REPLACEMENT CABLES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING ADVISED NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM UNTIL A REPLACEMENT CAN BE MADE.