1993 Mazda NAVAJO: complaints, problems and recalls

I JUST RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE ON A TIRE RECALL FROM YEARS AGO. I BOUGHT A NEW MAZDA NAVAJO IN 1993 AND IT HAD FIRESTONE ATX TIRES. THEY FAILED WAY BEFORE ANY RECALL SO I REPLACED THEM AT MY COST WITH THE SAME. THESE TIRES FAILED ALSO SO I REPLACED THEM WITH SOMETHING ELSE. 2 SETS (10 TIRES) AT MY COST. WHEN THE RECALL CAME OUT I GOT NOTHING. IN FACT, I DIDN'T EVEN OWN THE VEHICLE ANYMORE. MY COMPLAINT IS...WHEN IT TAKES SO LONG TO IDENTIFY A PROBLEM, WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO HAD PROBLEMS BEFORE THE RECALL? THEY CA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10169642 at NHTSA ↗

4 WHEEL DRIVE MOTOR CORRODED DUE TO IMPROPER SEALING, CAUSING WATER DAMAGE/COMPUTER SHORTAGE. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502743 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER FELT A VIBRATION IN FRONT END OF VEHICLE BUT BEFORE HE COULD SLOW DOWN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING HIM TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, HIT THE MEDIAN AND ROLLED OVER 3 TIMES. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE APPEARS TO HAVE SEPARATED, THE OTHERS WENT FLAT ON IMPACT(FIRESTONE ATX P235/75R15). NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 553805 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE LIFTGATE BRACKET REPAIRED PER RECALL NOTICE 99V-310, DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR BRACKET FREE OF CHARGE CLAIMING THAT THE RECALL NOTICE EXPIRED, AS A RESULT CONSUMER HAD THE BRACKET REPLACED BY ANOTHER COMPANY, HOWEVER SINCE THE ORIGINAL BRACKET BROKE THE TAILGATE DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY, THIS IS ALLOWING EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 555836 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLES TIRES EXPERIENCED MANY FAILURES PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2000 (FIRESTONE ATX P235/75R15). NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 560366 at NHTSA ↗

HEADING SOUTH ON I-95 OUTSIDE SAVANNAH, GA, TIRE EXPLODED CAUSING TREAD TO PEEL AND FLY OFF PUTTING CAR IN DANGEROUS SITUATION AND DANGER TO OTHER CARS. WE WERE ABLE TO BRAKE AND WEAVE TO AVOID IMPACT AND OVERTURNING BEFORE COMING TO A STOP OFF HIGHWAY. IN ADDITION TO A LOST TIRE, THE EXPLOSIONAND RUBBER PEELING IN THE AREA OF THE GAS TANK RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE MUFFLER AND UNDERSIDE OF CAR. WE REPLACED TIRE, ($101.74) HAD THE MUFFLER REPAIRED (UNDER WARRANTY). DAMAGE REMAINS TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. THE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR IS $703.…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728246 at NHTSA ↗

THESE TIRES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ALL WEATHER STREET TIRES (PER SALESMAN), BUT THESE TIRES CAUSE MY CAR TO SKID OUT OF COMPLETE STOP ON WET PAVEMENT AND SKID AND SLIDE IN SNOW OR SLUSH. HAD AN INSTANCE WHERE ON A WINDY AND WET DAY WHERE THE VEHICLE SLID ACROSS A LANE AND A HALF OF TRAFFIC NEARLY HITTING A TANKER TRUCK. ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THESE TIRES DO NOT HUG THE ROAD VERY WELL AND ENDANGER THOSE IN THE VEHICLE. NOTE THAT I REPLACED 4 OF THE WILDERNESS STYLE TIRES WITH THESE TIRES A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO (AND STILL HAVE A RECALLED WILDERNE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 731241 at NHTSA ↗

THE HEADS WERE SEVERLY CRACKED. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE THERE HAVE , NOT ONLY BEEN SO MANY INSTANCES BUT MANY TIMES, AS WITH THIS CASE THE HEADS WERE SO SEVERLY CRACKED THAT ONLY COMPLETE REPLACEMENT IS ACCEPTABLE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 750495 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1994-10-31 (October 31, 1994)

THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL SELF-ADJUST PAWL DOES NOT LINE UP PROPERLY WITH THE SELF-ADJUST RACHET CAUSING THE PAWL TO SLIP OVER ONE OR MORE TEETH IN THE RACHET.

Consequence: WHEN THE ABOVE OCCURS, IT CAN RESULT IN PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM INEFFECTIVENESS. THE PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREELY, IF THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT LEFT IN GEAR.

Remedy: A WEDGE WILL BE INSTALLED WHICH WILL SERVE TO LOCK THE PARKING BRAKE SELF-ADJUST MECHANISM PAWL INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RACHET. ALSO, OWNERS WILL BE ADVISED TO RELEASE AND REAPPLY THE PARKING BRAKE WHENEVER TOOTH SKIP OCCURS AND WILL BE REMINDED TO ALWAYS TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN GEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.

Reported: 1995-08-28 (August 28, 1995)

THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS ARE ATTACHED TO BRACKETS THAT ARE WELDED TO THE LIFTGATE. THE BRACKET WELDS CAN FRACTURE.

Consequence: WITH A BROKEN BRACKET WELD, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE LIFTGATE BRACKET TO GRADUALLY BEND INWARD ALLOWING THE LIFT CYLINDER BALLSTUD TO DISENGAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS.

Reported: 1996-02-28 (February 28, 1996)

THE STUDS WHICH ATTACH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY CAN DEVELOP STRESS CORROSION CRACKING AFTER BEING OPERATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOCATION.

Consequence: IF A CRACK OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN ONE OR BOTH STUDS FRACTURING. THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD THEN SEPARATE FROM THE VACUUM BOOSTER, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, PREVENTING THE SERVICE BRAKES FROM FULLY ACTIVATING INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 1998-02-25 (February 25, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY INSTALLED SUNROOF. THE SUNROOF GLASS PANEL ASSEMBLY CAN SEPARATE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING DUE TO INCORRECT HINGE ENGAGEMENT. THIS WAS CAUSED BY IMPROPER SUNROOF INSTALLATION OF THE GLASS PANEL.

Consequence: UNEXPECTED SEPARATION OF THE SUNROOF GLASS PANEL COULD POSSIBLY DISTRACT THE DRIVER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN INSTRUCTION BOOKLET WHICH THOROUGHLY OUTLINES, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS, THE PROPER PROCEDURES FOR THE REMOVAL, STORAGE, AND REINSTALLATION OF THE SUNROOF'S GLASS PANEL. A WARNING LABEL FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE SUNROOF'S LATCH KNOB WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED TO THE OWNERS.

Reported: 1999-11-24 (November 24, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDER BRACKET WELDS COULD FRACTURE.

Consequence: WITH A BROKEN BRACKET WELD, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE LIFTGATE BRACKET TO GRADUALLY BEND INWARD ALLOWING THE LIFT CYLINDER BALL STUD TO DISENGAGE, UNEXPECTEDLY ALLOWING THE LIFTGATE TO FALL FROM AN OPEN POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL LIFTGATE REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS. DEPENDING UPON THE CONDITION OF THE LIFTGATE SHEET METAL IN THE AREA OF THE BRACKET, DEALERS MAY ALSO INSTALL A LARGER REINFORCEMENT.