1993 Mazda Protege Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED AND REMAINED STUCK. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND INQUIRED AS TO WHY OTHER MAZDA VEHICLES WERE RECALLED FOR THE SEAT BELTS BUT NOT THE PROTEGE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 237,000.

1) I HAVE A 93 MAZDA 323/PROTEGE AND THE SEAT BELT WERE RECALLED ACCORDING TO THE WEB SIT SAFERCARS.GOV. NHTSA ID NO.97V211000 2)THE SEAT BELT LIGHT WAS ON MY VEHICLE AND THE BELT REFUSES TO MOVE ON THE RAIL SOME TIMES. IN ADDITION THE BUZZER COMES ON WHILE I AM DRIVING AND THE BELT TENDS TO MOVE SLIGHTLY UP AND DOWN WHILE I AM DRIVING. 3) I TOOK THE CAR INTO MAZDA TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND THE DEALER SAID THAT ITS GOING TO BE $ 98.95 TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT. IF THEY FIND A PROBLEM THAT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PARTS ON THE RECALL THEY WOULD REPAIR IT. I LEFT THE CAR AT THE SHOP FOR MORE THAN 3 FULL DAYS AND THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT FROM THE RAILING, AND ALSO THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE SEAT BELTS BUT INSTEAD IT WAS A SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM BY MAZDA. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE CENTER SEAT BELT RETRACTION UNIT HAS GONE BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND ALSO THAT THE DOOR SWITCH FOR THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT IS STARTING TO GO BAD. I CALLED MAZDA HEAD QUARTER UNIT AND SPOKE TO STEVE A CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT AND HE FIRST SAID THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE DOOR SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE EVEN THOUGH THE 12 YR EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER SHIP 2 DAYS LATER TO SEE WHAT IS THE PROGRESS AND TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PERFORM ANY REPAIRS. I CALLED STEVE AND HE SAID THAT AFTER AGAIN TALKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT THEIR FAULT. WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR I ASKED TO SERVICE MANAGER WHAT COULD HAPPEN IT THE PARTS ARE NOT REPLACED AND I GET IN A CRASH, HE ANSWERED THAT IF I DON'T PAY THEM TO FIX THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM, THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THE SEAT BELT UNIT WILL NOT LOCK IN TIME TO KEEP THE FRONT OCCUPANTS SEATED. SO IN CONCLUSION THE MAZDA DEALER DOES NOT GUARANTY THE SEAT BELTS WILL FUNCTION PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. CHARGED ME 99 DOLLARS TO INSECT THE BELTS WHICH THEY THEM SELF SAID THAT ACCORDING TO THEIR DATA BASE WERE NEVER INSPECTED. AND SAID THAT ITS GOING TO COST MINIMUM $ 900 TO FIX. *TR

WINDOWS-DRIVER SIDE POWER ASSISTED WINDOW FAILURE TO GO UP/DOWN, CONTROL WOULD NOT FUNCTION, HAD TO REASSEMBLE WINDOW AND REPLACE MASTER POWER WINDOW CONTROL UNIT. COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE @ 155,000MI. ALL COMPONENTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. WAS NOT ACTIVLY DRIVING WHEN FAILURE NOTICES. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY. THROTTLE COMPONENT- TEMPERATURE CENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THROTTLE WOULD SPARATICALLY GIVE OUT, CAUSING A TRAFFIC HAZARD. (I.E. COULD BE ON HIGHWAY DOING 55MPH, CENSOR WOULD MISDETECT ENGINE STATUS CAUSING THROTTLE TO GO DOWN AND SPEED TO INVOLUNTARILY AND DRASTICALLY DECREASE) DRASTIC AND EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSTICS AND TESTING REQUIRED TO EVALUATE AND SOLVE PROBLEM. SEATBELTS-POWER-SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT GOES OFF WHEN SEATBELT PROPERLY ENGAGED. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD SENSOR MAY BE "STICKY/DIRTY" AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. WAS TOLD TO TRY TO DISASSEMBLE AND CLEAN OUT. DID NOT USE RECOMMENDATION DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS COULD MAKE THE PROBLEM MUCH WORSE, SO WARNING CONTINUES TO RANDOMLY COMES ON WHEN DRIVING. EXHAUST SYSTEM- COMPLEATLY REPLACED. DEEMED INADEQUATE. CAUSED CARBON MINOXIDE LEAK IN VEHICLE.*AK

VERY FIRST TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED TO STOP VEHICLE AND THE WEATHER IS COLD, BRAKES FAIL TO ENGAGE, AND CONSUMER HAS TO PUMP BRAKES FOR THEM TO WORK. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THERE WAS CONDENSATION IN "CHECK BALL" THAT WOULD FREEZE, PREVENTING PROPER FUNCTION OF BRAKE SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

WHEN OPENING THE GAS CAP FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE FUEL TANK. *AK

STRONG GASOLINE SMELL COMING FROM THE BACK SEATS AND COULD BE RELATED TO THE FUEL FILLER NECK PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

WINDOWS-DRIVER SIDE POWER ASSISTED WINDOW FAILURE TO GO UP/DOWN, CONTROL WOULD NOT FUNCTION, HAD TO REASSEMBLE WINDOW AND REPLACE MASTER POWER WINDOW CONTROL UNIT. COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE @ 155,000MI. ALL COMPONENTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. WAS NOT ACTIVLY DRIVING WHEN FAILURE NOTICES. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY. THROTTLE COMPONENT- TEMPERATURE CENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THROTTLE WOULD SPARATICALLY GIVE OUT, CAUSING A TRAFFIC HAZARD. (I.E. COULD BE ON HIGHWAY DOING 55MPH, CENSOR WOULD MISDETECT ENGINE STATUS CAUSING THROTTLE TO GO DOWN AND SPEED TO INVOLUNTARILY AND DRASTICALLY DECREASE) DRASTIC AND EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSTICS AND TESTING REQUIRED TO EVALUATE AND SOLVE PROBLEM. SEATBELTS-POWER-SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT GOES OFF WHEN SEATBELT PROPERLY ENGAGED. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD SENSOR MAY BE "STICKY/DIRTY" AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. WAS TOLD TO TRY TO DISASSEMBLE AND CLEAN OUT. DID NOT USE RECOMMENDATION DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS COULD MAKE THE PROBLEM MUCH WORSE, SO WARNING CONTINUES TO RANDOMLY COMES ON WHEN DRIVING. EXHAUST SYSTEM- COMPLEATLY REPLACED. DEEMED INADEQUATE. CAUSED CARBON MINOXIDE LEAK IN VEHICLE.*AK

COOLANT COMING THROUGH CRACKS IN RADIATOR. COOLANT IS BLOWING ON ENGINE.*AK

THE HORN GOES OFF ON ITS OWN.

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HORN GOES OFF BY ITSELF.DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

WINDOWS-DRIVER SIDE POWER ASSISTED WINDOW FAILURE TO GO UP/DOWN, CONTROL WOULD NOT FUNCTION, HAD TO REASSEMBLE WINDOW AND REPLACE MASTER POWER WINDOW CONTROL UNIT. COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE @ 155,000MI. ALL COMPONENTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. WAS NOT ACTIVLY DRIVING WHEN FAILURE NOTICES. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY. THROTTLE COMPONENT- TEMPERATURE CENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THROTTLE WOULD SPARATICALLY GIVE OUT, CAUSING A TRAFFIC HAZARD. (I.E. COULD BE ON HIGHWAY DOING 55MPH, CENSOR WOULD MISDETECT ENGINE STATUS CAUSING THROTTLE TO GO DOWN AND SPEED TO INVOLUNTARILY AND DRASTICALLY DECREASE) DRASTIC AND EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSTICS AND TESTING REQUIRED TO EVALUATE AND SOLVE PROBLEM. SEATBELTS-POWER-SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT GOES OFF WHEN SEATBELT PROPERLY ENGAGED. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD SENSOR MAY BE "STICKY/DIRTY" AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. WAS TOLD TO TRY TO DISASSEMBLE AND CLEAN OUT. DID NOT USE RECOMMENDATION DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS COULD MAKE THE PROBLEM MUCH WORSE, SO WARNING CONTINUES TO RANDOMLY COMES ON WHEN DRIVING. EXHAUST SYSTEM- COMPLEATLY REPLACED. DEEMED INADEQUATE. CAUSED CARBON MINOXIDE LEAK IN VEHICLE.*AK

THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD MAKE NOISES WHENEVER THE DOOR IS CLOSING OR OPENING. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE ENTIRE MECHANISM TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE WINDOW WORE OUT BECAUSE THE PLASTIC PARTS WERE OF POOR QUALITY. OWNER BELIEVES THAT MAZDA SHOULD PAY FOR REPAIRS FOR THIS DEFECT. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE HORN GOES OFF BY ITSELF. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

WINDOWS-DRIVER SIDE POWER ASSISTED WINDOW FAILURE TO GO UP/DOWN, CONTROL WOULD NOT FUNCTION, HAD TO REASSEMBLE WINDOW AND REPLACE MASTER POWER WINDOW CONTROL UNIT. COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE @ 155,000MI. ALL COMPONENTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. WAS NOT ACTIVLY DRIVING WHEN FAILURE NOTICES. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY. THROTTLE COMPONENT- TEMPERATURE CENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THROTTLE WOULD SPARATICALLY GIVE OUT, CAUSING A TRAFFIC HAZARD. (I.E. COULD BE ON HIGHWAY DOING 55MPH, CENSOR WOULD MISDETECT ENGINE STATUS CAUSING THROTTLE TO GO DOWN AND SPEED TO INVOLUNTARILY AND DRASTICALLY DECREASE) DRASTIC AND EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSTICS AND TESTING REQUIRED TO EVALUATE AND SOLVE PROBLEM. SEATBELTS-POWER-SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT GOES OFF WHEN SEATBELT PROPERLY ENGAGED. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD SENSOR MAY BE "STICKY/DIRTY" AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. WAS TOLD TO TRY TO DISASSEMBLE AND CLEAN OUT. DID NOT USE RECOMMENDATION DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS COULD MAKE THE PROBLEM MUCH WORSE, SO WARNING CONTINUES TO RANDOMLY COMES ON WHEN DRIVING. EXHAUST SYSTEM- COMPLEATLY REPLACED. DEEMED INADEQUATE. CAUSED CARBON MINOXIDE LEAK IN VEHICLE.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL FOR THE FRONT DOOR LATCH FOR IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, THEY REFUSED RECALL REPAIR AND STATED THAT IT ONLY APPLIES WHEN IT GETS STUCK HALF WAY DOWN THE RETRACTOR, THE DOOR LATCH IS INOPERABLE AND THE CONSUMER FEELS THE RECALL SHOULD BE COMPLETED. (RECALL INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE) *MJS

THE HOOD LATCH PREMATURELY WEARS, CAUSING THE HOOD TO DISENGAGE FROM THE LOCK. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE LOST THEIR TRANSPARENCY WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE OR NEGLECT IN CARE. THE NIGHTTIME ILLUMINATION HAS BEEN GREATLY REDUCED. WHILE THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED IN AN OLDER '89 MAZDA 626 WE HAVE OWNED SINCE NEW, I HAVE NOTICED THIS TYPE OF PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENS OPACITY IN EARLY '90'S FORD ESCORTS AND DODGE/PLYMOUTH NEONS. I CAN RECALL WHEN IN 1966-67, THE US GOVERNMENT PROHIBITED EXTERNAL HEADLIGHT LENSES (AS IN VW BEETLES) BECAUSE VISIBILITY COULD BECOME REDUCED IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS DUE TO FOGGING OR ICE/SNOW BUILDUP. WHY IS IT THAT SOME MANUFACUTURERS CAN NOW HAVE THESE PLASTIC "EXTERNAL" LENSES (E.G. NOT SEALED BEAM) THAT HAVE COMPOUNDS AFFECTED BY AGING (NOT DAMAGE OR NEGLECT) THAT BRING ON A CONDITION THAT THE NHTSA EXPRESSLY TRIED TO AVOID IN THE LATE 1960'S. I SHOULD ADD THE CONSUMER CAN REMEDY THIS SITUATION ONLY BY INVESTING MANY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR OEM OR AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENTS, WITHOUT ANY FAULT OF THEIR OWN.*AK

LEFT FRONT MOHAWK MONTEGA A/S TSB TIRE WAS COLLAPSING, DEALER SAID THOSE TIRES WERE BEING BROUGHT BACK BECAUSE OF SOME SORT OF HEAT RELATED SEPARATION, CONSUMER PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT BUT 27 DAYS LATER THE NEW TIRE STARTED SHOWING THE SAME DEFECT. NLM

AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND THE HOLD LIGHT COMES ON DURING PARKING. *ET

WHEN TRUNK IS PUT UP WILL NOT STAY UP, COMES DOWN ON HEAD. TT