2001 Mazda Millenia Complaints

THE TILT-STEERING MOTOR FAILED, LEAVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE EXTREME-UP ("BUS-DRIVER") POSITION. NO WARNING; I JUST PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE WHEEL DID NOT COME DOWN (IT AUTOMATICALLY SWINGS OUT OF THE WAY WHEN YOU TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION). THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE, ALTHOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL TECHNICALLY STILL WORKS, IN ORDER TO DRIVE ONE HAS TO ELEVATE THE SEAT IN THE VERTICAL PLANE TO MAXIMUM AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LIKE THAT OF A BUS. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT, WERE ONE TO BE INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN SUCH A POSITION, THE AIRBAG WOULD BE AIMED AT ONE'S CHIN, PROBABLY RESULTING IN A BROKEN NECK, AND THE "BOTTOM" OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS POINTED DIRECTLY AT THE MIDDLE OF ONE'S CHEST, BELOW THE STERNUM, PROBABLY RESULTING IN MASSIVE INTERNAL INJURIES OR, EASILY, IN DEATH.*AK

NINE MONTHS AFTER THE POWER STEERING WHEEL TILT MOTOR FAILED, I AGAIN EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE, LEAVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE EXTREME-UP ("BUS-DRIVER") POSITION. NO WARNING; I JUST PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE WHEEL DID NOT COME DOWN (IT AUTOMATICALLY SWINGS UP OUT OF THE WAY WHEN YOU TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION). THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE, ALTHOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL TECHNICALLY STILL WORKS, IN ORDER TO DRIVE ONE HAS TO ELEVATE THE SEAT IN THE VERTICAL PLANE TO MAXIMUM AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LIKE THAT OF A BUS. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT, WERE ONE TO BE INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN SUCH A POSITION, THE AIRBAG WOULD BE AIMED AT ONE'S CHIN, PROBABLY RESULTING IN A BROKEN NECK, AND THE "BOTTOM" OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS POINTED DIRECTLY AT THE MIDDLE OF ONE'S CHEST, BELOW THE STERNUM, PROBABLY RESULTING IN MASSIVE INTERNAL INJURIES OR, EASILY, IN DEATH. THE PREVIOUS FAILURE (NOV 12, 2004) WAS DEEMED TO BE A FAILED MOTOR; THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED AT A COST TO ME...

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL OR WARRANTY.*AK

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE INSIDE OF THE 17" LOW PROFILE WHEELS OF MY 2001 MAZDA MILLENIA S HAVE CORRODED AND ALL FOUR TIRES LOSE MOST OF THEIR AIR. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MAZDA ABOUT THIS, AND HAVE TAKEN IT IN ON TWO OCCASIONS, WAITED FOR HOURS AND TOLD THEY NEEDED IT AT A LATER TIME TO REMOVE THE WHEELS AND TIRES AND TAKE PICTURES OF THEM TO FORWARD TO MAZDA. I TOOK TWO HALF DAYS OFF WORK AND WAITED EACH TIME. WE PUT AIR IN THE TIRES EVERY TWO DAYS. THE WHEELS HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND THE CORROSION POLISHED OFF SIX TIMES NOW - 2X IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS. THE TIRE SHOPS SAY THIS IS COMMON FOR THESE WHEELS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 43,000 MILES ON IT AND IS MAZDA'S FLAGSHIP FROM 2001. I AM SURE THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS FOR A NUMBER OF MILLENIAS ON THE ROAD AND OTHER MANUFACTURERS AS WELL. THE LOW TIRES ARE SURE TO HAVE CAUSED SOME ACCIDENTS.*AK

PARKED THE CAR IN THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT AND WHEN RETURNING TO THE CAR TO LEAVE, STARTED THE CAR, BACKED OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT AND THEN PROCEEDED TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND LEAVE. WHEN I DID, THE CAR KEPT GOING IN REVERSE. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, PARK, 2ND AND OVERDRIVE ALL WHICH THE CAR KEPT GOING IN REVERSE. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS NOT CLOSE ENOUGH NOR WERE THERE PEOPLE SURROUNDING THE CAR IMMEDIATELY THAT I COULD HAVE HIT BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I LET THE CAR ROLL BACK IN TO A SPOT AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. WHEN I DID THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. I LEFT THE CAR THERE UNTIL I GOT THE CAR TOWED THE NEXT MORNING. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE CAR DID NOT ROLL AWAY OR SOMEONE STOLE IT BECAUSE WHILE IT WAS IN PARK, THE CAR COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN PUSHED AS HE DEMONSTRATED TO ME AND THE MECHANIC. THIS IS A 2001 CAR AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. I HATE TO THINK ABOUT THE POSSIBLITY THAT I COULD HAVE STARTED...