2002 Mazda Tribute Complaints

MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING ON AND OFF FOR A WHILE NOW. I REMOVED THE ITEMS UNDER THE SEAT AND THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND WORKED FOR ALMOST A MONTH. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LIGHTS ARE NOW FLASHING AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NO ITEMS BELOW MY SEATS. I WAS ABLE TO SEARCH ONLINE AND SEE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY ISSUES WITH THE SEATBELT PRETENSIONERS AND/OR THE CONNECTIONS BELOW THE SEAT THAT NEED TO BE WIGGLED OR DISCONNECTED AND THEN RE-PLUGGED IN TO MAKE THE LIGHT GO OUT. IT HAS HAPPENED IN ALL SITUATIONS INCLUDING STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON THE HIGHWAY, OR IN THE CITY.

I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY MAZDA FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES ON A 75 DEGREE DAY IN SOUTH TEXAS WHEN TURNING ONTO A FLAT, UNOBSTRUCTED, SMOOTH PAVED ROAD THROUGH A KOA PARK. AFTER TURNING, I WAS ONLY DRIVING THE 5 MILE AN HOUR SPEED LIMIT THROUGH THIS PARK, WHEN SUDDENLY THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG EXPLODED IN MY FACE WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHATSOEVER . THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD HAVE EVEN SLIGHTLY INDICATED A COLLISION -- NOT A SPEED BUMP, NOT A BIRD OR ANIMAL, OR ANYTHING. IT WAS JUST A SMOOTH, SLOW DRIVE AT 5 MILES AN HOUR ON A SUNNY DAY. THERE WAS 60% HUMIDITY FROM PRIOR DAYS RAIN. I HAD MY ARM UP TO MY FACE ALREADY WHEN IT HAPPENED, WHICH TOOK THE BRUNT OF THE HIT TO MY WRIST AND FOREARM. WITHIN LESS THAN 5 SECONDS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED ALSO. BOTH RANG OUT A SHOT LIKE A PISTOL IN THE CLOSED WINDOW CAR. SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL STARTED FILLING THE CAR, AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP SINCE ONLY GOING 5 MILES AN HOUR, AND GET MYSELF OUT OF THE CAR QUICKLY. MY ARM SUSTAINED HUGE WELTS FROM THE...

HARD TO TURN IN SOUNDS LIKE MY LOWER CONTROL ARM IS ABOUT TO COME OFF.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TURNED INWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER OBSERVED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V174000 (STRUCTURE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 131,000.

WHILE DRIVING 45 RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE SHIFTER CABLE BROKE