2003 MAZDA PROTEGE Tires Problems

THE CURRENT ISSUES ( WHICH WE BELIEVE ARE MAZDA CORPORATE ISSUES) AND INHERENT TO THIS VEHICLE WHICH HAS LOW, LOW, LOW MILES HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND HAVE RESULTED IN AN ENGINE FIRE, TWICE, ON THE FREEWAY: 1)FAULTY ELECTRICAL PARTS: THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE THE FIRST DAY WE BROUGHT IT AND HAS HAD MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS OF THE ELECTRICAL MODULE, BATTERIES, ALARM SYSTEM, AND OTHER ITEMS, WHICH HAVE PROVEN FAULTY BY MAZDA. 2)SHUTTER VALVE RECALL: OURS WAS INSPECTED, BUT NOT REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THINGS WERE OUT OF SORTS. IT WAS LATER DEEMED A PROBLEM. 3)FAULTY BELTS, DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING, WHICH TECHNICIANS HAVE TOLD US WAS FROM AN OVERHEATING ISSUE AND POTENTIALLY CREATED BY THE INHERENT PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 4)LEAKING RADIATOR TECHNICIANS HAVE INDICATED THIS IS DUE TO THE ONGOING OVERHEATING PROBLEM WE HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED BY THE INTERCHANGES WITH MAZDA PERSONNEL REGARDING A ?LEMON? VEHICLE WE PURCHASED IN 2003 OR 2004. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE DRIVE IT MINIMALLY AND IT ONLY HAD 30,000 PLUS MILES ON T WITHIN THE 4 YEAR, 50,000 WARRANTY EXPIRED. THAT SAID, WITHIN 24 HOURS OF PURCHASE, THE CAR HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHEN IN AN ?OFF? POSITION, THE LIGHTS STAYED ON AND THE ALARM SOUNDED ERRANTLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR RAN HOT, AND HAD OTHER ISSUES WE MENTIONED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL MODULE AND/OR ALARM SYSTEM. THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED. WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION MULTIPLE TIMES, AND RECEIVED MULTIPLE RESPONSES FROM SERVICE TECHNICIANS: 1)NOTHING WRONG 2)NEEDED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, OIL, PLUGS, POINTS, ETC 3)MULTIPLE BATTERY REPLACEMENTS DUE TO DEAD BATTERIES AND DRAINING ISSUES 4)CAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT ( THE CAR HAD 3 SETS OF TIRE REPLACEMENTS AT 40K) 5)FAULTY BELTS ( WE PAID FOR REPLACEMENT) 6)SHUTTER VALVE ( RECALL WAS NOT REPLACED) 7)WATER PUMP LEAK 8)ELECTRICAL ISSUES NOT DEFINABLE, BUT BATTERY DRAINS 9)ENGINE RUNS HOT AND ROUGH 10) FIRE IN ENGINE ON FREEWAY. *TR

Mileage: 50,284

TWO GENERAL TIRES PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME .ONE TIRE BLEW OUT AND WHEN I WHEN TO HAVE IT REPAIRED WAS TOLD THAT BOTH THE VALVE STEMS IN BOTH THESE TIRES WERE ROTTEN AND THE FIRST ONE GAVE WAY CAUSING A BLOW-OUT WHILE DRIVING .IN CHECKING THE OTHER TIRE THE VALVE STEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. TERRIFYING !!*TR

WITHIN 15 MONTHS AND 5,000 MILES OF PURCHASE, MICHELIN PILOT PRIMACY 195/55R15 TIRE SHOWED TREAD SEPARATION AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. MICHELIN ONLY OFFERED TO REFUND 25% OF TIRE COST (AND ONLY FOR A NEW MICHELIN TIRED). *TR

Mileage: 59,000

I HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE TIRES ON MY 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE. FIRST THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO GET USED TO THE LOW-RISE TIRES. I DIDN'T DRIVE IN ANY SNOW THAT FIRST WINTER, BUT THE WINTER OF 2004-2005 I WAS DOING DOUGHNUTS ON OVERPASSES & STREETS. THE DEALER GAVE ME THE CUSTOMER CARE PHONE # BECAUSE "THEY DON'T HANDLE TIRES". CUSTOMER CARE SAID, "I CAN'T HELP IF YOU LIVE IN EXTREME CONDITIONS." ALL HE COULD OFFER ME FOR A SOLUTION WAS TO BUY WINTER TIRES & RIMS (AS THEY AREN'T INTERCHANGEABLE) FOR ABOUT $2,000. A MAN IN MY OFFICE SAID HIS FAMILY WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIRS. I TRIED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH MAZDA TO NO AVAIL. I THOUGHT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY RECOURSE, BUT RECENTLY I WAS IN FOR SERVICE TWICE & A SERVICE REP TOLD ME HE HAS THE SAME MODEL CAR & IT IS SO UNSAFE HE WON'T LET HIS WIFE DRIVE IT. HE ENDED UP PUTTING ON OVERSIZED TIRES TO MAKE IT SAFER. SHORTLY THEREAFTER A SALESPERSON WHO SAID HE WAS IN SERVICE PRIOR TO SALES SAID THAT THEY KNEW THEY PUT THREE-SEASON TIRES ON THAT MODEL. HE ALSO RECOMMENDED BUYING A SET OF WINTER TIRES/RIMS AS THEY DON'T MAKE ALL-SEASON TIRES FOR THAT CAR. BOTH OF THESE MEN SAID I SHOULD CALL THE CUST CARE LINE AGAIN & NOTIFY YOU IF THEY WOULDN'T HELP. THE DEALER WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE CC #. I AM A GOOD DRIVER MY DAD TAUGHT DRIVING SCHOOL & LEARNED TO DRIVE FROM HIM. THESE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS. I SHAKE EVERY TIME I HAVE TO DRIVE IN THE SNOW & AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS. I HAVE LEARNED TO PROTECT MYSELF IN THE RAIN (THE CAR SLIPS); I WATCH THAT NO CARS ARE CLOSE WHEN I PULL OUT OF A STOP SO I DON'T SLIDE INTO THEM. I ALSO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND ABOUT OTHER DEFECTS (IT'S VERY HARD TO PUT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE; THEY TOLD ME TO JUST PLAY WITH IT, TRY PUTTING IT IN 1ST GEAR, THEN TRY REVERSE. THEY SAID IT WOULD LOOSEN IN TIME, BUT IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN HARDER). PLEASE HELP ME. I AM A WOMAN ALONE & NEED ASSISTANCE IN THIS. *JB

THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING UNCONTROLLABLY THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND PULL OVER. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT TIRE HAD BLOWNED. THE DRIVER CALLED FOR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE TIRE SIZE AND DOT NUMBER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH BACK RIGHT TIRE WENT FLAT INSTANTLY WITHOUT WARNING. TIRE MAKE: BRIDGESTONE POTENZA P195/55R15. THE TIRE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF WEAR OR DAMAGE AND WAS ONLY DRIVEN ON FOR 25,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP (PEPBOYS) AND THEY FOUND THAT THE INSIDE STEEL BELT HAD BROKE AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO FAIL. I REPLACED THAT TIRE WITH ANOTHER BRAND (COST $100), AND STILL HAVE THE DAMAGED BRIDGESTONE TIRE FOR EVIDENCE.*AK

Mileage: 25,000

THE CLUTCH HAD GONE OUT. THEN TWO OF THE TIRES HAD BLOWN OUT. ONE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT FROM THE INNER WALL AND THE OTHER BLOW OUT WAS DUE TO SIDEWALL FAILURE. *AK *SC *JB

Mileage: 100

MAZDAS PEED PROTEGE SUFFERS FROM EXCESS TORQUE STEER AND VERY UNSTABLE STEERING AT SPEEDS OVER 30 MILE PER HOUR. IF YOU EXCELLERATE HARD THE VEHICLE WILL JUMP LEFT OR RIGHT DEPENDING ON SPEED. ALSO WHEN TRAVELLING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE WILL SWERVE LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING OR FOR ANY NOTICABLE REASON ALSO AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE TENDS TO DRIFT IN ITS LANE. DEALER SERVICE STATES THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR A HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLE AND NOTHING IS WRONG. I HAVE OWNED MANY HIGH PERFORMANCE AUTOMOBILES AND HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. THIS CONDITION HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS ON MANY OCCASIONS AND ONLY RADICAL STEERING HAS PREVENTED AN ACCIDENT SO FAR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONSUMER WAS NOT SURE IF THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TIRES OR SUSPENSION. *AK *JB

TREAD ON THE CENTER RIB OF TIRES STARTED TO BREAK OFF.*MR CONSUMER NOTICED SPLITTING ON THE OUTSIDE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. CONDITION GOTTEN WORSE, TRACTION ON THE TIRES HAD BE AFFECTED AND TIRES TENDED TO SLIP. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONCLUDED THE TIRE WERE DEFECTIVE. ONLY THE CENTER RIB AND OUTER SHOULDER BLOCK SHOWED SIGNIFICANT WEAR. CONSUMER WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A AUTHORIZED BRIDGESTONE DEALER FOR WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE MASTER CAR CARE CENTER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS BEING OWNER'S NEGLECT. A SECOND OPINION WAS OBTAINED BY GOODYEAR GEMINI AUTO SERVICE WHO CONCLUDED IMPROPER ALIGNMENT OR DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MECHANIC WHERE THEY DETERMINED IT WASN'T THE ALIGNMENT BUT DEFECTIVE TIRES. AT THIS TIME, THE REMAINING RIBS STARTED TO SHOW WEAR. *PH

Mileage: 1,000