2002 Mazda Tribute engine and engine cooling problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO FORCEFULLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, NONE OF THE LOCKS FUNCTIONED AND THE BODY FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH WINDOW DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 04V583000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), 12V357000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), AND 14V174000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED PRESTON MAZDA (LOCATED AT 260 BOARDMAN POLAND RD, BOARDMAN, OH 44512, (844) 835-0773) AND WAS INFORMED TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THEIR FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”

“I PULLED ONTO A DIRT ROAD BECAUSE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND WHEN I STOPPED I OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS LIKE A SMALL FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD I GOT SCARED CALLED MY MOTHER AND 2 SECONDS LATER THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED, AND THE ENGINE RELEASED A BURNING ODOR. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN BRAKING DISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAD THE RADIATOR, HEATER COIL AND THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RELEASE A BURNING ODOR AND THERE WAS A CONTINUAL INCREASE IN BRAKING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.”

“WHILE BRAKING FOR A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED UP AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, EVEN THOUGH I WAS APPLYING MAXIMUM FORCE TO THE BRAKE. I QUICKLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP, FORTUNATELY WITHOUT CRASHING INTO STOPPED VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS BEING USED FOR BRAKING AND WAS NO WHERE NEAR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, RESTARTED THE CAR, AND DROVE SLOWLY HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN SINCE, AND HAD MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO BRING THE VEHICLE INTO A GARAGE FOR SERVICE MONDAY MORNING (TOMORROW.) *TR”

“I STARTED MY CAR AND THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT FLASHED ON-AND-OFF. THINKING IT WOULD GO AWAY, I DROVE TO ROUTE 3 IN SOUTH SHORE, MA. ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE LIGHT DID NOT STOP FLASHING, SO I PULLED OVER. THIRTY SECONDS AFTER PULLING OVER IN A REST AREA, WHITE SMOKE APPEARED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. 10 SECONDS LATER, BLACK SMOKE CAME FROM THE HOOD WHICH WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH A BURNING SMELL. LUCKILY, SOMEONE FROM MASSDOT WAS IN THE REST AREA AND WE DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A CAR FIRE. WE PROCEEDED TO STEP BACK AND CALL 911 FROM A SAFE DISTANCE. THE ENGINE AREA OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO PUT IT OUT. *TR”

“THE SPARK PLUG IN MY MAZDA TRIBUTE 2002 BLEW OUT OF THE SOCKET CAUSING ME TO HUNT DOWN A VALVE COVER. THE MECHANIC SAID I DIDN'T TIGHTEN IT ENOUGH WHICH IS FALSE I BELIEVE THERE IS A EQUIPMENT DEFECT WITH THE COMPRESSING SOMEHOW. I PURPOSEFULLY RETIGHTINENED THE REMAINING TWO THAT I COULD GET AT AND THE MECHANIC SAID THE VERY NEXT DAY THAT THEY WHERE LOOSE. I USED A TORQUE SPECIFIED WRENCH TO THE MANUALS DESCRIPTION IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THAT YEARS FORD MADE MAZDAS. A FIRE COULD BREAK OUT OR AN EXPLOSION. *TR”