2004 Mazda Tribute Speed Control & Cruise Problems

I am submitting this formal complaint regarding a potential recall failure involving a 2005 Mazda Tribute driven by my fiancé, [XXX], who died following a crash on [XXX]. Mazda has opened Case #[XXX] in response to my inquiry, and I am requesting federal oversight of this investigation. Joey’s vehicle may have been affected by NHTSA Recall 12V357000, which addresses throttle body malfunction and unintended acceleration. Service records show that a dealership performed a recall service, but the parts used may have been ineffective or incomplete. The crash sequence—rear-ending a stopped vehicle followed by veering into oncoming traffic—matches known symptoms of this defect. I am requesting: •A formal review of Mazda’s handling of Recall 12V357000 •Verification of Joey’s VIN-specific recall compliance •Investigation into the dealership’s repair actions and part quality •Oversight of Mazda’s internal case (#[XXX]) and its findings This issue raises serious concerns about manufacturer accountability and public safety. I am submitting supporting documentation and service records for review. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PARKED THE VEHICLE IN A NEARBY PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED NUMEROUS TIMES. IN ORDER TO REDUCE SPEED, THE GEAR LEVER WAS SHIFTED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE ENGINE REVVED, BUT NOT RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. IN 2015, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V583000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT AND FAILED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

I HAD RECEIVED TWO NOTICES OF RECALL ON MY MAZDA TRIBUTE FOR A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH A STUCK THROTTLE. APPROXIMATELY 4 OR 5 MONTHS AGO, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALER TO COMPLETE THE RECALL. BEFORE THIS RECALL I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS WITH A STUCK THROTTLE. ON THE ABOVE DATE, I WAS RETURING TO MY HOME ON A TURNPIKE TOLL ROAD. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH. AS I ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE TOLL TOAD, MY THROTTLE STUCK AND WOULD NOT ALLOW MY VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. THIS EXIT INVOLVED A SHARP CURVE AND A TOLL GATE AREA. I MADE MY WAY THROUGH THE GATE BY CONSTANTLY APPLYING THE BRAKE. I FINALLY EXITED THE ROAD AND ENTERED A PARKING LOT. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AT A VERY HIGH RPM. I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND THEN PARK. IT CONTINUED TO REV NEAR THE 5 AND 6 RPM LEVEL. I TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT SEVERAL TIMES. IT CONTINUED TO REV AND WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE, IT JUMPED AND RACED FORWARD. ON DECEMBER 24, 2013, I GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALER. AS I PULLED IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE AGAIN STARTED TO REV UP TO 2 OR 3 RPMS. THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND TAPPED ON A VALVE IN THE TOP OF THE MOTOR. THE ENGINE THEN SLOWED DOWN. AT AN EXPENSE OF $235 DOLLARS, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS THIS VALVE THAT NEEDED REPLACED AND IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL!!!!! THEN ON JANUARY 6, 2014, I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE AND IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED IDLING VERY HIGH. I ATTEMPTED TO START AND STOP IT MANY TIMES WITH NO RESULTS. I FINALLY GOT IT TO MY HOUSE BY RIDING THE BRAKE AND AT TIMES PLACING IT IN NEUTRAL. IT WAS VERY ICY AT THE TIME AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE AND NEVER STOP THE HIGH REVING OF THE RPMS. BOTH OF THESE INCIDENTS WERE VERY SCARY AND OCCURRED DURING POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO REACT IN A CALM MATTER AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE! *TR

ACCELERATOR BEGAN TO STICK AS I WAS APPROACHING DOWNHILL. I COULD NOT GET IT TO STOP AND RAN A STOP SIGN. I THEN FINALLY MANAGED TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD THIS TO A LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES AND IT STILLS DOES THE SAME THING. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED AN IAC VALVE AND AN INTAKE TUBE HOSE. BACK IN 2012 I HAD A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS SAME SITUATION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AS INSTRUCTED AND ALMOST EXACTLY ONE YEAR LATER I ACTUALLY STARTED HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I'VE PAID TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE WORKED ON AND THE PERFORMANCE IS NO BETTER THAN WHEN I ORIGINALLY TOOK IT IN. IN FACT, THE PERFORMANCE IS WORSE. NOT ONLY IS THIS NOT SAFE FOR ME TO BE ON THE ROAD BUT EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD AS WELL. COULD SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS SITUATION UNDER CONTROL. IT'S BEGINNING TO BECOME VERY STRESSFUL FOR ME. I'M NOT USUALLY ONE TO COMPLAIN BUT THIS NEEDS RESOLVED. I'VE DONE MY PART AND PAID A MECHANIC. ALL I EXPECT IS THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK FOR A BRIEF MOMENT UPON BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE ALSO LUNGED FORWARDLY ABNORMALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V357000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING , VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE WEEK AFTER THE REMEDY REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

ON 9/2012, RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 04V-583, TOOK TO MAZDA SERVICE, THEY STATED RECALL PART WAS TAKEN CARE OF. 2-5-2013 EXITING FREEWAY, AT IDLE, VEHICLE RPM WAS STUCK AT 2, TRIED PUTTING IN PARK, RPMS WENT UP TO 4.. TERRIFYING INCIDENT. ALMOST HIT VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME AND THOUGHT THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE TRIBUTE WAS PURCHASED WHICH WAS 5 MINUTES AWAY. THEY INFORMED ME LATER THAT DAY THROTTLE BODY ELECTRICAL. NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. $500 OUT OF POCKET. THEY ARE WORKING ON VEHICLE AND KEEPING ONE MORE NIGHT TO TEST IT. I CONTACTED MAZDA TO ASK ABOUT REFUND SINCE THE 2012 RECALL FIX WAS COMPLETED AND THIS IS HAPPENING ONE YEAR LATER. MAZDA CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THEY ARE OPENING FILE AND CONTACTING DEALERSHIP WORKING ON TRIBUTE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V357000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CABLES) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 12V357000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES) THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PARTS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER TWO MONTHS LATER AND ONCE AGAIN, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE PARTS HAD NOT YET BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

IN AUGUST OF 2012 THE VEHICLE STARTED RANDOMLY ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. SOMETIMES WHEN COMING TO A STOP IN A PARKING LOT IT WOULD SURGE AGGRESSIVELY. SOMETIMES WHEN STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION IT WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL IN AUGUST 2012. PART NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. DEALER DISCONNECTED CRUISE CONTROL CABLE AND SAID VEHICLE WOULD BE SAFE UNTIL PART COULD BE REPLACED. PART WAS NOT INSTALLED YET BUT CABLE REMAINS DISCONNECTED. TODAY THE VEHICLE STARTING BEHAVING LIKE DESCRIBED ABOVE. BUT THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT DECELERATE NO MATTER WHAT YOU DID. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE ENOUGH WITH THE BRAKES TO PARK IT. WHEN I WENT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE TONIGHT WHERE IT WAS LEFT IT IDLES AT OVER 3000 RPM AS SOON AS YOU START IT AND IT WILL NOT IDLE DOWN NO MATTER WHAT. I TRIED PUMPING ACCELERATOR PEDDLE AND MOVING THE THROTTLE CONTROL AT THE THROTTLE CABLE UNDER THE HOOD. THE ENGINE COVER WAS COMPLETELY REMOVED AND THROTTLE COULD NOT BE REDUCED. I RECORDED VIDEO OF THE ENGINE BEHAVIOR AND THE DASHBOARD READINGS WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING. THE DEALER IS SCHEDULED TO TOW THE VEHICLE TOMORROW TO THEIR DEALERSHIP TO INSTALL THE RECALL PART. OUR CONCERN IS THAT IF DISCONNECTING THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS SUPPOSED TO ELIMINATE THE RISK, BUT IT STILL ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AT A VERY HIGH SPEED, CAN WE REALLY RELY ON THE RECALL PART TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP BY SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V583000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CABLES). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,242. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO INCREASE SPEED AND FAILED TO SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. IN 20004, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V583000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES). THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION PERTAINING TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER DP12005 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE INVESTIGATION CLOSED ON JULY 17,2012. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,535.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHILE IT WAS PARTIALLY DEPRESSED. HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY ENOUGH. HE THEN REAPPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UNTIL THE PEDAL WAS FULLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. HE DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND HAD NOT BEEN EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 114,900.

I WAS DRIVING A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN 10 DEG. F TEMPERATURES WITH THE SPEED CONTROL ON AND SET TO 70 MPH. WHEN I APPROACHED THE EXIT RAMP I PRESSED THE SPEED CONTROL OFF BUTTON BUT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN. I THEN TAPPED THE BRAKES WHILE GOING UP THE EXIT RAMP. STILL THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AT THE STOP LIGHT AND PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO 4500RPM. I TURNED THE KEY COMPLETELY OFF THEN RESTARTED THE ENGINE. AGAIN IT REVVED UP TO 4500RPM. I TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED AGAIN. STILL THE ENGINE RAN UP TO 4500RPM IN NEUTRAL. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN SO I CAREFULLY PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE AND DROVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. I STOPPED AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. I COULD TELL BY THE SMELL THAT THE BRAKES WERE HOT. THIS TIME WHEN I RESTARTED THE ENGINE IT REVVED UP TO ABOUT 3000 THEN SLOWLY CAME DOWN TO NORMAL IDLE SPEED. I DROVE IT THE REST OF MY TRIP WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE BUT DID NOT USE THE SPEED CONTROL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID COME ON AS A RESULT OF THIS EPISODE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHEN SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT STUCK TO THE FLOOR WHICH CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A BUILDING. SHE SUSTAINED SEVERE BRUISING TO HER BODY, A BROKEN LEG AND A FOOT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP AND THE CONTACT DEPRESSES THE CLUTCH, THE ENGINE REVS. IT FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE INSTEAD OF COMING TO A STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURS DAILY AND WAS RECENTLY NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS STUCK AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V583000. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT IF THE FAILURES ARE IDENTICAL, THEN HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000. UPDATED 06/12/09 *BF UPDATED 06/16/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A NO START CONDITION ACCOMPANIED BY AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARK. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V583000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES);THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RECALL REPAIR WAS NEVER PERFORMED. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OVER THE 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND DOWNSHIFTED THE GEAR, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. SHE EXITED OFF THE NEAREST RAMP, TURNED THE VEHICLE TOWARDS AN EMBANKMENT, AND THEN JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK, AND BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER, STRUCK A TREE, AND THEN FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. THE POLICE FILED A REPORT AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 03/29/10 *BF

MY WIFE PURCHASED A USED 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE FAILED AND WHEN IT FAILED THE CAR ENGINE WAS AT FULL THROTTLE WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO STOP IT. A FAILURE THAT DEFAULTS TO FULL ACCELERATION IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN RECALLED TO CORRECT THAT DEFECT. I CALLED MAZDA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WORK HAD BEEN DONE ON THE CAR. I TOLD MAZDA THAT THE RECALL WORK HAD NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM AND THAT A FAILURE THAT DEFAULTS TO A THROTTLE AT FULL ACCELERATION IS A MASSIVELY DANGEROUS DEFECT. THEY BASICALLY SAID WE DID ALL WE HAD TO DO. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND WILL CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY (4 LANE - 65 MPH SPEED LIMIT) ON THE AFTERNOON OF 2/3/2007 WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 65 MPH. I NOTICED THAT I WAS SPEEDING UP, AND WITHIN A SHORT TIME, MY SPEED HAD CLIMBED TO ABOUT 90 MPH. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT THIS WAS A MALFUNCTION OF MY SPEED CONTROL, BUT AFTER TOUCHING THE BRAKE AND TURNING THE SPEED CONTROL OFF, IT CONTINUED TO GO ABOUT 90 MPH. AT THIS TIME, I NOTICED AN EXIT COMING UP IN ABOUT 1 MILE - SO I KEPT TOUCHING THE BREAK TO KEEP THE SPEED ABOUT 75-80 AND WHEN I APPROACHED THE EXIT, SHUT OFF THE CAR AND COASTED TO THE TOP OF THE RAMP. WITH THE CAR SAFELY STOPPED, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION, WHERE THE MECHANIC PULLED OFF THE AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY GOING INTO WHAT I THINK IS A THROTTLE CHAMBER AND FOUND A LARGE PIECE OF ICE HOLDING EITHER THE CHOKE OR THROTTLE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE TEMPERATURES THAT DAY WERE VERY COLD - ABOUT 10 DEGREES F. BELOW ZERO. AFTER REMOVING THE ICE AND CLEANING OUT THE CHAMBER WITH SILICON, AND ALLOWING IT TO WARM UP FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES - EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. I SHOULD NOTE THAT I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALER ABOUT A MONTH EARLIER BECAUSE I NOTICED THE THROTTLE WAS STICKING - THEY SERVICED IT AND IT SEEMED TO BE OKAY, UNTIL THE INCIDENT ON 2/3/07. WHEN I CALLED THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY, BUT THEY SHOWED THIS PART HAD BEEN REPLACED ALREADY. I AM CONCERNED THAT ICE CAN BUILD UP IN THIS AREA AND THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN AGAIN, WHENEVER IT IS COLD OUT. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANOTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINT, BUT THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO DOCUMENT THIS - THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *NM