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Mazda5 Owners: Problems & Solutions
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Don't mean to bum anyone out more than they already are, but it could be November before we see our 5's again...
Now for the conspiracy - Mazda released the 5 a month or two before Mercedes released their new mini van. Have you seen this new Mercedes? It looks just like the Mazda 5 - in fact I had three people tell me they thought they saw me, but it was a Mercedes. If you were Mercedes wouldn't you be upset if a car that looks just like your new release was being sold for 1/2 the price. As soon as the Mazdas were pulled off the street there was a flow of Mercedes ads on tv for this new car. Has anyone seen an ad for the Mazda 5? No! I think the Mazda 5 will be a great success but is being sidestepped so that Mercedes can get out there first and make it look like Mazda copied and is not as innovative. Well, we all know the truth and may end up with a very controversial car with the look of a Mercedes at 1/2 the price. I wouldn't doubt if the price of a Mazda 5 goes up now.
:shades:
http://autos.yahoo.com/newcars/mercedesbenz_rclass_r350_2006/18309/style_slideshow.html;_y- lt=Aikx5szFf8QNN5adLatBe5LwnMoF?i=exrrpass75&a=all
Your dealer is wrong. Mazda was holding some MZ5 at the port until the fix had been determined...They decided to start shipping the cars on hold so when the fix arrives they will be turned around quickly. They are still under a stop sale directive. They can not be sold or delivered to customers until the fix is completed. Any dealer violating this rule can potentially face all kinds of trouble...Mazda has requested that all customer cars be repaired first.
Wait until you see one in person. I dont think the comparison will hold up.
Thank you, great information so far. Who provided those details to you? Your dealer?
As for the dealers not able to release the car until is fixed, I will stick to the "up-to-one-month" statement in the letter sent earlier by Mazda. Somebody mentioned the lemon law earlier in this forum. I'm not sure in Canada or other US States, but in the State where I purchased my car the :lemon: law kicks-off after 30 days, so I will give them the benefit of the doubt for the time being and if nothing happens by then I'll look for other options. It's a great car but I prefer one that I can drive . I know sounds bad, but given the circumstances, I'm already doing some research to find a good :lemon: lawyer...
Exterior Dimensions: R-Class (MAZDA5)
Length 203 in. (181.5 in.)
Width 77.5 in. (69.1 in.)
Height 65.2 in. (64.2 in.)
Weight 4766 lbs. (3333 lbs.)
Wheel Base 126.6 in. (108.3 in.)
Ground Clearance 5.8 in. (5.5 in.)
It's weird how the R-350 is a "wagon" and the M5 is a "van" according to Edmunds' data.
If you look at the windows of the R-350, note how much they're tinted in the back. Gotta wonder what kinda of a "greenhouse" this thing has.
Yes, while there is some resemblance in some images, the R Class is bigger than a Honda Odyssey - and we all know how huge that thing is.
While I have your attention - to all those who have M'5's with AT. I know the car will drop down to first gear when coming to a stop. But what about when driving in manual mode at highway speeds? If you were to slow down to 30 or 40 mph without manually downshifting, does the vehicle go to second or third gear automatically or will it stay in fourth?
actually I am a dealer.
I called the Dealer today and the service guy said nothing had been done. He said they didn't even know what needed to be done and were waiting for Mazda to tell them! I don't know whether the guy was just clueless or being economical with the truth, but either way I want my car back.
I
Since you get some key information first hand, please keep the people in this forum on the loop in case you get some more news. I hope you also have some voice in Mazda at higher levels (being a direct representative of them) so they understand what owners expect. As I told my dealer and the Mazda Customer Assistance Center: Mazda can make a difference on this issue by periodically communicating to owners and dealers alike (letters and calls are overkilling but what about a more specific status page on media.ford.com) or miss the opportunity and really upset owners by providing only little bits and pieces which have to come from different sources creating confusion and deriving into taking other measures :mad:
Mazda had a good start with this issue... they just need to follow through properly so I'll call Sharon as well
You can exchange phone number by private e-mail. Most members list their e-mails in their profiles, just click on their name, or ask them in the forum to send you their e-mail address. Don't post your e-mail address publicly in any message board. Bad idea, you'll get spammed to death.
thanks
MrShiftright
Host
She told me the dealer has to give me my car back, and that is very unlikely the car would catch fire if it is not driven in second gear at high rates of speed. They are going to put in a new heat shield to make it idiot proof, but you are not in danger if you drive it and remember not to put it in second at 65 MPH. Also, she told me the cars that caught fire did so in the first 100 miles of being driven.
HiFive
Perhaps Mazda USA is being overly cautious...
I will send an email to you by Monday morning about the phone number if you still think we can get our Mazda5 back next week. We are happy with our rental Mazda3. Our Mazda5 is a manual transmission so the recall doesn't make much sense to us, given we won't drive 65 MPH in second.
Bert
I asked if he thought I could go ahead and get the car back, since Im not dumb enough to drive in second gear at 65, and would be willing to sign a waiver freeing Mazda of any responsiblity. He said I was the only person who had asked that, and while the fires may have occurred under those conditions, that didn't mean they were the only conditions that it could occur, and if it were him, he would wait until Mazda completed the repairs. He said it could still be 4-6 weeks from this point.
Good advice, I guess, but Im going ahead and filing my lemon law form with Mazda USA, since 15 days is all it takes here in FL to start the process. We'll see how serious they think it is after that.
I like the 5, but I don't know how long I want to wait to get it back.
Mazda gave me mazda6 v6 that sucked gas. Then they gave me a dirty 2002 626.
Finally they gave me a new mazda3 with on the highway gas milage of 25mpg.
Gee, I'm buying a Civic next. This is not a good vision for the future.
HiFive
jgurian@tampabayillustrated.com
I called the dealership this a.m. and told me to have it ready to go, and they did, even washed it for me! I think I have the only Five on the road in the USA.
Ask to speak to the Customer Service Supervisor at Mazda USA. They cannot legally keep your car.
Moderator, I really think you should allow me to post the person's phone number at Mazda USA, it is extremely pertinent to this discussion.
HiFive :shades:
HiFive
I have just called to the dealership, and talked to the dealer's Service Manager. He said that he has not got a release permission from Mazda USA, and untill he gets such permission he is not going to let me have my car back. How can I get the info that will open the gate for my car?
P.S. Thanks for the Mazda Customer Service person's number. I got it, and I called her. Unfortunatelly, she was out at the moment, so I left a message asking her to call me back. Somehow I have a strong doubt that she will...
I plan to call Mazda USA today and see what they might be able to do for me. Im tired of waiting for my 5. I either want the car, or I want a buy-back. I'd like to talk to someone at Mazda about that.
HiFive
Of course, casting doubt/fear on a situation like that is a perfect way to get people to comply, but..
Im past my 15 day point, so I can start lemon law proceedings. Im not going to threaten anyone at Mazda, but I do plan to let them know thats the direction Im going with it. I could easily complete the process in the timeframe they're allowing.
In the meantime, I've been having a good time running my dogs around in the MPV, which I took the seats out of.
HiFive
HiFive
The dealer told me also that there was a recent request from Mazda USA of how many cars he is holding, which supposedly means that Mazda is almost ready to send him parts and instructions...
The rep went as far to suggest that I would need a copy of my registration, a work order from the dealer (not really applicable in this case), and a copy of the purchase paperwork when I sent in the form.
However, they also said that they expect dealers to be receiving parts in the next 2 weeks. Thats what they were told on Friday.
So, it would seem that maybe Mazda is getting to be in hurry-up mode here. I sure hope so.
I kinda doubt this would happen with MT drivers.
From the press release:
Mazda has determined that the cause of these fires is excessive exhaust heat caused by inadvertent operation of the vehicle in the manual mode of the automatic transmission at highway speeds in second gear. It is possible that extended high-RPM operation may cause this exhaust overheat, and a subsequent fire.
HiFive
Pressed hard, Mazda may return your vehicle, but Mazda runs the risk of fines, etc. by the government. Remember, the fires, regardless of how or why they occur, not only put the vehicle owner's life in peril, but passengers and other drivers in peril as well.
If one doesn't pay their due property taxes, the gov my confiscate/foreclose the individual's home. So, does anyone ever really own their home??? If one is committing illegal acts and gets caught, their property (home, auto, boat, plane, etc.) may be confiscated and auctioned (or used for other stings). So, does anyone really own their property??? I know, sounds depressing, but those are the facts of life.
HiFive
Mfg's are given a chance at a voluntary recall. Had Mazda not done a recall, the gov would have imposed one on them. Besides, even if the gov can't force automakers to recall cars, the gov can and will impose tax/fines just like the "gas guzzler tax" of yestyear. Mazda 5s are not the only vehicles on the road; they share the highways and biways with millions of other vehicles. If a Mazda 5 or any other vehicle catches fire on the road, the chance of causing harm to others unrelated to the Mazda 5 are great. That is impossible to ignore. So, the voluntary recall, IMO, was a PR repair.
At the end of the day, the gov can take your vehicle at a moments notice, even without compensation. Whether they are in the right, is a matter for the courts to decide (be that eminent domain or other). And that, my friend, leaves you without a car for the time being. Luckily, Mazda's recall has provided temp. transport.
And you are correct, Dealer = Squat They have your vehicle because they have the backing of NHTSA. About all the dealer can try to do is rip you off during the sale, but, my friends, that is why we have EDMUNDS.COM
HiFive
I bet ya there is some kind of loophole to prevent them from being snagged by lemon laws. After all, if they are compelled to recall these vehicles by the government do they get some kind of exemption? What is the recall status? Voluntary or involuntary? Does it matter?
Nah, I only did it for ten seconds...it felt like I was killing the car. This can't be right, that is, that people are driving 60 mph in 2nd. Maybe 35 mph?
The problem with the lemon laws in a recall situation is time. Once you meet all the conditions to have the state arbitrate on your behalf, you then have to get a hearing, which can take 30-40 days by itself. Then the manufacturer has the same amount of time to respond to the decision made by the arbitration board. Its probably safe to say that Mazda will have the cars repaired in the next 60-80 days. I definitely hope so, anyway.
But as far as there being a loophole just because its a recall, I dont think there is one. Not in Florida, anyway.
April