Mazda5 Owners: Problems & Solutions

ccweems

This forum has the most long winded cry babies I have ever seen. I check in about once a month. It's painful to read the drivel that some of your members are producing. Obviously some have access to inexpensive legal counsel and way too much time on their hands. Another sizable group must go through life continually disappointed. Have I ever picked up a car from the service department and found somebody's lunch in the back? Yes, and I didn't waste much time thinking about it much less whining online about it. I really enjoy the cheerful ones that appreciate what Mazda is trying to do, have finally gotten their car back and regale the pleasure of driving it.

uefigs139

I called the dealership today after reading about everyone getting their car back. I bought my Mazda5 about 3 weeks after the recall, with the full understanding that I would be waiting until at least Oct. 24th to get my car. They told me that they got in the parts to fix the 4 they sold before the recall, but they has no ETA on when they would get the parts for the rest of the cars (including mine) on the lot. I don't really mind, they let me keep the car I was trading in to drive around in while I waited, but I wish Mazda would have just sent all the parts to fix all the cars all at once.

vinnyfast

Exactly! I don't know what driving school he went to, but I was about to turn the key to the off position just when the accelerator came back up. I had moved over to the shoulder to do just that. However, it was very unexpected that something like that would happen. I just hope it doesn't happen to anyone else, as this could have led to a very serious accident. I brought my car in yesterday, and when i called today, the dealer told me I wouldn't be getting it back today, and didn't know when I was getting it back because they had to run some more 'tests'.
I really hate being the guinea pig in this situation, and I really like this car, but I doubt knowing now, if I would buy it again. If I experience any further similiar issues after I get it back, I will be consulting my lawyer, and the media!!

Enough is enough!!! I didn't buy this car so that it could sit at the shop most of the time, not to mention wasting my own time going back and forth!!

My patience has run out!! :mad: :lemon:

vinnyfast

Don't jinx yourself!!! Let's see who the whiner is when your car suddenly accelerates out of control. I think Mazda may have bitten off more than they can chew!! A heat sheild may be the least of their worries. If the update they did with the computer was wrong, we may all be in for bigger problems. I just hope I'm wrong.

c3po

I called my dealership last Tuesday (Oct 25) in Toronto after I got my letter from Mazda Canada and I was told next week that all Mazda should be return to owners by Nov 4. Called my dealer yesterday and was told that I will receive a call today about the status of my Mazda. I waited all day and did not receive any phone call, so I decided to go to the dealer in person. Spoke to the service manager and was told that Mazda only shipped a limited amount of parts and that not all Mazda 5 would be repaired. Still I do not have a definite date when I will be getting my Mazda 5 ??? I saw in the dealer at least 4 Mazda5 waiting for parts. Who knows if I will get my car back before the end of November.

vinnyfast

My gut feeling told me not to bring it in, and even after I did, I tried to get it back several times. My gut feeling told me that the car would not be the same if they touched it, and I was right!!! If I were you, or if I could go back, I NEVER would have brought it in for the recall. Now that I know that it could be potentially dangerous to drive at 70mph in second, not that I would ever do that, I would never had brought it in!! I'm regretting that I did. TRUST your gut feeling!!!

vinnyfast

The only thing I noticed was that my engine skakes when I start it. It didn't do this before the recall!! The other thing I noticed was a distinctive clunking sound when I drive in reverse...only happens once.

wynmkr

I have a 1999 Miata- It has 67K miles on it and just week started having it's first problems- took it to the shop and they solved one problem but the second looks far more serious- The car stalls out when downshifting- a problem with the idle that according to my mechanic (who I do trust) has something to do with the driveshaft. In all his experience he has never seen such a young vehicle have such an issue, but did some research to find that the 99 does, on occasion, do this. There is no simple fix and a new engine is cost prohibitive. He suggested that Mazda is responsible and that it may be considered a design flaw- my question- what to do next? any brilliant ideas who to contact?

jovan

How do you file lemon law paperwork? Is it different for different states? I bought the 5 16 days ago; traded in my 3. Still haven't drove the 5. They put me in an old, and beat up, about to fall apart, in on trade Jetta station wagon. Horrible gas mileage. Any advice?

frgjb

My advice is that you take this question to a website that deals with the law. Personally, I've read enough in this forum about this lemon law business. It doesn't belong here. Let's move forward, please

b_x20852

Hey! I got mine back this Wednesday. The service manager called in the morning, saying that my car is ready, and I picked it up at lunchtime.

So far, so good. The only bad thing they did is that they overdo tire polishing - they put some of that Armor All stuff onto the brakes, so I did not feel them at first...

isda65

I have brought this up together with the other issues with my dealer had already three visits before the recall and the best that they could manage was that there were no error codes. Right now I'm just too happy to be getting my 5 back and am ignoring these. But I plan on pursuing them eventually. Maybe go to another dealer?

As to the clunk, yes I have notice that too especially more so after the recall. But I had this before with my 2003 Honda CRV and I guess it would still have something to do with gaps in the brake calipers or something that allows it to move when reversing direction.

If they get yours fixed can you share in this forum what the problem was and what they did to fix it?

b_x20852

It looks like no factory window tint will be ever available on that car. It is so because Mazda 5 has been certified in US as a passenger car rather than a truck (van).

Similar issue here with a second raw bench. It won't be an option in America due to the seatbelt anchoring issue.

I've got it from a pretty good article "2006 Mazda5 Road Test" on The Family Car Web site.

bobw3

What do you think about the Freestyle as compared to the Mazda5, since you've had experience in both?

bypasskid

The tint is only $200, big deal
incidently, today Wall Street Journal ran an article on Mazda's finances, they seem to be doing rather well, 66% increase in profits!

broncos730

I got mine back yesterday and have noticed no change in sound, speed, performance, shaking, clunking, or sticking accelerator - whew! Very happy to have it back and have to say although Mazda could have done a better job with the communication, Bob Penkhus Mazda in Colorado Springs did a very good job keeping me informed best they could and expediting my repair and returning my car to me clean and full.

Received a quote from a local car stereo store to tint the whole car - $240.

For all the folks who feel the need to complain about people inquiring about lemon laws, or who call folks cry-babies, or tell people to GROW UP, let me say this: Paying 20k for a car only to have it taken back with no clue as to when you will get it returned is a stressful event and everybody will take it differently. You all should be tolerant of different viewpoints and attitudes and be respectful of those who are obviously more stressed out about this than others and restain from judgment or editorial.

nevergrowup

I totally agree with tolerance and different stress levels. However (IMHO) the same folks who insist that we should be tolerant of those who "whine", stereotypically are intolerant of those who don't understand why they are whining.

Have had my 5 back a week, put about 200 miles on it and all is well.

Hope your enjoy your Mazda!

audia8q

Paying 20k for a car only to have it taken back with no clue as to when you will get it returned is a stressful event and everybody will take it differently.

I'm not making light of our MZ5 problem...but I do feel Mazda has handled the problem better than most carmakers...and certainly better than some very high end brands.
According to Consumers Report lofty sticker prices don't always mean high quality. The list of least-reliable cars includes some of Europe's most expensive nameplates, such as the Audi A8, BMW 7 series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class....

just think, you spend $70K+ and get nothing but problems....no check to help pay payments when the car is down, no warranty reset, just problems. I go thru life with a no whining policy but I would say they might have something to whine about.

vinnyfast

Got my M5 back, again, after the dealer had it for 2 days. They told me that the clunk sound while driving was indeed the rear brake caliper sticking, or something like that-they wouldn't give me a copy of the work order. They said it would take a couple of days to order and get new parts. As for the accelerator sticking, they couldn't really determine what caused it, but they did mention I was missing a few computer updates. I had asked them when I picked up my car from the recall if the program update was ok, and they told me it was. Obviously not!!! They also told me to take it 'easy' over the next couple of days to see if it suddenly accelerates again. Can you believe this?? Am I being patient about this, or might I expect to actually become a patient???? My wife will not drive with me in the car again and has firmly told me to get rid of it! I still like this car, and would very much like to keep it, but like I said, there is only so much I can take. Right now, it's smoother and seems to be running nicer than when I first picked it up after the recall...about 2 weeks ago. The real test will be when I go to work tomorrow and take it on the highway for 40 miles. I'm praying that I'll be here tomorrow night to write my opinion of how the car handled.

Here's hoping for the best!!

mazda5lover

I live in Chelsea, Massachusetts. I was unfortunate to have bought the car when it was recalled and have been waiting, but wait no more, my car is in my hands now. I am sooo happy... I like it, I love it... Only have had it for 5 hours and have gotten woos and wows from at least three people, and one cop... I love this.. no problems I can see.. I do see a nice shiny muffler on my car, and my navigation system is very cool... I tested it to go into downtown boston even though I knew where I was going and it's pretty cool... Thank you Ira Mazda in Danvers, they are a great dealership and have been very supportive, patient and overall very informative. As for my experience with Mazda, I don't know.. it's my first brand new car ever and I wanted to make it a first year car for the reason not many would probably get it.. Haven't seen one on the road yet... I hope you all get your cars back.. :P

kevk

Second day with fixed 5 and I noticed something strange. I seem to recall (it was so long ago) that the seatbelt "reminder" alarm used to go off without ever stopping if you didn't buckle up. I think there were some complaints here about this. Wasn't this the case? Well, I stopped at the bottom of our long driveway to get the mail and got back in the car. The alarm went sounded for maybe 20 seconds while I was opening some mail and then turned off. Am I imagining things???? Do your 5's alarms turn off after a little while? Did they not used to do this?

pagetuner

My alarm beeps for a long time, more than 20 seconds I think, at increasing speeds (maybe 2, 4, then 6 times a second?) and then gives up and shuts up. I only mind it when it is beeping about a computer on the passenger seat. For myself, the upright seating position and easy-pulling belt mean I mind buckling up less in this car than in most others, so I appreciate the reminder.

pagetuner
http://pagetuner.com/mazda5/

chacobleu

Depreciable Asset (if not leased or stolen)

That is what a car is. Sure, it’s great when it’s new; but that usually fades (for me at least after going through the first winter in NJ). And yes, it’s heartbreaking to loose your brand new vehicle after only a few weeks and in some cases a few days. There are vehicles that are worth a ton of money these days. One such vehicle sold in the ½ million $ arena – an old European Ford Escort (that Pontiff drove in in his hey day). A few years ago, an all original Hemi Cuda sold (auctioned) over a million $; that was the most of any vehicle and it was an American vehicle; the former - an econobox.

My wife and I bought our 1st home back in 99 for under $200K. In 5 years, we dumped more than half that into repairs and maintenance, finishing the basement, and rebuilding (from scratch) a screened in porch to an all season family room (an attached deck is the next). Some how this has not fazed me one bit. I’m still paying for all those home improvements; probably will be for a while. Yet I don’t think twice about it.

Back in June I picked up a 05 3s hatch. All said and done (and I mean all) – $20k (exact). And I still cringe thinking about it today. Drove off the lot and the car dropped $2k in value. My new future deck will deplete me about $2k (not including labor – that ticket is on me). Imagine I build the deck within a month only to have some act of God (if you will) destroy it completely in a split second. Now that’s pain.

Morale of this rambling is, short of any unforeseeable tragic event, a home and property will appreciate in value time and time again where as a vehicle (almost) never will. We all need to take care of our vehicles so that our vehicles take care of us from point A to B and back to A again. There’s an acorn tree on my property which has caused numerous (albeit small) indents on my previous vehicles (Contour and Camry). I’ve tried to avoid it with this car but got caught a few times. But that will not stop me from putting on a couple of coats of wax a year. My wife thinks all the cars look ‘cute’ with dimples. Though she’s not too particularly fond my car color choice - lava orange (I plan on keeping it for a while).

Now, how do I get the new Pontiff to drive my car for a day?

mkat

What do you think about the Freestyle as compared to the Mazda5, since you've had experience in both?

Hey bobw3. I got my 5 back two days ago and I couln't be happier! I really didn't like the Ford Freestyle for numerous reasons. I know they are both totally different cars, but since you asked...

I didn't care for the automatic trans on the Freestyle mainly because I love the manual trans on my 5. Freestyle felt clumsy and heavy driving around town. Poor gas mileage too(19 in city :sick: ). The only thing I liked about the Freestyle is that I got to abuse it while transporting lumber, new bathroom cabinets & vanity, countertop, furniture etc. I didn't have to worry about the interior too much.

I just love the Mazda5. It's exactly what our family needs. I'm so happy to have it back. For those of you who are still waiting for your 5's, it will happen. If your dealer isn't communicating with you as much as you'd like, keep in touch. I wish all of you the best.

nissmazlover

I took up my 5 to Boston this past summer and it was my first road trip with it and I LOOOOOVED it! I took it to Newbury Street and was actually stopped by two separate couples who asked me questions on my 5 - one was an interracial married couple with a baby and they were GUSHING all over the car. They loved it! It felt/feels so good to have a nice, shiny, new car that no one else has, especially in a cool city like Boston - and in the trendy area, too!

So, you may not see any other 5's around right now in Boston, but I was already there this summer :P

Anyway, Boston's a great city - am even considering moving there - and the 5 is an AWESOME car! Thanks for sharing.

mazda_addict

recall, recall, recall..that was the internet fleet manager told me the very first time I went to his showroom last mid of sept. After that unfortunate news, I went home and started dreaming again of the mazda 5 which I called the M5. I waited for almost 2 months for this recall to end and this morning the internet manager called me and said that he is now ready to do business with me.

I'm very excited indeed, and can't wait to drive my first vehicle here in the Land of the Free.

M5 here i come!!!!!zoommm zooommmm!!!!!

whipped95

Mazda service manager called to inform me that the kits are in. For those of you in central TX your 5s should be ready soon.

tuffycar

I got my mazda 5 today. Had it tinted by the dealer while it was waiting for the kit. It looks great. New muffler, shiny exhaust pipe, and the heat shield fits full length under the gas tank. 5 speed manual, can hardly hear the motor running, it is so quiet. Drives fast and true. Great car.

rlawrence

I picked up mine today too. I was without the '5 for 42 days (six weeks for those not paying attention). It is just so good to have it back. Driving around an MPV has made me appreciate my car even more.

I think I will now put my plates on (they arrived while the '5 was held captive).

drios

Hello everyone,
Well, I got my 5 back today, it had about 12 extra miles on it(which was cool) and that was all that was different... I tried to test it out today... put about 46 miles extra on it (hwy/city) and gas mileage seemed better, handling seemed awesome, braking... great... just like I remembered it. Only complaint, when they "detailed" my car(first off why detail.. it's BRAND NEW) they left globs of armor all all over the dash and cup holders.. and did a spotty job on the plastic around the seats and door... after 2 hours of rubbing and polishing it, it came clean but that "SHINNY" armor all looks cheap... anyhow, I'm in love again and can't wait to get back out there and run some errands.... :shades:

smaria

Hi all,

I picked up my Mazda5 last night:

(1) clean
(2) dry
(3) detailed
(4) driving as good as new

...and most importantly...

(4) insured against any future potential flood-related problems that may or may not ever pop up



I'm so happy to finally have my car back, and I'm so glad that this all eventually got resolved without actually having to yell at anyone or file a lemon law claim. For those who are interested, here's how everything worked out:

(1) my insurance company, once they finaly went out to assess the car, decided that the water-damage was much much less than I had feared. In fact, they decided that there was no immediate water damage at all, and that the car just needed to be detailed. A far cry from my worries about a totaled car.
(2) the dealer offered to pay for the detailing (which appears to be what other dealers are doing, so this wasn't anything special).
(3) my insurance company said that any future flood-related problems can be covered under this same claim, so they wouldn't cost me anything to fix. For example, if some electrical wires corrode next year, my insurance company will pay to fix/replace them.
(4) MazdaUSA offered me an extra $250 in service coupons for my trouble.

So, in the end, this worked out because the water was fresh water (not corrosive salt water) and didn't get high enough to cause any immediate damage. Also, my insurance company is giving me the "insurance" that allows me to stop worrying about future car problems caused by this incident.

So, I hereby cease my whining, and am enjoying zoom-zooming around in my Mazda5 again! Thanks Mazda for making such a great vehicle!

coolmazda5

Thank you all for being supportive during all this time... :P

Last Wed I got a call about the kit being at the dealer, Fri 3PM car was ready, detailed and w/ full tank. Picked up today and asked what was done: kit installation, that's it. I explicitly requested to the Service Manager not to mess with the computer nor gearbox calibration stuff on Wed (although is a 5-speed manual, nobody knows how dumb techs can get). Nothing was done after all, so it was great. Chrome tip came with the new exhaust, makes it look nicer. Drove it around 35 miles and felt great after having a silly MPV for 40+ days. It's nice to have heads turning around once again.

Only difference I noticed is that it is more silent now, I'm assuming it's due to the exhaust redesign collateral "damage"

Let's not claim full victory yet so Mazda5 owners, please keep us in the loop!

audia8q

Glad to hear everything worked out!!

broncos730

smaria that's great news! Congrats and what a relief!!

dontec

Great to hear about you car.
I just have a point to make.

I worked a lot with insurance companies, such as Progressive, here in Ohio. Progressive, for example, classifies a vehicle as a flood (fresh water or other), if the water was ½ of the wheel or higher.
The real danger of the water is not the electrical wires. It is an Auto tranny, because, if water gets into tranny, it will go bust very soon. So, watch out for any missed gears or sleep, and, If I were you, I would get an auto tranny fluid changes. You can disregard all this if you have a manual.
Also, I would change motor oil, just to be on the safe side.

Best wishes.

grnyvan

I picked up my Mazda 5 last Monday and an thrilled to have it back. Drives beautiful! They had detailed it and filled the gas tank. I have nothing but praise for our Mazda dealer.

bob_welsh

Pickup ed my 5 on Tuesday Nov 1. Drives the same, feels the same. Feels so good to have it back. Only had 2 km more than when I brought it in (640km), because they drove in and out of the garage every day. Asked them to change the oil to be safe that no condensation was in the oil pan.
Drove 300 km so far and every time I stop and exit the vehicule it smells like heated metal, like burning. The muffler is so hot you can feel it about 12 inch away. I didn't drive the vehicule more than 20 minutes on highway and at 120 to 130 km/h. Anyone else experienced this? I'm calling my service manager monday. I know he told me he changed the muffler and I saw the new heat shield under the rear of the vehicule but the gas tank has no heat shield like one had written.
I still have the damn bugging seatbelt reminder.
And for the rear chrome muffler tip I always had it even before the recall.
We love our 5 but this burning smell is very stressful when I have my 17months baby and pregnant wife onboard.

Thanks and patience for those who haven'nt gotten their 5 back. I know how you feel.

Bob
P.S. I'm from the Montreal Canada region.

bypasskid

I had the same smell, I thought it was the brand new brakes, seems to have gone away now... The seat belt noise is extremely extremely annoying...

miffed

They had no choice they had to recall them. Imagine 5500 Mazda 5 and peoples started to get hurt in them. That is why they had to go public they did the right thing. I just think it took to long for the fix....... :confuse: :sick:

tacoking

Traveled 20 miles or so today, 2 days after picking up retrofitted 5. I stopped to get flowers for wife and I too smelled an odor like burnt metal or oil??????? OH OH Popped hood seemed to come from engine not brakes? Anybody else experience this? I have about 2k on the 5. I was driving on winding road for about 1 mile before stopping. Also very rough idle when cold in am...:surprise:

dashdog

Almost all new cars have a burning smell- it's usually the coating they put on the exhaust at the factory to protect it until it's put on a vehicle. It usually goes away in a few days of regular driving. Also, if they put on any undercoating, you'll smell that burning for awhile too. One last thing, make sure you're fully releasing the parking brake- if it's on even a little, you'll heat the brakes up enough to burn them. In some cars, you can have the parking brake on one or two clicks and the dash light will go out even though the brake is still slightly on. Hope this helps.

Mr_Shiftright

I think dashdog is correct on the origin of the smell if the car is brand new.

bwaters

One more Mazda5 on the road. We picked it up Friday evening with a full tank. I noticed the Chrome tip on the exhaust. I was just getting used to the automatic 2004 Mazda3 loaner. Five minutes in the 5 and I was all smiles. It was great timing because we needed to transport 6 to the movies on Saturday evening.

bob_welsh

Makes perfect sense dashdog. Funny thing though, I never smelled that burning smell when I first pickuped the car before the recall. I will keep a closer eye on the parking brake, I'm capable of that. lol..
Today I didn't notice any burning smell, except if i go underneath very close to the exhaust. It seems to be going away. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Bob

rob1more

I am so glad for the "5" owners who have been lucky enough to get their cars back, I'm still waiting!

My question is when we did have our car (with 5-speed manual transmission)while shifting up through the gears, the motor seemed extremely loud and plenty loud even in OD.

I have seen other drivers make note of how quiet the motor is,
but the only time ours is quiet is at idle - then it is almost silent!!
Has anyone else experienced this noise or do I own a:lemon:?
Thanks

dashdog

Everyone's perception of car noise is different. The car will sound louder to people coming from a quieter car, and quiet to someone coming from a louder car. I doubt your car is a lemon because it sounds loud to you. A manual transmission car can be potentially louder than an auto trans. version of the same car if the driver revs the engine higher than the auto trans. would. Also, lots of people judge a cars noise when it's at idle right after start-up, probably because it's the only time they don't have the radio or cellphone cranked. I hope when I finally get my 5 that it's loud enough to drown out the noise of my kids in back...

miffed

I talked to one of the Techs from Mazda the problem that the 5"s had was when they were driving in the manual mode people did not shift them out of a lower gear or didn't know any better. When that happens, and the engine runs at a high RPM for an extended period of time. The motors would get hot. Which in turn would get the exhaust system hot. The exhaust pipe hangers were plastic and when the exhaust pipe and muffler reached a certain temperature the pipe hanger would start on fire. FLASH POINT That was what caused Mazda to recall the cars. When they fixed them they had to replace that section of the exhaust system and shield it from the heat. I'm assuming they had to replace the hangers in order to remount the muffler and the rest of the pipe. New mufflers and the wrap they used to reflect the heat contains oils and solvents not to mention stickers and such. When you start driving the vehicles again they get extremely hot and all that stuff burns off them. Thus the smell, but it should go away in a couple of days and be as good as new. I think the only thing everyone should check and make sure they have no exhaust leaks. This could cause the car to possibly idle rough and your gas mileage may decrease. It sounds the ones that have been fixed do not have this problem it's just something you should check......... :confuse:

labrat70

I to got my mazda5 back saturday ... or shall I say I finally got it. I went to pick it up on 9/17th and was given a mazda3 loaner instead.

Anyway I am very happy to finally have the car. I noticed the rubber coated antenna brush my garage door on the way in & out ... because the opened door is a bit too low. it makes a bigger noise when I back out of the garage, because it is brushing it backwards from the direction it is slanted. I figured if it's done twice a day, it will probably break at some point even if it is rubber coated. So I removed the antenna. According to the mannul we have to remove it when we bring it to the car wash.

I used the radio after I removed the antenna, didn't notice any difference, at least for FM. My question is, can I find a shorter antenna that fits exactly? Would the screw slot rust if I leave it as it is?

bob_welsh

Called my service manager today. Said the burning smell may be coming from the oil change I had them done on Thursday. He told me they are not regular oil filters but are now cartridges and when they are removed the oil leaks on the exhaust and burn and could cause that smell. He also said that the new bracket that was installed in the rear to hold the muffler was lubrificated with a special undercoat to protect it. That too could cause it. Anyway today was so windy i did'nt smell a thing. Its probably gone.
Me too my antenna is too long, it hits the winter carport. I can't backup or it folds backward and won't go underneath. I'll tie it down with fishing line.

Besides that i passed 1000km (600miles) on the car and I wanted to know if it had any gut. I'm pretty impressed even with the weight of the car its pretty gutsy. It goes from 120 to 140km/h in seconds and 0-60km/h in a flash. Its not a sports car but it perfect for family.

Bob

smaria

Said the burning smell may be coming from the oil change I had them done on Thursday

I've been smelling a new burning smell too, and I don't think they changed my oil. I assume (and hope!) that it's a normal "break-in" of the new exhaust, and that it'll go away by itself after a few trips in the car.