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Mazda5 Owners: Problems & Solutions
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His information, from the Regional Sales Manager with whom he talked with on Friday, is the "repairs" are in the pipeline and should be at the dealer's within two weeks. There are two fixes: a heat shield for the converter/exhaust system and a software patch for the car's computer to shift out of the condition described in previous posts.
Based on what he told me, I will leave my car, reluctantly, at the dealer's until the problem has been corrected to Mazda's specifications.
I'd like to know if anybody has heard anything else more specific.
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayRecallOwnMaintain.action
Could you please try your own VIN to see if it comes up positive? Mine comes with no recalls at all. My guess is that either the database used is outdated and/or the dealers are running out of answers...
It is just something to add to your theories of whose cars have been recalled :P
Try it and let us know if possible, before we start preparing docs for a :lemon:-ade
As for mine, I got the following message:
There are no Recalls for your specific vehicle.
I get a chuckle at some of the reasoning. As soon as a mfg. produces a lemon, everyone is up in arms and is asking the GOVERNMENT to step in and take care of things. But as it becomes convenient to ignore the GOVERNMENT and their laws/rules, we are ready in a flash (you'll notice or maybe not, that I've included myself in this argument).
Once again, I've included the NHTSA documents to/from Mazda. You'll notice in their web address the ".gov" IMO - Mazda made an error, broke a law/rule by returning to you your unrepaired vehicle, as they had promised to do in their letter to NHTSA. Unless, of course, Mazda cleared this transaction with NHTSA before hand. Though, I don't see that note or authorization posted. I don't believe they cleared the transaction with NHTSA; even if they had, certain info doesn't make it public record.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/RepositoryFiles.cfm?module=RECALLS&IfsDocId=05V- 412
I can see a public benefit of removing fire hazards off the road until which time those units are determined to be benign to the public as a whole. Apparently, so does Mazda and so does NHTSA = gov.
April
HiFive
The homepage still doesn't even show the 5 as a current vehicle. The 'Mazda Showroom' only has the 3, the 6, the two (recently replaced) 'old' Miatas, The RX-8, Tribute, MPV and B-series Truck.
So clearly, things dont happen real fast on Mazdas website. The VIN lookup thing probably points to a totally blank database that they never populated.
Also, even though the 5 is on the site, it still resides in the 'Concept and Upcoming' section.
Apparently no one told Mazda that the whole benefit of having a website is that you can update information in real time and keep things cutting edge. Stale information on websites smacks of disorganization in the marketing department to me. Thats just my opinion, though.
You are correct that the NHTSA does not confiscate vehicles; they don't have anywhere to store them. But they grant writs to mfgs to confiscate the vehicle.
I don't know where it is written about complying vs. seizing. Nor do I know where it is written that if my vehicle does not pass emissions every so often (annually, biannual, etc.), I'm prohibited from driving the vehicle.
You got your car back. That's great for you; possible trouble for Mazda. Speeding doesn't necessarily equal ticket. If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear it fall, did it make any noise? Etc., etc., etc.
Mandatory vs. voluntary. New Orleans is a great example. At first, evac was voluntary; then it became mandatory. Your argument would suggests that residents from New Orleans should call their officials and tell them that they have no right to keep them out of their homes or away from their properties. They should demand the return their properties.
I firmly believe Mazda should proactively initiate a buy-back program for those interested. There is a customer relations nightmare brewing on the horizon if they don't get their act together. :lemon:
audia8q owns/works for a Mazda dealer. He personally called some of his Mazda 5 customers to advise them of a status update. Not all dealers will do the same. After the repair, some dealers will call a few days later to guage your satisfaction with the whole process or repair. Again, not all. Follow up may or may not be the requirements of any recall.
The dealer will receive special instructions on how to fix and test the vehicle to get it to comply with the recall or repair. That info may or may not make it to the public arena; probably not required under the recall, but would be beneficial to know the process. And you can bet that DOT, et. Al will randomly test the vehicle(s) on their own to make sure all is in order.
thank you
Shifty the Host
The fix, as it has already been said, consists of sticker, heat shields, and software patch, which will force transmission to switch up from low gear under certain conditions.
It looks like they really have a total mess in the database, because she couldn't even find my VIN in it (and I have registered with there Web site). She said that it may be a reason why some people have not got any letters from Mazda (just my case!).
Ok, Ok. I'm exaggertating. Now, breath in through your nose, hold, exhale through your mouth. Repeat.
HiFive
Good luck!
HiFive
And yes, I am going to leave it there. My wife said that she doesn't want to push her luck - she wants to be on the safe side. All in all, I'd rather drive Mazda6 for 2-3 more weeks than argue about chances...
HiFive :shades:
Hey, hifive, hope your reading this. Play it safe. Can't believe everything they say. Besides, you get to beat up on another car (a.k.a. depreciate) for a month or so while your car sit pretty, free of charge (except for gas, of course). End of the day, I'd rather argue with you than have no one to argue with at all. Peace. :shades:
HiFive
Host: sorry for the Bob Villa impersonation.
I'm taking the approach that as long as this is the real problem and avoiding redlining the engine for extended periods of time will prevent the fires, I am willing to live with the "defective" vehicle until the parts come in. I'm not going to say it's the best solution for everybody, but I'd rather have my vehicle in my garage than in the dealer's open service lot. I already have a fire extinguisher for my car (less than $20) and plan on limiting my extended drives for the next few weeks, but this will make me feel better overall.
I applaud Mazda for acting swiftly to protect owners from a potential problem. Better to overreact than not act at all in my eyes. Now that they feel the cause has been identified they are being smart in allowing owners to have their vehicles back. If you are going to try this be prepared for some moderate scare tactics. I have heard a lot of: "Don't you have a nice loaner? Wouldn't you feel safer just in case...? Why take a chance? If you're concerned about your car being here you can come by..." etc. Just be firm and polite and they should help you out. After all, we are saving them money on the loaners in the meantime.
HiFive
fire issue
"After a six-month investigation that was closed on July 1, NHTSA determined the problem was caused by vehicle technicians. The agency said that when the oil filter is removed, part of the seal may adhere to the engine block. If the seal isn’t removed before the new filter is put in, there is a risk of oil leakage. "
I can understand why Honda refuses to treat this as a "defect". The Mazda 5 issue is totally different. This is unquestionably a design flaw that they are trying to fix.
Mazda on the other hand seems like they are choosing to elimate the possibility of problems, even if it is a 'driver error' problem or whatever, by adding a shield over the exhaust.
Had Honda chosen to add a shield over their CRV exhaust, they would not have had all the fires they did. I think Honda was just trying to save money.
1) Extended Warranty: To ensure that eny additional
problems occuring due to overheating and fire safety
are covered indefinitely beyond the 4 year warranty
2) Reasonable Compensation in the form of Car Upgrade:
Complimentry DVD Navigation would promote good will
between customers and Mazda USA, plus it will promote
the vehicle's technology. As there are 2000 sold units, this
is a small price to pay considering an alternative possibility
of 2000 lemon law arbitrations or possible class action
suite for exceeding thirty days of repair as stated by
the Mazda Executive by email
A DVD Navigation System will help in offsetting the immediate
depreciation of the value of the Mazda 5 as having been listed
as a recalled vehicle. Case in point, see resale value of vehicles
that have undergone one or more recalls like the 2004 Hyundai
line of vehicles.
roof rack is ok,
but really, extended warranty is the thing that I want.
I plan to keep the car for a while.
So, although they're good ideas, things like "free DVD Navigation" and "Mazda should make our monthly car payments" are not compensation options in my mind. The reasons being that (1) some people already have DVD Nav, how would you compensate them?, and (2) some people don't have car payments (and people who do have car payments are not all paying the same monthly amount). So, these compensation ideas can't be uniform across the board.
Ideas that I like, because they can be uniform for everyone and they seem appropriate to me, are:
(1) Extended warranty, either only on the exhaust or on the entire car.
(2) $X-worth of Mazda credit to spend at any Mazda dealer (where the $X is the same for everyone). This money could be used for accessories, service, a new car, etc. Everyone gets the same exact amount, and everyone should be able to find some way that they'd like to spend it (at a minimum, everyone needs to pay for service, so nobody can really argue that they have "no use" for the Mazda credit).
If I contact MazdaUSA, these are the suggestions I'll give them. The advantage to approach (2) for Mazda is that it somewhat inflates the perceived "value" of the compensation. For example, $500 of Mazda credit probably costs Mazda less than $300, since they only have to pay their actual expenses, not the retail price. Also, it might be a good way for Mazda to get word-of-mouth advertising going for the Mazda5 accessories (I bet if they gave away some free accessories, they'd end up at least slightly increasing their sales numbers in the long run because more people will be aware that these accessories exist).
Steve
Good luck! Make sure you speak to the "higher ups".
HiFive
rebate is a reasonable solution to adequeate compensate Mazda 5
owners for the depreciation of the vehicle. This puts cash in hand
of the owners that can be
a) put in equity of the car
b) put toward accessories to keep the car's value despite a recall
c) other
it's owned by Ford anyway which is at junk status already, the amounts we are talking about are miniscule on the grand scale of things, 2000 cars? spare me.
I think an extended warranty makes sense but I'm happy with my car and the great value it represented compared to everything else on the market. I paid cash for it and plan on keeping it a long time. I am not as concerned about resale as some of you might be, but resale is determined by desire and making it look like you hate your vehicle or Mazda because of this will only cause used prices to go down.
I want this vehicle, and Mazda in general, to succeed because I am still proud of my decision to buy one. Trying to wring every last penny out of Mazda because of this seems like greed to me. Anything Mazda offers above and beyond a loaner, a fix, and an extended warranty would be extremely generous but unnecessary. Just my $.02. :shades:
recall for purposes of resale or trade in. Gibber, even is your point holds
true the US is one of several international markets that the Mazda 5 is sold in.
even at $1000 dollars per 2000 customers is the equivalent of four or five
marketing advertisements. I do not know about you, but the fair compensation
for the depreciation of a recalled vehicle to the owner is advertising that is
simply priceless. But to convince you let's do the math:
The Mazda 5 will be sold in the US for several years. The cost offset for future
sales and previous sales in international markets will offset the loss of what is
ultimately a design flaw. If the math of 2000 units sold in one month holds true,
24,000 units sold at an in one year at an average of 3% profit margin and $19,000
per Mazda 5 is $13,680,000.
(24,000 x 19,000) * .03 = $13,680,000
2000 units * $1000 / unit = $2,000,000
Mazda Profit Margin = $11,680,000
(after rebate compensation)
So bottom line of Mazda would make $11,680,000 under the projection of adequate
customer compensation instead of $13,680,000. These are numbers that Mazda
can live with.
Like frank4cars, I would be more than happy to take any extras Mazda happens to offer up, though I think just the loaner and a free 30,000 and 60,000 mile service would take care of my inconvenience. I too am planning to keep this car for a long time [though I wish I could've paid all cash
Regarding Mazda's solvency resulting from the 5 recall: Give it a rest!!! Ford doesn't 'own' Mazda, they have a 30% stake. Ford might be having its struggles, but Mazda international has a very good financial outlook. And besides, Ford had nothing to do with the 5. This car has been selling like hotcakes for the last year in Europe and Asia. The last generation did very well too (albeit, without sliding doors). And Mazda makes an average of around $900 on every car they sell. The cars they haven't been able to sell for September and October and re-revving the grassroots ad campaign for the 5 are a bigger deal than fixing the measly 2000 units we all bought. Mazda is just fine.
Ugh!
(deep breath)
To summarize: 1. I can't wait to get to get my car back; 2. in the mean time I will enjoy thrashing the MPV; 3. I will gladly accept any type/amount of compensation Mazda sees fit; 4. I will not begrudge Mazda if they don't see fit; 5. if you don't want to wait for your 5 anymore, file a Lemonlaw suit against Mazda, wait a few months to get your money back, go out and buy a Dodge Caravan with your $19000 and then join the Dodge Caravan Edmunds forum so you can begin complaining about what an overpriced cheap hunk of garbage it (and any other American minivan) is.
Just my $.02
:shades:
I have to get on this soapbox again, but I dont know how they plan to cater to that segment without offering an iPod (or other hard-disk audio player) port. Hell, even that ugly new chevy PT cruiser ripoff has one.
But if you've got a sony minidisk player, well, mazdas all ready for you. Unfortunately, that would be the active style youth segment from 1991.
why, just why couldn't Mazda put an MP3 player in-dash, I see no logical explanation for it, and it seems to be rather complicated to rip the cd player off and put in an after market mp3 player.
Has anyone gotten sirius as an option btw? can you use it as a regular radio if you don't want to continue subscription after the trial period?