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Mazda5 Owners: Problems & Solutions
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Remember that whereas the PTcruiser and the Chevy HHR were created for the US market, the Mazda5 was not designed primarily for the US. US spec Mazda5s are 95% Japanese parts designed for Asia and Europe. We get western Europe models with a bigger engine and an auto tranny dropped in (probably the cause for our recall). Mazda had no big expectations for the 5 if you look at the sales projections.
If you look at Minidisc sales worldwide, Japan accounts for 60% of the market, Europe 45% and North America just 10%. Minidiscs never caught on in the US the way they did in Europe and Asia. MP3 players (ipods and their ilk) are just starting to take a foothold internationally as computers and conspicuous consumption of electronic goods are not quite as high in the general populations outside of the US market. In a couple more years, yes, but for now, minidisc is still one of the most popular formats in the world for personal editable music storage.
Taking these two details into account allows us to see quite readily why we don't have an Ipod (read: auxiliar) input just yet. I would bet my coming extended warranty that there will be an Aux input by mid model year, or at the latest for the 2007 model.
However, the Honda Element and Scion models have them, and those vehicles originated for sale in Japan. I dont know if they offer the AUX jack for the japanese market equivalents, but both companies at least did enough homework to realize it would be a smart option to add before bringing them here. Its worth mentioning that a minidisk player could be used with an AUX jack also.
But really, the fact that a consumer could obtain statistical information about worldwide minidisk sales shows that Mazda didn't really do their homework when bringing the 5 to the U.S.. I mean, diesel is a really popular option in Europe, but they dont bring that engine here. Why? Emissions is one reason, but popularity is part of it also.
My point is that, if Mazda sold a car that ran on bananas in wattalottaland, but the US market didnt provide banana-fuels, they wouldnt bring that engine to the US. It should be the same thing with audio options. They could easily have found statistics that would bear out proof that minidisk is totally dead in the US, and its a completely pointless option here, but that digital audio players are huge (1 in 11 americans own one), and an input port would have been a welcome addition.
I agree though that Mazda probably will wake up and add one. Unfortunately, it probably wont be worth the cost of trading up to a 2007 model just to get it. They should have included it from the get-go if they are in fact, trying to appeal to the 'active youth' segment.
My point is just that if you're going to try to adapt a vehicle for the U.S. market, you should offer it with options that appeal to that market, not leave in stuff that sells in other countries.
HiFive
It seems to me that a lot of you know a lot about the issue, and think that the connection can not be done ... I have been considering the Neo connector from www.mp3yourcar.com, but you guys happen to know it can't be done ?
I will be very grateful if someone replies. I have not seen the back of the factory stereo, you are saying there are NO aux inputs ? this confuses me, since the panel would seem to have buttons for satellie Radio and MD ...
thanks,
MrShiftright
Host
Thank you again for your patience and support as we work through this situation together. Here are the latest developments on the MAZDA5 exhaust issue:
Mazda has decided to conduct a formal recall on the MAZDA5, and an official owner notification will be mailed the week of October 24th.
Repairs will involve installation of heat shield components, a redesigned main silencer, and recalibration of the PCM on both automatic and manual transmission vehicles.
We will begin shipping repair parts by the week of October 24th.
Since the recall will be performed on both automatic and manual transmission vehicles, Mazda strongly recommends that all MAZDA5’s be left at dealerships until repairs are completed.
A second interim owner letter (attached below this message) is going out today (Oct. 6th) updating customers with more information on the cause of the concern and our next steps.
We are hearing from many customers who really love the MAZDA5, and are uncomfortable leaving their vehicles at the dealership either because they really like driving it or they are concerned about lot damage at the dealership. Please do everything you can to ensure your customers’ vehicles are well taken care of, and that each owner is satisfied with the loaner or rental vehicle they are using in the meantime.
While you cannot refuse to allow a customer to pick up his/her vehicle if they are the legal owner, please do your best to discourage this and if the customer insists on taking the vehicle, ensure the following:
Ensure the customer has read and understands the owner communication from Mazda recommending that the vehicle not be driven. For owners of manual transmission vehicles, please ensure they understand that this recall needs to be performed on their vehicles as well.
Advise the customer not to drive in the manual-shift mode nor operate the vehicle at high RPMs.
Have the owner sign a repair order documenting the following:
· Customer name and phone number
· Vehicle VIN and mileage
· Date and time of conversation
· Whether the customer received and read the letter from us
· Reasons why the customer refuses to leave their vehicle, or wants it back
"On at we recommended to the customer that this MAZDA5 not be driven. Customer has received, read, and understands Mazda's letter dated 9/16/05 concerning the risk. Customer states wants his/her vehicle because . Customer elects to return the no-charge loaner vehicle and drive his/her MAZDA5 despite our recommendations against this."
While we now have more answers regarding this matter, we are at a critical time in terms of customer satisfaction. It is vitally important that we all communicate consistently with our customers and preserve the enthusiasm that led these customers to buy the MAZDA5 in the first place.
The best about this c-class platform is how all the vehicles actually look and (to some extent) drive differently, especially with different engine and transmission combos. More importantly, with all these shared components fom one vehicle to the next, there is an abundance of parts available to fix and maintain what needs maintaining and fixing. The newly reengineered and redesigned Ford Focus and new C-Max are a team of hot sellers all over the world, except the USA.
The iPod issue is mentioned a couple other places on this board. In fact, its the original reason I came here. Then the recall happened, and the rest is history.
The 5 has no basic input jacks that can be used to get an audio cable into, like RCA jacks or something. Instead, they have a bunch of proprietary connectors for getting the minidisk option in, or the satellite radio.
The mp3yourcar site doesnt show the 5 as being compatible, and since the 5 has a pretty unique-looking head unit, I would guess that its not the same as other Mazda offerings. A big part of this is probably because the 5 was not explicitly designed for the US market.
The only other hope out there is the auxmod product, though at $50, its kinda pricey and appears to be backordered. Personally, it looks like someones weekend electronics project to me, and I'd be hesitant to spend money on it, due to reliability/replacement/longevity issues. I'd rather have something made BY Mazda, or at least FOR Mazda by a known electronics company.
Other than that, nothing else seems to be available. Obviously Mazda has their hands full with more important things at the moment, so its not a big priority on their list.
As far as the back of the stereo goes, I believe that the head unit has some complex looking proprietary input jack that works with sirius and/or xm head units. It doesnt just have a couple of nice audio inputs that can be used to hook up an iPod/Zen or what have you.
So, caveat emptor, I suppose. I bought mine knowing it didnt have the port I needed, but I just figured something would be available (besides an FM transmitter or cassette kit, of which I've tried both, and come to hate for their own reasons).
Unfortunately, it doesnt seem like much else is available. I called Mazda to find out how much the Mp3 6 disk changer is, and its $560.
However, you can buy an aftermarket circuit that plugs into your M5 stereo and provides an MP3 jack here:
http://www.sylfex.com/products/AuxMod/
Unfortunately there is a waiting list.
Yeah, the Mazda's MP3 CD-player is pricey (MSRP is $560, but you shouldn't have to pay more than $400 for it...that's what mazdastuff.com charges). It'd be nice if someone could find another solution for playing MP3s.
have a shop install it for you (about $100)
most places will offer free install if you buy from them.
I have had my new MZ5 for only 10 hours before it was recalled so I forget
but I am sure you can work around it.
Should I be concerned that my 3 could catch fire?
Does the M5 and M3 share the same auto trans and exhaust system?
If I drive my M3 in 2nd gear at 50MPH for an extended time will it catch fire?
I think there is more to all of this that meets the eye. 3 drivers who confessed doing just that. Hard to believe.
If I owned a M5 I would let the dealer have it as long as they need to fix it as I am not sure the cause is what Mazda says it is. I don't think anybody should be that in love with their car that they want it back, it's just a hunk of metal, not a person.
If I was going on a long trip, 3000 to 4000 miles, I would rather put those miles on somebody elses car that is paying for it.
I don't think you need to be concerned about your Mazda3, nobody's ever reported a Mazda3 catching on fire. Mazda jumped on the Mazda5 problem pretty quickly, so my guess is that they would've done the same for the Mazda3 if the problem also affected the Mazda3.
Does the M5 and M3 share the same auto trans and exhaust system?
The engine is tuned differently in the Mazda5, so the gearing isn't exactly the same as the Mazda3.
I think there is more to all of this that meets the eye. 3 drivers who confessed doing just that. Hard to believe.
Yes, it's hard to believe that the drivers confessed up front. But, consider this hypothetical series of events:
3 people report fires at the exhaust of their Mazda5s. Mazda gives some Mazda5's to their engineers and tells them to try to replicate the problem and find out what could possibly cause the fires. Mazda's engineers try everything they can think of to make the test car catch on fire, and the only thing that "works" is to run the car at very high RPMs in second gear. Then, knowing the car can only catch fire at excessively high RPMs, Mazda gets the 3 fire-cases to admit that they were driving in that manner. Or, something like that...
Not so hard to believe any more...is it? Regardless,I agree that it's safest to let Mazda keep the cars until they're repaired. As long as an OK loaner is supplied, why take a chance and drive your Mazda5 (and at the same time unnecessarily depreciate your Mazda5 by putting miles on it)?
HiFive
We are OK with our Mazda3 loaner and even though our 5 is a manual, we've decided to wait. Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I hope others who have lousy loaners take advantage of your experience and get their 5's back until the fix can be made.
as some posts have alluded to, I hope Mazda has really narrowed and isolated this problem. I grew weary about this whole ordeal and after speaking to HIFIVE I called my dealer and signed a wavier to get my 5 back, I did. It gets way better mileage than the MPV. Good luck to all the folks waiting...Remember don't fry alive! Don't drive second in 65
Somehow I think there is more to this whole story/recall....it really doesn't add up.
I just hope someones MZ5 CD player overheats and starts a fire so there will be a recall and a new redesigned CD/DVD/Bluetooth/surround sound/IPOD/extAUX/USB/Firewire/8track will be offered
I hope a special really big sticker will be put on the driver side door for the 3 drivers with the AUTO trans (MORON DRIVER).
We should keep our rentals out for as long as possible until MAZDA compensates us. Anybody want a near new slightly abused MPV. I hear lots will be coming to a dealer near you.
You know whats worth mentioning is that my loaner MPV also has the 'MD/Tape' button option.
It seems to me that 'tape' is even more dead than minidisk. Looks like Mazda needs to revisit their audio options all around.
HiFive
I suspect that the engineers had some head start on reproducing the problem. Unless the control units were destroyed, there was plenty of information available about the recent conditions, ie gear selection, rpm, sensor readings.
Now THAT is an impressive display of the old 60s term "spaced out".
HiFive
Joe ... please don't delete this for being off-topic. What you said above brought this to mind, and you all should get a good laugh at it.
Back in 1970 when I was five, my grandmother drove her big 1960-something Cadillac up to Richmond from Norfolk to pick up my brother and me for a weekend stay. We were coasting toward a traffic light at the top of a hill when a wheel passed us, rolling through the intersection and down the hill on the other side, out of sight. I, who loved riding in big ol' cars (and nobody knew anything about child-safety seats back then), had my face plastered to the glass when I saw the wheel go by. I laughed and pointed it out to my brother, but I don't think my grandmother ever noticed it.
We got to the next intersection, about a mile up the road, and a man got out of his car behind us and came up to Gram's window, telling her she didn't have a wheel on the right rear side of the car! I guess the old Caddies were much, much too heavy in the front to let anything like the loss of an entire rear wheel slow 'em down!
Meade
So who will pay for those charges? Mazda can pick up the overpriced Enterprise insurance or agree (in writing) to cover those charges (probably smarter).
Making mistakes while in the "manual automatic" mode is quite understandable...I've done it myself...but in a few seconds I realize the mistake, was my point.
Consumer Compliance and Mazda USA are not willing to work with the
customers to get the vehicles back within the required 30 day period nor
have they agreed to compensate the owners of the vehicles but instead
have given the dealerships and $1500 per vehicle that they brought into the
shop while not giving the consumer a dime for their inconvenience. Should
be filing the :lemon: paperwork tonight.
Here are some thoughts about the loaner program...I'm wondering whether or not it's being handled fairly (I don't have enough facts, maybe someone else does?):
First, a question: are the dealers getting $1500 + $50/day (a total of over $3000 per Mazda5) regardless of what their loaner program is? Or are they only getting that money IF they loan out a new 2005 MPV? Can anyone answer that question?
I just thought to check the Hertz website: for $3000 I could have gone to Hertz, rented a minivan or SUV for $1500/month, and pocketed the extra $1500 as "owner's compensation". Some people WERE sent to Enterprise rental places, so their rentals are probably only costing the dealer about $1500. What I'm getting at is that, unless the loaner car is a new MPV from the dealer, $3000 per Mazda5 seems expensive to me.
If the dealers are getting $3000 for loaning out older used cars (Mazda3i's, Mazda6i's) and for sending the owners to Enterprise, I'm sure they're making a significant profit on this recall...that wouldn't seem fair considering that us owners may not see any monetary compensation at all. Sure, the dealer is allowed some profit for a Mazda5 "storage fee", but a potential $1500 per vehicle seems excessive.
http://www.ohiolemonlaw.com/safety-recall-8.shtml
I think this line in the link sums up the good ol' American "When in doubt, litigate" philosophy:
If you’ve got a dangerous 2006 Mazda 5, don’t go it alone!
Meade
I am interested in seeing if I can recoup my monthly car payments as I do not see why I should be paying for a vehicle that I cannot drive.
I cannot say the same for Ford and many other vehicle manufacturers. Take my old Explorer for example...tires blew out any many people died. While Ford blamed Firestone and Firestone blamed Ford...or Chevy that had exploding saddle bag gas tanks that took years for anyone to figure out and countless deaths....before anything was done
So, my 5 has been at the dealers now for over a month. 3 to 4 more weeks!!
Does anyone know how long it would take to go through the "lemon law" process. Although, I really miss my 5
It's not that I need to go out of state but I don't appreciate them telling me what I can or cannot do after all of this. Apparently the dealer plates aren't allowed out of state by law and the test drive "authorization" is only valid for one week.
I strongly suggest you all check your loaner MPVs to make sure these nice little stipulations aren't imposed on them without your knowledge!
HiFive
broke the camel's back.
Some of the finest vehicles out there have experienced a recall for one thing or another ...some serious and some not.
I don't think you should cancel the order yet, I was told by my salesman that production was not halted.To say that you would look at other vehicles and "definitely not Mazda" is a little unfair.
I know why I ordered a Mazda5, because there is little or nothing on the market that really compares to it.
First, a question: are the dealers getting $1500 + $50/day (a total of over $3000 per Mazda5) regardless of what their loaner program is? Or are they only getting that money IF they loan out a new 2005 MPV? Can anyone answer that question?
The $1500 part only applies if the loaner vehicle is a new MPV...the $50 per day is ONLY if the consumer is put into a Mazda product from a dealer loaner program. If it goes to Hertz or enterprise the dealer does not get the $50 per day they get a much lower rate....Also, the MPV loaned out will now essentially be used cars...the $1500 will only cover a fraction of the dealers loss. Recalls are usually somewhat profitable for dealers, this program will end up costing us alot of money. I'll let you know how much when it's all over...but we are talking thousands.