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Mazda5 Owners: Problems & Solutions
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Thanks for your reply. Given those numbers, I agree that the dealers are definitely not being over-reimbursed (my original concern)...and your claim that they're losing a good amount of money sounds reasonable. So, I guess it's likely that neither the owners nor the dealers will end up with any 'compensation' for the difficulty of the recall.
But i will REALLY enjoy the 5 as soon as it's back.
The only thing bothering me is that i pay for a 5 that i can't ride .. wait, it's possible to sign a waiver and get it back.
Everybody should be happy now.
It's nice to see a company that is willing to loose money but decided to recall right away, despite the fact that a couple of morons did something wrong...
I was working for a major manufacturer a while ago and it did wait until several persons were injured before issuing a recall and, even then, they waited until they received the parts to recall the cars.
Most of them work that way, i prefer the Mazda way, even if that means waiting until i can drive the car again, don't you?
My Mazda5 was at Mazda of Princeton, and yesterday their lot flooded. They just called me and said my Mazda5 has water damage inside the car, the rugs need to be ripped up and replaced, they need to check whether or not there's any electrical damage, etc.
Ever since the recall, I couldn't wait to get my Mazda5 back. But, now that my car's damaged, I really don't want it back...I want the new and undamaged car that I paid for just 2 months ago. It's already been more than the 20 days required for lemon law notification in New Jersey, so I hate to say it but I'm probably going to go the lemon law route :lemon:
If anyone can give me any advice, I'd really appreciate it. Should I just suck it up, let the insurance company fix my Mazda5, and take my Mazda5 back? Or should I demand an undamaged one? :confuse:
I am not familiar with your state rules...but here in CT it takes months to get a lemon law case finialized....That is assuming the mfg is agreeable..if they arent it can take longer.
Usually, after a flood in a car, all the major insurance company will mark the car as unusable.
I would go and :lemon: the car !
Regardless of whether I go the lemon law route (that seems unlikely, since I know the process won't be fun and might not even work out in my favor), I'm sending MazdaUSA the 10-day notification letter that NJ requires...that'll at least keep all of my options open until I hear back from the insurance company.
I really really want the Mazda 5 to work for me, but given the unfortunate circumstances of the current release Mazda 5 (and this will seriously ruin Mazda's reputation in NA for this car which is otherwise a success story in UK and Europe as the Premacy - a 7 seater) I am now considering the new Civic 2006...140 hp, all the features of an Si Honda, 5 seater, for about $4000 less. Reliability is impecable.
I am truely sad reading all the stories on this page... Mazda will have to offer big incentives to reclaim their "membership" - the latest news release out of UK web site - says not sooner than Nov 1st for NA Mazda owners.
Cheers,
Mr_Element
HiFive
my dealer here in winnipeg, manitoba (there are only 3 dealers here) had me drive the 3 - saying it was the same engine + 3 hp...but the 3 is WAY lighter. In fact, I am sure the Mazda 5 is a safe car cause it is heavier than my Element.
my worries are build quality, and passing power. I used to own a mazda b2000 truck (88) and it was great - but that was before Ford got to play with Mazda.
i heard also HIFIVE - that for canada, the Mazda 5 came straight from Japan - same true for the US of A?
Mr_Element
I'm an owner of a Mazda5 and a 99 Honda Civic. Yes yes, I'm upset about this recall and I hope it is the last one. I'm giving them 30 days and I'm analyzing my options. I've been also Hondized but I wouldn't go as far as "Superior Build Quality". When my Civic was 2.5 yrs old it got its first recall (ignition switch/relay). Dealer changed it in 20 minutes but guess what happened the next day? the new switch/relay was faulty and my car stalled in the high speed line at 50mph during rush hour. I called Honda :mad: and I was told: bring it over, we'll fix it. Bring it over?? The car was dead!!! AAA came to the rescue... not Honda... I obviously negotiated free services from the dealer manager as a compensation...
When it was 4 yrs old the exhaust pipe broke exactly where the catalytic converter is located. The pipe started dragging while on the highway producing sparks all over the place, I had to tow the car again via AAA. No warning no nothing, While I acknowledge the exhausts eventually crack, I would have expected a better design where at least if it breaks it doesn't drag but stays in place until you can fix it. It was putting my family in a very dangerous situation (busy road, curve, overnight)
Also, wrt Toyota and the Superior Build Quality, check this out:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/AUTOS/10/14/prius_recall.reut/index.html
I don't know what's better, car stalling on a freeway at 75MPH or catching fire
With the arrival of the new Civics, I'm being asked what I think of the car.
Frankly, I'm cautious.
Because our little microcosm of a repair shop has seen some disturbing trends in the Honda line of products in the last few years.
It started off with the full sized Odyssey that had a number of problems and recalls. Then we noted the failure of automatic transmissions in V6 Accords at an early stage in their lives. The old Civic was up to its ears in complaints about the suspension. So much so, that a secret warranty exists for failed shock absorbers on the post 2001 Civic.
But our little shop has already replaced the drive shafts in a multitude of late model CRVs at over $800 a go and this week, we got a call from a client with a 2003 Element, with 68,000 Km (40,000 miles) on the clock, whose transmission had failed, leaving him stranded in Boston.
(Fly home sir, at least a week for a replacement!).
So, my reaction is: if you can wait to buy the new Civic, or for that matter any Honda, do so, because of late, the lads at Honda San have not been living up to their reputation.
If you must buy an Asian vehicle right now, think Toyota, Nissan or Hyundai.
Oh yes, and our first choice, Mazda3 or 6.
Meade
P.S. The new Civic is made -- as are many of its parts -- in the same U.S. of A. that the Fords you criticize are. The Mazda5, like its platform cousin the Mazda3, is still built in Japan using more than 98% Japanese parts -- just like Hondas were back in the '80s when they got that reputatiion for quality that has been shaking loose since Americans started getting their paws into Honda's assembly line. (No offense to Americans -- I am one -- but we do a lot of things better than build cars.)
HiFive
HiFive
(1) The dealer is liable for the flood-related repairs, so his insurance company pays for it (that part's obvious). But, less obvious is that the insurance company also needs to pay for "diminished value" in third-party situations. "Diminished value" is defined as the value of the vehicle before the accident (in this case flooding) minus the price after the flooding...courts have supposedly upheld this in every state.
(2) Since the vehicle was nearly brand new before the incident, and after the incident will be worth whatever the dealer gives me for it as a trade-in, the "diminished value" should be roughly the "new-car value" minus the "trade-in value". So, "trade-in value" plus "diminished value" should be enough to get me a new Mazda5 from the dealer. In effect, I'll trade in the flooded Mazda5 for a brand new one, and the insurance company pays the difference in price on the transaction.
(3) If the insurance company's "diminished value" award plus the dealer's trade-in price aren't enough to buy me a new Mazda5, I'll give the dealer 3 options: (1) increase the amount that they're giving me for the trade-in, (2) decrease the price that they'll sell me the new Mazda5, or (2) act on my behalf to get the insurance company to raise their "diminished value" payout.
Whew! I'll let you know how things play out...
Steve
That part might not be so obvious. In many places (including my Mazda dealership), there are signs in the service department and at the night drop-off box telling you that anything that happens to your car while it's parked on the dealer's property is covered by your insurance, not the dealership's.
Meade
The flood damage plan sounds good and is probably legit. But they could be headstrong and make you pry the cash out of them if the numbers don't pen out from the insurance company. The only way to pry out that money may be to sue.
Disclaimer. I'm not an attorney and really don't know what I am talking about. But I may still be close to right.
Let the speculation begin...
If the warranty begins in jan 2006 does that mean we aren't covered now?
for example, $500 will pay for almost entire extended warranty bought at 3rd party supplier (not mazda)
You are covered now. It adds x number of months o the 48 months.beginning with .the month. you purchased it.
HiFive
they said there was nothing official regading any compensation as of yet, although they did say that something will be done.
Mr Element
Here is a link to a story about flood damaged cars from the Gulf Coast Katrina/Rita
disaster areas that you might find interesting.
The bottom line is....you probably don't want your car back in any way, shape, or form, especially if the water was up as high as you mentioned.
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Savinganddebt/Saveonacar/P129008.asp
Might also be a heads up for any others who might find a "hot" deal on a "new" M5 or other brand/model of car in the near future.
Good luck in getting a settlement.
Called many dealers, including my friend in one of the local Mazda dealerships. He was a little helpfull. The rest of the dealers were givving bad responses and were tottaly not interested, until the car is off the recall.
Well, according to my informations, my car, which I left a deposit for, will be ready in a couple of weeks or sooner. Some dealers are actually dealing at this point, and with some luck and persistance, you could get some money off (like $1000 or more) for not having your test drive.
Good luck.
I heard the $500 gerber rebate was expired on 9/30 but not very sure. You might want to double check before you make the purchase when Mazda 5 is available in the market.
good luck
On a side note...I was checking my credit card statement on line and ....WONDERS NEVER CEASE..Hertz was billing me $30.00 per day for a car...Hmmm .. :mad: ...I had to cancell that credit card...I have a Hertz rental from Mazda..Gee I wonder if there's s connection ..lol
Have a nice day and ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM!
Took delivery of my Mazda5 end of August from dealer in Milford, Connecticut. Found out about the recall from internet- actually this web forum, and later that day the dealer called me to inform. They gave me a brand new MPV with leather, DVD etc. as a matter of course, without me asking. Had that 2 weeks and air bag light started staying on, so returned the vehicle. They gave me a demo Volvo 70 (they are also a Volvo dealer) which looks stodgy but is quite comfortable and pleasant. The salesman also called about 1 week ago to update me on the recall. He didn’t have any info not already posted on the web and the update letter from mazda came about the same time. All in all, my experience has been as good as one might expect under the circumstances. There have been no hassles other than missing the car I bought. Hopefully they will not alter the driving experience by changing the transmission calibration.