Not impressed with Mazda, I wont be buying another!

[jlinkz]

Hello Everyone,

I purchased a new 2005 Mazda 3 GT in December 2004 and loved it. After a short period of time I started to hear a knocking in the engine. At this point I have never missed a service. Throughtout the life of my now useless engine, they replaced the top engine mount and transmission with no resolve or diagnoses. I was told that without something breaking they can't diagnose the issue. At 9,000 km outside warrenty my engine needs replacement and as far as Mazda Canada/Dealership is concerned, I'm on my own.

THE EXCUSES
Mazda: Sir, you've missed 2 services.
Me: Agreed, I have noticed that I have 2 service orders for those services, but they only looked at diagnosing the engine noise and didn't do the actual service which was also scheduled. Not to mention, each time I left the dealership they changed the sticker on my windshield which specifies the kilometers to the next scheduled oil change/service.

Mazda: At your last service you didn't complain of the engine noise.
Me: Agreed, you told me you could not diagnose the issue unlil something breaks or fails.

When they told me I had to replace my engine, they also said their is no point on doing the oil change. So it really irritated me when I picked up my car only to notice that they changed sticker.

At just 109,000 km, I am now faced with replacing the engine or buying a new car.

Is this a company that stand behind their product. Ultimately, there will be good and bad experiences with any large company, but I can tell that I am not pleased.

I can tell you, I WILL NOT be buying another Mazda...

[Malcolm991]

That sucks, call customer service and raise shit! If they knew there was a problem and it was documented, they should cover it!

[Go_Habs_Go]

Do you feel comfortable telling us what dealership this was at?

Have you tried contacting Mazda Canada about the issue?

[jlinkz]

I have escalated the issue from the Dealership (MazdaOfBrampton.com) to the District Manager to Mazda Canada.

[beacherYYZ]

We had trouble with Ford a few years ago, and went straight to the Top. It solved it - but handling it in a specific way will get results i.e. documenting the facts in chronological order and asking what his thoughts are in resolution "favourably" towards you...

Using this method, the guy you want in charge of North American operations is below in this link...

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/07/mazda-president-and-ceo-james-osullivan-named-automotive-execut/

[fatsock]

I hope you are able to get your issue resolved. They say modern engines are capable of 300,000+ km so, needing a new engine at 100,000 km is rediculous! And only missing 2 services, that's insane. Good luck.

[jlinkz]

If anyone wants to join my Facebook group to help my cause, it would be much appreciated.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=189963612463

[aris]

I joined:headbang

[blankets3]

fk em,

try putting a RB or SR engine in it... that would be soo balling!!!!!

[Mazda3X2]

Sorry to hear about your issues.

From my experience, Mazda Canada doesn't give a crap about it's customers. I was only able to get results dealing directly with the store manager.

We are on our 4th brand new Mazda car since 2003. My wife says she will not buy another, I have mixed feelings. I think you get good bang for your buck with their products and I try not to let one specific dealer ruin it for me. But I think I may be up for trying a new Acura TSX when I'm done with the Speed3. Maybe a Subaru Legacy or Nissan Altima for the wife. Time will tell.

Good luck.

[Scottobot]

THE EXCUSES
Mazda: Sir, you've missed 2 services.
Me: Agreed, I have noticed that I have 2 service orders for those services, but they only looked at diagnosing the engine noise and didn't do the actual service which was also scheduled. Not to mention, each time I left the dealership they changed the sticker on my windshield which specifies the kilometers to the next scheduled oil change/service.


You might change your tune about Mazda if you brought your service to another dealership.

I just had my religiously maintained Speed3 in there for a rust checkup and they commented that I hadn't had any service done since 8k. When I picked the car up I asked them to confirm that I have had all my services done since 8k and they said yes, they just hadn't seen me there at their dealership. The rust check work order still said "recommended service declined" (also said that when I brought it in for my 8k service and declined a tire rotation because I had snow tires on which were going to come off in a few weeks), which seems as though they're lining me up to decline warranty work should I ever require it from them.

[slam525i]

Ouch... 2 missed services? 3x 8000 km = 24,000 km without an oil change? ouch...

Remember kids, always read your invoice when you pick up your car.

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Your situation certainly sucks and your dealer service department sounds like they suck even worse, but I do have some questions for you.

One, which dealer was this and what mileage did you start to hear the engine noise problem. You indicated a 'short time' after buying the car, but that doesn't really say anything... What did the engine noise sound like? Okay, this is more than one question.

Two, if you brought your car in for service and also to diagnose the engine sound and you knew that afterwards that they didn't perform the 2 actual services and simply put a sticker on the car, why didn't you complain and demand them to perform the service? This simply doesn't make any sense to me at all. Why would you just walk away without your car being serviced properly and the oil changed etc.? Did you actually pay for the full service also?

Three, why did you accept the explanation from your dealer that Mazda can't diagnose something without it breaking first? Most mechanical issues arise from the car making a noise in one way or another and you have it inspected as such under warranty and hopefully diagnosed and fixed. They can tell you that they can't find a problem, but it doesn't make sense for them to tell you it has to be 'broken' before they can diagnose it. Did you escalate this at all to the service manager or take your car for a second opinion at a different dealer? If not, why?

In any case, this doesn't really add up to me... It does sound like you got screwed around somewhat by your dealer's service department, but it also sounds like you need to take a little more accountability for your car and your actions too.

[jlinkz]

I don't claim to know a lot about cars, but if only they owned up to half the responsibility.


One, which dealer was this and what mileage did you start to hear the engine noise problem. You indicated a 'short time' after buying the car, but that doesn't really say anything... What did the engine noise sound like? Okay, this is more than one question.

Dealership: MazdaOfBrampton.com
I probably heard the noise around 22027 km so I took it into Prima Mazda where I purchased the car. They installed CV shaft spacers (No idea what those are), which didn't seem to work. I started taking it to Mazda Of Brampton where I complained about it again after it got worse at about 70000 km.


Two, if you brought your car in for service and also to diagnose the engine sound and you knew that afterwards that they didn't perform the 2 actual services and simply put a sticker on the car, why didn't you complain and demand them to perform the service? This simply doesn't make any sense to me at all. Why would you just walk away without your car being serviced properly and the oil changed etc.? Did you actually pay for the full service also?

I honestly didn't realize that they didn't do the service, full or otherwise until I looked back on my service orders. Looking back I wish I wasn't so naive to think that its a trunkey situation when taking your car to the dealership for care.

I already feel defeated... c'est la vie...

[TheWulf]

Do you still have your work orders from those two services?

Even if there's a problem with the engine, not doing the service when they are supposed to do it is not acceptable of them. I hope they didn't make you pay for the service they didn't do.