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Mazda3 Canada

743 messages,  Last post on Aug 15, 2012 at 2:28 PM

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Messages Page 73 of 75

#715 of 743 Mazda3 owners with corrosion issues, join us here! by zoomzoom_gir1

Jun 06, 2008 (9:27 am)

I am currently dealing with very serious corrosion and blistering paint on my 2004 Mazda3 Sport GT. A more detailed explanation of my specific issues is outlined below.
 
I have heard through responses to my posts at http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=25439 from several other Canadians dealing with the same type of corrosion on their vehicles. In the vast majority of cases, their dealerships gave them the same response as I received, that Mazda Canada could not be held accountable (no "perforation" (i.e. hole through the body)) and therefore no compensation would be offered. To put this into perspective, I received estimates ranging from $1100 to fix just the rusted areas to $1800 to also address the blistering!
 
I am still awaiting the final word from my dealership as to Mazda Canada’s response to my complaint. Following that, I will be sending a registered letter to both Mazda Canada and to my dealership, along with all the pictures of my car (see here: http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a38...Mazda3%20rust/ Password is ZoomZoom).
 
I’d like to compile a list of other Mazda3 owners dealing with a similar situation in order to add weight to my argument that this is a recurring issue with these first generation models. If you would like to get involved in applying pressure to Mazda Canada to take responsibility for what is obviously a manufacturing defect, please sign up here. Or, if you would prefer, send me a PM.
 
If you have any before pictures of the corrosion/blistering, please email them to me! Once I get enough entries, I'll send these to get hardcopies made up, for submission to Mazda Canada.
 
Also note that I'd love to hear from ANY Mazda3 owners who have/had corrosion or blistering similar to what I outlined in my own case. If you had your case dealt with by your dealership under warranty, note that when you sign up. The whole idea is to send Mazda Canada an impressive (i.e. impossible to ignore) list of Mazda3s that have/had premature corrosion. I’ll get the ball rolling.
 
Name: Lynne M. Witty
City/province: Sudbury, Ontario
Year of car: 2004
Model: Mazda3 Sport GT
Color: Winning Blue
Current Mileage: 109 000 km
Corrosion damage: as outlined in this post
 
To give you a bit of background, I took ownership of the brand new car on June 30, 2004, hand wash weekly in summer months, go through a car wash at least once per week in winter months, and had it Krown rustproofed first in October 2004 and yearly since then. Therefore, from an ownership perspective, I have done everything humanly possible to maintain the paint on my car.
 
In 2006 I began to have rusting at the bottom of my rear passenger doors.
I did bring it to the attention of my local Mazda Service Manager (Mid City Mazda, Sudbury ON) and he stated that it was due to rock chips, not covered under the Mazda warranty.
 
Last year I began to notice very serious rusting around both rear wheel wells.
When I dropped the car off last year for other servicing, before my 3 year/80 000 km new car warranty expired, I again mentioned to the Service Manager that I had a considerable amount of rusting and would it be covered under warranty? He said that he would “look into it” but never got back to me. Being a new car owner and naïve about these things, I didn’t think to ensure that he recorded my complaint on the invoice nor did I pursue the matter.
 
Last month I happened to be visiting my sister in Southern Ontario. There one of her friends, who works at a luxury car dealership, looked at the rusting on my car and noted “your paint is blistering all over”. I was shocked and upon closer examination, did find extensive paint blistering.
 
The very next day, Tuesday May 14/2008, I brought my car to my dealership and had the Service Manager come out to look at all the rusting/blistering. His very first question was “what is the mileage?” (108 000 km at the time) He then proceeded to inform me that all the damage was due to rock chips, understandable with that high mileage.
 
If you look closely at the blistering, several areas show zero impact points. Also, I have rust between both rear bumper seams. Therefore, at least that corrosion on my car can NOT be blamed on rock chips and high mileage.
 
Note that I am NOT bashing the Mazda3 or Mazda Canada by pursuing this action. I do love my car in all other respects, with the very notable exception of the faulty paint/body panels. The core purpose of this thread and the list which I will send to Mazda Canada is to let them know that it is a very common issue and that their loyal customers deserve to be compensated for this manufacturing defect.
 
Thank you!

#716 of 743 Re: Mazda3 owners with corrosion issues, join us here! [zoomzoom_gir1] by autonomous

Jun 06, 2008 (1:50 pm)

Replying to: zoomzoom_gir1 (Jun 06, 2008 9:27 am)
Considering the amount of money involved, it sounds like you may want to contact the APA (Automobile Protection Association) headed by Phil Edmunston, author of the annual Lemonaid books, to consider a class action suit. The APA have lawyers on staff that can advise you further. You would have to join the APA (approx. C$70) but that's nominal considering the amount involved in settling the problem.
 
p.s. I did not go that route because my problem was fixed relatively cheaply ($200).

#717 of 743 Re: Mazda3 owners with corrosion issues, join us here! [autonomous] by bodble2

Jun 06, 2008 (1:57 pm)

Replying to: autonomous (Jun 06, 2008 1:50 pm)
I'm a little late to the party, but is this rust problem confined to only certain model years of the Mazda3, or only in certain regions, such as Eastern Canada where salt is used quite a bit on roads in the winter?

#718 of 743 Re: Mazda3 owners with corrosion issues, join us here! by zoomzoom_gir1

Jun 06, 2008 (2:18 pm)

I've already contacted the APA and their Montreal office sent my "dossier" (including pictures) to Mazda Canada. We'll see where that goes. Oh, and I did not have to join the APA to get their help. I think you need a membership to benefit from their pricing information. As for a class action suit, the list I'm compiling may end up being instrumental in that pursuit. For now, it is to be sent to Mazda Canada to attempt to get our claims taken seriously and have them offer compensation for the large repair bills....
 
As for the models, my list of 16 owners (to date) is confined to 2004 and 2005 models, Sport GT and Sedan GS/GT. Geographical area is not a factor since people across the country report the same issue, on the same key areas on the cars (rear bumper seams, rear quarter panels, bottom trim of rear passenger doors).

#719 of 743 Re: Mazda3 owners with corrosion issues, join us here! [zoomzoom_gir1] by bodble2

Jun 06, 2008 (5:40 pm)

Replying to: zoomzoom_gir1 (Jun 06, 2008 2:18 pm)
Of course one possibility is that the post-2005 models have not had sufficient time to develop the problem. So, your list may expand.

#720 of 743 Re: Mazda3 owners with corrosion issues, join us here! [bodble2] by zoomzoom_gir1

Jun 09, 2008 (6:46 am)

Replying to: bodble2 (Jun 06, 2008 5:40 pm)
Well that's what I'm thinking! So far have 19 entries from Toronto Mazda3 and 2 from Mazda3 forums. Hopefully people here will join up for this list which I'll be sending to Mazda Canada. The more the better in getting our corrosion issue taken seriously!

#721 of 743 Deadline for entry on corrosion list approaches!!! by zoomzoom_gir1

Jun 13, 2008 (12:02 pm)

ATTENTION:
I will not be taking any more submission past next Friday (June 20). If you're on the fence or for some other reason postponing sending me your entry, DO IT NOW. Even if you have had your corrosion repaired either under warranty or privately, you should add your name.
 
One of the goals of the list is to show Mazda Canada that ALOT of these first generation Mazda3s are rusting/bubbling in the same spots. Also, if you did have your repairs done under warranty, that supports another goal. With the same type of damage, some people get their work done without hassle under warranty, some are told "not eligible for coverage under warranty". That is very unfair and totally unreasonable as Mazda Canada makes the final decision in all of these cases. If you did have your work done under warranty, sending me a copy of your repair invoice will help to support this goal.
 
Lastly, if you do send me an entry, having visual proof is a BIG bonus. Take clear pictures that show your rust/bubbling and send them my way. I will add those to your entry to support your statements of corrosion damage.
 
Thanks and send in those entries! One week left...

#722 of 743 New 2009 Pricing Structure in Canada by autonomous

Aug 24, 2008 (4:13 pm)

There has been a dramatic shift in the pricing of Mazda vehicles in Canada. Prices have dropped for many models; the Mazda3 has dropped two thousand dollars in 2009. Mazda acknowledges that the price drop is a reflection of the strong Canadian dollar. Kudos to Mazda Canada for doing the right thing and pricing their vehicles closer to their real value!
 
On the other hand, there has also been a change in Mazda financing. The 2009 "standard" financing rate for a 2009 vehicle is now in the 5% range; compare this to the 2008 rates of 0%, .9% or 1.9% for 48 months for many Mazda vehicles. Those who are not ready to hand over a large cash deposit as part of their purchase are therefore going to pay more to finance their choice. This appears to me to reflect more closely the finance rates in the US.
 
Will the lower prices but higher finance rates bring in more customers? Or, will those customers continue to play the waiting game in the hope that the finance rates moderate? And what will the competition do?
 
For more information, go to the Mazda Canada site and check out the "promotions" page for the Make Your Move event and the shopping tools page for the Driving Dividend page. http://www.mazda.ca/event/drivingdividend/09/eng/index.asp

#723 of 743 Re: New 2009 Pricing Structure in Canada [autonomous] by ex_tdier

Aug 25, 2008 (6:47 pm)

Replying to: autonomous (Aug 24, 2008 4:13 pm)
There has been a dramatic shift in the pricing of Mazda vehicles in Canada. Prices have dropped for many models; the Mazda3 has dropped two thousand dollars in 2009. Mazda acknowledges that the price drop is a reflection of the strong Canadian dollar. Kudos to Mazda Canada for doing the right thing and pricing their vehicles closer to their real value!
 
Kudos? I guess some of us will award kudos for common sense or doing what's morally or ethically proper. I can see it now, kudos are given for basic things, like doctors being able to see you.

#724 of 743 Re: New 2009 Pricing Structure in Canada [autonomous] by bodble2

Aug 25, 2008 (10:43 pm)

Replying to: autonomous (Aug 24, 2008 4:13 pm)
I'm waiting to see if Honda follow suit with similar reduced prices for the '09 Civic.

Messages Page 73 of 75

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