Our '06 Mazda 5, think we have a lemon?
11-16-2007, 11:24 AM
#1
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Location: Tallahassee, FL
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We bought our 5 in February of 2006. It eventually developed a clunk in the front suspension, the sound reminded me of when my ball joints nearly came unbolted on my FC. Any time we hit a bump with one tire but not the other it would clunk, and it would be painfully obvious if going over uneven surfaces, like in old parking lots or near drainage points.
First time we brought it in, they couldn't hear the noise, but they replaced the sway bar end links anyways. Service papers say they looked worn.
Noise was still there, even louder. I waited till it was painfully obvious, then brought it back. They heard it this time, and now there was a TSB out for the control arms. They replaced those, and that got rid of the noise.
Recently the noise came back. They replaced the struts (and bump stops and such), and I could still hear the noise as I drove it out of Mazda's parking lot.
Car has 25k miles, and all maintenance was done on schedule, and I didn't take it anywhere but the same dealership. Florida Lemon Law states that I had to bring it in 3 times for the same problem, then determine if "Does your vehicle have a defect or condition that substantially impairs the use, value or safety of the vehicle?". I say yes, I honestly don't feel safe driving it long distances, and I wouldn't want to buy a car that has a noise like that, especially if I knew some one already tried 3 times to get it fixed.
Then I need to send in a Motor Vehicle Defect Notification (MVDN) form to the manufacturer, and they get one more chance to repair it.
Anyone have any experience with lemon laws?
First time we brought it in, they couldn't hear the noise, but they replaced the sway bar end links anyways. Service papers say they looked worn.
Noise was still there, even louder. I waited till it was painfully obvious, then brought it back. They heard it this time, and now there was a TSB out for the control arms. They replaced those, and that got rid of the noise.
Recently the noise came back. They replaced the struts (and bump stops and such), and I could still hear the noise as I drove it out of Mazda's parking lot.
Car has 25k miles, and all maintenance was done on schedule, and I didn't take it anywhere but the same dealership. Florida Lemon Law states that I had to bring it in 3 times for the same problem, then determine if "Does your vehicle have a defect or condition that substantially impairs the use, value or safety of the vehicle?". I say yes, I honestly don't feel safe driving it long distances, and I wouldn't want to buy a car that has a noise like that, especially if I knew some one already tried 3 times to get it fixed.
Then I need to send in a Motor Vehicle Defect Notification (MVDN) form to the manufacturer, and they get one more chance to repair it.
Anyone have any experience with lemon laws?
11-16-2007, 05:56 PM
#2
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: VA
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Yeah, that would be annoying. Does anything feel loose when you hear the clunk? Replacing the control arms fixed it? For how many miles?
Some info here: http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/dir...ew/.f0fe2da/35
Some info here: http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/dir...ew/.f0fe2da/35
11-21-2007, 10:55 AM
#5
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I just talked to them, they said they found the problem. It's hard to believe, but one guy said he had read a TSB about the WINDSHIELD WIPER COWLING causing the clunk noise, due to the bolts not torqued properly. He said the bulletin specifically mentioned that it would be mistaken for a front suspension problem. They checked the bolts, and sure enough they were loose.
They say there's no noise now, but I'll see when I pick it up this afternoon.
They say there's no noise now, but I'll see when I pick it up this afternoon.
11-23-2007, 11:58 AM
#6
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Location: Amityville, New York
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I used to care about all the little things in a car, now as long as its not a safety issue I dont care anymore.
I have to concentrate my time and efforts on positive things that benefit my life.
Dealing with my local Mazda dealer I can feel your pain, they were terrible for service and the reason I would
have to think long and hard before buying another new mazda.
I personally know of 3 people who had thier car bought back for very minor issues, but thats here in NYS, dont know if
its different by you. It also took months to clear up because they were not severe issues.
I have to concentrate my time and efforts on positive things that benefit my life.
Dealing with my local Mazda dealer I can feel your pain, they were terrible for service and the reason I would
have to think long and hard before buying another new mazda.
I personally know of 3 people who had thier car bought back for very minor issues, but thats here in NYS, dont know if
its different by you. It also took months to clear up because they were not severe issues.
11-29-2007, 06:00 PM
#7
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: California
Posts: 22,465
Originally Posted by Baldy' post='888373' date='Nov 21 2007, 08:55 AM
I just talked to them, they said they found the problem. It's hard to believe, but one guy said he had read a TSB about the WINDSHIELD WIPER COWLING causing the clunk noise, due to the bolts not torqued properly. He said the bulletin specifically mentioned that it would be mistaken for a front suspension problem. They checked the bolts, and sure enough they were loose.
They say there's no noise now, but I'll see when I pick it up this afternoon.
They say there's no noise now, but I'll see when I pick it up this afternoon.
weird, the 6's do that too
11-30-2007, 07:39 AM
#9
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11-30-2007, 08:01 AM
#10
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Location: Stuart, FL
Posts: 24,416
Originally Posted by Rob x-7' post='888496' date='Nov 23 2007, 12:58 PM
I used to care about all the little things in a car, now as long as its not a safety issue I dont care anymore.
I have to concentrate my time and efforts on positive things that benefit my life.
Dealing with my local Mazda dealer I can feel your pain, they were terrible for service and the reason I would
have to think long and hard before buying another new mazda.
I personally know of 3 people who had thier car bought back for very minor issues, but thats here in NYS, dont know if
its different by you. It also took months to clear up because they were not severe issues.
I have to concentrate my time and efforts on positive things that benefit my life.
Dealing with my local Mazda dealer I can feel your pain, they were terrible for service and the reason I would
have to think long and hard before buying another new mazda.
I personally know of 3 people who had thier car bought back for very minor issues, but thats here in NYS, dont know if
its different by you. It also took months to clear up because they were not severe issues.
Yea I agree I dunno if it's for the same reasons, but I value you my free time and I sure as **** don't want to spend it dealing with the dealership. I had a good relationship with the Seattle Mazda dealership, but the one here absolutely sucks, in fact they once told me their mazda tech quit so it would be a month before they could make an apt. My dad has is on his second 6 disc changer in his tribute, the display burnt out this time and i finally told him to forget about it and put an aftermarket deck in that works.
That said, I might be a little worried in baldy's case, i want to get things fixed that are going to end up costing a fortune in the future. Now in our case, both our mazda's are pretty much fords, the tribute and the b4000. I've had one issue with the truck and it was something small and prolly my fault, however it took 8 trips to actually get figured out. The Tribute has only been in for the stereo... 3 times and they actually told him not to use burned cd;s LOL Quite honestly the only reason I bought my truck was the warranty was a year longer then the ford version, not to mention i got a hell of a deal through the dealer cause i knew them, same with the tribute.
Before that we had the protege 5, we loved that car and it never went to the shop the whole time we owned. Now amy has the mustang and you'll never guess what she's getting next