DEFECTIVE suspension on 2006 Mazda5 GT

[changsta]

I am incredibly frustrated with Mazda Canada. I am going on the fifth repair related to the suspension on my 2006 Mazda5 GT, which I purchased new 3 years ago. Even though I purchased an extended warranty, they are trying to claim that wear and tear of this nature is "normal" and that it is not covered under warranty. I feel that a 3 year old vehicle with 84,000km should not be blowing multiple shocks!

Read my entire list of problems here:

http://www.mymazda5lemon.blogspot.com/

I am interested in seeing whether other Mazda5 owners are having the same issues as I am. I would like to document them, as I feel Mazda should have to perform a recall on this vehicle!

[quadzilla]

I am incredibly frustrated with Mazda Canada. I am going on the fifth repair related to the suspension on my 2006 Mazda5 GT, which I purchased new 3 years ago. Even though I purchased an extended warranty, they are trying to claim that wear and tear of this nature is "normal" and that it is not covered under warranty. I feel that a 3 year old vehicle with 84,000km should not be blowing multiple shocks!

Read my entire list of problems here:

http://www.mymazda5lemon.blogspot.com/

I am interested in seeing whether other Mazda5 owners are having the same issues as I am. I would like to document them, as I feel Mazda should have to perform a recall on this vehicle!

I feel that a 3 year old vehicle with 84,000km should not be blowing multiple shocks!

I read through your blog and noticed only two blown shocks, one from each side. It happens and not really that big of a deal. With the state of roads today not even surprising.

I believe that many Mazda 3/5's have a squeak in cold conditions when going over bumps. I'm surprised the replaced the bushing that many times.

What I don't understand is why you didn't go to a good independent shop for the alignment. Note I usually get an alignment every 2 years on my cars due to the bad roads.

Since you had to replace your front brakes at 36K it sounds like you do a lot of city driving. Also, most cars have thin rotors today, not just Mazda.

I really wouldn't call your Mz5 a lemon.

[johngenx]

Does the GT have a low profile tire?  55 series or lower tires are terrible for following road patterns and pulling the car around.

As for the newest shock leaking, read your warranty carefully, as it's going to depend on what you bought.  If you purchased a powertrain warranty, or warranty from a third party, you're probably not covered.  Factory warranties are mostly very clear about what is covered, so have a look at your documentation.

If it is a factory extended warranty and it indicates that the shock is covered, either try another dealer or contact Mazda Canada.

Were the brakes worn out at 36K or were warped rotors the cause for the service?

I think that you're sick of the dealer and they're sick of you, and now nothing is going to be resolved.

[gta_driver]

Shocks and suspensions are normally wear and tear items which may or may not be covered under your warranty. Depending on where you drive and how you drive they will go, sometimes frequently. Instead of Mazda OEM shocks have you tried an aftermarket or aftermarket higher end shocks yet? My dad lives in Scarborough, the roads there and east Toronto are bad (especially along Kingston road and Sheppard east. Morningside and McCowan roads have some scary "bus knuckles" in the right lane.  My dad in his city driving needs to align his steering at least once a year if not more.

What where the OE tires on the GT? Most manufactures equip their vehicles with very basic crappy name brand OE tires. A lot of people replace them with quality rubber within a short period of vehicle purchase.

Every Asian car I've had has had "moan and groan" in subzero temperatures. It comes and goes and its normal. I get it in my Acura.

Brake rotors and pad replacements are dependent on your driving style. If you want these components to last (a.) modify your driving style (b.) get aftermarket rotors (NAPA premiums are good) and stick to semi ceramic or ceramic brake pads.

Headlight burning out at 60K km's is not a legitimate complaint. That headlight lasted a very long time. Longer then usual.

I don't think any car I've owned has had it original oil drain plug. It deteoriates over time.

A lot of your complaints are just normal wear&tear issues that really aren't unusual. Welcome to car maintenance and ownership.

[Car_nut]

I bought new a 2007 Mazda 5 GS with 16" wheel in January 2008. I have only 25,000km on it so far. At 16,000 km, the dealer noticed uneven tire wear and charged me $130 for an alignment. Even after the required alignment, the original Toyo tires are shot, down to the wear bar. I have changed over to a new set of winter tire now but will need a set of new summer tire next Spring.

The car has been reliable so far except for the premature tire wear. I have so far blame it on the crappy Toyo as Toyo tend to be the cheapest and worst tire company among the Japanese brand. Your post give me second thought. May be the car's suspension may also contribute to the tire wear issue. Did you have similar uneven tire wear problem too?

[tortoise]

I have so far blame it on the crappy Toyo as Toyo tend to be the cheapest and worst tire company among the Japanese brand.

That's a bit of a generalization.  Toyos actually make some excellent tires.  It's just that the ones Mazda chose could be crap.

Look at the Bridgestone RE92s that Subaru use on the WRX.  By all accounts they are crap.  That doesn't mean that all Bridgestones are garbage.

[Juke1]

I bought new a 2007 Mazda 5 GS with 16" wheel in January 2008. I have only 25,000km on it so far. At 16,000 km, the dealer noticed uneven tire wear and charged me $130 for an alignment. Even after the required alignment, the original Toyo tires are shot, down to the wear bar. I have changed over to a new set of winter tire now but will need a set of new summer tire next Spring.

The car has been reliable so far except for the premature tire wear. I have so far blame it on the crappy Toyo as Toyo tend to be the cheapest and worst tire company among the Japanese brand. Your post give me second thought. May be the car's suspension may also contribute to the tire wear issue. Did you have similar uneven tire wear problem too?

Tire wear has nothing to do with reliability, uneven tire wear? Alignment was obviously overdue!  What profile were they 55 series H, V rated?  Your in the same boat as many and this is not unique to Mazda.  Toyo makes an excellent product, excellent warranty, they make one of the highest rated snow tire in the business.

[vdk]

I bought new a 2007 Mazda 5 GS with 16" wheel in January 2008. I have only 25,000km on it so far. At 16,000 km, the dealer noticed uneven tire wear and charged me $130 for an alignment. Even after the required alignment, the original Toyo tires are shot, down to the wear bar. I have changed over to a new set of winter tire now but will need a set of new summer tire next Spring.

The car has been reliable so far except for the premature tire wear. I have so far blame it on the crappy Toyo as Toyo tend to be the cheapest and worst tire company among the Japanese brand. Your post give me second thought. May be the car's suspension may also contribute to the tire wear issue. Did you have similar uneven tire wear problem too?

Tire wear has nothing to do with reliability, uneven tire wear? Alignment was obviously overdue!  What profile were they 55 series H, V rated?  Your in the same boat as many and this is not unique to Mazda.  Toyo makes an excellent product, excellent warranty, they make one of the highest rated snow tire in the business.

Overdue at 16k? Unless you drive on shitty gravel roads at 100km/h a new car should not require an alignment at 16k..

[articsteve]

Firstly; that was a really unprofessional response from Mazda.  Wonder if a third party wrote that.  However, it doesn't really matter in this instance.

Don't ever rely on the word of a dealer sales rep what a "premium extended warranty" encompasses which are primarily needed for electrical/computer/sensor/AC.  

Two rear shocks isn't a disaster.  Source some premium shocks.

[HeliDriver]

I've replaced the OE shocks on every one of my new vehicles between 60-80,000 kms. Even if they don't leak, they're always noticeably worn by that point. Shocks don't last forever - especially the cheap ones almost every manufacturer uses.

And as for the response from Mazda, I kind of admire them for having the balls to tell it like it is. Every clown out there figures he can hold companies for ransom by threatening to set up a nasty blog about their products. Just like that nutbar Honda employee in the other thread - once you take it public on YouTube, any chance of a civil negotiation is done.

I'm not in the market for a Mazda5, but if I was, the OP's tale wouldn't give me a moment's pause about buying one.

[articsteve]

Overdue at 16k? Unless you drive on shitty gravel roads at 100km/h a new car should not require an alignment at 16k..

Absolutely.  The dealer was just slamming the OP for a service and a grossly overpriced one at that.  With most Asian cars the front suspension is pretty basic.  Unless the vehicle hits an object very hard or bends a rim the alignment should hold.  Where the alignment tends to go out of whack is when the tie rods start to degrade.  Then after those are replaced then yes, do a generic front wheel alignment.

Now if your talking about Euro cars with 8 aluminum control arms then more alignments are gonna be in the works.

[Car_nut]

Alignment overdue on a one year old car with 16,000km? I am not sure what kind of car you have been driving, I have driven many with over 200,000km without having to align it once.

As for Toyo tire, I know it is pursuing a premium image nowaday, but if you have been driving as long as I have, you may remember Toyo were the cheapest and worst tire your money can buy back in the 80's (I know I bought a set back then and were they horrible!).

I thought Toyo have improved over all these years, am I wrong.

I have always had good experience with Mazda ever since the 1978 GLC that I owned in college, that is why I tend to put the blame on Toyo rather than Mazda 5. I will report back in a year or two if my new tires also wear out after 20,000km, we can then blame the car's suspension.

[ucda]

OP

Have you tried calling CAMVAP to see what they can offer by way of assistance?  You may want to at least check it out at Canadian Automobile Manufacturers Vehicle Arbitration Program, www.camvap.ca   

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