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Mazda 3 Door Lock Class Action Lawsuit
Sorry if this was already posted, I found this on the BC Mazda 3 site.
Looks like a law firm in Vancouver is looking to do a class action law suite against Mazda Canada for the faulty lock issue.
Part 1:
http://www.ctv9.ca/olsen.jsp?id=/ols...n-20071009.htm
Mazda 3 Small Claims
Back in January, CTV told you about a police warning that thieves were targeting the Mazda 3. Now, a driver who says he lost thousands of dollars in a break-in says he's taking Mazda and his dealer to court for not warning him of the danger.
"I've had my car broken into four times," says Jason Connors, who didn't have his Mazda 3 for long before it was broken into.
"First time was the third day I owned the car," remembers Jason.
When he leased the Mazda 3 at the end of May, no one told him it was a target for thieves (because when force is applied, the driver's door will pop open).
"I'm just furious at constantly being broken into, and I was never told of the defect with the door," fumes Jason.
The time line is interesting.
In October 2006, Jason's Mazda 3 rolls off the assembly line. In January 2007, Mazda develops a theft counter measure and reinforces door locks on newly manufactured Mazda 3's. May 2007: Jason leases the car that was built in October. His door was not reinforced before the purchase.
"No, they didn't say anything. They didn't say this car needs this before you take it away. Nothing," says Jason.
We contacted Mazda Canada. Greg Young speaks for the company
"Our hope would be that customers would have been informed at that time that there was an issue," says Young. He says he would also hope customers were told that: "There was also a counter measure part and would they like it installed at no charge?"
But what about paying for Jason's loss? The answer is no.
"We'll put the counter measure in at no charge to the customer," says Young. "But in terms of other vehicle damage or loss of contents, things like this, they have to deal with their insurance company."
Jason is going to small claims court.
"Full compensation, absolutely full-compensation," is what Jason says he is seeking.
For failing to tell him about the break-in danger before he leased the car, Jason wants Mazda and/or the dealer to pay for what was stolen and his insurance deductible -- a total of $4600.
"I am mad but I'm confident. Somebody is responsible, and somebody is going to pay, and it won't be me," insists Jason.
With so many Mazda 3 owners experiencing problems with break-in's, this won't be the only court action. I'll have more on that tomorrow.
Part 2:
http://www.ctv9.ca/olsen.jsp?id=/ols...n-20071010.htm
6:00 PM Possible Mazda 3 Class Action
Last night we told you about the continuing problem Mazda 3 owners are experiencing with break-ins. More than a dozen viewers wrote us to say the same thing had happened to them. And some of those frustrated owners are thinking of adding their name to a proposed class action lawsuit.
"The first time I got the dent I didn't know what it was, says Carmel Sahai, one of many Mazda 3 owners with a familiar story, repeated car break-ins.
The second time it got broken into I was that mall. My seat was pushed back. My glove compartment was open. Everything was pushed out of it. I didn't know what exactly had gone on.
Mazda now has enough parts to reinforce the driver's door on all Mazda 3's built before January 2007. So anyone who owns a Mazda 3 should contact a dealer.
"Even if you bought it as a used vehicle, from the guy down the street, contact the Mazda dealer closest to you, make an appointment and arrange to have the counter measure lock installed," recommends Greg Young, the spokesperson for Mazda Canada.
The counter measure is free, but Mazda won't pay for damage or replace what was stolen. That's left owners like Carmel unhappy.
"This is definitely a defect definitely," she maintains.
"Many other people are reporting similar complaints about failure of their Mazda 3 door locks," says lawyer Jim Hanson, with the firm Hanson Wirisig Matheos. He is preparing a class action lawsuit against Mazda.
"It appears that there may be grounds to believe that there is either a design flaw or a flaw in the manufacturing process which is making these cars easy to break into and rendering them prone to this failure," says Hanson.
Underlining his case, changes Mazda made to its production line in January 2007
Installing more robust door locks. Hanson believes Mazda should be issuing a recall.
"And fortifying those locks to make them fit for their purpose and of merchantable quality," he maintains.
But Mazda won't issue a recall saying it's not a safety issue.
For more information on the lawsuit go to the law firm's website http://www.hwm.ca/mazda_locks.html or
you can e-mail complaints to mazda3classaction@yahoo.ca . Hanson says over one hundred owners have e-mailed with similar problems.
"The complaints are clustered in Alberta and British Columbia"
Meanwhile, Carmel Sahai has taken steps to reduce the chance of her Mazda 3 being a target. She leaves all the interior compartments open to let thieves know there is nothing worth stealing
The class action should be filed in court later this year
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Re: Mazda 3 Door Lock Class Action Lawsuit
Originally Posted by
couch
Part 2:
http://www.ctv9.ca/olsen.jsp?id=/ols...n-20071010.htm
6:00 PM Possible Mazda 3 Class Action
...
Mazda now has enough parts to reinforce the driver's door on all Mazda 3's built before January 2007. So anyone who owns a Mazda 3 should contact a dealer.
"Even if you bought it as a used vehicle, from the guy down the street, contact the Mazda dealer closest to you, make an appointment and arrange to have the counter measure lock installed," recommends Greg Young, the spokesperson for Mazda Canada.
The counter measure is free, but Mazda won't pay for damage or replace what was stolen.
...
AFAIK, the counter measure consists of a plate behind the door panel and a shock sensor added to the stock alarm...if this is still the case, and the install is free, time to call the local dealership!
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