Mazda3 owners with corrosion issues; information here!
As many of you know, from reading my thread here, http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/sh...ad.php?t=25136 , I am currently dealing with very serious corrosion and blistering paint on my 2004 Mazda3 Sport GT. Pictures and a more detailed explanation of my specific issues are outlined below.
I have heard through responses to my posts 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, and go through a car wash at least once per week in winter months. 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, as seen here:
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. This is how it looks today:
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.
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. It looks like this:
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, seen here:
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!
Lynne
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Originally Posted by midnightfxgt
