Sticky Situation with a Mazda Dealership...

[BM3]

So my rust proofing warranty has been voided because I had the inspection done at another Mazda dealership (Markham Mazda).

I bought my car back in 2005 at Morningside Mazda (Now Agincourt Mazda) and to validate the rust warranty, I have to bring it in every 2 years to have it inspected. I purchased it in July of 05 and I brought it in for inspection July of 07 but to a different dealership because it was closer to my house. The advisor says they can do it for me to validate the warranty so I went ahead with it since I was there for an oil change anyways. I mentioned to the advisor that there is surface rust on my car as I pointed out all these rust dots on my white car. He told me to just buff it up and that should take care of it. Apparently, they should’ve covered the buff and claybar (sp?) for 3 years and when I brought it in, it was only 2 years into my purchase. Not thinking it was something serious as a buff would’ve solved it, I didn’t try to take it any further.

Fast forward to 2009 and I noticed that there are more and more surface rust as it’s becoming more obvious so I took it into the same dealership to inquire about the rust proofing. This time, they told me I have to take it to the original place I purchased the car. It was only about 10 km apart so I drove there the same day. I spoke to the service manager and she told me my warranty has been voided because I didn’t bring it into their dealership for the 2 year inspection. I had Markham Mazda print out a copy of the inspection report to show to Agincourt Mazda that it was done 2 years in.

I was told to talk to the service manager at Markham Mazda and see what can be done as I was given bad advice from the beginning and that led to my warranty being voided. I called him and he was rude the whole time. He cut me off in the middle of my sentence and right from the get-go, he told me he can’t do anything for me. I haven’t asked him for anything but to understand their policy first before I try to see what else can be done. He tells me the service advisor that serviced my car was fired. That helps… He was fired so obviously, he did something wrong and was dismissed and as a representative of their dealership, they need to own up to the mistake. Anyways, I was misinformed by someone representing their dealership at the time. I can’t complain to Mazda Canada as they have no jurisdiction over rust proofing since it’s contracted to other companies. I am more ticked off at the manager’s attitude and his reluctance to hear my story out.

Agincourt manager is nice enough to cut me a deal for the buffing and claybar as well as to try and reinstate my warranty but to pay for an admin fee which varies depending on the inspection outcome but there’s no guarantee. My question is if I should just let it be and take the offer or try to get Markham Mazda to foot the other half of the bill as a form of compensation.

I paid close to 1000 dollars for the whole package and now, I have nothing.

Also, anyone else with sticky situations like this?

[Cardinal Fang]

Ok here's what I'm don't understand. Is this the same Rust Protection Warranty offered at all Mazda Dealerships as an option? I forget what it's called now maybe someone can clarify for me.

I bought my car from Jeff when he was at Avante. I purchased the rust protection offered by Mazda where they inspect the car every year and touch it up if necessary. My is serviced at M.O.T. and they have done the inspection every year without fail. Maybe mine will be voided if there are any problems. :blush

Finally, is it rust on the car or just spots they some have been complaining about? You keep referring to clay barring the car but that does nothing if there is rust.

[BM3]

Apparently, if it's from the same company that the dealership takes the rust proofing to, then the warranty should still stand but Agincourt does their own rust proofing without any third party help. Find out which company you are with.

It's not perforation from the inside but it's rust spots on the surface that needs to be claybarred and buffed up. That should've been covered for 3 years from the date of purchase and if there are spots, they will do it for free within that time period. The rust warranty that I have right now is for lifetime but it's been voided because I took it to another dealership thinking it's okay to have it done at other Mazda dealerships just like how we can have our car servided or have warranty work done at any Mazda place. I was also told that I could do that by their advisors and that is the reason I had the inspection done elsewhere.

Hope that's a little more clear.

[cwp_sedan]

Those rust "dots" don't have anything to do with actual corrosion of the metal, so technically I don't think Mazda is responsible. I have the same thing happen every year. See below for pics.

For surface rust though should be covered if you are getting bubbling, etc.

I would have called Mazda Canada to see what your options are. The warranty should be covered no matter where you go. As long as you have the receipts, like you have, there shouldn't be a problem and it should be covered.


Update...

I used a clay bar on my car today to remove these little dots. It was a total pain in the ass as I am a perfectionist and I had to remove every dot!! I'm definitely not doing this again for a while...lol, but it looks 100 times better!

Here are some pics of the before and after...

Before
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/cwp_sedan/pre_claybar_paint.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/cwp_sedan/pre_claybar_paint2.jpg

After
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/cwp_sedan/post_claybar_paint2.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/cwp_sedan/post_claybar_paint.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/cwp_sedan/post_claybar_angle.jpg

[BM3]

I was told that those rust spots are covered by a 3 year warranty and if it shows up, they will claybarr it and buff it at no cost. Right now, they are going to charge me (with a discount from Agincourt) to get the procedure done which should've been addressed at the time I had my first inspection 2 years in but the advisor told me to buff it myself.

So right now, I have to pay for the buff and claybar which should've been covered when I had my first inspection as well as the admin cost to reinstate my lifetime warranty (if eligible).

[cwp_sedan]

I was told that those rust spots are covered by a 3 year warranty and if it shows up, they will claybarr it and buff it at no cost. Right now, they are going to charge me (with a discount from Agincourt) to get the procedure done which should've been addressed at the time I had my first inspection 2 years in but the advisor told me to buff it myself.

So right now, I have to pay for the buff and claybar which should've been covered when I had my first inspection as well as the admin cost to reinstate my lifetime warranty (if eligible).

I didn't know this. I'll have to look into it more myself. Have you thought about calling Mazda Canada to see about a reimbursement? Since you have kept everything up to date and checked, I don't see why you should be paying anything.

[BM3]

I'll call them but it's such a pain in the butt as well as it's a long process.

The service manager told me if they claybarred it and buffed it, those rust dots shouldn't return at all. See if you can get them to do it for you if you're not past the 3 year mark.

[cwp_sedan]

I'll call them but it's such a pain in the butt as well as it's a long process.

The service manager told me if they claybarred it and buffed it, those rust dots shouldn't return at all. See if you can get them to do it for you if you're not past the 3 year mark.

Yeah I hear ya! I wouldn't want to have to chase after them for something that should be covered.

That's BS about them not returning. I think they have come back worse than last year! I will definitely look into having them cover the cost of removing the dots.

[BM3]

With the inconsistency I've been getting, don't be surprised if they tell you it's not covered or there's no such policy...

However, both the Markham an Agincourt dealerships told me the same thing about the 3 year coverage for those dots.

[Cardinal Fang]

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUCEMENT:

I've called 5 dealerships in the G.T.A. concerning Rust Proofing Warranty Work. They were, Avante Mazda, Yorkdale Dufferin Mazda, Downtown Mazda, Scarboro Mazda and Mazda of Toronto. After five phone calls I noticed a pattern and stopped. To make sure I called a few Nissan Dealerships to compare what other dealerships offer and came away with the same results. So here is what I've found.

The Mazda Motor Corporation offers a 5 year rust perforation warranty on their models. This is a MAZDA warranty which means you can take your car to any dealership and they will honor the warranty. All dealerships must honor the warranty because it comes from Mazda.

The Rust Protection Plans that come with warranties are not the same. They are offered by the dealerships. The most common one people recognize is that the car is sprayed and is guaranteed not to rust providing that a yearly inspection is done of the vehicle. At that time they will review the spray and touch it up where necessary. This warranty is not offered by Mazda Motor Coroporation. It's offered by a 3rd party insurance company through the dealerships. In other words, the company that makes the spray that the dealership uses on the cars, has insurance that will cover any repairs for rust provided that the yearly inspections are done properly. These warranties ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE from one dealership to another. They are held by the dealership that sold it to you.

There are a number of companies that offer this spray to dealerships. Each dealership goes out and makes their own deal with them. So if you bought this rust protection warranty from Prima you have to make sure you go back to Prima for the yearly inspection even though another dealership does your car maintenance. If you look at the rust proofing agreement you will note that they state explicitly that the car must be inspected by their dealership every year. They even have spots on the form where they must sign to prove they've inspected the car.

If the insurance companies see that you've missed a yearly inspection they have the right to void the warranty. SURPRISE. So please read you warranties and ask questions if necessary.

[cwp_sedan]

Thanks for the info! :)

[bunchi]

+1 when I got my car, I specifically asked if I can bring the car to other dealerships for the rustproofing inspection. I was told that I have to go back to them because it's between them and the rust proofing company they are using, even though another mazda dealership uses the same rust proofing company.

as for rust spots... i don't know what I dis wrong but I claybarred my car last spring, I was good the whole of summer and fall, but now I see them again... maybe not the same ones but new ones. I guess it has something to do with all the contaminants we have in the air combined with all the dirt and salt during winter, pefect combo to make them come back. I asked the dealership where I got my car about the spots, they were very hepful but talking to the rust proofing company and booking an appt to meet their tech was a PITA so I said just send me something I can use to clean the car, and they did.

[cwp_sedan]

as for rust spots... i don't know what I dis wrong but I claybarred my car last spring, I was good the whole of summer and fall, but now I see them again... maybe not the same ones but new ones. I guess it has something to do with all the contaminants we have in the air combined with all the dirt and salt during winter, pefect combo to make them come back. I asked the dealership where I got my car about the spots, they were very hepful but talking to the rust proofing company and booking an appt to meet their tech was a PITA so I said just send me something I can use to clean the car, and they did.

I did the exact same thing but mine have come back as well. It's kind of annoying as I haven't had this happen to any previous vehicles. It also seems to show more on white, obviously, which sucks...lol.

[BM3]

Hey guys,

Thanks so much for the info, especially Cardinal_Fang. He went out of his way to call a few dealerships to confirm.

Markham Mazda does their own rust proofing in-house so they don't have a contract with a third party. I looked over my warranty contract and it does say it needs to be inspected by the issuing dealership so it may be my fault but the fact that another dealership misinformed me and gave me (whatever) inspection it was, do I have the right to get some form of compensation, ie: reinstate my warranty without an admin fee as well as for them to cover the claybar and buff since I would've had it done had I been given the right advice at the 2 year mark?

Thanks

[Cardinal Fang]

Markham Mazda does their own rust proofing like all the other dealerships. The 3rd party contract they have is with the insurance company that supports the "under spray" they use on your car. As long as Markham Mazda sprays correctly, if any rust occurs, Markham Mazda will submit the claim to the insurance company and it will be covered. However, the insurance company stipulates the inspection MUST be done by Markham Mazda (the dealership that sprayed it) not another dealership your taking your car to.

What I suspect the other dealership was doing was inspecting the car for rust under the Rust Perforation Warranty that all Mazda cars have. When they said it was fine you may have assumed they were talking about the Rust Protection you purchased. I doubt you can get compensation for miss-communication like this. For the warranty to be reinstated the insurance company NOT THE DEALERSHIP would have to agree to it and this is where you have the problem. The insurance company can say:

"Sorry, you didn't do the yearly inspection so our under spray may have been compromised therefore we can't reinstate it."

I guess you could ask I guess.

</Redundant>

[BM3]

So I left a message for the GM at Markham Mazda on Thursday night and he has yet to return my call. Don't know if he's busy or if he's just avoiding me because the service manager may have gotten to him before me. I just want to let him know of my situation and what he thinks as well as he should know that the service manager was being rude and unhelpful.

I'll call him again today and see what the deal is.

I'm also getting my car buffed and claybarred on Friday for a discounted price and the service manager at Agincourt will try to get my warranty reinstated for an admin fee. We'll see how that goes.

[jeff192]

i have the same problem on my car but its always on the trunk ( i have the hatch) takes me about 2h to remove it once a year

[axelf911]

Have you tried contacting Mazda head office and seeing what their policies are? Sometimes the dealerships make up things to avoid responsibility.

[sunkist4338]

Markham Mazda does their own rust proofing like all the other dealerships. The 3rd party contract they have is with the insurance company that supports the "under spray" they use on your car. As long as Markham Mazda sprays correctly, if any rust occurs, Markham Mazda will submit the claim to the insurance company and it will be covered. However, the insurance company stipulates the inspection MUST be done by Markham Mazda (the dealership that sprayed it) not another dealership your taking your car to.

What I suspect the other dealership was doing was inspecting the car for rust under the Rust Perforation Warranty that all Mazda cars have. When they said it was fine you may have assumed they were talking about the Rust Protection you purchased. I doubt you can get compensation for miss-communication like this. For the warranty to be reinstated the insurance company NOT THE DEALERSHIP would have to agree to it and this is where you have the problem. The insurance company can say:

"Sorry, you didn't do the yearly inspection so our under spray may have been compromised therefore we can't reinstate it."

I guess you could ask I guess.

</Redundant>

ok, so tell me what happens if you buy your car in Nova scotia this year and next year you move to british columbia. do you have to drive from one end of the coutry to the next to keep your warrenty valid?

Thats one way to keep people hostage in a province or city for that matter.

even if you move to ottawa, would you drive 10 hours bothways to get an inspection!!!:bang ouch that hurts

[sunkist4338]

i have the same problem on my car but its always on the trunk ( i have the hatch) takes me about 2h to remove it once a year

are these rust spots just on the white cars or all cars?

[SKYMP3]

i have the same problem on my car but its always on the trunk ( i have the hatch) takes me about 2h to remove it once a year

Me too, I see a lot of brown dots on the hatch.

What did you use to remove them? Wax?

[JadeButterfly]

Me too, I see a lot of brown dots on the hatch.

What did you use to remove them? Wax?

claybar :)

[andru365]

claybar :)

+1 works great

[mazdagal77]

It's probably rail dust from when your cars were shipped to Mazda if shipped by train. Need a special chemical to remove it otherwise it keeps coming back. It's actually metal particles embedded in the paint so maybe that's why the claybarring isn't permanently removing the spots. Hope this helps.