RUST Issues on which years???

[Ant1loop]

Hello ALL

I am looking to purchase a used Mazda 3.

A major concern after reading reviews.

1) Which years are affected by RUST? Did this go away after 2004? OR is 2005, 2006 etc. still affected?

2) Any Automatic tranmission issues at all? If so what years?

I am looking to get a 2005 most likely as it fits my budget.

Thank ahead of time!

[DreamM3]

Hello ALL

I am looking to purchase a used Mazda 3.

A major concern after reading reviews.

1) Which years are affected by RUST? Did this go away after 2004? OR is 2005, 2006 etc. still affected?

2) Any Automatic tranmission issues at all? If so what years?

I am looking to get a 2005 most likely as it fits my budget.

Thank ahead of time!

All of them have rust issues. There are rust posts for cars manufactured as early as 2007/08. Make sure you check the rear wheel wells thoroughly including inside the wheel well. Check the trunk just under the brake light and around the black window panels.

I drive a '04 5 spd since Auto is just not me, but if you are going to go with Auto, go with the 2.3L since the Auto 2.0 has no balls what so ever. I have heard about no transmission problems...

I bought mine used and have had NO problems at all other than stone chips on the hood which caused rust on the hood but I am having all the little rust spots fixed by my body shop in a few days. You can't blame the car for stone chips though...

Also, if you could in a way go with a 2006, it should still have the perferation warranty so you can have all the rust spots fixed just before the warranty runs out.

- Niko

[Ant1loop]

Thanks a lot... I will look into the 2006's

[kevcol74]

I'd look into 2006 for the 5spd auto too....

[mazdabetty]

go with the 2.3L since the Auto 2.0 has no balls what so ever.

haha, awwww :( it drives just fine. Unless you want to drive the sh** out of your car and drive fast alllllllllll the time. lol

2.0 still has bigger balls than the civic/corolla. (not including the si... i think.)

There's still warranty left on some 05's, (if that's what fits your budget for now) just make sure you get all that info before you buy!

Have fun looking!!! :bana2

[Dave_The_BMXER]

[B]1) Which years are affected by RUST? Did this go away after 2004? OR is 2005, 2006 etc. still affected?


As posted above 04-06 hatches and sedans are more frequently reported as having the problems cause they have been around longer. Expect 07s to 08 owners to post up soon.

Affected areas:Rear Arches, Rocker panels (newish discovery), third brake light, behind mirrors.

I've been trying to keep all the info about it updated about it here (http://www.havokproductions.ca/randomasrhyme/2009/04/02/a-helping-hand-mazda-3-rust-info/) as an option to 20+ forum posts but seems everyday there is more info.

[Jeff0]

There are some in the hidden area like in the side mirror panel...hahaha..this car paint and materials are S******T...You are lucky if you can buy w/out a rust.

[victor_t]

yeah the rust issue is ridiculous for an otherwise great car.

look at the rear fenders, just at the corner where the fender meets the rear bumper.
that's where all mazda 3's get rust. look for small bubbles on the paint (not caused by stone chips)

[Go_Habs_Go]

it's pretty disheartening to hear about all the rust issues on early models years of this car.

It's probably only a matter of time before it will hit later model years.

[Bai]

I think even the new gen's..it's just a matter of 3yrs before it shows up..lol

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

My '05 hatch has zero surface and main body rust. It is a later year manufactured '05 model though. It has never been rustproofed, but is waxed twice a year and washed regularly in winter.

That said, the '04's in particular and some early manufacturing model '05's definately had some some rust issues. A lot of possible reasons for it, but nobody knows for sure as Mazda has never confirmed the cause of the problem to the best of my knowledge, but at least they are addressing it.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

Dug through some of my emails about the issue

Lynne,

Please refer your Montreal-area cases to our office in Montreal. We have an informal arrangement to take care of APA members referred to this office that appears to be working so far. Repairs are made as "goodwill" with no admission of responsibility. Best is to have them contact APA by e-mail with some details (your summary is likely sufficient), and our staff will follow up. For this to work, we prefer to get involved early, before there is a rejection from higher-ups at Mazda in the file. A rejection by another dealer is not a problem if the case has not been taken to the next level.

My understanding is that running changes were made to improve protection of lower body panels of the Mazda 3 beginning in 2006 or 2007, including clear vinyl tape in certain areas. The treatment of welded seams was also improved during this period. A variety of Mazda models going back to the mid-1990s have had brittle paint finishes -- if I recall correctly, the problem was aggravated when the automakers moved to reduce the quantity of solvents in their factory paint finishes. The 2008.5 model is supposed to have solved the problems relatively definitively.

When APA writes an automaker, we usually have a pretty good idea of what the problem is and what fix is required; your original letter with the supporting examples from other owners alone would have prompted us to open an investigation -- we've been on this one for about 6 months pursuant to staff complaints from residents of Quebec.

Best, George

[thefish]

^^^Very interesting. Thank you.

[DreamM3]

I JUST contacted Mazda Canada and they said that since the rust occurred BEFORE the end service date of my car (last month), it should be covered under warranty. I was very firm, but polite. They told me to go on to a dealership of my choice, get pics done, and get the respairs completed.

Fkn awesome.

[Jeff0]

My 2008 has a rust on the wiper arm hinge, even they have TSB on this before but still happening in this yr model. I don't know if they address this issue, it just like wait and see...:loco

[mazda lover]

My '05 hatch has zero surface and main body rust. It is a later year manufactured '05 model though. It has never been rustproofed, but is waxed twice a year and washed regularly in winter.

That said, the '04's in particular and some early manufacturing model '05's definately had some some rust issues. A lot of possible reasons for it, but nobody knows for sure as Mazda has never confirmed the cause of the problem to the best of my knowledge, but at least they are addressing it.

Mazda knows
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f19ab51

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=32463

[Bai]

So this has been a long long issue in thier vehicles but they are still occurring at this time, it seems that they never pay attention so much for this problem...Goodbye Mazda...

[victor_t]

it's pretty disheartening to hear about all the rust issues on early models years of this car.

It's probably only a matter of time before it will hit later model years.

while I was out looking at used cars recently I saw little bubbles forming on the rear fender of a 2006 model.
so, after as little as 3 years the paint starts bubbling and at the four year mark you can probably see surface rust on the fender.

[Bai]

while I was out looking at used cars recently I saw little bubbles forming on the rear fender of a 2006 model.
so, after as little as 3 years the paint starts bubbling and at the four year mark you can probably see surface rust on the fender.

absolutely...

[aris]

I am not worried about the rust issue with these cars, The car is covered for 5 years by mazda, and i also krowned my car from brand new and i am covered by krown if my car rusts.

So if my car rusts withing 5 years mazda will cover it and and if takes longer to rust krown will cover it as long as i have it krowned it every year and since i got it done when the car was brand new i don't have to worrie:bana2

[thefish]

I am not worried about the rust issue with these cars, The car is covered for 5 years by mazda, and i also krowned my car from brand new and i am covered by krown if my car rusts.

So if my car rusts withing 5 years mazda will cover it and and if takes longer to rust krown will cover it as long as i have it krowned it every year and since i got it done when the car was brand new i don't have to worrie:bana2

Sounds like a plan. I'll go ahead and copy you.

We'll fight Mazda and/or Krown together :chuckle

[aris]

Sounds like a plan. I'll go ahead and copy you.

We'll fight Mazda and/or Krown together :chuckle


LOL:chuckle

[sp3GT]

I have an 06 hatch, I don't seem to have any rust spots on the body at all and my car's parked outside too.

Only spot I see rust is the wiper arm.

No rust proofing done either.

[haligonian]

No rust for me on my 04 GT Sedan even with a few rock chips on the hood. I put around 12-15 coats of the entire Zaino process on each year.

[mazda lover]

No rust for me on my 04 GT Sedan even with a few rock chips on the hood. I put around 12-15 coats of the entire Zaino process on each year.

did you buy your car new? 12-15 coats, WOW thats insane, but it seems to be working for you..do you use it during the winter months?

[haligonian]

did you buy your car new? 12-15 coats, WOW thats insane, but it seems to be working for you..do you use it during the winter months?

Leased it and then bought out the lease in march 08. Use the car all year round and use the zaino system twice a year...late spring when it warms up and then in the fall. I find the zaino system protects the paint very well.