Lemon Law

[JPolen01]

Does anyone have experience with Lemon Laws? I'm about to break my foot off in the ass of Mazda Corporate and Mile One Dealerships.

[Sully]

Just what I remember but probably not right. Think the actual law (if one can even be called into effect) is the same issue and an attempted fix 3 times.... Maybe
But I feel like it's pretty hard to actually prove unless they're willing to own up to it. Remember that Porsche guy.

But do tell. I was telling me dad to look at the cx5

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[WRXtranceformed]

My thought here is for anything consumer v. corporate, your first step is to lawyer up with a firm that specializes in that type of litigation.

Didn't you recently say you were happy with your CX-5? Or is this like something really recent. Do tell, because my wife liked the CX-5 a little more than the RDX but I steered her toward the Hondacura instead.

[JPolen01]

So after some research, Lemon Laws vary by state. Here is the gist of the story so far:

Purchased 2016.5 CX5 in late April. Late June/early July we began experiencing issues with the navigation unit. We would be driving along (using the nav or not, didn't matter) and a error message would pop up "SD Card Removed. SD Card Inserted". This would cause the nav portion to go into a Windows-esque loading screen indefinitely. It seemed like the SD card slot was loose or something according to the error. Only way to resume use of the nav was to shut the car off completely and turn it back on.

I could not find any reported problems like this on the interwebs so it seems very unique. We took it to the dealer the first time - they couldn't replicate the problem. Shocker there. We took it back a second time - they did a software update and prayed to god it worked. It didn't. Took it back a third time and they replaced the SD card reader due to the original error. Would not give us a loaner car because "they were all gone due to the Takata recall". Oh really? It's not like Mazda has a strategic agreement with Enterprise. Dealer didn't want to spend the money on a rental (we have since received 2 loaners for about 2 weeks for remaining repairs). They promised they tested it and it worked. Took it home and wouldn't you know, it didn't work.

Onto the 4th visit. They ripped apart the dash, center console, under the seats and made a discovery. A wire in the harness (they didn't say which harness, but I assume it was the head unit) was pinched creating a short. We will replace the harness they say. Great this should solve the problem. They have the car for 3 days when I call to check in. "Oh well the harness hasn't come in yet and may not be in for a few more days." So you were just going to keep the car indefinitely? I don't think so. If I am making payments on the car I am not going to leave it with you indefinitely. Thanks for the notice assholes. Of course they left the car in pieces and needed an additional day to put it back together so we could take it.

Meanwhile the customer service with both the dealer and Mazda HQ has been terrible. No communication at all from either end. Dealer doesn't know where the harness is. Mazda HQ gives us a $100 credit. Wow thanks.

We pick the car up while they wait for the harness. Glove box has 2 enormous scratches across it. Fabric from the bottom of the seat is not reattached and hanging down. Steering wheel controls don't work. Back up camera was not hooked up. Seriously lazy technicians. We complain about this, but nobody cares. Service manager agrees to replace the glovebox.

Harness takes over a week to come in. Glovebox takes another 2 days. We get a call that everything is fixed, but oh sorry the technician broke the last remaining fastener to finish the job and we need to order that. Another 2 days.

So this brings us to yesterday. Emily picked up the car and confirmed that everything from the nav to the backup camera, to the steering wheel controls worked properly. They even replaced the nav surround due to the fabric bubbling likely from how many times it was removed/reinstalled. Glovebox was also replaced.

As we are driving last night I realized the volume was randomly going up and down, but it was not showing on the screen. Almost like it was reducing and increasing as though the navigation was talking over it. But we weren't using the navigation.

I really do like this car and believe this is a one off issue. But at this point we have lost so much time at work and in our personal lives and no one from either the dealer or Mazda HQ gives a shit. I don't want to deal with taking it back for a 6th, 7th, or 8th time. They obviously do not know what the problem is or how to fix it correctly.

We are sending a certified letter to Mazda HQ to initiate the claim. Once we hear from them about how they plan to proceed we will decide to either involve a lawyer or handle it on our own. MD seems to have a pretty good Lemon Law. Here for reference: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Pages/CPD/lemon.aspx">http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/ ... lemon.aspx</a><!-- m -->

[ViPER1313]

Consider taking it to another dealership? Sucks how such a small problem snowballed into such a large issue. I feel you though, dealing with service departments can be a PITA. Just make a stink with Mazda, use social media to make your point, they will eventually take care of you.

[WRXtranceformed]

Man that sucks, yeah if you decide to keep it and have another dealership option I would probably go that route. It's pretty likely that all Mazda will do is keep throwing free accessory credits or something at you until you go through the LL process. I do a lot of dealership service research before I purchase as well because it can really make a big difference how stuff is handled when it comes up. I got lucky with my Jag; there was only one local dealer anywhere close to Charlotte but fortunately they were a exceptionally good service dept. GMC has a few options here and I could technically take my truck to a Chevy dealer too, but I've found an equally good (so far) service center here.

[JPolen01]

Like I said at this point I'm done with trips to the dealership no matter which one it is. It should have been fixed by now. I like spending my very little free time doing enjoyable things. Not arguing with incompetent service managers.

[ViPER1313]

Hate to rain on your parade, but I doubt the radio substantially impacts the use of the vehicle. This is not a LL case. Also, the original problem was fixed (the SD memory card issue) so any issues you are having now will be treated as new issues under the LL statute. I know it's frustrating, but try not to get all millennial frazzled over a broken radio. Shit happens. It sucks, but keep it in perspective. Find a dealer that will give you a loaner (Fitzgerald in Frederick would give me a loaner when the VW was in the shop but King in Gaithersburg would not.)

[JPolen01]

Ehh I can argue that the entrainment system does substantially impact the use of the car. We purchased the navigation to use it, not for it to work part of the time. Also now that the radio changes its own volume that's kind of a big annoyance. Regardless we are filing a claim with Mazda. We will see where it goes. If they come back and say bring it in one more time and they fix it and give me $500 in credit or something then I will be fine with that. I would rather not have to shop for a new car all over because I really do like the cx5.

[JPolen01]

And this has nothing to do with being a "millennial". People from other generations love throwing that term around when it really has no application. I just got all the service records so far...been in the shop 5 separate times for a total of 15 days. Factor all of that time with driving 20 minutes each way to the dealer and tell me you wouldn't be a little ticked off at this point.

[ViPER1313]

I have been at that point in the past, only way worse. My VW was in the shop way longer than that for more severe issues (an airbag warning light, an air box that ate through a radiator hose, stalling at stop lights, leaking transmission, randomly not starting). I also had bad experiences at the first dealer I had it serviced at, so I took it elsewhere. And that car did not qualify as a lemon. And I was ticked off. So when I say to calm yourself over radio issues, it's from experience, not malice.

[Senor_Taylor]

I have been at that point in the past, only way worse. My VW was in the shop way longer than that for more severe issues (an airbag warning light, an air box that ate through a radiator hose, stalling at stop lights, leaking transmission, randomly not starting). I also had bad experiences at the first dealer I had it serviced at, so I took it elsewhere. And that car did not qualify as a lemon. And I was ticked off. So when I say to calm yourself over radio issues, it's from experience, not malice.

A vehicle in the shop is a vehicle in the shop regardless of the reason it is there.

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[JustinG]

Sorry you are having issues. We encountered some frustrating mechanical issues with Casey's CX7. Took to the dealership we purchased from, nothing but issues, so much so we had overfilled oil, crapped out turbo, and a cracked cam shaft. Which was only discovered when we went to a diff dealer and they flew in someone from Mazda. Issue was resolved, but we were so frustrated we took a loss and sold it as soon as it came outta the shop.

Long story short, the dealership has a huge impact on how this will proceed. It sounds like you need to find a diff dealership.

[ViPER1313]

The volume going up and down like the nav was trying to kick in may actually be due to the nav trying to speak but the "navigation volume" is turned down. On the CX9, the "navigation volume" is separate from the stereo volume, and the only way I have found to adjust it is to turn the volume knob while the navigation is speaking. Set a destination and turn the volume knob up while it is supposed to be speaking.

[JPolen01]

The navigation isn't running when this happens though. We got a video of it happening today. Driving along and the volume will spike extremely high. Other times we have it turned to level 40 and it's barely a whisper. Typical electrical nightmare.

I do know exactly what you are talking about though. You have to catch it when the nav is speaking to adjust that particular volume.

[Apoc]

Ehh I can argue that the entrainment system does substantially impact the use of the car.

pretty sure you'd lose that argument in litigation/mediation

[Mike]

Ehh I can argue that the entrainment system does substantially impact the use of the car.

pretty sure you'd lose that argument in litigation/mediation

New Mazdas run on MP3s. Ya didn't hear?

[JPolen01]

Well MD seems to have some pretty friendly consumer laws. We found a lemon lawyer that actually one a case just like ours for a defective GPS unit. Fees are deferred to manufacturers in this great state so win or lose we pay nothing. This firm reviewed our case and wants to take it on. Will probably go with them as they will do all of the work for us.

Their goal is to have Mazda fix the car and then pay us the diminished value for the problems. I am still putting together what that means but they are saying that Mazda should pay us for the time the car was in the shop, the multiple trips driven back and forth to the shop, as well as the drop in value during this time. In turn we could then sell the car (if we decided to) and not lose much money. At the very least we get a fixed car and some money back (if we win). Cool with me!

[V1GiLaNtE]

Glad to hear you guys found a way forward. Keep us updated on the details Polen!

[*insertusernamehere*]

Good luck!!