09-17-2016, 11:57 AM
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 -->
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 -->
2019 Accord Sport 2.0 A/T
2012 Civic Si - Sold
2012 Civic Si - Sold