Resuming Playback with 2014 CX-5 GT Tech Stereo and other issues

There is no way these two situations are comparable. If you read the Ford article, you'll notice there are issues with it controlling the wipers, defroster, etc. Those are legitimate safety issues. Fiddling with your Ipod to select songs is NEVER a manufacturer's safety issue, that is a negligence issue by the driver who is making a conscious choice to do that instead of focusing on the driving. This thread is really starting to piss me off, and not because I am taking Mazda's side here, but rather from a general concern about being a responsible driver. People, lets not forget that we are talking about a VEHICLE here. Its primary function is for DRIVING, not to be a personal sound studio.

I pretty much agree they are different situations, and that no lawyer would take this. HOWEVER. You have no right to be pissed off. I don't recommend fiddling with the iPod while driving either. But it doesn't change the fact that 1) the stereo IS defective, and 2) we have a right to get this fixed. What we as consumers should NOT do is just go 'oh well I guess I have to live with it'. No, that's BS. Mazda has a responsibility to fix this.
 
Here is the response I just got from Mazda.

Thank you for taking the time to contact Mazda about the USB port media playback in the 2014 CX-5.

With a media device connected to the USB port, your music playlist will start from the beginning each time the vehicle is started. This is a normal function of the vehicle infotainment system in reading your digital playback device. We know this may be an inconvenient feature, and we would encourage you to stay tuned to our website, www.mazdausa.com, or any information regarding updates to this system in the future. Also, you may play Pandora radio through the Bluetooth system .
 
I pretty much agree they are different situations, and that no lawyer would take this. HOWEVER. You have no right to be pissed off. I don't recommend fiddling with the iPod while driving either. But it doesn't change the fact that 1) the stereo IS defective, and 2) we have a right to get this fixed. What we as consumers should NOT do is just go 'oh well I guess I have to live with it'. No, that's BS. Mazda has a responsibility to fix this.

I think you are misunderstanding me. I'm not challenging your statement that the stereo is defective, nor your right to want it fixed. I am also not suggesting that you just accept it as-is and move on. The only thing I was challenging was the presumption that it should be fixed because its a safety issue. Finally, I have every right to be pissed off. I am one of the many drivers out there who must put my life (and the lives of my children) at risk every day as we drive our nation's roadways. I don't like hearing people making statements like "I am forced to fiddle with my IPOD while driving because Mazda won't fix this." That is absolutely the wrong way of thinking.

Please, everyone SHOULD contact Mazda and complain. Pursue legal means if you must. However while you are in the car actually driving, leave the ipod alone and drive safely please for everyone's sake.
 
Please write mazda!!!!!

OK, this is really bugging me and I'm getting ready to go on a 14 hour driving trip and don't want to flip through where I left off every time I stop for gas or a health break. I realize this will not be fixed in-time, but regardless, it NEEDS to be fixed.

Here's what I sent Mazda, I paraphrased it from information at the top of this Topic, please feel free to copy it or re-write, but make sure you notify Mazda this is not acceptable.

To: "MazdaCustomerAssistance@mazdausa.com" <MazdaCustomerAssistance@mazdausa.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 8, 2013 3:23 PM
Subject: Unsatisfactoy playback / restart on 2013 CX-9 w/Tech Package

2013 Mazda CX-9 Touring / Tech Package, Audio head unit is poor via USB interface.
The head unit handles the USB interface poorly. Regardless of what is attached, nothing will resume playback where it left off after re-starting the vehicle. Furthermore, some iPod units have no visibility to playlists at all. Large memory devices take a long time to read as well. Here is a summary for connection via USB port only for several devices:

iPhone 4S 64G: no visibility to playlists, no resuming playback, very long read time at startup
iPod Classic 160G: no visibility to playlists, no resuming playback, very long read time at startup
iPod nano 8G: no resuming playback
usb memory stick 8G: no resuming playback


Can you tell me what is being done to correct this?
This may be the way it was designed, but that doesn't make it a good design.
 
Got my form letter, but at least it's on record.
I highly encourage others to write too.

Re: File number 149075040

Dear Mr. Patterson,

Thank you for contacting Mazda and congratulations on your recent purchase of a 2013 Mazda CX-9.

I do apologize that you are experiencing this concern with audio playback with your iPod on your Mazda CX-9. With regards to play back resuming from the beginning of your play list and the slow connectivity to devices with larger memory space, this is a normal characteristic of the audio system.

With that said, Mazda is aware of your concerns, and rest assured I have documented your concerns for our corporate records which are continually reviewed. Your feedback regarding the head unit handling the USB interface has been documented as well. We do evaluate these records as part of our ongoing commitment to provide only the highest quality products to our customers. The file reference number that has been created for your comments and inquiry is 149075040.

Additionally, if you are experiencing any functionality concerns with audio playback you can certainly bring the vehicle to your nearest Mazda dealer to ensure the vehicle is functioning as designed.

Again, thank you for contacting Mazda.

Sincerely,

Kiri
Representative, Customer Experience
Mazda North American Operations
800.222.5500 ext. 1167
 
OK, this is really bugging me and I'm getting ready to go on a 14 hour driving trip and don't want to flip through where I left off every time I stop for gas or a health break. I realize this will not be fixed in-time, but regardless, it NEEDS to be fixed.
Here's what I sent Mazda, I paraphrased it from information at the top of this Topic, please feel free to copy it or re-write, but make sure you notify Mazda this is not acceptable.

?! Wondered how you managed with CDs or perish the thought cassette tapes.
If the playback order is so important use the AUX.

Please, everyone SHOULD contact Mazda and complain. Pursue legal means if you must. However while you are in the car actually driving, leave the ipod alone and drive safely please for everyone's sake.

Emphasis on the attention to driving as THAT should be your primary concern.
 
?! Wondered how you managed with CDs or perish the thought cassette tapes.
If the playback order is so important use the AUX.

I think you may have misunderstood the point. Playback order is not the issue, it's the restart point. And AUX will not help me for a USB stick. but thanks for the suggestion.

btw, CDs, cassette tapes, and (gasp) 8-tracks; all started where you left off. ;-)

In the big scheme of things, this is not a safety or reliability issue. BUT, when you pay $30k for a vehicle, things should be RIGHT. My 5 year Pioneer stereo got the USB thing correct. It's not rocket science, in this case it was bad design and should be corrected.
 
I think you may have misunderstood the point. Playback order is not the issue, it's the restart point. And AUX will not help me for a USB stick. but thanks for the suggestion.

well then my bad for the mis-interpretation of you previous post(s) where it appeared that the issue was with an iPod-type player as I did not have the time to review the entire thread for your other posts

btw, CDs, cassette tapes, and (gasp) 8-tracks; all started where you left off. ;-)

Was being an old fart.

In the big scheme of things, this is not a safety or reliability issue. BUT, when you pay $30k for a vehicle, things should be RIGHT. My 5 year Pioneer stereo got the USB thing correct. It's not rocket science, in this case it was bad design and should be corrected.

i suppose there should be a universal standard for all these smart phones and USB devices.

That being said, I decided to properly test the standard unit that came with my vehicle:
Vehicle: 2014 CX-5 GS FWD with no Tech package
Media Devices:
  • 2nd gen iPod Touch 32GB with iOS 6.1.3
  • generic USB flash drive 4.0GB; one folder containing 320kbps mp3 files ripped by Windows Media Player V12

USB Drive
  1. Insert USB key into interface
  2. Start car
  3. USB tab active nearly immediately
  4. select file to play
  5. wait 60 seconds into song
  6. turn off engine
  7. start engine
  8. song resumed play at 60 seconds into it

iPod Touch with USB only
  1. hook-up using USB interface
  2. start car
  3. wait roughly 90 seconds before iPod tab is active
  4. immediately starts playing first song ( alpha-order) on list
  5. click iPod menu
  6. select a playlist
  7. plays song but not in proper sequence ( I have a specific order )
  8. turn-off engine
  9. start engine
  10. iPod plays first song on alpha-order


iPod Touch with USB and Bluetooth
  1. hook-up using USB interface and bluetooth enabled
  2. start car
  3. wait roughly 90 seconds before iPod tab is active; confirm bluetooth pairing with iPod
  4. immediately starts playing first song ( alpha-order) on list
  5. click iPod menu
  6. select a playlist
  7. plays song but not in proper sequence ( I have a specific order )
  8. turn-off engine
  9. start engine
  10. iPod resumes play at proper sequence of playlist when engine was turned off
 
USB Drive
  1. Insert USB key into interface
  2. Start car
  3. USB tab active nearly immediately
  4. select file to play
  5. wait 60 seconds into song
  6. turn off engine
  7. start engine
  8. song resumed play at 60 seconds into it

You didn't mention how many files you had on the USB stick. Therein lies the issue. Mine has a few less than 100 and its available right away. Some people have thousands -- this is when it really starts to slow down. Regarding the resume -- I have seen other posts from people on the forum indicating that the head unit retains power for a short period of time after the ignition is shut down. I think as long as the head unit retains power then it will hold its place. Try waiting 5 mins or so (imagine you pumped some gas or something) and then start it again. I think you will find that it does go back to the beginning.
 
Yes, TreyP tested and said that power is retained for about 10 seconds; see post #154.

BTW, I've mentioned this previously but if I simply listen to some other audio source for a few minutes after starting the car, when I switch to my 32 GB USB drive with about 4K songs it only takes 10-15 seconds to start playing. Of course it's still the first song every time. So apparently the head unit starts reading the USB drive after powering up even if the USB mode is not selected.
 
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A couple of things are important, how LONG did you leave the car off for. Let it sit at least a minute, so that retained power is lost. I think you'll find that USB doesn't' resume playback either, along with iPods.

Bluetooth appears to resume playback. However! Bluetooth audio isn't as high quality as the USB interface. I don't like defending it more than that, but it's true. And also, us having to switch to another mode of playback doesn't' change the fact that our 'preferred' one, one that ought to work, doesn't, and Mazda needs to fix it.

Third, the mounting time of USB and iPods is directly linked to their size. I have, and want to use a large 160 iPod Classic. I have lots of music, and I want it all available. That iPod takes 25+ MINUTES to mount. Which you can't use the stereo for anything else. As this is longer than my commute time, it means I can't use it.

My 16 gig iPod Nano mounts in about a minute. Still too long. But acceptable.

I tried a 64gig USB Stick, thinking maybe it would be faster than the iPod Classic, which it is. But it still takes 5 to 7 minutes to scan and mount, way unacceptable.

By comparison, the SAME iPod Classic, mounted in the 2013 Camry I was driving pretty much instantly. Resumed playback, etc.

Not to mention, aren't people here saying the 2013 models worked fine? So mazda saying this as 'as designed' is complete BS.
 
Reporting back that after leaving the engine off for >2minutes did indeed reset the playlist for both the iPod and USB drives back to Track 1.
Now, I did some further searching and Mazda is not the only manufacture having such issues with their stock stereo units, BMW forums are just as pleasant with the non-functionalities.........
 
It's very astonishing to me that Mazda (or BMW or anyone) wouldn't catch this before going into production. I mean, we knows it's POSSIBLE to resume playback, most cars can do it. Why can't Mazda? How did they miss this?
 
It's very astonishing to me that Mazda (or BMW or anyone) wouldn't catch this before going into production. I mean, we knows it's POSSIBLE to resume playback, most cars can do it. Why can't Mazda? How did they miss this?

I am guessing it was a rush job and there wasn't a lot of testing. The whole system was built by Johnson Controls. Mazda probably didn't perform a very thorough acceptance testing. I just wish Mazda would step up and address the issue. Look, it isn't a safety issue, but for us spending close to 30K on a car in 2014 we have certain expectations. Also a lot of us really like Mazdas, the way they handle, etc. I just want Mazda to say something more than they have. Unless you completely don't care about the issue, then I think you would want the same thing. I hope the emails they have received, maybe this forum, will get them off their asses.
 
Wow, just returned to this forum after a few months absence to see that this issue is still not fixed. Unfortunately I shelved (postponed at least this year) my plans to buy a CX5 and this problem, as small as it may be to some, was one of the killers for me - my music is pretty important to me when driving and I just know an issue like this would literally drive me nuts.
 
As a potential CX-5 owner, is the iPod issue a problem when using Bluetooth? I imagine with the keyless start, I will want to leave everything in my pocket and go. Why doesn't everyone just stream music using Bluetooth to avoid the problems? I have an iPhone 4S and will soon upgrade to a iPhone 5.
 
One because my iPod can hold a lot more music than my phone can. Two because Bluetooth audio is compressed and doesn't sound as good as a direct connected iPod. Third because I want to control the music through the head unit and voice command.
 
Wow, just returned to this forum after a few months absence to see that this issue is still not fixed. Unfortunately I shelved (postponed at least this year) my plans to buy a CX5 and this problem, as small as it may be to some, was one of the killers for me - my music is pretty important to me when driving and I just know an issue like this would literally drive me nuts.

This is what we need. Purchases not made due to the issue. You should write Mazda and let them know. It drives me nuts and I own the CX-5. I'll wait, but really considering keeping the CX-5 shorter than most cars I have owned. Probably will end up in an Escape, Santa Fe, or Forester. Rented an Escape with MyFord Touch, and while not perfect by any stretch, all the things that don't work on my Mazda work fine on the Escape
 

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