Boing or pop or crunch or some kind of noise in front quarter panel

[flcruising]

Did you buy this vehicle new?

In Florida, 3 times trying to fix the same problem and then the car is declared a lemon.

 

[pocketpenguin]

Yes, I bought it new. It had the clunk/pop on the first day, but only very rarely. I drove around until 3K miles (3 months) and reported the problem during the first oil change. Most of my driving was an extended road trip across 4 states.

The noise has been progressively worse over that time in the sense that it happens more often. Right now if you back up quickly, then go forward quickly it will pop when you put on the brakes. The key is body roll. No body roll, no pop. Happens when making left turns, braking, hitting a pothole while braking, or sometimes just hitting a pothole or road seam. The more body roll/flex the bigger the pop/clunk.

I live in Missouri, USA and here the lemon law kicks in after a "reasonable" number of attempts to correct the problem. The Missouri Attorney General says 4 times is usually reasonable.

They're still working the issue. I'm still satisfied with that, for now.

 

[Robotazky]

There is a cutoff usually in the determination of what is and isn't a qualifying issue that can make a car a lemon. Those of us who have bought a lot of new cars and have heard "that's normal" many, many times will tell you that suspension noises and other issues that cannot be proven to affect safety will be called normal and you cannot use the lemon law on it. Yes, it's crooked and just another reason why I actually dread buying cars now, but it's the way it works. I would do everything possible other than look to the lemon laws.

 

[flcruising]

You're right...Here's how the Florida Law reads -

Florida Lemon Law 681.102 Definitions.
(16) "Nonconformity" means a defect or condition that substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of a motor vehicle, but does not include a defect or condition that results from an accident, abuse, neglect, modification, or alteration of the motor vehicle by persons other than the manufacturer or its authorized service agent.

If it is suspension related, safety could very well be a factor. Hopefully they will get this resolved for you.

 

[pocketpenguin]

Regarding lemon laws, I was just reporting back the laws in my state. I don't wish to invoke them.

Bottom line is, that I would sell the car and NOT buy another Mazda before driving it long term. I like the 5, a lot, which is why I bought it in the first place, but this noise is now like a rock in my shoe that I can't get out. Life is too short to be walking around with rocks in your shoe.

I drove my wife's car around town this morning. It creaks and groans when entering or leaving the driveway, and it's about as responsive and nimble as an oil tanker, but it was quiet on the streets. Refreshing. No, she doesn't want to trade.

 

[pocketpenguin]

Taking my 5 back into the shop again tomorrow. This time they say there is a service bulletin on Mazda 3's that fits this issue and they want to try the solution on my 5.

Since the last trip in where some stuff on the upper strut was replaced, the noise seemed temporarily better, but has been steadily getting worse over the last week.

 

[pocketpenguin]

OK. Got my 5 back for what is hopefully the last time, and the drum roll please...

The pop/boing is gone!

What was it? Some sort of body panels catching on each other in the front quarter panel area.

Here's what they did today: removed trim panel in the front of the mirror, tightened all fender bolts, cradle bolts, strut bolts, lower ball joint pinch bolt, caliper bracket bolt. None of that worked. On previous visits they had already tried the windshield cowl panel and an upper strut mount.

Then they removed the inner fender liner and installed foam along two panel seams and used undercoat between panels. This worked.

The pop is completely gone except when the body flexes leaving my driveway. But ALL my cars "sigh" or groan when they do that so.... I'm happy!

Total charge: $0.
Happy customer: priceless.

By the way for those who are interested, the dealer is Joe Machens Automotive Group in Columbia Missouri. They sell Mazda, Mercedes and Cadillac.

The service was excellent, the employees courteous, and they weren't happy until I was happy. What more can you ask for?

What I found most interesting is that I was treated like I was their only customer. Other dealers in town will line up people at 7:15 and then pack everyone in a van, then you'd spend the next 30-45 minutes being shuttled all over town. At Machens (Mazda), this never happened. Not once. They schedule you, you arrive to an empty bay, and usually no other customers would be in sight. Then if you need a ride, they call out their shuttle guy and the two of you pop into his mini-van and off you go. The four times I was there, I saw maybe one other service customer. I don't know why they even had a mini-van, I doubt the back seats are ever used.

Anyway, I recommend Machens Automotive Group for buying or servicing your Mazda. In this town the Machens "family" owns every brand except Honda, Chevy and Chrysler, and I can tell you that not all of the Machens dealers are the same.

These guys are a class act.