Canadian Mazda3 owners with corrosion issues, join us here!

[ZoomZoom Girl]

I am currently dealing with very serious corrosion and blistering paint on my 2004 Mazda3 Sport GT. A more detailed explanation of my specific issues are outlined below.

I have heard through responses to my post here: http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=25439 from several other Canadians dealing with the same type of corrosion on their vehicles. In the vast majority of cases, their dealerships gave them the same response as I received, that Mazda Canada could not be held accountable (no "perforation" (i.e. hole through the body)) and therefore no compensation would be offered. To put this into perspective, I received estimates ranging from $1100 to fix just the rusted areas to $1800 to also address the blistering!

I am still awaiting the final word from my dealership as to Mazda Canada’s response to my complaint. Following that, I will be sending a registered letter to both Mazda Canada and to my dealership, along with all the pictures of my car (see here: http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a38...Mazda3 rust/ Password is ZoomZoom).

I’d like to compile a list of other Mazda3 owners dealing with a similar situation in order to add weight to my argument that this is a recurring issue with these first generation models. If you would like to get involved in applying pressure to Mazda Canada to take responsibility for what is obviously a manufacturing defect, please sign up here. Or, if you would prefer, send me a PM.

If you have any before pictures of the corrosion/blistering, please email them to me! Once I get enough entries, I'll send these to get hardcopies made up, for submission to Mazda Canada.

Also note that I'd love to hear from ANY Mazda3 owners who have/had corrosion or blistering similar to what I outlined in my own case. If you had your case dealt with by your dealership under warranty, note that when you sign up. The whole idea is to send Mazda Canada an impressive (i.e. impossible to ignore) list of Mazda3s that have/had premature corrosion. I’ll get the ball rolling.

Name: Lynne M. Witty
City/province: Sudbury, Ontario
Year of car: 2004
Model: Mazda3 Sport GT
Color: Winning Blue
Current Mileage: 109 000 km
Corrosion damage: as outlined in this post

To give you a bit of background, I took ownership of the brand new car on June 30, 2004, hand wash weekly in summer months, and go through a car wash at least once per week in winter months, Therefore, from an ownership perspective, I have done everything humanly possible to maintain the paint on my car.

In 2006 I began to have rusting at the bottom of my rear passenger doors. I did bring it to the attention of my local Mazda Service Manager (Mid City Mazda, Sudbury ON) and he stated that it was due to rock chips, not covered under the Mazda warranty.

Last year I began to notice very serious rusting around both rear wheel wells. When I dropped the car off last year for other servicing, before my 3 year/80 000 km new car warranty expired, I again mentioned to the Service Manager that I had a considerable amount of rusting and would it be covered under warranty? He said that he would “look into it” but never got back to me.

Last month I happened to be visiting my sister in Southern Ontario. There one of her friends, who works at a luxury car dealership, looked at the rusting on my car and noted “your paint is blistering all over”. I was shocked and upon closer examination, did find extensive paint blistering.

The very next day, Tuesday May 14/2008, I brought my car to my dealership and had the Service Manager come out to look at all the rusting/blistering. His very first question was “what is the mileage?” (108 000 km at the time) He then proceeded to inform me that all the damage was due to rock chips, understandable with that high mileage.

If you look closely at the blistering, several areas show zero impact points. Also, I have rust between both rear bumper seams. Therefore, at least that corrosion on my car can NOT be blamed on rock chips and high mileage.

Note that I am NOT bashing the Mazda3 or Mazda Canada by pursuing this action. I do love my car in all other respects, with the very notable exception of the faulty paint/body panels. The core purpose of this thread and the list which I will send to Mazda Canada is to let them know that it is a very common issue and that their loyal customers deserve to be compensated for this manufacturing defect.

Thank you!

 

[dimples]

Rusting along rear bumper seams

I'm not in Canada, but I'm pretty close in upstate NY. I was horrified to look at my car the other day and see rust along the the edge of the rear quarter panel where it meets the bumper. It is on both sides just behind the wheel well. My car has only 50K miles on it. It is a 2005 Mazda 3 Hatch.

I haven't called the dealer yet, but I wanted to see if others out there had the same problem.

 

[Chibana]

I, too, have major rust issues with my 2005 Mazda3. I have already spent $1000 fixing rust on the B-pillar part of the rear passenger side door, and now the same hole is forming on the other rear door. I also have rust along that rear fender edge where it meets the bumper, and also along the underside lip of the rear fenders. I also have rust bubbles forming at the bottoms of all four doors. None of the other cars I've owned have rusted anywhere near this much or this fast.

 

[tonyrenier]

I'm a new member, I joined because my wife is on a short trip and using my car, I'm using hers, a 2004 Mazda3 5 Door S. I noticed that there was a fair amount of corrosion in the center of the alloy wheels. I suspect that the center cap is Stainless and that there is Galvanic corrosion taking place and destroying the center of the wheel where it contacts the cap. This is happening on all four wheels. I took it to the dealer in Green Bay, WI, USA and the service manager said he hadn't heard of this problem. He took pictures and said he'd get back to me?????
I'd like to upload my photos in order for others to check for similar damage as I think it could turn into a safety issue. I've had nothing but good luck with Mazdas since the early 80s, this my first issue of concern.
Tony Renier

 

[chrissor]

if its within 5 years there is a perferation warrenty. i have gotten both mine and my girlfriends fixed for free. mind you i don't get dicked around by any bulls*** as i'm a mazda tech. but all rust repairs not caused by collision, etc. should be covered under warrenty, especially in the wheel wells, and roof perferations.

 

[tonyrenier]

More wheel corossion

I went through a car wash yesterday and saw a 2005 3. Talked to the lady, and checked the wheels, same thing all corroded.
Tony Renier
PS anyone know how to post pictures?

 

[libtech]

So you're saying that my 2002 Protege 5 even though it didnt have a full hole "perforation" in the body should have been fixed under warranty?

I went numerous times to the dealers and they always denied fixing the rust on the back wells and the hatch.... I am so pissed.

 

[AlanB]

hey all - just joined the forum here.. from Alberta, Canada.

I have a 2004 Mazda 3 Sedan (bought it 6 months ago) and notice that below the rear doors, on both sides, where the bodywork meets the side skirts there is a line of rust. I also have spots on the rear wheel arches..

the car is high mileage, but the area around the rear doors/side skirts is an odd place - as it isn't massively exposed to stone chips as it is somewhat recessed by the skirt, and it's a line, rather than 'chips'..

 

[Max2]

Hi ;
Just looked at my wifes 2.3 GT 2004 . We bought it new . Its orange and has 95k . It has been garage kept and notice on the drivers side rear wheel arch where the plastic bumper meets the metal, blistering . Am just outside 60 months but this is not from stone chips. In this day and age you should not have to throw away your car after 5 years because of rust. Is their a mod to space the rear bumper away from the bodywork. Max Calgary.

 

[MazdaP55]

Hi! I have a Mazda protege 5 2002 and was wondering if someone could post a ''how to'' on how to sand and touch up the paint work. I have rust spots and was wondering what I could do to fix it.

 

[simple_MZ3]

hey all - just joined the forum here.. from Alberta, Canada.

I have a 2004 Mazda 3 Sedan (bought it 6 months ago) and notice that below the rear doors, on both sides, where the bodywork meets the side skirts there is a line of rust. I also have spots on the rear wheel arches..

the car is high mileage, but the area around the rear doors/side skirts is an odd place - as it isn't massively exposed to stone chips as it is somewhat recessed by the skirt, and it's a line, rather than 'chips'..

I have a 2004 Mazda 3 Hatch an d i have the same problem with the front and rear doors...

 

[kurtis]

Older thread I nkow, but I have the same issues on my 04 hatch. The lip of the wheel wells are all corroded, as are the areas where the bumpers meet the fenders, as well as the "dogs leg" area.

 

[Zoomzoom!]

I have rust on the rear fenders too. I took it to my local Mazda Dealership and they told me that you would have to be able to stick a pin through the rust spot in order for it to be covered. I guess a lot of us got screwed by cheap metal. Also, My calipers look like they came off a vintage rust bucket that sat in a field for years. this SUCKS!