CX-5 Died

Wife’s ‘15 CX5 with 44,320 miles transmission failed. Required a new transmission. All told, w/2 wk rental total cost about $6000. It’s 9 months out of warranty and Mazda won’t help. Happened during COVID-19 on our bi-monthly grocery run down the Mtn. Forward acceleration power went out, engine kept running so brakes and steering worked. Pulled over and ck’d under hood and afterwards it started up and ran normal. Then dash lights went on and acceleration power went out and we were able to cost down hwy to a safe spot and luckily also entered into ATT cell coverage. Called Mazda Roadside and were informed we were 9 mos out of warranty. Only had 44,320 miles! All services done as recommended. Called AAA and fast forward 3+ hours later had a tow. In the meantime it started snowing and luckily I eventually found someone to take my wife back to the cabin. Up until this point we loved our Mazda CX-5 and were getting ready to give it to our daughter and buy a new 2020 CX5. Mazda’s lack of help (care) in this matter is forcing us to reconsider.
 
Wife’s ‘15 CX5 with 44,320 miles transmission failed. Required a new transmission. All told, w/2 wk rental total cost about $6000. It’s 9 months out of warranty and Mazda won’t help. Happened during COVID-19 on our bi-monthly grocery run down the Mtn. Forward acceleration power went out, engine kept running so brakes and steering worked. Pulled over and ck’d under hood and afterwards it started up and ran normal. Then dash lights went on and acceleration power went out and we were able to cost down hwy to a safe spot and luckily also entered into ATT cell coverage. Called Mazda Roadside and were informed we were 9 mos out of warranty. Only had 44,320 miles! All services done as recommended. Called AAA and fast forward 3+ hours later had a tow. In the meantime it started snowing and luckily I eventually found someone to take my wife back to the cabin. Up until this point we loved our Mazda CX-5 and were getting ready to give it to our daughter and buy a new 2020 CX5. Mazda’s lack of help (care) in this matter is forcing us to reconsider.

Did you try to get other quotes from different shops? $5600 is what I might expect to pay for an engine and transmission replacement. Transmission alone should be a lot cheaper, but that's just in my experience. Either way, it sucks. Sorry to hear.

You said you contacted Mazda Roadside and they informed you that you were out of warranty. Did you speak to anyone else at Mazda about the issue? Did you escalate to Mazda Corporate at all? From what you've said so far, it sounds like the only contact you had with Mazda was with Roadside Assistance, so I wanted to clarify.

You mentioned all services were done as recommended. Were they done by a Mazda dealer or through a 3rd party shop or at home? The reason I ask is that Mazda Corporate (and really any big company) might be a little bit more likely to assist when they know you've paid them for their services in the past. Most importantly, were the services documented/logged appropriately? This would really help when dealing with Mazda Corporate. Basically, if you can prove that the car was well-maintained, you have a better chance of getting the repair good-willed through Mazda. Also, your chances improve greatly when you are polite, but firm and professional.

All that said, though, it depends on how far you got with Mazda. Everything I said above is based on the idea that the only person that you spoke with from Mazda was Roadside Assistance, which is likely not the case.
 
Sorry to hear your story.

Wasn’t there a known issue with the 15s and early 16s? If I recall correctly, it happened at lower miles, but maybe this one was just hanging on a bit longer.

I would definitely follow up with Mazda NA. Total BS if they don’t step up here. Less than a year over and under miles for powertrain.

Good luck. I hope they’re willing to help.
 
I did call Mazda USA. I was hoping they would step up and help or possibly there was some type of recall or internal bulletin on this problem. After reviewing details and after a lengthy hold, I was told there was nothing Mazda could do. I was given a Case number and they did offer a employee discount towards a new one. Discount is only $3,000 off sticker. I told him I could do better at my local dealership.
 
Did you try to get other quotes from different shops? $5600 is what I might expect to pay for an engine and transmission replacement. Transmission alone should be a lot cheaper, but that's just in my experience. Either way, it sucks. Sorry to hear.

You said you contacted Mazda Roadside and they informed you that you were out of warranty. Did you speak to anyone else at Mazda about the issue? Did you escalate to Mazda Corporate at all? From what you've said so far, it sounds like the only contact you had with Mazda was with Roadside Assistance, so I wanted to clarify.

You mentioned all services were done as recommended. Were they done by a Mazda dealer or through a 3rd party shop or at home? The reason I ask is that Mazda Corporate (and really any big company) might be a little bit more likely to assist when they know you've paid them for their services in the past. Most importantly, were the services documented/logged appropriately? This would really help when dealing with Mazda Corporate. Basically, if you can prove that the car was well-maintained, you have a better chance of getting the repair good-willed through Mazda. Also, your chances improve greatly when you are polite, but firm and professional.

All that said, though, it depends on how far you got with Mazda. Everything I said above is based on the idea that the only person that you spoke with from Mazda was Roadside Assistance, which is likely not the case.
I did call Mazda USA. I was hoping they would step up and help or possibly there was some type of recall or internal bulletin on this problem. After reviewing details and after a lengthy hold, I was told there was nothing Mazda could do. I was given a Case number and they did offer a employee discount towards a new one. Discount is only $3,000 off sticker. I told him I could do better at my local dealership.
 
Wife’s ‘15 CX5 with 44,320 miles transmission failed. Required a new transmission. All told, w/2 wk rental total cost about $6000. It’s 9 months out of warranty and Mazda won’t help. Happened during COVID-19 on our bi-monthly grocery run down the Mtn. Forward acceleration power went out, engine kept running so brakes and steering worked. Pulled over and ck’d under hood and afterwards it started up and ran normal. Then dash lights went on and acceleration power went out and we were able to cost down hwy to a safe spot and luckily also entered into ATT cell coverage. Called Mazda Roadside and were informed we were 9 mos out of warranty. Only had 44,320 miles! All services done as recommended. Called AAA and fast forward 3+ hours later had a tow. In the meantime it started snowing and luckily I eventually found someone to take my wife back to the cabin. Up until this point we loved our Mazda CX-5 and were getting ready to give it to our daughter and buy a new 2020 CX5. Mazda’s lack of help (care) in this matter is forcing us to reconsider.
Yeah, you should try to escalate the case to higher ranking person at Mazda North American Operations, because a rep at Customer Experience Center can’t do you too much favor on transmission replacement issue when you’re out of powertrain warranty. $5602 is about right for the cost of a Mazda dealer to replace your failed transmission with a new (actually a rebuild) OEM transmission. Like Chris_Top_Her said, go get a used transmission and find a reputable transmission shop to replace your failed one. Of course if I were you I won’t keep this CX-5 long.
 
Dealer price is a ripoff, no surprise. Disappointing MNAO won't step up. Can't hurt to try for an escalation, good luck. And the discount on a new car doesn't do you any good with a broken car. If they won't or can't do better I would consider replacing the tranny with an LKQ unit as mentioned and replacing the vehicle.
 
It sounds like it was a defective transmission from the start. Why else would it go out with suck low mileage. Prior to it going out, did it give any signs of trouble? Slipping or funny shifts?
 
Thinking back I thought nothing of it but the day before as we pulled into the driveway after waiting for the garage door I thought my wife must have inadvertently nudged it into neautral. I just giggled the shifter and we pulled into the garage. Hmmm.
 
I'm very sorry to hear that your transmission failed with such low mileage and at such a crummy time.
If you have the energy you might continue to pursue the issue with Mazda even if you have already paid for the replacement. Polite persistence can be very effective.
Maintenance is really not even a factor. With only 44K miles there should have been no required maintenance for the transmission. I think you want to make the case that the only explanation for this early failure is a manufacturing defect. Unless there was some evident damage like a case crack that leaked all the fluid out then there really is no other explanation. And, if you get someone to agree with you that it is manufacturing defect, then see if you can get help to pay for this since it is past the warranty date - you might get some satisfaction. If not, then you have a good transmission and a car that you were happy with until a few days or weeks ago. I guess if this is one more fail on top of others then I would look to sell. But if this is just an unfortunate failure for an otherwise reliable car then drive it until the wheels fall off.
 
Btw there is no "programming" required. You can do learning with start button combo (somewhere in workshop manual). One is $365 (fwd) on here
 
I'm very sorry to hear that your transmission failed with such low mileage and at such a crummy time.
If you have the energy you might continue to pursue the issue with Mazda even if you have already paid for the replacement. Polite persistence can be very effective.
Maintenance is really not even a factor. With only 44K miles there should have been no required maintenance for the transmission. I think you want to make the case that the only explanation for this early failure is a manufacturing defect. Unless there was some evident damage like a case crack that leaked all the fluid out then there really is no other explanation. And, if you get someone to agree with you that it is manufacturing defect, then see if you can get help to pay for this since it is past the warranty date - you might get some satisfaction. If not, then you have a good transmission and a car that you were happy with until a few days or weeks ago. I guess if this is one more fail on top of others then I would look to sell. But if this is just an unfortunate failure for an otherwise reliable car then drive it until the wheels fall off.
Thank you for advice. Hopefully we will and it was “just an unfortunate failure for an otherwise reliable car then drive it until the wheels fall off.”!
 
Fellow Mazda owners. The worst part of this ordeal is the abandonment feeling we have from Mazda USA. Bottom line, yes we were 9 months past warranty but only had 44,000 miles on wife’s CX5 and to have our transmission go out and not have Mazda step up to offer something is very disappointing. We broke down in a snow storm and people helped us - but Mazda USA abandoned us on the road! Drive safe.
 

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