Cylinder Deactivation Update

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2018 Mazda CX5 Machine Gray
Just want to throw a shout out to the this forum community for sharing the vast amounts of information that is floating out there in your collective brains. I posted an issue onto the forum last year. The community recommended I take the car in, which i did, and a few days later I got a PM from another member urging me to press the issue further with Mazda. I did, which led to an engine replacement and now a buyback from Mazda for being a lemon. Without all your help I would have been still driving around with something wrong in the engine bay. Thank you Mazdas247


MOD EDIT: A recent service alert was posted addressing this issue. New hardware has been developed, and if the old cylinder head assembly needs to be replaced, they will replace it with the new assembly.
 
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Just want to throw a shout out to the this forum community for sharing the vast amounts of information that is floating out there in your collective brains. I posted an issue onto the forum last year. The community recommended I take the car in, which i did, and a few days later I got a PM from another member urging me to press the issue further with Mazda. I did, which led to an engine replacement and now a buyback from Mazda for being a lemon. Without all your help I would have been still driving around with something wrong in the engine bay. Thank you Mazdas247
So I guess I’m confused. You got fallen rocker arm due to cylinder deactivation, and Mazda gave you a new engine. So why Mazda bought your 2018 CX-5 back afterwards? Were there more serious issues other than the fallen rocker arm?
 
Good question. My CX5 was in the category of lemon under state law when taking the following 4 criteria into account.

1. The amount of times that I brought my CX5 in for repair
2. The length of time the CX5 was in the shop
3. The severity symptoms that I experienced
4. The type of repair

There were a few factors I took into consideration when deciding whether to just keep the CX5 or pursue a lemon law case. Ultimately I decided it was in my best interest to let Mazda buy it back and move forward with a different vehicle.

I am not sure what I'll get next. I've had my eye on the Honda Passport or Rav4 Prime. But I would like to see those vehicles mature a bit in their life cycle and not be guinea pig again on a first year model.
 
Good question. My CX5 was in the category of lemon under state law when taking the following 4 criteria into account.

1. The amount of times that I brought my CX5 in for repair
2. The length of time the CX5 was in the shop
3. The severity symptoms that I experienced
4. The type of repair

There were a few factors I took into consideration when deciding whether to just keep the CX5 or pursue a lemon law case. Ultimately I decided it was in my best interest to let Mazda buy it back and move forward with a different vehicle.

I am not sure what I'll get next. I've had my eye on the Honda Passport or Rav4 Prime. But I would like to see those vehicles mature a bit in their life cycle and not be guinea pig again on a first year model.
I see. If I were you I may do the same if I could meet the requirement of the lemon law in my state (Texas). I don’t think it’s that easy though.

Not sure if you want to get a Honda Passport. Its 3.5L V6 has Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) which is similar to Mazda’s cylinder deactivation. It has history of long-term problems and a class action lawsuit. Newer version of VCM May have improved but I wouldn’t want any vehicles with cylinder deactivation.
 
Good question. My CX5 was in the category of lemon under state law when taking the following 4 criteria into account.

1. The amount of times that I brought my CX5 in for repair
2. The length of time the CX5 was in the shop
3. The severity symptoms that I experienced
4. The type of repair

There were a few factors I took into consideration when deciding whether to just keep the CX5 or pursue a lemon law case. Ultimately I decided it was in my best interest to let Mazda buy it back and move forward with a different vehicle.

I am not sure what I'll get next. I've had my eye on the Honda Passport or Rav4 Prime. But I would like to see those vehicles mature a bit in their life cycle and not be guinea pig again on a first year model.

I thought Turbo version CX-5 = no CD?
 
OP - did you get the amount you paid to the dealer + taxes or did you get MSRP + taxes back?
Lax regulations regarding consumer protection is the reason I am out from buying a new car again - irrespective of affordability. In your case the 2018 was not a new model, its been out since 2014 with the 2.5L NA. It should have been bullet proof with cabin fitment issues if any - minor quibbles.
 
OP - did you get the amount you paid to the dealer + taxes or did you get MSRP + taxes back?
Lax regulations regarding consumer protection is the reason I am out from buying a new car again - irrespective of affordability. In your case the 2018 was not a new model, its been out since 2014 with the 2.5L NA. It should have been bullet proof with cabin fitment issues if any - minor quibbles.
In theory it should be the case. In fact, I’ve said this before, I did plan to get a 2018 CX-5 just because the reason you stated, plus many other new features I liked such as all one-touch open-close power windows and center vents with open-close dial control. But once I heard Mazda’s sudden-announced, out-of-nowhere ”new” cylinder deactivation feature added to 2.5L NA, I immediately dropped the plan. I simply have heard too many bad stories of CD from the past, and I don’t agree the theory of the CD behind on disabled cylinders but still having those pistons running up and down passively and compressing the air in a sealed space, meaning wasting more energy.
 
Id be very interested in the RAV4 Prime when that’s released. Just make sure you can fill the damn gas tank all of the way before you purchase lmao. The latest gen RAV4 hybrids are doing pretty well other than that gas tank issue.

There was also a recall just released that affects 44k Toyota’s including some RAV4 gas and hybrid models. Sounds like an engine block defect that warrants a complete engine swap as a fix. It’s all the rage over at RAV4World, but honestly I’m glad it’s recall and not “hope it makes it past the limited warranty” issue. I’m looking at you Honda (reports of Odyssey engine blocks cracking just outside powertrain warranty due to casting defects).

EDIT: hopefully the sky stops falling over at RAV4World. Somebody found a news release that mentions only 250 engines will need replacement of those 44000 vehicles. They need to check the code on the block of those vehicles to see if it’s affected. Some water pressure line at the factory failed and the blocks may not have cooled properly during manufacture
 
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There is a huge problem with Rav4 Prime before it even hits the dealers - the hype. People quote Rav4 Hybrid price difference but dealers are discounting the regular Rav4 a lot more than Hybrid. They don't have to discount the hybrid because there is a queue for these. Rav4 Prime will also fall in same bucket. Demand kills a good car for me as value for money plummets.
 
After it was all said and done the agreement is that I get what I paid out the door minus a usage fee based on the number of miles I put on the car at time I first took the car in. What that means to me is I get all downpayment/monthly payments I've put in, minus mazda prorated milage ($3.6kish) based on the 20k miles I had on it when I first took it in. And then mazda pays off the remaining loan to the bank. I negotiated as hard as I could and got an extra 1k over the required amt that mazda is required to pay back by lemon law so that was a plus. So, no its not a free rental situation. It's probably closer to getting a good deal on a lease.I haven't had more issues so that has been good but I think the buyback is going to work out in the long run because most people see an engine replacement as detrimental to vehicle value regardless to whether the issue is fixed or not.
 
I haven't had more issues so that has been good but I think the buyback is going to work out in the long run because most people see an engine replacement as detrimental to vehicle value regardless to whether the issue is fixed or not.
That's an interesting point regarding the relative position of those who merely got a software update versus those who required a new engine.

They have not exited this situation with equal outcomes.
 
After it was all said and done the agreement is that I get what I paid out the door minus a usage fee based on the number of miles I put on the car at time I first took the car in. What that means to me is I get all downpayment/monthly payments I've put in, minus mazda prorated milage ($3.6kish) based on the 20k miles I had on it when I first took it in. And then mazda pays off the remaining loan to the bank. I negotiated as hard as I could and got an extra 1k over the required amt that mazda is required to pay back by lemon law so that was a plus. So, no its not a free rental situation. It's probably closer to getting a good deal on a lease.I haven't had more issues so that has been good but I think the buyback is going to work out in the long run because most people see an engine replacement as detrimental to vehicle value regardless to whether the issue is fixed or not.
Oh ok. You don't think you would get another CX-5? It is one of the best vehicles to get.
 
After it was all said and done the agreement is that I get what I paid out the door minus a usage fee based on the number of miles I put on the car at time I first took the car in. What that means to me is I get all downpayment/monthly payments I've put in, minus mazda prorated milage ($3.6kish) based on the 20k miles I had on it when I first took it in. And then mazda pays off the remaining loan to the bank. I negotiated as hard as I could and got an extra 1k over the required amt that mazda is required to pay back by lemon law so that was a plus. So, no its not a free rental situation. It's probably closer to getting a good deal on a lease.I haven't had more issues so that has been good but I think the buyback is going to work out in the long run because most people see an engine replacement as detrimental to vehicle value regardless to whether the issue is fixed or not.!

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That's actually a pretty good deal!
 
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I see no issue in purchasing a CX5 that is the year with the rocker arm dislodging IF THE DEALER IS WILLING TO REMOVE THE VALVE COVER AND SHOW YOU ALL IS GOOD + DO THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. Ed
 
I like CD now. I notice that CD must not kick in when the AC is on. I get 25/26mpg with the AC on when I usually get 32/33mpg. People with the CD display, do you see what I observe in regards to CD with the AC on? Or does the compressor load itself make the mpg that much lower?
 
I notice that CD must not kick in when the AC is on.
I've been following this whole CD thing with interest, even though I don't have a CX-5. Your statement makes a lot of sense actually. The engine probably can't run the A/C on two cylinders due to the extra load. Seems right to me.
 
With AC on CD is still engaged if going down slight or more grade at or below speed limits. It seems to always be available waiting for the right light load. If you take your food off the gas at speed it goes to a complete cut of all four and comes back with all four at first then according to load.
 
I just joined the forum. I don't have a Mazda, but have been looking at them.

My current 2015 Ford Fusion is being bought back as a lemon, so I would like to replace it. This CD sounds like something to avoid, so buying a used 2017 is not out of the question. My 2017 Camaro has CD, but you can over-ride it by doing some manual shifting of the automatic trans. I find CD very annoying as it does not come back on smoothly, switching from v-4 to v-6. The difference in MPG is not very noticeable.

I was initially thinking of getting a 6, then a 3, now the CX-5. I still need to drive all of them, and decide if we need a sedan or suv.
 
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