Liftgate struts not holding on cold weather?

[coolmazda5]

Wife 2.0 is now using the Mazda5 (yes, of course, I'm a (loser) ) and had to stop at the grocery store. It was cold enough (~26F) and for some reason the struts were not holding the liftgate, so one hand was holding the liftgate while the other one was getting the groceries inside. Have you seen this before? I've seen it on my old cars after 8-10 yrs of heavy use, but not on a newer one?

Time to request for a warranty replacement?

 

[doctorz]

No problems here even under 10F. I'd request new struts.

 

[antlind]

Wife 2.0 is now using the Mazda5 (yes, of course, I'm a (loser) ) and had to stop at the grocery store. It was cold enough (~26F) and for some reason the struts were not holding the liftgate, so one hand was holding the liftgate while the other one was getting the groceries inside. Have you seen this before? I've seen it on my old cars after 8-10 yrs of heavy use, but not on a newer one?

Time to request for a warranty replacement?

My struts have worked in -30C (not sure what that translates into F).
Mazda had a problem with the rear struts on the 00-02 MPVs some time back and issued a recall to deal with this issue. Suggest you go to ther dealer and ask for a replacement. Let them know that the liftgate is a potential head smasher.

 

[Zoom5Zoom]

Ya same here in Ontario Canada .... change the pistons will do it for sure.

 

[opus]

Took the 5 to the grocery store in -10F, -30F WCF and the struts held like a champ. Now my Saturn on the other hand.....

 

[Sponge]

Its been below freezing here for 2 months and our brand new one has no issues...both levels work in fact thank God because I need level 2 because I am 6'3"

 

[coolmazda5]

Piston/strut warranty replacement then it will be (next service for sure)

Working at the temps you said in Canada (Ontario, Alberta) and the US (Maryland, Illinois and Michigan) no question then, this is a defective thing.

Thank you all for the responses!

 

[mazdadude]

Yes, get those warrantied! Poorly operating hatch struts are a real headache. (dark)

On the same topic, I am not sure if everyone knows this or not, but when your liftgate is open, you can push up on the lift gate, and it will raise an additional few inches, to a second height level. Makiing it much easier for us taller people to stand under the liftgate without stooping.

This feature is indicated in the owners manual, and by a sticker on the liftgate illustrating the feature.

At first I thought this was a useless feature, that is until I opened the liftgate while under the garage door, and it stopped just shy of hitting. Had it opened all the way, I would have had some paint damage.(cryhard)

Thanks Mazda! (bow)

 

[Sponge]

Yup that featured helped sell me on this! by being 6'3" I can't tell you how many times I have banged my head...didn't even think about how nice it will be for the garage!

 

[coolmazda5]

Just following up. I had the chance to check this problem in more detail now that there is better weather in the area. Only one strut is gone yet I think that seems one is enough to not be able to hold the liftgate. With no surprise the broken one is the same which used to make a weird whistling noise when opening since the MZ5 was brand new (I didn't really pay attention to this until now of course)

Well, warranty it is. In the upside Mazda just opened a new sole dealership very close from home (ughdance)

 

[coolmazda5]

Just some quick update...

I set an appointment for the regular maintenance 3 weeks back and requested the liftgate strut change under warranty as part of the service. Appointment scheduling (via Web) was quick-n-easy

Now, since Mazda is "new" to the dealer (all timer Lincoln-Ford-Mercury, but now is also a Mazda one), I was told they would check my problem out. Regular maintenance timing and service were great, yet a couple of things:

a) They had to see that the strut was broken before ordering the part

b) They immediately ordered the 2 struts (they didn't have them on stock). The order time was fast, yet 2 Left Struts were shipped to them. (argh). The Mazda5 liftgate has different Left and a Right struts so 2 Left ones won't do the job. Ugly thing is that the blown strut was the one on the right side! This may not be the case for the Escapes, Explorers and the Expeditions but for Mazda5, yes!

Oh well, still, good service in general, very friendly, fast and corteous (good coffee as well). My best bet is that the Mazda and the Mazda5 "new" effect gave them a good lesson. Problem is the experience gained was with my car

In summary, they finally got the right ones so they called me quickly, accommodated to my schedule and changed them in no time. So, happy wife can now do groceries and carry stroller around with no hassle.

...And they just got a couple of Grand Touring Mazda5s (White and Gray). They really look awesome. No Plum Mica ones yet though.