Mazda replacing transmission at almost 55K miles

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2019 Mazda CX-9 Signature, Machine Grey Metallic
Until about a few months ago, our CX-9 was flawless and never had a mechanical issue. Then, it started shuddering with the sensation being similar to running over those wake-up strips on the side of a highway or interstate. Initially, I thought it was due to road imperfections. But later on, I noticed that the shuddering occurred when shifting from 4th to 5th gear, and sometimes, from 5th to 6th gear. This is also not under hard acceleration, but more like cruising acceleration. Prior to this, my dealership recommended that I do a transmission flush at around 40K to 45K, sometime around Thanksgiving 2013. I took their recommendation and had them perform the transmission flush. That's the only thing that I can attribute as having a direct correlation to the transmission issue. The technician initially stated that it might be the torque converter that would need to be replaced, but now, it seems that the entire transmission will be replaced. Luckily, this occurred before the 60K powertrain warranty expired. Otherwise, I'm sure replacing the transmission would be a pretty penny.
 
I can hear some people here would say: "Told you not to touch transmission fluid. It is life-time fluid...."
The fact of the matter is that I have it done three times already. Silky smooth transmission so far (30K.45K.60K..)

Now, I am wondering why your dealership recommended transmission flush to begin with? Did they observe something wrong with it?
Transmission maintenance is not on Mazda schedule.

Another possibility is that the guy who did the transmission flush put in the wrong fluid. It won't be the 1st time this has happened.
 
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Ceric

If you noticed he said that the trans started shuttering at 55k miles. Did he do any service to the trans before? In your case you have kept up the maintenance on the trans by having it serviced regularly. I had mine serviced at 30, 55 and most recently at 70k miles. My trans is like yours shifts smoothly.
 
He said that "Prior to this, my dealership recommended that I do a transmission flush at around 40K to 45K,..."
Before he observed any issue, his dealership recommended trans flush.
I was wondering if the mechanic already spotted something wrong.
My dealership does not recommend trans flush until I asked for that.
 
He said that "Prior to this, my dealership recommended that I do a transmission flush at around 40K to 45K,..."
Before he observed any issue, his dealership recommended trans flush.
I was wondering if the mechanic already spotted something wrong.
My dealership does not recommend trans flush until I asked for that.

I wasn't really feeling anything wrong with the transmission, but the service advisor recommended it stating that the transmission fluid was getting dirty. I realized it was likely an up sell so I brushed it off. I then realized that I haven't serviced the transmission and felt that it might not be a bad idea. It was kinda stupid of me for not checking the service schedule before having the work done.

I got the vehicle back today after 4 days at the dealership. It seems to drive well, but too early to say whether it is fixed or that I'm satisfied with the resolution. I'll drive it a bit more and provide an update. BTW, the warranty claim was for $2800.
 
Well, consider yourself a bit lucky that this happened before 60K.
Now you have a refurbished transmission for free.
It would have been $3000 if this was out of warranty.
 
Not sure about the lucky part. There is a violent tremor under the vehicle when I either start the vehicle or when I shift into reverse. This issue is not over yet.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
 
Not sure about the lucky part. There is a violent tremor under the vehicle when I either start the vehicle or when I shift into reverse. This issue is not over yet.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

Sounds like the drivetrain issues I endured during the time I owned my 2008 AWD CX-9. Transfer case shot at 35K miles, and a 2nd transfer case failure at 55K miles that also took out the splines of original Aisin 6 speed. Mazda replaced with a new transfer case and rebuilt Aisin 6 speed that ran like crap. Abrupt shifts and lots of parasitic losss of power somewhere in the replaced drivetrain. I worked with the dealer in hopes of rectifying the issue, to no avail. Then the vehicle got rear ended to the tune of $20K damage. Geico insisted on repair, and I then unloaded the vehicle at 59K miles, but not before hitting Geico up for a hefty diminished value claim. Drivetrain and poor gas mileage definitely both Achilles heels in an otherwise decent SUV.
 
Sounds like the drivetrain issues I endured during the time I owned my 2008 AWD CX-9. Transfer case shot at 35K miles, and a 2nd transfer case failure at 55K miles that also took out the splines of original Aisin 6 speed. Mazda replaced with a new transfer case and rebuilt Aisin 6 speed that ran like crap. Abrupt shifts and lots of parasitic losss of power somewhere in the replaced drivetrain. I worked with the dealer in hopes of rectifying the issue, to no avail. Then the vehicle got rear ended to the tune of $20K damage. Geico insisted on repair, and I then unloaded the vehicle at 59K miles, but not before hitting Geico up for a hefty diminished value claim. Drivetrain and poor gas mileage definitely both Achilles heels in an otherwise decent SUV.

Your insurance company paid for a part failure??
 
No, the insurance of the guy who rear-ended my truck paid $20K plus 4 months of rental coverage to repair the truck. In MD, if somebody else hits you and it's their fault, you have the right to go after his insurance for the diminished value of your vehicle because even though they fixed the vehicle, it is still worth less than a similar vehicle tha thas never undergone collision repairs.

This has nothing to do with the transmission repairs undertaken by Mazda, However, the accident combined with the lingering drivetrain issues left unresolved by Mazda prompted me to sell the vehicle.

In your case I think you have two options. One is to persue Mazda to fix your SUV correctly, or sell it at your loss prior to the expiration of your drivetrain warranty.
 
I will likely pursue having Mazda fix the CX-9 correctly. There should be an extension of warranty on the transmission since that part was replaced. I will also start looking for a suitable replacement. However, I don't think I will sell it or trade it in at a loss. The vehicle has enough equity in it to come out financially ahead.

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Tick-tock, tick-tock, there is no extension of warranty for any replaced component. The drivetrain warranty will evaporate in its entirity the moment the odo hits 60K, even if Mazda has to nurse the vehicle out of warranty. No offense, but in all my years, I've never seen somebody sell a common production car/SUV and come out financially ahead. I don't care how much equity you have in the vehicle. If you sell/trade, you'll see wholesale value, possible a tiny bit more if you get lucky. That's a far cry from coming out financially ahead. Once you accept that, the hard part is over. You make the move and get into whatever vehicle pleases you at the time of the sale, and hope it turns out reliable. I would give Mazda hell until they fix the vehicle properly. Take them through arbitration if necessary. Car makers know that many will threaten action, but few will see it through. I learned that in my lemon law proceedings against Hyundai. It took over a year to prevail against Hyundai Motor America, and they fought me at every turn until they were legally forced to repurchase the lemon they sold me. In the end all carmakers are the same, deep pockets and many lawyers to fight you even when you are in the right.

I'm not here to fight you. Just letting you know how it goes. I hope you get the resolution you deserve.
 
badself,
I am confused. Here is what I got from MazdaUsa.com.
Unless I read it wrong, it states that replacement parts carries 1yr/12K miles of warranty.
BMW told me the same thing when I had cam position sensors replaced a few years back.
Can you clarify what you meant?

=====================================================================

Genuine Mazda Parts Warranty
Mazda's genuine new or remanufactured parts (other than battery) and accessories purchased from or installed by a Mazda dealer are covered under the Replacement Parts and Accessories Warranty. This includes Mazda Accessories installed by a Mazda dealer prior to the retail delivery of a new Mazda vehicle. A Mazda dealer will repair or replace any properly installed Mazda part or accessory found to be defective in material or workmanship during the Replacement Parts and Accessories Warranty or the remainder of the warranty coverage applied by Mazda to the component.
Mazda's Replacement Parts and Accessories Warranty coverage:
Dealer-Installed Replacement Part or Accessory under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty:
1996 and newer vehicles
12 months/12,000 miles, whichever comes first from the date the part was installed on the vehicle.
Labor for removal or replacement will also be covered.
Customer must provide a copy of the Mazda Dealer repair order showing installation of the part at an authorized Mazda dealer.
 
Thanks, Ceric. This is my understanding as well.

My other car is a 2007 VW. This car has a coolant sensor that keeps malfunctioning and the sensor resides in the coolant tank. So, VW replaces this coolant tank whenever the issue comes up. This car's warranty is already past, but the warranty on this coolant tank is still in effect since it almost always malfunctions before the 1yr/12K part warranty comes up. Essentially, the warranty is in perpetuity as long as the part fails within 1yr/12K. So, for something like a transmission, I would expect the part to have, at the very minimum, something of a similar warranty.

Also, my interpretation of not selling at a loss is not being "upside down", or carrying over a loan balance, should I trade it in or selling it. Cars are depreciating assets so it is expected that a used car will not have the same market price that it had when bought new. Of course, collectible cars are a different story and the CX-9 is nowhere near being a collectible.

badself,
I am confused. Here is what I got from MazdaUsa.com.
Unless I read it wrong, it states that replacement parts carries 1yr/12K miles of warranty.
BMW told me the same thing when I had cam position sensors replaced a few years back.
Can you clarify what you meant?

=====================================================================

Genuine Mazda Parts Warranty
Mazda's genuine new or remanufactured parts (other than battery) and accessories purchased from or installed by a Mazda dealer are covered under the Replacement Parts and Accessories Warranty. This includes Mazda Accessories installed by a Mazda dealer prior to the retail delivery of a new Mazda vehicle. A Mazda dealer will repair or replace any properly installed Mazda part or accessory found to be defective in material or workmanship during the Replacement Parts and Accessories Warranty or the remainder of the warranty coverage applied by Mazda to the component.
Mazda's Replacement Parts and Accessories Warranty coverage:
Dealer-Installed Replacement Part or Accessory under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty:
1996 and newer vehicles
12 months/12,000 miles, whichever comes first from the date the part was installed on the vehicle.
Labor for removal or replacement will also be covered.
Customer must provide a copy of the Mazda Dealer repair order showing installation of the part at an authorized Mazda dealer.
 
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Sounds like you've got 12 months or 12K miles of warranty on the transmission, beginning with the date of install, which makes my statement incorrect. The way I read the above, your transmission and transfer case repair will continue beyond 5yrs/60K miles. If your work was done at 55K miles, then you have until 67K miles or one year from the date of transmission and transfer case replacement (whichever occurs first) to cover the exact same repair if it fails again. Any undocumented issues (which you claim to be experiencing) that have not been duplicated by the dealer will not be covered beyond 5/60. Unless you can demonstrate otherwise, the dealer is likely to claim that the transmission and transfer case are working as designed. Your outstanding drivetrain issues will lose warranty coverage unless documented and addressed prior to the end of your drivetrain warranty, especially if you cannot demonstrate that the proximate cause of your continuing issues is resulting from the transmission and transfer case repairs already undertaken. If I were you, I would be on the dealer's ass duplicating and initiating repairs to the post-repair drivetrain issues that are persisting, and do this PRIOR to the end of your 5/60 drivetrain warranty, or the dealer could later claim that your outstanding issues involve components not dealt with during your most recent drivetrain repair, especially if the persisting issues debilitate the vehicle after 5/60. In plain English, I believe your unresolved issues are probably related to a badly rebuilt Aisin or a bad install. Unless yoy've got a bad universal or driveshaft, the dealer probably needs to install another rebuilt Aisin to correct your problems. Once you are outside of 5/60 your persisting issues are likely to be blamed on something other than the work they did, unless you have another total transmission and transfer case failure, which they have no choice but to cover within the next year or before your truck hits 67K on the odometer. I'm exhausted. That's the most sense I can make of this on paper. Good luck.
 
No, I agree that I should get the vehicle in there before the 5/60K expires and I will do that. But, just like yourself, I go to work and have to make time to address these things and time is not always available. I will likely take it back on Tuesday next week, after this long weekend. My feeling is that the install was rushed and that it needs to be redone or reviewed. This whole issue has soured the ownership experience and it is still likely that I will pursue a replacement for the CX-9. But, I won't rush into it.
 
So, I was able to bring the vehicle to the dealership last Wednesday and left it there until I picked it up today, Friday. They were able to verify my concerns and the fix seems to be just an update of the transmission control module and re-securing a lower mount. In my brief drive from the dealership to pick up my kids from school and performing an errand, the coarse engine startup and banging of the transmission when shifting into reverse are not manifesting. I will give it a week of testing or so to completely state that the issue is fixed.

Also, and more importantly, badself's claim that there is no extension on the remanufactured transmission's warranty seems to be true. Service advisor and mechanic both say that warranty ends at 60K. I will call Mazda Corporate and confirm this as this is not what I understood and ceric's info from mazdausa.com's website does state that clearly. I'll update once I have more information.
 
My interpretation is that if your vehicle is still within warranty period, the warranty will not be extended.
Your powertrain is still covered till 60K, even if you had it replaced at 59999m.
If you paid for the parts out of warranty, these parts are covered by 1yr/12K warranty from the time they were installed.
 
Just chiming in here. Sorry to say that I suspect the dealer set you up. You did not need a flush, but it is good preventative maintenance so yeah, why not? Likely the dealer put in the wrong fluid or botched the flush since this is not a common job. They dealer gets paid by the factory to do warranty work and they make money by doing warranty work and can use customers for this purpose. Unfortunately, the factory assembly is the best quality you will ever get. Once a dealer tears into it, all bets are off. I try to avoid dealers for ANY service. I've been through this too many times in my past 30 years of driving to not let my rant be heard. I still get mad. (rant)

Don't get me wrong, I am painting with a broad brush but I have known (and still know) plenty of cool and capable mechanics/parts counter folks that work at dealers, its just that they get lost in the overall mix.
 
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Yeah. It's likely that the dealer set me up. It's my fault for not double checking the maintenance schedule. Anyway, the replacement tranny has been performing ok. I have less than a thousand miles till warranty expires. Hopefully, it won't fail.
 
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