LoSx

2007 Manual Mazda RX8

I have been a long time reader and member but I have run into an issue. I recently had the engine light flash from random misfires and brought it into Mazda since it is almost across the street from me. After an estimate of 1800 to install new coil packs and spark plugs I promptly told them no and drove the car home (1 mile) and changed them out myself. A week later or so (and this may just be a coincidence) I noticed rattling in my car and finally had time to diagnose it. I noticed it because for my radio was off for once while I drove around.

Long story short CAT is melted they state but they said Mazda NA said they can't warranty it because I drove the vehicle out of their shop and didn't get them to fix the coil packs and spark plugs and the misfire caused the CAT to go bad. I don't see how they can deny coverage on me driving 1 mile. I am also well within the 80K miles and under 8 years (at 6) which is the EPA madated 8 yr/80k miles coverage.

Has anyone else had experience with Mazda that was then able to get this overturned? Currently I called Mazda NA and has a case open and they are waiting to hear from the dealer. My only fear is in the meantime I have CAT material going into my exhaust so I am essentially not driving my car.

Also the car has 24K total miles on it only!

Carbon8

iTrader: (4)

They can if they want to be a dick, just go to another dealer.

LoSx

They are saying Mazda Main office is denying it because they have to report all warranty claims to them so won't bringing it to another Mazda have them call mazda North America and still deny me?

Carbon8

iTrader: (4)

Chances are the dealer is butthurt over you refusing to pay for their overpriced service so they just denied you without even calling it in.

LoSx

I hope that is the case but I called Mazda NA to ask them about it and now they are calling the dealer back so it seemed like they knew about it or at least could look at their service records. I guess I will find out more tomorrow from them. I wish I had checked another dealer before calling Mazda NA but that is what the dealer told me to do. I was hoping that someone knew if they are legally allowed to do something like that.

I currently also left a message with the EPA guy who wrote the rules for the catalytic converter warranty coverage and I figured tomorrow if they still deny it I will ask for a written letter explaining why it is denied and send it over to the EPA to investigate.

Carbon8

iTrader: (4)

Its a gray area unfortunately, you refused to have them work on your car (even though you did the repairs yourself) they can't validate the repairs and thusly cannot be held responsible for any failures because of the original issue. A failed cat is directly related to a faulty ignition.

Like I said that is if they really want to be a dick, which it looks like they are. I would gut the cat, and buy a Cobb to pass inspection 300 bucks and your done.

Hopefully another dealer or Mazda NA will come threw for you

LoSx

So they have denied my appeal request again so far based on the fact that after I drove it back to them 2 weeks later I had 200 more miles on it and they are saying that those miles are what ruined it as if I didn't replace anything.

I have proof I purchased the parts 2 days later and installed them and am re appealing this. MNAO are being dick's about this because apparently the decision is made with the dealership information as well and they are saying I drove my care on the bad coils which I never said I did and I did not do.

Luckily I bought the parts the next day and took pictures on my phone 2 days later on Saturday of what I removed from the system so hopefully that is enough to prove I didn't drive it further. If not I am also trying to figure out who at the EPA to contact since they should not be allowed to deny coverage based on this fact. Has anyone had to go this far with them before?

Carbon8

iTrader: (4)

Good luck, their have been cases were manufacturers have denied all warranty coverage because the vehicle owner's had maintenance performed at local shops. I am talking about brand new vehicles with less than 10K miles, all warranties voided because of oil changes done at quick lube, unfortunately its a very gray area and if the dealer tries hard enough because they are that much of scum bags and have a vendetta against you they can get your warranty coverage blacklisted.

LoSx

There has to be someone you can contact about this because it is wrong. I left a message at the EPA. Worse comes to worse I will get a denial in writing and submit it to the EPA.

keen0arene

small claims court is an option.

go to the website of your state, find an office related to mazda na (in your state), and send a Demand Letter there for the cost of replacement of the cat, and penalties for violating the warranty. Like additional thousands for the warranty violation. Mazda will probably call you up and say "oh, I didnt know you were serious, certainly we'll take care of it".

If they ignore it, then sue them in small claims court. Dont let bullies bully you around.

I dont think the dealership has the truest say about not honoring the warranty, I think they get guaranteed service if they decide that the damage is covered by the warranty, and so they should be motivated in getting service done. (Unless they have a vendetta against you, or Mazda NA does).

The problem though is getting solid information proving that you didnt cause the damage, and that changing coils, etc doesnt burn your cat (if an individual does install them incorrectly).

you could also argue that the dealership failed to notice the problem with their diagnosis.

The warranty may also have a clause mandating mediation instead of small claims court, so you still have other methods to resolve this instead of just getting screwed.

keen0arene

that's a good point, having been a med rep for years, I didnt realize that the same "will I be reimbursed?" conversation could happen here.

So then the dealerships would err on the side of caution for doing service, or have a dialogue with mazda warranty first.

so my advice (not a lawyer but VERY familiar with suing/pushing unethical parties into doing the right thing) is to write a Certified, signature required, Demand Letter for service, stating briefly and clearly that you replaced the coils, plugs and wires according to standard service procedures (preferably the tech procedure that mazda uses). Tell them you are fond of the product and would like to encourage others to enjoy it as well. Ask that they honor the warranty, or you "will have to seek other legal recourse".

Give them 10-30 days to respond and write that in the letter with your contact info, then mail it certified with return request.

This is a nice way to say "hi, Mr Corporation, please dont forget about me and leave me hanging with a bad product and bureaucracy, or it may cost you financially."

You could also call a lemon law lawyer and have a dialogue with them.

LoSx

Well Mazda NA got back to me after I provided proof I changed the ignition equipment and now they are saying they don't know how long I was driving it while it misfired and that I must have been driving on it a long time for it to have melted and are still denying my warranty. Has anyone ever contacted the EPA about this to get it resolved? If not who would I take to small claims court the dealer or Mazda NA which only has a presence in California since the deal will just say Mazda NA denied it.

Carbon8

iTrader: (4)

In all honesty, at this point your just wasting your time trying. Yeah it sucks and your getting screwed but it is what it is. You can pick up a used OE cat her for 300-400 or you can gut your own and run a Cobb for the same price.

keen0arene

well I dont know what state you are in, but there may be a mailing address inside your state for a mazda office. Look on the state secretary's website for the business listings of your state, and then mail to them there.

That is if you want to go that route. An informal letter to mazda na might also help (not a threatening one, but one that states that you "feel you might have been overlooked").

LoSx

I am in the state of Maryland but the closest one I can see is in the district of columbia. Can I file a small claims in Washington DC even though I don't live there?

I am also hoping the EPA gets back to me on something. I don't feel this is a waste of my time actually because I believe this is totally unfair so I don't mind spending 50 - 100 hours. Also I am happier if it costs them somehow in the end.

I am so pissed that I would be just as happy causing them $2000 worth of pain then getting this replaced. In the long run will I ruin my engine if I don't replace this soon?

keen0arene

hmm, you might be able to do a DC claims case, but DC isnt a state. I dont know what legal rules apply there. try the friendly letter approach first.

if you can, make it handwritten. Handwritten letters are a thing of the past, rare, and more often read because of that rarity. You might just get a human feeling from a human's letter.

other than that, you'd probably have to sue in a court local to the mazda office in dc, judging from small claims in other states. Hope you dont mind travelling.

I dont know anything about these engines, except the series one rx8 has disappointed me beyond anything. I assume anything can break those engines.

Good luck. do the letter, you might get results, and give nobody any pain at all.

ken-x8

Where in Maryland are you? Maryland is fairly strong on consumer protection, with some counties (like Montogomery, just across from DC) being particularly good. Check to see if the county where you live has an office that can help. Better Business Bureau is also a possibility, although a lot of those are puppets of the businesses.

You should really consult a lawyer for legal advice. I'm not a lawyer either, but one thing occurs to me on the where-to-sue bit (if it comes to that) is to file suit where you live, not someplace convenient to Mazda.

Ken