Mazda ... Another BIG FAIL

Pedro · 02-12-2010, 09:45 PM

Some of you may recall posts by me hailing Mazda as offering the epitome of service amongst Australian car companies.

Well, I have to eat humble pie. My wife had an SP23 and over a five year ownership period have no problems in 95,000 kms and exemplary service. So just on 12 months ago we traded it on an SP25 and although we’re not great fans of the “over the top” frontal treatment, nor the acres of grey plastic in the (black only) interior we thought that a small price to pay for what should be an excellent overall package.

I keep the exterior in shape with Maguire’s products and Mother’s on the leather. However in recent months I noticed the front bar changing to a darker shade than the rest of the car. I went to the Mazda Australia website and registered my concern via their “contact” e-mail facility.

I computer generated reply more or less told me to go jump in the lake. On 8th of November I sent another e-mail to the service manager with the photographs below and a message saying I wanted it fixed. To date I have not received a reply.

In the meantime I took the car to the local dealer at Southport and was told “they’re all like that” and there’s nothing that can be done. In other words “F” off.

I know there is colour variation between plastic bumpers and the metal parts of the body and have experienced it in my F6’s, but nothing like this.

I certainly won’t be recommending Mazda to anyone again.

For the same light condtions, these photos were taken within a 20 minute period.

The rear has "normal" colour difference

Bucknaked · 02-12-2010, 09:53 PM

Silver on fords is the same. The plastics give a different tone to the color than the rest of the car.

BAxtER · 02-12-2010, 09:57 PM

I look at the first two pics, and I'm lost for words!

4vxc · 02-12-2010, 09:58 PM

I wouldnt give up on the brand that has served you well because of the paint problem on the bars, why dont you get a quote to have them re-painted yourself?

geckoGT · 02-12-2010, 09:59 PM

That is a considerable colour difference and something that should be fixed, it is not reasonable.

Having said that I have seen similar on Ford/FPV, especially on that metallic tangerine colour in the BF range.

Also, how long did it take Ford to admit there was an issue with shockwave cars with paint falling off (literally in sheets)?

Or how many have continually complained about driveline backlash on manual fords and FPV's only to be told that clunk is normal?

You get the idea.

All manufacturers will try hard to say it is normal rather than admit it is a fault and open the floodgates to all the warranty claims. Do as we do with Ford, push the point and hassle them, they will fix it. If my experience is anything to go by, Mazda will claim it occurs because the plastic body parts are painted on a different line than the metal body panels. That is no excuse but it is the same one Ford/FPV use.

Stefan · 02-12-2010, 10:08 PM

Not saying this is the case but did you walk into the dealer with your "back up" because of frustration with your first two points of contact via email?

An issue like this is best raised in person first in a calm manner rather than in an email hoping to have things resolved. Written complaints would come across much harsher and shluld be used as a last resort.

Good luck.

JimNiki · 02-12-2010, 10:00 PM

You'd think that with today's technology, they can compensate for this and get a decent end result which matches!

They spend squllions in R&D on a new model and can't get panel colours to match!
I know it all comes down to cost as I'm pretty confident that you won't see this type of variation in expensive German cars...

I wonder if the new Chinese cars have this issue since they're trying to impress in a new market?

**Mechan1k** · 02-12-2010, 10:03 PM

Wow ... that looks like it's had a dodgy colour match from a re-spray. But obviously not though.

Maybe try another dealership and see what they say.

**Silver Ghia** · 02-12-2010, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

Wow ... that looks like it's had a dodgy colour match from a re-spray. But obviously not though.

Perhaps it is. The fit of the front bumper onto the guard doesnt look too flash either, unless its the photo and reflections.

Pedro · 03-12-2010, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

Wow ... that looks like it's had a dodgy colour match from a re-spray. But obviously not though.

We're thinking along the same lines Mechan1k. Although we bought it "brand new", I think the car's had a hit and the front bar has been resprayed. I'll seek some expert opinion.

Her previous SP23 was all nicely colour matching but took a hit on the front and the bar was replaced and resprayed 12 months before we traded it in. It colour matched at first but then went darker over the 12 months period before trade in.

geckoGT · 03-12-2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro

We're thinking along the same lines Mechan1k. Although we bought it "brand new", I think the car's had a hit and the front bar has been resprayed. I'll seek some expert opinion.

Her previous SP23 was all nicely colour matching but took a hit on the front and the bar was replaced and resprayed 12 months before we traded it in. It colour matched at first but then went darker over the 12 months period before trade in.

To find out get the paint thickness measured, if it a lot thicker than the rear bumper it has probably been re sprayed. Don't compare with metal surfaces as they are often painted on a different line and therefore a different thickness.

fmc351 · 02-12-2010, 10:06 PM

And the rear bar is made of different plastic to the front? If the front bar is normal why isnt the rear like it?

Maybe youre Mrs is driving it too fast for the paint.

gcg2503 · 02-12-2010, 10:35 PM

Not good at all mate.

It looks like a moustache!

XR Martin · 02-12-2010, 11:14 PM

You would be amazed how many new cars get damaged in transport, my bet that the dealer repaired it before being sold. Dealer fail, as opposed to Mazda IMO.

NEEDspeed · 02-12-2010, 11:22 PM

Gunmetal blue yes? The other colours like Aluminium, Celestial blue and Graphite seem to look odd as well on some cars, and thats straight off the boat.

DanielXR8 · 03-12-2010, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

You would be amazed how many new cars get damaged in transport, my bet that the dealer repaired it before being sold. Dealer fail, as opposed to Mazda IMO.

I was thinking exactly the same thing. See if you can find a dealer with the same colour in stock and take a look to see if that car is as bad. I suspect your dealer did a dodgy colour match on transport repairs.

The other possibility is Mazda are having trouble with that colour. They did in the past with reds. See if the other colours have as much paint variation on the bumpers.

Dan

Fordman · 02-12-2010, 11:21 PM

Only way you will get a response is to go to the dealership and make a song and dance, bigtime, hell get the wife in there too, or else theyll just continue to dismiss you. IMO.

**cs123** · 03-12-2010, 12:12 AM

Seen that on quite a few other brands. It depends on the angle and lighting.

The Snout · 03-12-2010, 07:58 AM

Quite like the 2 tone look.

Melz · 03-12-2010, 08:23 AM

As others have said, it happens on other brands aswell. I would say that that the dealer needs a lesson in customer service and should be willing to assist you by seeking answers further up the chain. Fair enough that warranty approvals have to go through head office, but they should at least be willing to look into it for you.

galaxy xr8 · 03-12-2010, 08:58 AM

If it wasn't there 12 month's ago when you picked it up, but obviously it is there now as we can all see it, one would ask, why would the paint all the sudden change, I can see a problem if it was like that on delivery, but does paint change like that in 12 month's, I'm not being smart to you mate, just wondering, as I know there is a difference in some vehicles with this same problem but they are straight off the floor or such, I have never heard of it changing like this in 12 month's.
But never the less, still not good enough for a 12 month old vehicle and something should and hopefully will be resolved for you.

zoomie · 03-12-2010, 09:22 AM

My wife has a new graphite coloured SP25 sedan and the bumper bars are near to spot on to the rest of the car....
Much much much better than the miss match of colours on the bumpers and other plastics on my old Ego G6ET (the bumpers on that car where much darker and had a green tinge to them compared to the car which had a red tinge to it) but that was the least of the problems with that car unfortunately.

galaxy xr8 · 03-12-2010, 09:26 AM

If your going to get it re-sprayed or even get someone to have a look at it, get in contact with Karnage (on this site), and get his thought's, he is up your way.

MAGPIE · 03-12-2010, 10:28 AM

I had a SP20 a few years back, had a similar issue.

It didn't bother me enough to try to get Mazda to fix it but after being rear ended and having the rear bar fixed & re sprayed it matched much better than the front.

**Polyal** · 03-12-2010, 11:31 AM

Have you guys seen Mandarin? The front bar is horrible.

bigsta · 03-12-2010, 11:38 AM

the squeaky wheel gets the grease make enough noise and you should get it fixed by them even threaten to go to consumer affairs tv etc

Chopped · 03-12-2010, 12:12 PM

That's normal.

" Why do plastic bumper covers change color? Every once in a while we get a phone call from body shop client that is trying to deliver a car and their customer will not take it because the bumper looks different than the car. The most amazing thing is that the bumper and the front end of the car was painted at the same time, with the same gun, same air pressure, same temperature and the same paint.

How do you explain the bumper color change to the customer? Plastic bumpers will always change color especially in metallic colors. The plastic has a static charge and the metallic paint will settle different than on the sheet metal parts, causing pigment floatation that will shift the color darker or lighter. The other reason is surface temperature, if the sheet metal is colder, the bumper will look lighter, if the sheet metal is hotter than the bumper, the color on the bumper will look darker. The third reason is flex additive. If the clearcoat is applied on the bumper with a flex additive, it will shift the color slightly.

How do you prove your point after explaining this to the customer? Your customer will probably think your trying to fool them with this explanation, Luckily, the majority of our body shop clients in our area are dealerships. So they walk the client to the show room floor and point out that just about every car on the lot with a metallic color has a shade different on the bumper covers, front and rear, plastic door handles and plastic mirrors, all have different shades. Most clients are more at ease when they realize that they bought the car this way but had never noticed. "
source >http://www.autobodysupply.net/Articles.asp?ID=140

I've even seen Audis with the same problem.

ltd · 03-12-2010, 12:51 PM

Why haven't you been using tyre black?

Seriously though, take the car to a panel beater/spray painter and get their opinion.
Then, if there is indeed a disparity you can take it back to Mazda and tell them to rectify it.

Feathers · 03-12-2010, 05:44 PM

Saw one today in the same colour as yours, and it had the same mismatch on the front bumper.

Airmon · 03-12-2010, 06:17 PM

No surprise there, they seem to get worse and worse and as said Silver cars seem to be the worst effected, I've even seen a few Fords like that.

Mazdas seem to get it worse, one particular Mazda 3 I know has the rear 2 doors the same colour, but darker then the body, with a lighter bumpers. Its not good but you've got Buckleys of getting it resprayed. There is nothing defective, they'll argue it was like that when you bought it, which it probably was just not as noticeable.