ND battery under-spec'd?

[Luke]

I'd be waiting for the software update. I thought that should be the fix, none of this changing the cluster rubbish. I'm surprised they still don't actually have the software update available. They must have the worlds slowest programmers working on it.
Pulling out the cluster is just asking for possible squeaks and rattles.
Unless of course you want to reset to 0km's.

[RBH58]

Im informed (by Mazda Australia) that there won’t be a software fix and that swapping out the instrument panel will be the fix offered. Mine’s getting done mid-Feb. I have been assured that the odometer will be set to retain existing kms and not reset to zero.

[RBH58]

very interesting ( tsk for the link) and the document was released on 26/12 . RBH highlighted and pursued an issue bringing it to attention- well done and Mazda do what car cos should do- address an issue like professionals The local dealers did not do so well ..

To be fair to the local dealers, their hands are pretty tied by Mazda Australia, and up to this week, it seems Mazda Australia had not passed on the 26-Dec TSB. It was only because I showed the dealer the TSB that they pursued it. Mazda Australia had not published it.

[rpost77]

Don't know about being fair to the dealers.

I have had a number of issues with 2008 Mazda3 where TSBs were issued (in US) and even though pointing these out the dealers weren't interested. Pushing them they (supposedly) spoke to Mazda Aus but they also weren't interested. One was related to main engine mount failure and part number was exactly the same etc. Replaced - replacement failed (2 weeks) - replaced - replacement failed (4 weeks) - replaced and I have a note from the dealer for a lifetime warranty for engine mount replacement.

Mazda Aus in my opinion are not good at honouring TSBs that clearly affect Aus delivered cars but may not have explicitly included Aus.

Good to see that your persistence paid off and that they will fix/replace for you.

[RBH58]

This TSB is marked “worldwide” and specifically mentions Australian VINs.

[Wivvix]

I just took mine in for the 1yr service. The battery is at about 75% health and only had 37% charge. I drove it about 500kms the week it was serviced. There was only a 1 day gap before the service.

Seems to me the battery they used is crap. By the time the next service comes around it'll be half dead and only 2 years old.

[Rocky]

I read these 10 pages in one go as I had not seen the thread previously.
Mazda, and all the other manufacturers and their distributor and dealer networks are not very good at acknowledging common design/component/manufacturing faults with their product.
This is not new. I bought two new Rotary Mazdas between 1972 and 1974. I remember only too well the initial refusal, then reluctance to acknowledge any problems with the Rotary motors and the run-around that was given to owners.
I also remember when I took my NB8B (the model with the dodgy clutch material) to the local dealer who played dumb and said they couldn't notice anything wrong. The problem was well known among owners and car clubs and there was no way they were unaware - I read about it on MX5 CarTalk - and some dealers were already replacing the clutches under warranty at the time of my complaint.
More recently there is the "cutting-out" issue with the CX models that the Australian Newspaper's motoring correspondent has taken to the consumer watchdog. Mazda likes to tell owners there is no problem of which they are aware.
I don't trust dealers as far as I could kick them which is why I avoid them as much as possible.

[RBH58]

Mazda Australia contacted me directly yesterday to confirm that my car was booked in for “the fix” (it is the week after next). They are clearly acknowledging the problem so if you have an RF built prior to mid-May 2017, contact your dealer.

[Rocky]

Mazda and other makers will always EVENTUALLY acknowledge a problem when it becomes so well known that it is impossible to keep pretending it doesn't exist. My point is that the nature of their business means that they will be aware of a generic fault much earlier than the average owner, who might only begin to realise that the fault is generic, some time down the track.
It is disgraceful behaviour to pretend that the fault doesn't exist until such time as it is widely publicised and they are obliged to acknowledge and rectify it.

[bruce]

It costs them big $ to fix, so they avoid it. Logical.

[RBH58]

Lying to customers is not ethical behaviour and it’s potentially hugely damaging to the brand if they get caught out. Just ask VAG.

[JBT]

Totally agree. Denial and then capitulation = bad look, brand damage and loss of customer faith.

[Mr Morlock]

There are differences in companies. VW thought it was ok to cheat on emissions with huge costs and, it was to many, inexcusable. The public still buy their cars. That same co does not have a great reputation for after sales service either. Toyota fix production problems and make changes because they have a commitment not just a slogan.
There are major manufacturers out their charging a lot of money for cars that have often quite serious faults and don't expect to motor car testers to tell you anything about that. Take a look at the massive deprecation on many of the premium cars. The battery issue for Mazda is a blip and fixable and they did react - at this stage I think their reputation is good. The older cars are a different generation when so many vehicles were substandard.

[bruce]

I agree. Comparing this the Mazda problem with VAG is at different ends of the spectrum. This is a teeny weeny problem with the battery compared with outright lying and world-wide cover up.

[RBH58]

I agree. Comparing this the Mazda problem with VAG is at different ends of the spectrum. This is a teeny weeny problem with the battery compared with outright lying and world-wide cover up.

I wasn’t comparing them...I was giving an example of abuse of trust and unethical behaviour. Mazda haven’t come close in this case. But they did not take my initial complaints seriously at all and definitely tried to fob my off.