Off Topic A place for you car junkies to boldly post off topic. ALMOST anything goes.

Dealer Service Horror Story..you won't believe

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 10-29-2023, 02:29 PM
FreelanceRider's Avatar
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: New York upstate
Posts: 9
Thumbs down Dealer Service Horror Story..you won't believe

I am a cx-5 owner who bought pre-owned. Still under CPO warranty. Car had 43000 when I bought in 2023. I vacationed outta state 500 miles away with car having about 45k on it . Heard a chirp noise in my transmission at 3rd to 4th gear. I was 90 mins away from a dealer ship and so did not bring it in until returned home. Dealer said it needed an new trans and fixed without issue. Taking a loaner I vacationed again outta state with the loaner (trans took 5 weeks to complete). No issues with loaner when I brought loaner back talking to service and described to service where I was when my tranny chirped and he said " you were lucky it didn't just die on you". OK so the CPO had new brakes and rotors on it when I purchased. about a month after new trans the brakes sqealed loudly when backing out garage. Dealer said nothing could be done but just having brakes on my other car just serviced I knew and convinced Mazda dealer to apply some anti-squeal paste to the pads, etc. I drive it home about 15 miles and next day wife does some errands close by around town. Arriving home she says "I heard a weird clunk or two when I went over minor bumps". So I take it out to run 2 miles down road to run and errand and when I took a right turn at a light I hear this loud deep clunking. I gently turn it around and gently drove it home at about 20 mph. when I come to a yield I apply brakes slowly and they mostly sunk to the floor to then getting some stopping power. I get home by floor braking and using downshifting (luckily I am around flat landscapes). I get it home and look under left front wheel housing and I see "THE WHOLE BRAKE CALIPER HANGING BELOW THE CAR BY THE BRAKE LINE ITSELF". I call up dealer and relay story and the service admin tells me to "CALL THE TOW HOTLINE". BTW she never calls back to see how I made out. Having known the service manager from the tranny episode I call him. I received much better customer service at that point. It was a weekend but he picked up car within hours and said apologies and come back by Monday noon and all would be remedied. I pick up the car Monday and the caliper was properly reattached and SECURED. I get it home and proceed to look it over more closely. The UPPER STABILIZER is just STANDING VERTICALLY just ATTACHED AT BOTTOM of BAR UNATTACHED at the TOP. He said it was drivable and to bring it back. I did and it was replaced. UNBELIEVABLE. Had my wife been driving when the caliper dislodged she would have not been able to understand what was happening and certainly would have been in an accident. What a story eh?
 
  #2  
Old 10-30-2023, 02:29 PM
Callisto's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Northern California
Posts: 5,551
Default

Ok so I am reading that the dealership took care of your issues?
If that is the case, then you were well taken care of?
It does sound unusual that all that happened after the transmission was change. Perhaps to many different people at different times servicing which can lead to mishaps if one person does not do a complete inspection of the work prior the customer picking up the vehicle.
In the shop I manage all service no matter how minor even simply oil changes or tire rotation are inspected and signed off by me or my lead Technicon. And in many cases, we go for the pickup test drive with the customer to insure they feel happy with the service.
Its old school customer service but in the long run it pays off with "be backs" because of something overlooked during a service.
 

Last edited by Callisto; 10-30-2023 at 02:35 PM.
  #3  
Old 10-31-2023, 02:04 PM
FreelanceRider's Avatar
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: New York upstate
Posts: 9
Default Tech Manager said he reviewed the caliper reattach

The caliper dislodge happened after I took in to apply the squeal paste. I think whoever removed items to apply paste just didn't reattach properly. Whether that tech was spaced out or just incompetent I think is the question. What shocked me was that when I brought home and then did quick look and found the stabilizer unattached on that wheel I called and spoke to manager he said he reviewed the techs work before approving completion. Do you think when a tech incorrectly attaches a caliper and its swinging in the breeze after literally jumping off the rotor someone would look at all surrounding components? And the manager said he reviewed this work. I have a question for you. You mentioned you may have been in service profession. When the tow guy (Dealer employee) picked up my car when the caliper jumped off he stated that he was certain they should replace the brake line that was supporting the caliper when it was hanging off the car. Is he correct? Should I be worried that they didn't?
 
  #4  
Old 10-31-2023, 02:14 PM
Callisto's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Northern California
Posts: 5,551
Default

Ok what this reads and only based on what you posted is that the service work done I am "GUESSING"
the fasteners were not torqued properly. My thought human error in being distracted and neglected to do that part of the finish work. We can read this often when it comes to shops that remove and replace wheels that owners have reported that the wheel nuts were often figure tight when they checked them.
As for the brake hose if it was not damaged even scuffed there is not necessarily a reason to replace the hose. Thats why he is a tow truck driver and not an Automotive Technician. LOL Brake hoses are extremely strong and well built to handle a very harsh operating environment.
 
  #5  
Old 11-02-2023, 11:43 AM
Chubby's Avatar
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: London
Posts: 12
Default

sounds like a lucky escape......
 
  #6  
Old 11-03-2023, 08:57 PM
Hud1964's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 34
Default Brake hose should have been replaced.

ASE Certifications recommends that you do not hang a caliper by the brake hose. The brake hose is a delicate part that can be easily damaged if it is stressed or pulled on. Hanging the caliper by the brake hose can put too much stress on the hose and cause it to leak or burst.

This was far worse, the caliper was hanging by the hose while the car was being driven.
 
  #7  
Old 11-04-2023, 03:37 PM
sidooo's Avatar
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: zurich
Posts: 6
Default

indeed it's a horrible story, glad it all ended well.
 

Last edited by sidooo; 11-11-2023 at 10:18 AM.
  #8  
Old 11-04-2023, 05:14 PM
Hud1964's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 34
Default Thank you for your input.

Originally Posted by Callisto
Wow you realize YOUR RESPONSE is pure example of a TROLL right! LOL
Also no one like a grammar Nazi on any forums!
If you don't like what a member on a forum post don't react and response just ignore it!
I read all your 11 responses on this forum and I am really surprised by this response?
Truly enlightening. Thank you for your input.
 
  #9  
Old 11-05-2023, 08:22 AM
Callisto's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Northern California
Posts: 5,551
Default

Originally Posted by Hud1964
Truly enlightening. Thank you for your input.

Car Repair Advice Forum= at your own risk - Mazda Forum - Mazda Enthusiast Forums
 
  #10  
Old 02-20-2024, 01:07 PM
EndlessDrop's Avatar
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: Seattle
Posts: 12
Default

Hey man! Sorry to hear about your experience! But bear in mind that this isn't a Mazda or Mazda corporate issue, but more of a private dealership issue. Some dealers are friendly, caring and willing to help and some are very, very... shady.

For example, I took my Mazda3 for an oil change around the 7000 mi to 8000 mi mark at my nearest dealership (Lee Johnson Kirkland Mazda). The Mazda repair shop was a QuickLube. I took it to the QuickLube and the guy told me to hand over the keys and wait at the Mazda service waiting room for about an hour (it had coffee, doughnuts, snacks, accessories and more). While I was on my phone, one of the dealer representatives or employees texted me saying, "Thank you for being a customer at Lee Johnson. I see you have taken a rare car in for service. Would you like us to buy it for $31K?". I was like "Aw, hell naw!". I infer they did that because I was a young person. Or maybe because it was actually "rare", I don't know. Luckily, I got my car back after an hour.

 

Last edited by EndlessDrop; 02-20-2024 at 01:14 PM.


Quick Reply: Dealer Service Horror Story..you won't believe



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:02 AM.