NEGATIVE: Bad Mazda Dealerships
#301
PHillips Mazda, Laguna Hills, CA...
They not only tried to charge me $130 for a MSP16 flash and got upset when I said no, my car started stalling at low RPMs (stop or near stop) after they gave me back my car. My car never once stalled before and I have 77K miles on my 8. I am going to switch out the plugs, coils and wires, also clean the MAF. Hopefully that works or I will raise more hell.
NEVER GO THERE
They not only tried to charge me $130 for a MSP16 flash and got upset when I said no, my car started stalling at low RPMs (stop or near stop) after they gave me back my car. My car never once stalled before and I have 77K miles on my 8. I am going to switch out the plugs, coils and wires, also clean the MAF. Hopefully that works or I will raise more hell.
NEVER GO THERE
#302
Hixon Mazda, Alexandria Louisiana. NEGATIVE. These clowns are totally incompetent. Took three months to fix my synchonizers. Performed work I was not informed about until I got the bill. Car would not even start when I arrived for pick up, and I had to jump it off. Finally they lost my original key, coded two new keys, and lied to me about it. I will never set foot on that dealer lot again, and I would advise against any service there.
#303
PHillips Mazda, Laguna Hills, CA...
They not only tried to charge me $130 for a MSP16 flash and got upset when I said no, my car started stalling at low RPMs (stop or near stop) after they gave me back my car. My car never once stalled before and I have 77K miles on my 8. I am going to switch out the plugs, coils and wires, also clean the MAF. Hopefully that works or I will raise more hell.
NEVER GO THERE
They not only tried to charge me $130 for a MSP16 flash and got upset when I said no, my car started stalling at low RPMs (stop or near stop) after they gave me back my car. My car never once stalled before and I have 77K miles on my 8. I am going to switch out the plugs, coils and wires, also clean the MAF. Hopefully that works or I will raise more hell.
NEVER GO THERE
manager even came out and complemented the exhaust once.
#304
Smithhaven Mazda in Long Island.LIERS,SHADY.Car was bought after being told it was NEVER in an accident..............Question,why was part of it painted?They said it wasnt...........buyer beware.They never take calls or return e-mails hmm.The only good part is mechanically the car is perfect,a rocket.
#305
Smithhaven Mazda in Long Island.LIERS,SHADY.Car was bought after being told it was NEVER in an accident..............Question,why was part of it painted?They said it wasnt...........buyer beware.They never take calls or return e-mails hmm.The only good part is mechanically the car is perfect,a rocket.
Mock Ford/Mazda, Grants Pass OR using an air wrench on the wheel locks, breaking it in half, then saying it wasn't there fault; if that weren't enough they wanted me to pay for there mistake, not to mention new wheel locks.
Murray Mazda, Gresham OR
the "expert" rx8 technician didn't know the 8's had oil injectors...
#306
we should just reverse this entire thread and basically state that all mazda dealerships basically suck ***, except the ones explicitly listed... it would shorten the thread to one page i bet.
honestly, i dunno any mazda dealerships that are "good" dealerships. i thought galpin mazda was ok when i went there. but then i read how they dented some guy's door and tried to cover it up...
geez louise... is there any mazda dealership that does not suck ***?
honestly, i dunno any mazda dealerships that are "good" dealerships. i thought galpin mazda was ok when i went there. but then i read how they dented some guy's door and tried to cover it up...
geez louise... is there any mazda dealership that does not suck ***?
#310
Bad dealer: Dennis Dillon, Boise, ID. I am currently taking them to court for fraud, and for not filling my transmission with transmission fluid while they had it. I have tried several paths to recourse, including Mazda, USA, the BBB, as well as talking with the director of fixed operations of course. I now have a destroyed transmission, an undriveable car, and a nightmare situation that will have lasted close to a year by the time it's resolved. Will give more details once litigation is settled.
#311
I have been having really good luck with Brown's Chantilly Mazda in northern VA. I've had all my servicing done there since I bought the car and have had zero issues with anything.
The service guys have never seemed pushy on services I didn't really want or need and explain stuff to you in people speak and then let you make your own decision.
On top of that free wi-fi, free keurig coffee and a nice little PS2 or 3 setup with some steering wheel/pedal controls so you can play some racing game if you want.
The service guys have never seemed pushy on services I didn't really want or need and explain stuff to you in people speak and then let you make your own decision.
On top of that free wi-fi, free keurig coffee and a nice little PS2 or 3 setup with some steering wheel/pedal controls so you can play some racing game if you want.
#312
Riverside Mazda - Riverside, CA = Very Very Negative
Never Again!
Towed my 8 there when the PCM went out under 70k/7years. First said sunroof and auto level motors were shot and needed replaced before any more troubleshooting. Told them to leave it out of the system to troubleshoot further. Noticed PCM not communicating. I told them that when I towed it in. Said it is not under warranty because another device caused the issue. Could not tell me what the other device was. Day before told me that it was most likely that the PCM caused the other failures. Also, check out this thread for more proof.
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ide+dealership
p.s. Would not provide vehicle while being repaired. Tried to get each part paid for before the correct error was found. Very unfriendly and unhelpful.
Never Ever Ever Again!
Never Again!
Towed my 8 there when the PCM went out under 70k/7years. First said sunroof and auto level motors were shot and needed replaced before any more troubleshooting. Told them to leave it out of the system to troubleshoot further. Noticed PCM not communicating. I told them that when I towed it in. Said it is not under warranty because another device caused the issue. Could not tell me what the other device was. Day before told me that it was most likely that the PCM caused the other failures. Also, check out this thread for more proof.
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ide+dealership
p.s. Would not provide vehicle while being repaired. Tried to get each part paid for before the correct error was found. Very unfriendly and unhelpful.
Never Ever Ever Again!
#313
Not sure if its been posted or if anyone on these forums is even from this area, but Gene Messer Ford/Mazda in Amarillo, TX - Negative Negative and more Negative. Engine had to be replaced at 61k miles, took a week to diagnose the bad compression and relay this information to me, took a month after that day for them to get a new engine and install it, that engine was bad also so they ordered up a new engine which took another month to get installed, was without my car from start of February til second week of April and not once was I offered a loaner car which was a pain in the ***. Called them quite often to get updates and the mazda tech in charge was always conveniently on lunch after the first few calls.
And another negative to that story they tried to charge me for the labor of having to replace the engine twice.
And another negative to that story they tried to charge me for the labor of having to replace the engine twice.
#314
Ed Morse Mazda Port Richey, Florida Negative. I couldn't have made the deal easier for the dealership. I sent them the USAA buyers quote WITH options listed. I asked them if they had the car and could agree to the price, they said yes and yes. I said sold send it home, thats when they got in the way of the deal and made it the worse experience ever. I've never bought a new car, this was my 1st, never again. Long story short, it's been 3 weeks and now even the general manager is giving me flack about the deal. I guess I'll just pen a letter to Mr Alan Mullaly and Mr Takashi Yamanouchi to let them know whats going on out there.
#315
Rosenthal Mazda Arlington, VA
i haven't signed on in a min.
Their service department sucks.
my engine floods from a valet driver, no big deal, kinda blown but i gotta get it fixed
Tow it to the delaer, I also ask to have a complete diagnostic and a compression test. 5 days later they deflood replace the spark plugs, tell me i need a new battery, fuel pump, recommend updated starter and bunch of other ****.
battery is fine, i agree to fuel pump and starter. and they get me a rental
3 days later i need a new engine. Um ok it's gonna take 3 weeks because of the snow. Then the engine comes in I need a new PCM. I went all the way up to corporate, no help what so ever. I get it sent to another dealer to check out what they did wrong, they find injectors 2 and 1 were plugged in incorrectly, a ground wire from the intake was damaged and the catalatic converter is bad. Now i'm dealing with both dealers and Mazda is getting involved.
I'm just so tired of this ****. I just want my 8 back. I'm never going to a dealer after this, i'm working on my **** myself. at least if i mess it up, i'll know what i did wrong.
Their service department sucks.
my engine floods from a valet driver, no big deal, kinda blown but i gotta get it fixed
Tow it to the delaer, I also ask to have a complete diagnostic and a compression test. 5 days later they deflood replace the spark plugs, tell me i need a new battery, fuel pump, recommend updated starter and bunch of other ****.
battery is fine, i agree to fuel pump and starter. and they get me a rental
3 days later i need a new engine. Um ok it's gonna take 3 weeks because of the snow. Then the engine comes in I need a new PCM. I went all the way up to corporate, no help what so ever. I get it sent to another dealer to check out what they did wrong, they find injectors 2 and 1 were plugged in incorrectly, a ground wire from the intake was damaged and the catalatic converter is bad. Now i'm dealing with both dealers and Mazda is getting involved.
I'm just so tired of this ****. I just want my 8 back. I'm never going to a dealer after this, i'm working on my **** myself. at least if i mess it up, i'll know what i did wrong.
#316
Warning about Sil Ter-Har in Broomfield, CO
Right now, there's a Red 2010 R3 sitting in their showroom.
The VIN is JM1FE1C45A0403859.
At first glance the car looks pretty good.
Its brand new, but the build date on it is 07/2009, so chances are its been in the US since 10/09.
There's a dent on the left rear wheel well, that chipped the paint at the very bottom of it.
But that's not the main problem.
If you don't look closely enough at the car, you will miss all the hail damage on it. The hood, the roof, both right side doors, and the front right fender show damage.
The last major hail storm in the area was back in June of 2010, so it isn't recent damage. Any dealer that suffers hail damage here gets it fixed as quickly as possible, or at the very least, gets a payout from their insurance company to fix it.
Well, this dealer wants you to pay full value for the car, and doesn't want to repair the damage before you buy it. They just want you to buy their hail damaged car at full price.
So if you are interested in that car, don't bother.
BC.
The VIN is JM1FE1C45A0403859.
At first glance the car looks pretty good.
Its brand new, but the build date on it is 07/2009, so chances are its been in the US since 10/09.
There's a dent on the left rear wheel well, that chipped the paint at the very bottom of it.
But that's not the main problem.
If you don't look closely enough at the car, you will miss all the hail damage on it. The hood, the roof, both right side doors, and the front right fender show damage.
The last major hail storm in the area was back in June of 2010, so it isn't recent damage. Any dealer that suffers hail damage here gets it fixed as quickly as possible, or at the very least, gets a payout from their insurance company to fix it.
Well, this dealer wants you to pay full value for the car, and doesn't want to repair the damage before you buy it. They just want you to buy their hail damaged car at full price.
So if you are interested in that car, don't bother.
BC.
#317
Hey all, I have owned seven Mazda rotary cars since 1973. And I have lived in Washington D.C. area, Upstate New York, Queens NYC, Long Island , Philadelphia, and now south New Jersey. I have dealt with a lot of mediocre dealers and a few good ones over the decades. And sometimes the dealer has improved or gotten worse over the years. One great Mazda dealer Don Rosen Mazda of Bala Cynwd, Pa. was switched over to a Mini dealership when the minis came back.. Don Rosen owns BMW dealerships and when BMW took over Mini, he switched out his Mazda dealership, a shame. They used to even gladly and professionally work on my race-prepped RX7s.
The best Mazda dealership I have run into, both for sales and service is the two dealerships of Maple Shade Mazda in New Jersey. They have one dealership in Maple Shade, New Jersey (near Cherry Hill) and another called Turnersville Mazda, in Turnersville, NJ.
It has been a pleasure to buy and service my last three Mazdas from Turnersville Mazda , a 2000 Protege EX, a 2008 Mazdaspeed3 GT, and a 2008 40th Anniversary Edition RX8. Always a professional attitude, great salespeople, even better service people. At both Maple Shade Mazda dealerships they are straight shooters, and take care of their Mazda customers with some free services, extended service warranties, and free loaners cars for all scheduled, and sometimes last minute servicing. Their mechanics know their Mazdas and RX8s and I NEVER have to return for a job not done right the first time.
A short story , when I first bought my first RX7 back in 1978 on Long Island from the then Hempstead Mazda, I had heard about Maple Shade Mazda down in New Jersey. They sold, at that time the highest volume of Mazdas of any East Coast dealership, so deals abounded. But their service department was considered the worst around, for all they seemed to care about was sales. Well word got around, and to their credit Maple Shade Mazda turned their service Depts around, And now they routinely get service dept. awards and customer service awards from Mazda and glowing reports from their customers, who have rewarded them with great owner loyalty.
hey no dealer is perfect all the time, but there are some good Mazda guys and gals around.
The best Mazda dealership I have run into, both for sales and service is the two dealerships of Maple Shade Mazda in New Jersey. They have one dealership in Maple Shade, New Jersey (near Cherry Hill) and another called Turnersville Mazda, in Turnersville, NJ.
It has been a pleasure to buy and service my last three Mazdas from Turnersville Mazda , a 2000 Protege EX, a 2008 Mazdaspeed3 GT, and a 2008 40th Anniversary Edition RX8. Always a professional attitude, great salespeople, even better service people. At both Maple Shade Mazda dealerships they are straight shooters, and take care of their Mazda customers with some free services, extended service warranties, and free loaners cars for all scheduled, and sometimes last minute servicing. Their mechanics know their Mazdas and RX8s and I NEVER have to return for a job not done right the first time.
A short story , when I first bought my first RX7 back in 1978 on Long Island from the then Hempstead Mazda, I had heard about Maple Shade Mazda down in New Jersey. They sold, at that time the highest volume of Mazdas of any East Coast dealership, so deals abounded. But their service department was considered the worst around, for all they seemed to care about was sales. Well word got around, and to their credit Maple Shade Mazda turned their service Depts around, And now they routinely get service dept. awards and customer service awards from Mazda and glowing reports from their customers, who have rewarded them with great owner loyalty.
hey no dealer is perfect all the time, but there are some good Mazda guys and gals around.
Last edited by gwilliams6; 06-24-2011 at 08:08 PM.
#318
gwilliams - thanks for the experienced info.
Hempstead mazda has gone through a few owners but is still there and I had a fairly good experience there when they did my engine replacement.
Hempstead mazda has gone through a few owners but is still there and I had a fairly good experience there when they did my engine replacement.
#319
I will tell you a story about the old Hempstead Mazda folks , back in 1978. The RX7 had been announced with much anticipation and fanfare. I had preordered a red one. Dealers were routinely charging the first customers a $1000-2000 dollar premium OVER list price just to get one .And remember the car sold new for only $7295. My salesperson at Hempstead was Steve Stander (who would go on to drive one of Racing Beat's Bonneville record setting RX7s, and own his own Long Island Mazdatrix specialty business). Steve alerted me that finally the first red one had come in, and Hempstead was NOT going to let me know. They were putting a sunroof and other options on it and were trying to get it out the door and sell it to some rich guy (who was way down on the waiting list) who was willing to pay $2000 over the list price . I worked for Newsday Newspaper at the time, when it was nearby in Garden City and I raced over there and demanded they give me my car, as ordered. They had no choice with me standing there and the my red RX7 being there, and with me being in the media, they couldnt chance a bad story . They sold me the car and I paid almost $1000 for the extras added to the car and their premium charges . They fired Steve, but that launched him into his own Mazda ventures.
Well I had that RX7 for thirteen years, even while owning my second generation Turbo II RX7. My original RX7 was heavily modified to race and had a Racing Beat built ported and turbocharged 13B rotary engine with over 450hp and all the chassis, suspension ,cooling ,aero and drivetrain, and exhaust race upgrades. The car once did 185 miles per hour on the banking at Pocono raceway. It was insured by Lloyds of London, and was eventually sold In 1991. I went on to continue to own my second gen Turbo II, and then my third gen twin turbo FD RX7. Then a car for the wife a Protege EX, and now a 2008 Mazdaspeed3 GT and a 2008 40th Anniversary RX8. (also way back owned an RX3 and two RX4's, both sedan and coupe).
Well I had that RX7 for thirteen years, even while owning my second generation Turbo II RX7. My original RX7 was heavily modified to race and had a Racing Beat built ported and turbocharged 13B rotary engine with over 450hp and all the chassis, suspension ,cooling ,aero and drivetrain, and exhaust race upgrades. The car once did 185 miles per hour on the banking at Pocono raceway. It was insured by Lloyds of London, and was eventually sold In 1991. I went on to continue to own my second gen Turbo II, and then my third gen twin turbo FD RX7. Then a car for the wife a Protege EX, and now a 2008 Mazdaspeed3 GT and a 2008 40th Anniversary RX8. (also way back owned an RX3 and two RX4's, both sedan and coupe).
Last edited by gwilliams6; 06-25-2011 at 01:28 PM.
#322
Mazda of Santa Monica- bad
They're more interested in selling you routine maintenance packages than actually fixing what's wrong with your car. My RX8 was there two days, I got multiple calls about purchasing $1000+ plus of brakes and injector cleanings, and when it left, it had exactly the same problems I brought it there with.
They're more interested in selling you routine maintenance packages than actually fixing what's wrong with your car. My RX8 was there two days, I got multiple calls about purchasing $1000+ plus of brakes and injector cleanings, and when it left, it had exactly the same problems I brought it there with.
#323
Performance Mazda. HORRIBLE
Oh man where to begin.. Performance Mazda Houston Texas South Loop. NEVER purchase a vehicle from them. I actually negotiated an amazing deal for my Mazda. Two weeks later, the entire dealership had been fired and replaced, so that everybody I had worked with was gone and nobody knew me.
To start things off, I bought the warranty from them (including the already there warranty I have for buy a certified preowned Mazda). About six months afterwards, my transmission was grinding gears EVERY shift into fourth gear. Now, my transmission is covered under the warranty in a variety of ways. Naturally, these new dishonest guys were going to try anything to keep that from happening.
First, they told me I was crazy and that they didn't see anything wrong with it. After messing with them for a week I FINALLY spoke with the "Mechanic Manager of Transmissions" (I should also mention I was 20 at this time, and very young looking, so they assumed I was a moron.) He rode around with me and told me the noise was coming from my engine. He said he was a race car driver and that if it were coming from the transmission, I would hear it over there *as he pointed towards the front of the drivers side of the car*. I guess he didn't know that I knew my transmission was mounted RIGHT UNDER MY SHIFTER which is where I felt/heard the noise every time I grinded gears.
After this I was furious and went to the general manager. I told him I have been trying to get my car fixed under warranty for three weeks now and I was soon going to be contacting a lawyer. He told me "Well, we gave you a free 60k mile inspection didn't we?". I said, "Yes, as was written on paper when the person who sold me the car had said if I bought the car that was what you would provide." Some time later, he told me to leave the car overnight and they would find all of the problems.
Two days later I received a call from a mechanic. He told me, "Oh, yes we found your problem. It is actually your clutch. You need it to be replaced and it is not covered under warranty." I asked how much. He replied, "Total $1800.00, and that includes the brand new OEM clutch, pressure plate, throwout bearing, and labor." Furious, I told him he was nuts and I will go buy an aluminum RACE flywheel, a RACE clutch, a new throwout bearing, and pressure plate and do it mySELF for $400.00. (mind you, I don't know anything really about cars and this is my first real project besides my AEM air intake.)
So I drove my car home, pulled out my jack stands(Yes.. I did this on only jack stands.. I recommend a shop with a hydraulic jack system.. But I was determined to reveal these guys as liars, cheats, and thieves.) I did research online and got to work.
$500.00 (after purchase of tranny jack, and rental of a few special tools), and four weekends later, it was finally all installed. (Now that I know how I could do it in a weekend lol). And OF COURSE whadda you know, STILL grinding in fourth gear. I was furious. I was so tempted to just go scream at everybody in that dealership for trying to make me pay $1800.00 for something they know is a lie.
I ended up saying it wasn't worth it and I will simply take my business elsewhere.
I located a Joe Myers Mazda dealership in NORTH HOUSTON and took my car there. IN TEN MINUTES guys, TEN minutes, they said "Yep, your third gear synchro is bad. Your warranty will cover a tranny rebuild. Oh also, your engine mounts need to be replaced before they cause some serious damage, your warranty will cover that as well would you like to have us do that?".
I paid a $100.00 deductible and had my car back and ready to ride in less than a week. Absolutely amazing. NEVER purchase a vehicle from Performance Mazda in south west Houston on HWY 59.
To start things off, I bought the warranty from them (including the already there warranty I have for buy a certified preowned Mazda). About six months afterwards, my transmission was grinding gears EVERY shift into fourth gear. Now, my transmission is covered under the warranty in a variety of ways. Naturally, these new dishonest guys were going to try anything to keep that from happening.
First, they told me I was crazy and that they didn't see anything wrong with it. After messing with them for a week I FINALLY spoke with the "Mechanic Manager of Transmissions" (I should also mention I was 20 at this time, and very young looking, so they assumed I was a moron.) He rode around with me and told me the noise was coming from my engine. He said he was a race car driver and that if it were coming from the transmission, I would hear it over there *as he pointed towards the front of the drivers side of the car*. I guess he didn't know that I knew my transmission was mounted RIGHT UNDER MY SHIFTER which is where I felt/heard the noise every time I grinded gears.
After this I was furious and went to the general manager. I told him I have been trying to get my car fixed under warranty for three weeks now and I was soon going to be contacting a lawyer. He told me "Well, we gave you a free 60k mile inspection didn't we?". I said, "Yes, as was written on paper when the person who sold me the car had said if I bought the car that was what you would provide." Some time later, he told me to leave the car overnight and they would find all of the problems.
Two days later I received a call from a mechanic. He told me, "Oh, yes we found your problem. It is actually your clutch. You need it to be replaced and it is not covered under warranty." I asked how much. He replied, "Total $1800.00, and that includes the brand new OEM clutch, pressure plate, throwout bearing, and labor." Furious, I told him he was nuts and I will go buy an aluminum RACE flywheel, a RACE clutch, a new throwout bearing, and pressure plate and do it mySELF for $400.00. (mind you, I don't know anything really about cars and this is my first real project besides my AEM air intake.)
So I drove my car home, pulled out my jack stands(Yes.. I did this on only jack stands.. I recommend a shop with a hydraulic jack system.. But I was determined to reveal these guys as liars, cheats, and thieves.) I did research online and got to work.
$500.00 (after purchase of tranny jack, and rental of a few special tools), and four weekends later, it was finally all installed. (Now that I know how I could do it in a weekend lol). And OF COURSE whadda you know, STILL grinding in fourth gear. I was furious. I was so tempted to just go scream at everybody in that dealership for trying to make me pay $1800.00 for something they know is a lie.
I ended up saying it wasn't worth it and I will simply take my business elsewhere.
I located a Joe Myers Mazda dealership in NORTH HOUSTON and took my car there. IN TEN MINUTES guys, TEN minutes, they said "Yep, your third gear synchro is bad. Your warranty will cover a tranny rebuild. Oh also, your engine mounts need to be replaced before they cause some serious damage, your warranty will cover that as well would you like to have us do that?".
I paid a $100.00 deductible and had my car back and ready to ride in less than a week. Absolutely amazing. NEVER purchase a vehicle from Performance Mazda in south west Houston on HWY 59.
#325
I already posted about Hixon Mazda in Alexandria, LA but I found something that I thought I should share. While collecting my receipts before taking the car to another dealer for what will inevitably be a new engine I noticed something very disturbing. I had the oil changed only once at the dealer due to the cost and the fact that they didn't replace the gasket on the oil drain plug, and also destroyed the plug itself. Well while examining my receipts it seems that they also didn't bother to put the correct oil in the thing. The previous owner, who I happened to track down, had it serviced at the dealer until she sold it. Now I wonder if putting the wrong oil in it had some impact on the dead engine?? Avoid Hixon Mazda at all costs.