All right, maybe this has already been mentioned, but I couldn't find it in a search. Anyway, has anyone noticed a big crease in the bottom of their strut brace? It's towards the right hand side of the car (driver side) right above where the air intake manifold runs under it. The crease runs parallel with the length of the strut bar, maybe an inch and a half to two inches. I wouldn't have known it was there unless I ran my hand underneath it. Is this something everyone has? Why is it only on one side? It doesn't look like it was put there for clearance issues, but I don't know why it there at all. Should I start my warranty claim or is this something everyone has?

 

I can't say why it's there, but I can at least verify that mine has the same crease on the bottom side of the strut tower brace directly above the intake.

Knowing that we both have it I'm not worried about it. One of the far far future mod plans includes a four point strut tower brace anyway :D

 

Well, knowing that somebody else has it makes me feel a little better. I just have no idea why it's there and why it's only on one side.

 

I suspect it may be a crumple zone, designed as a breaking point during front-side impacts.

 

I also noticed it yesterday. I wonder if this should be brought to Mazda's attention?