Other_Dave

From the above referenced citation:
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This class action is for residents of Pennsylvania and New Jersey only.

If you are not a resident of PA or NJ, please click here to register your complaint against Kia Motors America, Inc.

The suit alleges brake defects in the company's 1998, 1999 and 2000 Sephia models, claiming Kia Motors has known for several years that the brake system in the Sephia model is defective

The problem, which results in premature wear of the front brake rotors, causes the brakes to grind and the vehicle to vibrate, and requires continuous replacement of the brake pads and rotors. In 1996 and 1997, Kia issued Technical Service Bulletins (TSB's) pertaining to this problem in subsequent Sephia models.



If you feel you qualify for damages or remedies that might be awarded in this class action please fill out the form below.
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I don't squeakiness listed. I read this to mean they are suing about a brake wear/ vibration issue.

Mr M

I used to work for MB, we had customers asking for buy-backs because of squeaking brakes, so it IS an issue! The more money a customer pays for a car the more perfect he/she expects it to be.

No new car should have squeaking brakes, they are designed to be quiet. If through no misuse of the driver they make noise, then he/she has the right to complain.

F1michel, talk to your dealer and ask if there might be something about your driving habits that is causing the squeaking. If there is nothing apparent, then try and negotiate with them to do what they can to alleviate the problem. Possibilities are chamfering/slotting the pads, spreading goo on the backs of them, etc. etc.

At worst, you could just install some aftermarket pads, and try claiming the money back from Mazda. You have a record of complaints and warranty repairs already, so if you attach all of that you may have a case. Ask for your dealers cooperation in assembling the back-up documentation.

And I wouldn't use the Kia case as an example if I were you, that is a completely different issue (brake pad wear and vibration is a safety issue, noise is not).

PoLaK

iTrader: (1)

I've got this problem i goes away when i brake hard so this is my theory.

When braking lightly the shim that hold the caliper in place slides around producing the squeak. There is a grease of some sort they put on to prevent this but after a couple thousand miles the grease must dissipate.

They sell a compound at AutoZone it’s made by CRC that goes on your shims im going to go try this soon see what happens I’ll let you know how it turns out.

RX8-TX

What do you mean by 'Not working properly'?
Are you having problems stopping your vehicle?
Have the brakes failed?
Do your pads wear unusualy quick?
Are your rotors warped or deteriorating?
If you can't answer yes to any of those questions, there is probably no grounds whatsoever for a law suit -at least not one that'll hold water.

loco4rx8

Well, first of all, there's nothing wrong with the brakes in terms of how they work. They work perfectly.

The squealing has been there and bothered me from 3,000 miles to 20,000 miles, but when I took it in for my latest service, they did a thorough brake inspection and told me my brakes looked perfect. They said I should go out and do some "aggressive braking."

Now, I'm not thrilled about this squealing issue, and I would like to see Mazda address it, but a class action suit is just kind of over the top, in my opinion.

Patience is a virtue. Let Mazda figure the problem out. You may get new brakes out of it, and all you're losing in the meantime is a little pride.

Nubo

FYI, all brakes "squeak". It's just a matter of whether or not the noise is within the frequency range of human hearing. Any number of variables can affect this; apparently Mazda is looking into finding the one that can be most reasonably and effectively changed. Not grounds for a lawsuit, imo, unless there is some other adverse effect, as RX8-TX is pointing out.

Blackout13

Everyone just chill a bit... man, you'd think this thread was pertaining to defective artifical aortic valves. If you really want Mazda (and the dealerships) to take notice, simply take your car in every couple of thousand miles (that's a few thousand kilometers for the Canadians among us) - tell the dealership to fix your brakes. I tell 'em to fix mine every time I've been in for an oil change. The last time I was in, the dealer told me that they'd been seeing this problem more and more and that Mazda was trying to source new pads. I wouldn't mind a new set of pads once I hit around 30-40k miles - especially since they'd be under warranty.

Ahhh... but that just me - I'm a different breed of cat.

Tony Orlando

The Kia lawsuit you reference is in regard to a defect that causes poor brake performance and increased cost to owners due to premature rotor wear. This is an issue of safety, not an annoying squeek.

Mine have been doing it for the last few thousand miles, and I too deal with it. Maybe they glaze from light use? Maybe rust particles accumulate on the rotor from moisture, then get trapped in the pad? Who knows? Just as they figured out all the other things in the current list of TSBs, they will figure this out, too. I wouldn't hold my breath for free brake pads, though. It's not a safety issue or performance issue, such as the AC amplifier or Pass. air bag, so it's doubtful that they'd issue a recall.

Detroit RX8

Well at least I'm not the only one.. mine have been screaming since about 2500 mi..

apaul

Hey Pete! hang in there, Buddy. Similar complaint with the front brake pads on my Mazda6 GT. Godawful grinding, particularly when parking. Replaced within a month.. Mazda had heard a lot of bitching about it. They tested and confirmed. New and improved pads shipped. Fat cat and Blackout's posts indicate that help is on the way. Stay in touch with someone you like/trust at your dealer to keep on top of the issue. Mazda has a lot riding on our members' word of mouth opinions about this, their corporate flagship car. :D

And if I can add: unhappy customers create unhappy dealers who pass on their collective grief to Mazda. (eg. two weeks ago I asked why the replacement A/C amplifier unit was so slow in arriving. "Um, it's on back order from Japan." Duh. I let it ride. Whined again last week to the owner.. "Like the summer's gone.. what's the use, now? " etc. Surprise. It 'arrived' today and is being installed tomorrow.)

Spazm

Can I start a class action lawsuit against people who start class action lawsuits at the drop of a dime?

"Someone farted in an elevator that I was in and caused me major discomfort. I'm starting a class action lawsuit because the elevator companies should ventilate their elevators better."

Look, I understand your complaints about the squeaky brakes. But a class action lawsuit...

Oh well, its truly becoming the american way...win a lawsuit, get rich never work a day. And so many people complain about us outsourcing jobs!

nt5k

You wanna see a car with brake issues? Go drive a WRX, it just loves to kick on the ABS at every little bump in the road. You have a car that gets the same braking as cars costing 2-4x as much. A little squeeking is more than ok by me.

SethMcMichael

I agree with you. I wish I could give my car back. I’m getting so tired of the low power, horrible gas mileage, and squeaky brakes. I know I didn’t buy the car with squeaky brakes and its not normal for them to do that. How are going to know when the brakes are getting low. What if some idiot didn’t change his brakes because they always are making noise. And then one day they fail and he dies. I bet that could be a lawsuit. Another thing, would anyone buy this car if they the salesman told them in about 5-10XXX miles your brakes will start to squeak but its no problem, you will just have to wait until we find a solution. I don’t understand how Mazda can mess up on brakes. They have been making cars for years and to screw up something so simple.

Pete

Read what I wrote again. Seriously .... you really do have the iq of a snail

Pete

Obviously the brakes are making that high pitch noise becasue somthing is not working properly. I'm just being proactive and trying to avoid a Major issue later on.

I've been trying to get a straight answer from mazda for the past year. They've been giving me the run around. I just want some sort of resolution. Obviously some others don't care for that ...

Pete

Thanks to all of those who agree with some of the things i'm saying.

To each there own opinion.

Other_Dave

Again, your citation is:
------------------------------------------------------
This class action is for residents of Pennsylvania and New Jersey only.

If you are not a resident of PA or NJ, please click here to register your complaint against Kia Motors America, Inc.

The suit alleges brake defects in the company's 1998, 1999 and 2000 Sephia models, claiming Kia Motors has known for several years that the brake system in the Sephia model is defective

The problem, which results in premature wear of the front brake rotors, causes the brakes to grind and the vehicle to vibrate, and requires continuous replacement of the brake pads and rotors. In 1996 and 1997, Kia issued Technical Service Bulletins (TSB's) pertaining to this problem in subsequent Sephia models.

If you feel you qualify for damages or remedies that might be awarded in this class action please fill out the form below.
-----------------------------------------------------

I still don't see any reference to noise or squeaking whatsoever in the class action you cited. As far as I can tell you would be the first class action lawsuit for brake noise.



I'm sorry you feel the need to be insulting. You've made a personal attack on everyone in the thread who's disagreed with you, but have not countered any arguments.

From the User Conduct section of the Forum rules:
1. This is not a flame war site, so please do not engage in such. No distinction will be made between the instigator and those who merely participate.

2. Personal attacks against other forum members will not be tolerated, nor will any type of "trolling" for a fight.

4. Be respectful. This is harder to define, but will be moderated. If a moderator believes you are being purposefully disrespectful to a fellow member, you will be notified.


--Dave.

93rdcurrent

Pete, Relax. It seems to me that there are a lot of people here who only heard a small part of what you were trying to say, let me sum up what they heard here: "Class Action Lawsuit". I think I got the gist of it. I heard the rest of what you were trying to say and I understand how frustrating it is. Just about as frustrating as the squeaky and rattling doors were for me when the weather cooled down up here. I took my car in several times before they agreed to have a local car audio installer try dynomat. But they did with a little complaining on my end.

I wouldn't jump into a class action lawsuit right away over this issue unless MNAO were refusing to deal with it. They are trying to come up with a solution so I would say ignore all the people who just hat lawyers. I have a squeakiness to my brakes to but only when the temp drops to freezing levels. I hope that the new brake pads will end it. And I can apreciate why you want your car to look and sound great because I do to. The last thing I wanted to hear from my passengers was, "Wow what a great looking car!" and then to get in and start to drive around and hear, "It really looks good but why do(es) the _____________ (insert brakes, doors, dash, etc.) have to ______________ (insert Squeak or rattle) so much?" Kinda takes away from the whole appeal of the car.

And for those of you who claim that it is an ego thing well I have a question to ask you. Did you buy the car solely for the driving experience or was it for the functionality or did you buy it because it looked good and had many of the bells and whistles of other cars you were interested in? How about curb appeal? I will be man enough to admit that part of the reason I bought the car was for curb appeal. I like it when people point and say, "wow what a nice car" or "OOOOHHHH would ya look at that!" It isn't the only reason I bought it but it is a good one. And on top of that squeaking and rattling are 2 very dissapointing things for a car to do. Especially when it is only about a year old. And it can be very irritating as well. Get off your high horse and admit to yourselves that Mazda is capable of designing a brake package that doesn't squeak.

Also someone commented on Mazda being perfectly capable of designing a good brake. I hope that everyone understands that this is the first model year of this car and that some things do need to be worked out. The brakes are new for this car. They aren't the brakes from the Miata or the 3rd gen RX-7 so far as I understand. Mazda isn't going to see the problems with every aspect of the car right away and it is because of people like Pete and myself that the car will become what it should be. So lay off of the poor guy. He's been dealing with a very irritating set of squeaky brakes and is a bit on edge right now.

Thanks for posting your concern Pete I hope your brakes get fixed soon.

gansan

Pete, you have the right to your opinion on how your brakes should work, of course. However, from what I can see, the lawsuit you are citing has to do with "grinding" and "vibration," and premature wear, which are substantially different from your squeaking, but fully functional brakes. Also, if you ever hear the brakes in a race car, you will find them horrifying, with god-awful screeching sounds coming from them. This is a result of selecting brake pad compounds for best performance (fade resistance, coefficient of friction), rather than softer compounds that provide quiet braking. It can also be a result of the rotors getting glazed by high heat levels. My guess is that Mazda deliberately chose brake pads that are more prone to squeaking in order to provide agressive braking response and feel. Their idea of the right compromise is probably not the same as yours.

I think that changing the brake pads to another brand will cure the problem, but will result in a different braking feel. If the Mazda dealer puts in factory pads again, you will probably have the same problem repeatedly.

SpinninAgain!

93rdcurrent,
Nice post. You summed up the thread nicely. Pete hears, "Squeek" but all the rest of us heard was, "Lawyers". We all need to chill a bit...

Pete,
Have you tried the full brake-bedding procedure referenced by rx8cited on p.1 of this thread? The author is a brake system pro. Can't hurt to try it IMO. (I've only had my RX-8 for 9 days/700 miles so I'm waiting a bit longer myself.)

rx8cited

Pete,
I forgot to mention that my friend who has a 2004 Corvette says that it states in the Corvette's manual that brake squealing is normal for that car.

Another person I met owns a 1994 Camry and has taken their car to the Toyota dealer a countless number of times unable to get rid of that car's brake squeal.

This is my first car with squeally brakes.

Anyone else care to add their "high-performance" sports car (RX-7, 350Z, Corvette, etc) brakes experiences?

I'm not saying we should not complain about the squealing ........ I'd just like to learn about how widespread the problem is with this car and others for comparison.

rx8cited

DOMINION

OK I got news. I have brake issues too. I get a real bad wabble on my right front wheel. Went to Mazda and the service guy tells me: "it's the road"... I told him: "Ok do I look like a jackass?".
He said: "It's the way the road is made in a slant to keep people from falling a sleep".
I said get in my car. We go around the block. I get up to 50mph then just put my foot on the brakes like I normaly do and my right front wheel was all over the road. The stearing wheel was all over my had too.
I told him: "WTF is that the road too"?.
He said: Well I only have one guy to look at your car and he dont have time today to do it. I told him all you have to do is tell me to come back later or tomorrow this way you dont look like you dont know WTF your talking about. He was quite after that.
Turns out it shakes even more when I go down hill and its not my alingment its the whee. I think I have warped roators. But I will find out this Sat...
~Gilbert.

Pete

Dave, please tell me your kidding me. Let me put it in simpler terms for you. When there is a large GAP between the PAD and the DISC, dust, debris, dirt ...etc may get caught in between causing noise. If that’s the case , then something may be grooving the actual disc causing DAMAGE. Outcome would result in a machine down of the brake in which costs $$$. Squeaking may lead to something more !

1.You say that I haven't made any legitimate comments, I believe I stated my point, and responded appropriately. I’ve been attack this entire time. I’m not going to stand here and have people bash me for my opinion. . I’ve made tones of justifiable arguments in which some other tend to agree with.

2. I can recall you attacked me first. You tend to have A.D.D. You should seriously consider reading back in the thread before commenting any further. If someone needs to read the rules it should be you.

Every time you’ve responded I’ve type more then 2 lines. I think my responses to this thread or your questions in general were more mature then your attacks

Pete

Right on the nose. Maybe a law suit would be a bit far fetched, but I was really frustrated at that point. Thanks for clarifying my thoughts for others.

Pete

I understand that rx8cited. But even at 5000 km ??? shouldn't it be later on in the life of the brakes ?