I know there are individual threads on problems with Mazda Roadside Assistance(MRA) but I've not found anything recent dedicated to collecting how horrible they are and if there is any means of escalation.

My personal outrage with them is that while they were towing my car with only 2,000 miles on it, the driver of the truck managed to place the truck chains across the outside of my tires and rims. As a result the chains sliced a portion of the tire sidewall AND scratched up both rims on the driver side of the car. This is in addition to oil and grease the driver smeared on the leather seats and doors inside the car!

My insurance company will resurface the rims(and they have but did a crappy job) but I believe Mazda Roadside has an obligation to replace the rims they damaged since they had only 2000 miles on them. I opened a claim with them more than 25 days ago and no one there will return any calls. I tried to escalate the issue but no one will transfer my call above a 'supervisor'. This is the most inept excuse for a customer service operation that I've had the displeasure of working with. Mazda Customer Service says they can't do anything to help because MRA is a vendor and they I must deal directly with them.

I'm now asking the Dealer to escalate the problem from their end as I seem to have hit a dead-end at MRA. The called today to say my claim is 'denied' and offer no reason or method of appeal. It's just my problem. Any other suggestions??? Has anyone else had similar run-ins with this group of yahoos??

 

That sucks man. I wonder if MRA is actually the tree to be barking up? They contract out the actual road-side assistance to local companies......have you complained to the towing company. They carry insurance for situations like yours, I would definitely start there if you haven't already.

 

The local AAA that was involved did some rudimentary investigation. They are all useless. The decision from Mazda, based on the 'investigation' by the AAA person is that the damage coudn't have been caused by the tow truck. I guess that means the stone the hit my oil cooler then bounced back on the road, then up across the rims, then across the tire(slicing it) then back down to the road then across the rear rim. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but dont buy the single-stone theory. But Mazda has it figured out! A$$HOLES!

 

Truely the problem is MRA and AAA. You are a customer of MRA and MRA is a customer of AAA. So this needs to be worked out between you three.

Did you get pictures of it, write down a description of what happened and such? The sooner you do this, the better for you in case you have to get the legal system involved.

(Based on the cost of tires and rims, a lawyer would probably cost more then to just replace them! The other thing is once you get a lawyer involved.. AAA and MRA will stop talking to you.. just an FYI.)

Small claims court MIGHT be appropriate for this if you havn't had any satisfaction. Also you may be able to push your insurance company to take the claim on your behalf.

 

your issue is with the tow company.

 

my insurance company took pictures, etc. The also resurfaced the rims. But did a crappy job. They will probably do them again. But my point is that rims that have been resurfaced TWICE are hardly the same as unblemished rims with 2000 miles on them. I'm just fed up with MRA. They just plain suck.

 

Both times: battery run down because trunk was open, once my fault, once my wife's (probably pressed wrong button on remote trying to unlock the car).

First time: roadside assistance (tow truck) arrived in 1/2 hour, jumped car, no problems.

Second time: "I'm sorry, we won't be able to get a truck to you for 6 hours." FTW? I hope nobody out there is actually depending on these guys! I told them forget it, and the security guards gave me a jump.

And then I pulled the little trunk light bulb out of its socket so it won't happen again. I think my battery is the original tiny one.

- Kabong

 

I tried to deal with them this morning as my RX-8 wouldnt start for the 6th time in 4 months. I was on hold for 30 minutes before I hung up. I called the dealer and demanded they get the local tow service out here or that they call the 800 number for me.

My favorite experience with them was when I waited 6 hours for a tow truck and it wasnt a flat bed even though I specially requested one. It turned out to be 8 hours total time.

 

Quote: <And then I pulled the little trunk light bulb out of its socket so it won't happen again. I think my battery is the original tiny one.>

The other option is to disable the auto trunk opener with a switch in the glovebox.

 

I've had nothing but good service from MRA

 

Unfortunately, you're not the only one with car problems. And long wait times in crappy weather go hand in hand. I not sure why your 8 needed a flatbed in the first place. A stock 8 even with ground effects shouldn't be a problem for a conventional towtruck. Deck trucks are usually reserved for the more exotic type or car or mangled wrecks. It's sad to say though that not all towtruck drivers are professional.

 

Read the owners manual as for the flatbed.

I will tell you that tow truck guy asked why is going on with the RX-8s? He said the reason it took him so long to get to me is because he had to tow another RX-8 that wouldnt start this morning and that he has towed 5 in the last week.

I am beggining to wonder about that last firmware flash from Mazda and cold weather?

All I know is mine continually has a power drain and it is on it's second battery in 4 months and Mazda never fixes it.

Mike

 

with all the troubles I've had, cold weather has not been one of them in relation to my 8....and we get frick'n cold weather here!!!

 

It is in the high 20s or low 30s here right now. However, I keep my car in a partialy heated garage. I have a finished basement next to the garage and one of the vents actually goes into the garage. This basically means that my garage is about 15 degrees cooler than my house so my 8 has not been in temperature below 50 degrees.

I am wondering if it is a cold weather issue because of the comments of the tow truck driver and the fact I saw 4 8s outside the service center and at least 2 or 3 in the garage. I could not see all the bays at my local Mazda.

Dean

 

I have had my car sit outside at work for 8 hours in -25f weather and it still starts with no problem.

 

I guess we have established neither of our problems are related to cold weather.

I am waiting on hold with Mazda NA right now. I want to let them know about the latest with the owner saying that if it is not fixed this time that we will look into getting me another car. I think it is a good idea to leave a trail.

 

Nowhere in the manual does it state that the rx8 NEEDS a flatbed. Any conventional towtruck will do the job. Plus in all my years on the road, I personally have worked on them but never towed an rx8. Guys around the shop have towed them, but they're not familiar with deflooding procedures. And it's not necessary to tow for a dead battery.

Mines sitting out in the cold right now and have never had a problem with it

 

Uhm...what could a software flash have to do with your power drain?

I already replied in your thread, you need to have the after market electronics you had added to your car checked.

Don't post any conspiracy theories until you have a viable reason to do so. A software flash has NOTHING to do with a dead battery. End of story.

Had mine parked out all night, dipped down to 5*F, and when I started it, it was around 9*F. It started on the first crank just like always. Now my sisters truck is a different story..

 

Same here. My first winter with it, and we've experienced -24.. celsius.. and it turned over like a champ, every time.
I was the frozen one standing outside it smoking..

 

I am not posting a conspiracy theory. I just saw a lot of posts about cold weather and there are a lot of people such as myself getting worse gas mileage after the post.

As far as the aftermarket GPS and Satellite Radio, I had already unplugged for weeks and the car battery still went dead.

I even said it this thread that it looks like there are no problems with starting an cold weather.

Howeer, the oil companies do add extra ingredients to the gas mix in winter that usually causes people to lose maybe 1 - 1.5 mpg. I am wondering if the timing of the ECM flash and Winter in most of the states is related.

 

Also, just to get back on the original topic. The Mazda Roadside Assistance is the same one used by BMW and Volvo. It is outsourced to a company in Orlando. They in turn pay Triple A who then calls a tow service. There are plenty of places for break down in communications when you have third parties involved.

I had to use the Honda Roadside Assistance once with a flat (no spare on a S) and the tow truck came in about 2 hours. I had to use it twice on my 330CI and the tow truck service came in like 30 minutes the first time and 1.5 hours the second time. My guess is that since all the car companies are using 2 outsourced companies to handle roadside assistance that it just sucks overall now.

However, it is possible that BMW pays more and gets priority. Anything is possible. Anyone else used Roadside Assistance other than Mazda's recently?

 

I *almost* had a Geico Flatbed once, but I corrected before they came, the truck was actually *almost* there. In about 20 mins around 6-7 PM on a wednesday.

What problem I had ? Well, hit a nail and my nice tire went flat got no spare , tried to call my bro didnt pick up, called Geico (didnt bother with MRA), finally found my bro he came and gave me his spare. Called Geico back said Sorry dont need u anymore. Sorry :-D

 

I had to use Mazda Roadside Assistance once now, turned out to be me just being paranoid. But, they arrived in under 30 minutes, and I live way out in the country. It was super cold, and like 10PM at night, too.

 

This seems to be hit or miss depending on the local triple A and local tow truck services in your area. The fastest I have had a tow truck to me was 3.5 hours and I live in a decent sized area (Triad of NC Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point).

 

So your insurance company fixed it, meaning you signed off on the completed work and paid the deductible? Whoever towed it is liable. You would need to file a claim with their insurance, not hard to do if you have it well documented (pics, driver, marks of chains etc...). Mazda is out of the picture.