Well, I’ve now had one good... and one bad experience using Mazda's Roadside service.

The first was a good one. When my OEM 18" wheel cracked, they got a tow truck to my house to get the car within an hour. They towed my car to the dealership and all was good.

But now, I just had a bad one. Last night on when I was getting into my car to come home from my girlfriend's house (at like 4am) I noticed the tire was flat. After shining it with a flashlight, I noticed it had a small screw in it. This morning, I called for a tow to Discount Tire Company but they said they'd only tow to a Mazda dealership (which is 30 miles away in a different town). Besides the fact that I doubt Mazda will fix the flat, its Saturday and they aren't open until Monday.

All of this is no big deal really because I just took the tire off myself and took it to the tire shop... but... What if I am traveling say on a Saturday morning and I get a flat? My whole trip will be put to a halt until Monday morning??

I really didn’t like the way they told me I had to wait until Monday or find a way to deal with it myself. I guess I should invest in a spare tire kit. A kit they tell you is not necessary because of the Roadside program when selling you the car.

Thanks for the space!

Discuss...

 

I'm not sure I'd press the issue with a flat that couldn't have been Mazda's fault. (I was quite pleased they fixed a slow puncture leak without charge when I took it in for a warranty appointment. Did you try to inflate the tire with the little air compressor furnished in the car?

 

I had a cracked radiator a few weeks ago in a snowstorm. Waited on hold for a half hour trying to get someone, anyone, on the phone before I gave up and called AAA. Mazda roadside assistance is worth what we paid for it.

 

I thought the puncture repair kit was kind of a neat idea until I read the directions. In effect, while it fixes the tire in the short term, it wrecks it in the long term. You're supposed to replace the tire when the emergency is over. At $300+ Canadian, that's an pricey meatball! Still, the compressor alone, without the goop, should at least give you enough air (assuming a small puncture) to let you limp to a tire place.

 

I have no issues with Mazda Roadside assistance. Granted, I have only had to use the service once. As for your experience, my dealer made it clear to me how this service works when I bought the car. I can see your point though when the issue falls on a weekend day.

- Irish

 

I was at the gas station and after filling up and my car wouldn't start. (my aftermarket anti theft device failed which I didn't know at the time) I called roadside assistance to give me a tow. It was 100 degrees outside and they said they would have someone to me in 30 minutes. I waited 45 minutes and they didn't show up so I called and they said they would have someone to me in 1 more hour. So I waited another hour, and I called them again they said they would have some to me in another hour. I got so frustrated at that point I called another tow service, which showed up within 20 minutes. They hooked up my car on their flatbed and just as we were pulling out Mazda Roadside Assistance showed up 2.5 hours after I had originally called them. He apologized for being late, but at that point I didn't care and we just drove off.

To summarize: 2.5 hour wait, 100 degree weather, forced to use public phone because I didn't have my cell, liquor store wouldn't let me use the restroom, just got my borla installed that morning, and it was my birthday.

Eventually I got the car fixed and the alarm company who installed security system reimbersed me for everything.

Luckily this was all local for me, If I had been in the desert on the way to Vegas I would be dead by the time they got to me. Even if they were busy they could have outsourced to another tow service to pick me up sooner. This all happened last year so its well behind me but I have totally lost faith in Mazda's Roadside Assistance.

 

Dont get me totally wrong. I did have a GREAT expirience with the service the first time I used it. Even though there was a small scratch on my front lip which I am not sure if it was caused by the tow truck or not.

But I just dont like how they tell you that if you are ever stranded and need a tow, they will only tow to a dealership. On a weekend, the service is pretty much worthless unless its mechanical failure which in any case u'd be screwed.

I guess I'm 50/50 on it... just wish they'd help out a little more.

 

Question: Does the Mazda Roadside service include non-warranty things like flat tires?

 

It should...

I called the dealership saying "hey I got a flat and my car didnt come with a spare"... and they asked me to call the roadside assistance.

 

Interesting. Guess I should RTFM. :o

 

All I can say is AAA is worth it. I don't trust Mazda's roadside assistance, after what a lot of people on here have been through with them.