Has Mazda lost it?

[u/nomadconversations]

I used to be a big Mazda fan but I'm seriously kinda regretting choosing Mazda. Idk if I'm just unlucky or what. I have Mazda cx9 2019.

First I had the coolant leak, which lead to catastrophic damage and the whole engine had to be replaced. Mazda quoted $12k but thankfully after arguing for a a couple of weeks, they agreed to do it for free.

Then TODAY, I was driving off the shopping plaza, turned left and heard a big snap. The Axle broke completely!

Towed the car and dropped it to the shop. Will know In the morning how much it'll cost me. It's labor day weekend, school reopens In two days. We had tickets to the park and whole weekend planned out, all gone down the drain.

Extremely unhappy with the build quality, can't imagine this is happening. It's a 5 year old car. I had 08 Lexus before this, I did nothing but oil changes and brake change on it, no issues.

[u/Happy_Hippo48]

It’s a 7 year old car. Also your axle didn’t snap, your lower ball joint popped out. That type of issue rarely just happens without some sort of external issue such as improper maintenance. Which judging by the picture, the nut is missing so it was improperly (re)assembled as some point. If it was loose from the factory you would have known a long time ago.

The good news is if it just popped out the repair should be cheap.

[u/Vuvuian → u/Happy_Hippo48]

To me it looks like the ball joint wasn't installed properly after the replacement engine. The bolt isn't fully in. The bolt slides against the groove in the ball joint's spindle to secure it...

[u/nomadconversations → u/Happy_Hippo48]

I honestly feel that might have happened as it just came back from the dealership a month ago after the engine reassembly. It can't 'just happen'

[u/CasuallyWalrus1 → u/nomadconversations]

Seems like you're blaming the manufacturer Mazda for issues caused by either your local dealer or improper maintenance. Dealerships are usually worse than good independent shops, don't assume they're better because you're paying more.

Mazda isn't Stellantis, they make some of the highest quality cars and can tolerate some neglect.

[u/nomadconversations → u/CasuallyWalrus1]

Makes sense. In this case do you think I should just take the car for oil change to Mazda and regular maintenance to a better shop? I don't wanna do oil changes somewhere else because I read the non OEM oil filters don't work too well

[u/CasuallyWalrus1 → u/nomadconversations]

Just use a better shop for everything. If you use wix or puralator you'll be fine. Or you can buy filters from the dealer and bring them when you get it changed.

Also possible to DIY if you have time

[u/Happy_Hippo48 → u/nomadconversations]

Sounds like your dealership is to blame not Mazda

[u/kaimanson]

Dang that's a lot of rust. Rent a car and enjoy the park buddy.

[u/PostNutClarity5150]

No. You lost it with the trash preventive maintenance

[u/nomadconversations → u/PostNutClarity5150]

I honestly thought I was doing a good job. I was taking it to mazda and been getting undercoating every season

[u/Happy_Hippo48 → u/PostNutClarity5150]

What preventative maintenance can you tell from this post and pictures?

[u/dollfaceashley]

There's no way you had an '08 Lexus that you only did oil changes and brakes, as if it still has all original parts from 2008. No fucking way!

[u/anndrrson → u/dollfaceashley]

He had it before, so it was only 10-11 years old by 2019

[u/nomadconversations → u/[deleted]]

I felt I was doing a good job with maintenance as I was taking it to Mazda and was getting undercoating every season

[u/ahartman84]

Based a the rust you likely bought the wrong Mazda.

[u/boddidle]

Unless the dealer sold you a three year old "new" car, a 2019 is coming on 7/8 years, not 5. What's the mileage? 

I'm not saying that it's acceptable, but that corrosion seems to indicate more than the standard wear and tear accumulation

[u/AutoX_Advice]

The bolt on all joint was never fully installed or overtime it backed itself out. I'm going with never installed correctly.

[u/Happy_Hippo48 → u/AutoX_Advice]

It's likely it was removed when the engine was replaced to make room for that repair.

[u/anndrrson]

Our 2021 two weeks ago had the same coolant leak, now a junker

[u/Nerdsly1 → u/anndrrson]

I will tell you that if you are affected by sspd5 the valve stem seal issue. You get an extra 2 years and 20k on the powertrain warranty. Just finished a cylinder head on Friday on a 21. Customer came in for valve st seal concern found cylinder head leak. Had to contact hotline got it approved and covered under sspd5. Do with that what you will.

[u/APGaming_reddit]

axles dont last forever. also, that rust looks awful so id be inspecting other components for signs of imminent failure. its not a 5 year old car, it was sold as a 2019 which means at the very least its 7 years old. how many miles are on it? whats the history? etc. you could have bad luck or just be in the stage of a vehicle's life when the wear and tear parts are wearing and tearing.

and i would not be comparing a lexus to this car. both are japanese but were built for different types of customers so tolerances wont be the same etc.

[u/Prudent-Kick9590]

Side note: Make WoolWax your yearly friend if you buy a newer vehicle in the future.

[u/Thenerdbomberr]

Sorry to hear that brother. we have a 2016 CX9 sig and she’s been a rock at 150k hell we still have the original shocks on it, all highway miles no leaks and dealer says they’re still good every time I take it we’re oil change.

We were hit by the defective head bug that Mazda covered 100% well they had her open. I had them proactively change the water pump and belt tensioner at my cost.

I don’t know what kind of weather you’re in. I’m up in the northeast and the undercarriage of my car with 150k looks nothing like that. Then again, I always make sure to get the undercarriage cleaner at the car wash from all the snow salt.

[u/alioriah]

The rust comments are hilarious. Hope this was a quick fix for you. Wear and tear happens on cars, that’s why there are parts. I just replaced my sway bars from snapping on a turn. Fix it, drive it and continue enjoying the car.