Looking for advice on dealing with car dealership over "repairs"

[Bassmatt]

I'll try to keep this as short as possible without leaving any relevant info out.
In Feb 2010 I leased a Mazda BT50 ute. Around April of this year the whole steering column developed a very violent shake when going around some corners. And I mean really violent and noisy shaking so much so that it is difficult to hold onto.
They strange thing is there are corners where it does it alot but it doesn't do it all the time its a bit random.
Mazda have "fixed" it on two occasions but not actually fixed the problem.
I have taken it in again and they have had it in the workshop for a week and cannot find what is the problem. They have had specialist Mazda techs have a look and done the obvious things like wheel alignment. Today they have told me that they have bascally taken the whole steering and related things apart and put them back together and can't find the problem. Thay have mounted go pros in the wheel arches and driven it - nothing.
The next thing they want to do is check the "cab mounts" which they say is a major job.
This is where my concern starts - who is going to pay for this?
The dealer states that Mazda will only pay if something is worn prematurely or is faulty not if it has been damaged.
The ute has been treated well and never been in an accident or anything like that.
My feeling is that the longer this goes on and the more expensive it becomes then the likelyhood of Mazda paying for the repairs reduces. Also there seems to be a real possibilty that they will never find or fix the problem in which case I am sure I will get stuck with the bill.
My view is that it is clearly a fault in the vehicle and that as it is a $40000+ vehicle just over two years old I shouldn't have to pay anything.

I am at a real loss as to how to approach this from this point on,any advice will be much appreciated.
Apologies for the long non- motorcycle related post.

[zique]

Question,have you talked to other Mazda BT50 ute owners and found if they have a similar problem with their utes? Mazda might pay for everything if they found a whole lot of Mazda utes shared the same problem.
If it is just yours,well I am sure they'd tried and push the costs onto you.

But then again,I am not very clued up on these kind of things.

[Edbear]

It may be stating the obvious but has it been in 4WD at the time? Has someone accidentally put it in 4WD and/or locked the diffs?

[FJRider]

My view is that it is clearly a fault in the vehicle and that as it is a $40000+ vehicle just over two years old I shouldn't have to pay anything.

I am at a real loss as to how to approach this from this point on,any advice will be much appreciated.
Apologies for the long non- motorcycle related post.

It must be proved it IS your fault for any damage ... for you to pay.

But ... they must FIND the fault with the vehicle FIRST.

Then if it's NOT the manufacturer's fault ... (ie: Fair wear and tear and/or design fault) ... YOU PAY ...

Simple really.

Remember it is only a mazda ...

[onearmedbandit]

I'm in the industry, albeit used car sales. If there is a legitimate issue with the vehicle, and it appears that there is as Mazda themselves have gone to a great deal to find it then you will not be responsible for any costs involved in finding and repairing the fault. Have any of the technicians experienced the fault first hand and acknowledged there is an issue?

[BMWST?]

perhaps try to get a video of this occurence?

[Motu]

You need to be in the truck with a tech and say this is the problem, otherwise they are just guessing on what they think you are describing. Obviously they can't get it to do what it does for you - show them the problem.

[Edbear]

You need to be in the truck with a tech and say this is the problem, otherwise they are just guessing on what they think you are describing. Obviously they can't get it to do what it does for you - show them the problem.

And what he sez... :yes:

[scott411]

i have had 2x4 2 bt50 utes and they both do it, my first one had 20" wheels and did it at about 95km/h and did it from new, and the one i have now does it under brakes into corners, it has std steel wheels, i got it at 110,000km's

if you find a fix can you put it up,

[JimO]

ask your question on the TM motoring board as there are a few motor mechanics on there

[AllanB]

Whats the lease contract state? It will go back to that. Drive the fucker until it falls apart!

[Bassmatt]

. Have any of the technicians experienced the fault first hand and acknowledged there is an issue?


You need to be in the truck with a tech and say this is the problem, otherwise they are just guessing on what they think you are describing. Obviously they can't get it to do what it does for you - show them the problem.

The mechanics have driven it and seen what the issue is. They all say it shouldn't be doing it but cant't seem to be able to pin point the problem.

[Bassmatt]

i have had 2x4 2 bt50 utes and they both do it, my first one had 20" wheels and did it at about 95km/h and did it from new, and the one i have now does it under brakes into corners, it has std steel wheels, i got it at 110,000km's

if you find a fix can you put it up,

Intertesting. This is my second bt50. The first one never did it and this one seemed fine until a few months ago. Of course Mazda say they have never heard of it happening before.
Have you had yours looked at or attempted to fix it?

[Bassmatt]

ask your question on the TM motoring board as there are a few motor mechanics on there

Cheers, will try that.

[merv]

You did say its leased so presume its not your vehicle so if it persists surely you can ask for a different vehicle.

[HenryDorsetCase]

The mechanics have driven it and seen what the issue is. They all say it shouldn't be doing it but cant't seem to be able to pin point the problem.

there you go. It is a problem with the vehicle. Tell them to keep the fucking piece of shit till it is fixed and in the meantime wheres my motherfucking loan car?

[scott411]

Intertesting. This is my second bt50. The first one never did it and this one seemed fine until a few months ago. Of course Mazda say they have never heard of it happening before.
Have you had yours looked at or attempted to fix it?

no, im lazy and just put up with it, i thought the first one was something to do with the big wheels, and since i had brought it new and fitted the wheels straight away i could not really go the daeler, tried a wheel alignment and it didnt work, the guy that brought it off me reckon it had a bent wheel which caused it but i had them checked for balance and they were ok,

the second one i drive now does it only when braking, and since its near 130km old now it will be on us to fix it,

[JimO]

i think the main problem is its not a hilux

[pzkpfw]

Google throws up a lot on these. Stuff like the clutches not being up to task and:


The problem occurs due to a difference in angles of the two halves of the tailshaft where they join at the centre bearing. I have fixed all of these by shimming the centre bearing further downward by 1mm or so using two washers in between the floor pan and the bearing retainer.

Yikes. Good luck.

[AllanB]

the second one i drive now does it only when braking, and since its near 130km old now it will be on us to fix it,


Get the brake rotors checked to see if they are true - I suspect they may be slightly out thus the shudder when braking. Easy fix if so.

[Road kill]

Push it off a high bank,,,,just not into the harbor.

Then lease a Hilux off somebody that actualy knows what their doing.:oi-grr:

[Bassmatt]

Push it off a high bank,,,,just not into the harbor.

Then lease a Hilux off somebody that actualy knows what their doing.:oi-grr:

Can't now, my "flatmate" might see this post.... :innocent:

[scott411]

Push it off a high bank,,,,just not into the harbor.

Then lease a Hilux off somebody that actualy knows what their doing.:oi-grr:

look up hilux problems with fuel injection before you get to high and mighty about them,

[DEATH_INC.]

It needs to go to a proper steering and suspension specialist. Bet we could fix it.
At 110000 k it shouldn't be shot, but this modern stuff is getting unreliable again, I suspect more and more parts are chinese now. I'd make 'em fix it, if they haven't found it yet, it's unlikely to be anything you've done.