Lemon Law on a Mazda

Howdy guys,

Quick question, I purchased a new 2025 Mazda CX5 and it drives really nice BUT, I already had it in the shop 3 times for the same issue.
I’m in the state of Florida.

I-Active sense system failure.
Brake override failure
Engine malfunction, drive at moderate speeds and have the vehicle inspected by your dealer.


The first time I took it to the dealership and they said it was a gas pedal switch. They Replaced it and I was on my way.
Second time was about 10 days later. Same issue on the dashboard.
This time the dealership said that maybe the prior dealership never cleared the error codes and maybe weather conditions were the problem. They cleared the error codes and sent me on my way.
Later on, on the same day the lights came back again.
I took videos and it was nice and sunny.

It’s my third time, the vehicle has less than 4k miles and my wife and youngest son are afraid to drive the vehicle because it might leave them stranded on their rural drive (2 hours each way).

Please advise.

Thanks in advance

 

Call your local BAR association, they will give you a lawyer referral. Lemon Laws vary from state to state. But typically, yes 3 repair invoices for the same issue, the MFG has to buy it back.

But again, state by state it's very different.

Your local BAR will refer you to a lemon law attorney. Or you can look up local lemon law attorneys via Google maps and pick one with a high review score?

Nobody here can really advise you properly unless:
1. They are a lawyer in YOUR state.
2. They are a lemon law lawyer in YOUR state.

If you're by chance in Michigan, call Steve Lehto.


Good Luck.

 

Thanks, I’m in Florida.

I had a similar issue about 10 years ago and I dealt directly with Hyundai.
They never gave me the round around and ended up buying the vehicle back. I drove it to a local dealership and I was handed a check for the amount I paid.

 

Well, nothing is stopping you from sending Mazda a "demand" letter.

You could try that and represent yourself.

But that's the old game of: "Can I get more" from an attorney or by repping myself.

You could try the pro se route and if that backfires, call an attorney. Just don't sign anything. I don't like spending my time doing that sort of work, so if it were me I'd let a lawyer do it.

Good Luck, keep the forum posted on how it works out.

 

Shoulda bought another Taco instead

 

Haha, exactly.

I’m definitely going back to Toyota, I need an SUV for my needs. I’m waiting for the new RAV4.

 

Actually it’s a third time, not a forth time.
On the first time they said it was the switch under the gas pedal.
And now on the third time they said it’s a brake switch pedal that went bad.
I don’t have too much faith on it since a day before they only bothered to clear error codes.

Same issue three times and threes different answers.
Since it’s a safety issue I wonder if I can move on with the Lemon Law.
I had the same issue three times and the vehicle has been at the dealership three times as well.

 

A lawyer will be able to tell you if you can move on with a Lemon Law lawsuit.

As David Gruber in Milwaukee says: "One call that's all......"

You could call Morgan and Morgan, they are everywhere esp Florida, telling people how they win billions.

A lawyer will have more muscle, knowledge and leverage. IMHO.

Maybe you get lucky and Mazda doesn't want a unhappy customer and they buy it back.

Also - research the car and the problem - Mazda forums - are other owners seeing this problem? If they are, it's ammunition.

 

It's really not that hard to read up on instead of asking a room full of strangers from around the world.

https://www.myfloridalegal.com/lemon-law/how-the-florida-lemon-law-works

I don't know where you are, but I think the dealer attempting your repair *may* be as much of the problem as the vehicle. Your description sounds like a guessing job to me, not an @Dm93 'test don't guess' process.

Not everyone does a good diagnosis job. Maybe try another dealer if you have that option.

As an aside, if you are in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco or Hernando county I'd appreciate knowing who you've used so they can be avoided.

 

Direct, call corporate & tell the you want to start the arbitration for Leon law buyback process for a buyback.....
or find a LL attorney, you dont pay them...
The manufacturer does...

I had a 24 tacoma recently bought back just going through arbitration & taking matters into my own hands...
It wasnt even for a qualifying lemon law failure, it was for a paint defect & I wasnt of with them making it right by performing a repaint, or even a wet sand / color correction....
I got what I wanted, every cent came back to me & they also paid for a bunch of modifications I had already done...

Traction may vary by state, be grateful you dont own a dodge....

 

I’m gonna give it a shot and contact Mazda since the wife really relied on that vehicle.
I’m definitely gonna keep you posted.
Also, I’m gonna mentioned that I owned about 6 Mazdas in the last 15 years. Loyalty hopefully will be helpful.

I’ve used two different dealerships on two different towns.

Thanks to all of you for your input on this matter.

 

What about trading it in and taking the loss? Might be the easiest and cheapest thing to do in the long run if you have to get an attorney.

 

You need to spell it out, "you want to start the arbitration process for a lemon law buy back"
Some manufacturers dont have an arbitration process & you need to lawyer up to get anywhere....

Think Dodge is that way, my buddy had a driveshaft completely fall-out of his new 2024 dodge while driving from San Diego to Chicago...
destroyed the underbody of the vehicle, was stuck for 3-4 weeks while car was being repaired.
They wouldnt talk to him at all, had to get an attorney....
According to him, wasnt me on the phone...

 

Pretty clear the dealer is "shooting the parts cannon" at it rather than looking at scan tool data or even basic electrical circuit checks. Go to another dealer. Sales and service depts are managed separately. The dealer that got you the best deal may have an inept service dept, and vice versa. This goes for both Mazda and Toyota dealers.