PROBLEM WITH ALARM

[andy_g]

Mazda had no choice but to replace my car because of the alarm fault I wasn't going to wait months and months for them to fix a brand new car.

[lulu_evie]

I'm so happy to see I'm not the only person with this problem. I feel like I'm going loopy - here's my story.

I bought my brand new Mazda 2 off the Mazda dealer in Botley, Oxford. It was a horrendous experience and at no point did I feel like I was a valuable customer to them. It's a 59 reg and I put the order in September 2009, I finally managed to pick the car up on 15th October 2009. No idea why it took so long - and they only handed over because we started to complain. When Mazda UK called to ask if I was happy with the service I said I wasn't - so they said they would investigate. I got a letter saying they were investigating.....did anything happen....NO and this is where the story of complete customer service failure begins.

I still haven't had my complaint resolved, I doubt they even care.

Then I started having problems with my car alarm. It goes off every time I lock my car. I have people running after me in car parks to let me know its going off...helpful...but after almost a year of this happening it's getting a bit tiresome.

So I ring Mazda UK, they tell me to contact my dealer. I contact my dealer, they don't answer the phone. I contact the dealer again - they keep me on hold for 30 minutes (like my time doesn't matter?). I contact my dealer again - whinge at the receptionist so they decide I have to be put through to someone important. They try to help - they agree to me bringing in the car so they can replace the internal sensor. They replace the internal sensor. Does it fix the problem...NO! I let them know (after countless amounts of time trying to reach them on the phone) and they say there is nothing they can do to fix it - and just leave me facing the problem alone.

So the dealership changes hands and is now Johnsons Mazda. Hurrah I think, maybe they'll be more helpful. Wrong again. Give them credit - the first time I ring they try to help. They say they are waiting for a technical update from Japan and they'll let me know what happens, but in the meantime do I want my alarm disconnected. Well no, I don't. What happens if someone does actually steal it? Does anyone contact me from this point onwards - NO. I've tried to ring them, I get put on hold. Or they say they'll ring me back - do they ring back...NO. But is this any surprise to me now, no it isn't. It would appear that all Mazda dealers and anyone at HO aren't trained to ring anyone back.

I've totally given up getting my alarm fixed, I've given up trying, the fights left me. Although I'm still stuck with a £9,000 car which the alarm still goes off. Yes as the dealer pointed out when I bought the car, it's not an expensive car. BUT it was to me. I was made to feel like my purchase was totally insignificant to them. I really wish I hadn't bought the car now as I have lost hope that it will ever be fixed.

Just to add to my misery - I'm sat at home today as my Mazda2 wouldn't start this morning. Turns out the spark plugs had flooded - apparently this again is a common fault of Mazda2's and the RAC have been instructed to check this out before trying anything else. Clearly another issue I'm going to have face.

Anyone have any bright ideas how I can get Mazda to understand how much this is affecting my daily life? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I am so frustrated with the whole experience.

[Si]

Our cars are 08 reg and the alarm problem came along after that, so I haven't experience of the problem itself.  I did talk to my dealer (Hampshire) about it a while ago and I am sure that they were aware of it - so there is almost certainly a bulletin from Mazda to dealers about it.

My first suggestion would be that you contact the next nearest dealer about the problem.  Further up this thread hockeyshooter said that Lodge Garage (near Aylesbury) solved the problem for him, hopefully they aren't too far from you. 

If you can get it sorted by them make sure you write to your current dealer and Mazda UK expressing your disatisfaction with the level of service you have received.

[screwball]

go into the showroom and be prepaired to scream and shout and throw yourself on the floor  if this fails make a big sign explaining the problems put it in the car and park it on there forecourt this worked for my partner when she brought a brand new corsa a few years ago the last one got there attention and the problems solved 

[hockeyshooter]

When I was buying my Mazda over last Christmas, I ran into another customer in the showroom who whispered to me "great cars but the service is crap".

My alarm problem was fixed under warranty by Lodge Garage, an official Mazda dealership near Aylesbury. Has not given a false alarm once since.

[andy_g]

There is no excuse now Mazda have found the fault and found how to fix it LEAST thats what I was told when I was having the hassle with my car by MAZDA UK.

And your right the dealers are crap and don't want to know after they have your money I love the M2 but I will have to think long and hard before I buy another mazda after the months of hassle I have had with them even MAZDA UK them selves were of no help with promises to sort things out that never happened.

Go down to the dealer and scream and shout and make it perfectly clear that this fault has been present for 12 months and they have still not fixed it they wont like customers hearing what you have to say because it shows they are a crap dealer.