Mazda warranty wont pay for my damaged tire!

maxman319

Junior Member
Feb 27, 2002
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Hi, I bought a new Mazda Protege5 with an extended warranty a few months back. A few days ago, I ran over a large pothole and damaged one of the tires. It has a 1" bulge (like a bubble) but did not deflate or blowout. I took it to the mazda dealer and they agreed that it needs to be replaced. The service department guy called mazda hq and after 30 mins on the phone, they told him that the fine print specifies that unless the tire has blown out, it is not covered by the warranty. Here is what the fine print says:

TIRES: WE will reimburse YOU for the cost of rapair or, if non-repairable, to replace YOUR tires (original tires as supplied by the manufacturer and replacement tires of like kind and quality), for the length of the CONTRACT, if damaged from glass, metal punctures or other road hazard on a public roadway. If YOU have a covered flat tire, WE will reimburse YOU up to $25 for road service. YOU must provide receipts. YOUR tire(s) must have at least 3/32" of tread depth at time of blow out or flat for this coverage to apply. YOU must pay a deducticle of $25 for each repair or replacement.





According to the first sentence, the replacement of the damaged tire should be covered by the warranty. Mazda claims that since it's not flat they dont have to cover it.

What do you think? Please reply here or email me at deadman11@hotmail.com or even contact me on aim at deadman0420.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,374
8,499
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<< Hammer, nail, 30 seconds later its flat. >>

fraud, but nice. i think i might try that.
 

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
35,057
67
91
The tire is damaged to the point of being unsafe, and therefore, undrivable. Politely inform them that, for all intents and purposes, this is the equivalent of a flat.

If you have a lawyer freind, maybe you can get him/her to help you communicate your complaint.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,512
22
81
Technically, Mazda does not have to replace the tire since the tire has not technically failed yet. If you were to drive around and wait for the tire to burst, then Mazda would be required to replace the tire. Personally, I'm amazed that warranty even covers tires at all, most of the time tires are considered to be a wearable item and it's not normal for them to be covered.

ZV
 

DaiShan

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
9,617
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just go run over a crushed bottle or somethin...

oh and whered you get that PLATINUM chain with them diamonds in it.... ;)
 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,154
58
91
Well, it does say:

<< WE will reimburse YOU for the cost of rapair or, if non-repairable, to replace YOUR tires (original tires as supplied by the manufacturer and replacement tires of like kind and quality), for the length of the CONTRACT, if damaged from glass, metal punctures or other road hazard >>

I don't see anywhere it says the tire has to be flat. It says the tire has to DAMAGED.

Unless you didn't give us the whole thing....
 

maxman319

Junior Member
Feb 27, 2002
10
0
0
Well, unfortunately I dont have a lawyer friend :( I did include all the information. It's a simple matter of me (and many others) understanding that paragraph differently than the warranty guy at Mazda. We argued about sentence structure and the 'if' clause for a little while and he just wont get it. The service guy basically said that if you're driving it and the tire blows, call the mazda tow people. THey'd pick up the car for free, and I'd only need to pay $25 deductible. (Btw, the price of a new tire + installation = $170). I'm not sure about the legalities of driving on a tire that is officially considered damage. I'm not sure how my insurance would handle any damages that may result from me having the tire blown out while driving and hitting something.

Anyway, I appreciate the ideas..keep em flowing
 
Oct 16, 1999
10,490
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I don't see how the blue Hell they can argue that it's not covered. It's right there in black and white, no if's, and's or but's. A blister on a tire sure as Hell qualifies it as being damaged. Just another example of a big corperation dicking the little guy. I'd try calling Mazda and talking to someone yourself. If that doesn't work and you can't get ahold of a lawyer call your local news trouble shooter.
 

IJump

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2001
4,640
11
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Go drive around a construction site until you find a nail........

That is not fraud because you didn't put the tire there......
 

puffpio

Golden Member
Dec 21, 1999
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sounds like an asshole service dept guy if you ask me. why not take it to another dealership? you don't have to get service at the place you bought it.
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
yes they should cover it!

I have Big O tires on both of my vehicles and i know they would replace it.
 

LoneWolf1

Golden Member
Jun 16, 2001
1,159
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Your tire is damaged beyond repair. The bubble on the sidewall of your tire is due to an impact break on the inside of the tire. As soon as someone dismounts the tire and visually inspects the inside of it (the tire), they will find where the seperation has occured that is causing air to get in between the cord layers and causing the bubble. I would have to agree with Gonad that you should consult an attorney or contact a local consumer advocate group.
 

Cyberian

Diamond Member
Jun 17, 2000
9,999
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<< I don't see how the blue Hell they can argue that it's not covered. It's right there in black and white, no if's, and's or but's. A blister on a tire sure as Hell qualifies it as being damaged. Just another example of a big corperation dicking the little guy. I'd try calling Mazda and talking to someone yourself. If that doesn't work and you can't get ahold of a lawyer call your local news trouble shooter. >>


That's the way I read it too. The part about the flat tire only applies to their reimbursment for $25 in road service.

TIRES: WE will reimburse YOU for the cost of rapair or, if non-repairable, to replace YOUR tires(original tires as supplied by the manufacturer and replacement tires of like kind and quality), for the length of the CONTRACT, if damaged from glass, metal punctures or other road hazard on a public roadway. If YOU have a covered flat tire, WE will reimburse YOU up to $25 for road service. YOU must provide receipts. YOUR tire(s) must have at least 3/32" of tread depth at time of blow out or flat for this coverage to apply. YOU must pay a deducticle of $25 for each repair or replacement.





 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
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alienbabeltech.com
First of all, I would go to another Mazda dealership if one is near. If that option is not available, call Mazda customer service (ask for a supervisor) and then file a formal complaint against the dealership.

If you are running out of time, pay for it yourself and take the dealership to small claims court - it is very dangerous to drive on a badly bulged tire (of course you could use the spare temporarily until this is settled).
 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
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Be sure to take pictures if you go the court route. Buy a disposable at Walgreen's if you have to.

But I would try another dealer first.
 

maxman319

Junior Member
Feb 27, 2002
10
0
0
As much as I know it's the right thing to do, I really don't know if I wanna deal with a small claims court.. I could try going to another mazda dealership but I'm not sure if it would help. The guy at the one i went to was nice and had no problem replacing the tire for just $25 deductible. But when he called mazda regarding the warranty (just to make sure?) they told him no and told him about the fine print. So filing a complaint against the dealership wouldn't be right.

I may end up driving around a construction yard or accidentally inflating it too much to get that flat/blowout that they want. But do you think they'd try to sneak out of the warranty by saying that it's my fault that the tire is damaged due to improper inflation or something?

Discount Tire Co has the tire i need for $100 or so and it wouldn't be a big deal just getting that and getting it over with. But at this point, it's just the principal of the thing. blah.. Mazda warranty department is supposed to call me friday.. They're probably just gonna say that they wont do anything unless the tire is flat..

rolleye.gif
:disgust:
 

Cyberian

Diamond Member
Jun 17, 2000
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<< But I would try another dealer first. >>

The dealer he went to called Mazda HQ. Mazda, not the dealer, is refusing.
I don't think going to another dealer would help in this particular case.
 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
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Well that sucks! Maybe, just maybe, that "nice guy" could help you get what you need. Just wink and tell him you'll be right back.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
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alienbabeltech.com


<< The dealer he went to called Mazda HQ. Mazda, not the dealer, is refusing. >>



Perhaps the HQ misunderstood. Something may have been lost in the translation between the dealership and the HQ . . . YOU need to talk to a supervisor there.
 

maxman319

Junior Member
Feb 27, 2002
10
0
0
nope.. we got all the misunderstandings taken care of.. we had the service dept guy call the mazda warranty guy several times to make sure everything (heh, like it's complicated) was understood. The only misunderstanding is that paragraph of fine print in my first post. I'm gonna go post a link to this thread in protegeclub.com ..maybe they'll have some ideas