NHTSA Complaint #10228764 — 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2004 MAZDA3 SPORT GT WHICH I PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2004. THE CAR HAS BEEN RUSTPROOFED BY KROWN SINCE IT'S FIRST YEAR, IS WASHED AT LEAST ONCE PER WEEK (MORE OFTEN IN WINTER MONTHS), AND IS OTHERWISE VERY WELL MAINTAINED. CURRENTLY I AM HAVING TO DEAL WITH A MAJOR RUST ISSUE WHICH, FROM READING MAZDA FORUM ENTRIES, IS PROVING TO BE EXTREMELY COMMON IN MY YEAR AND MAKE OF CAR. FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS THERE HAS BEEN COMPLETE RUSTING ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR WHEEL WELLS WHICH HAS BEEN MENTIONED TO MY DEALERSHIP, TO NO AVAIL. NOW I ALSO HAVE RUSTING AT THE BOTTOM OF BOTH REAR PASSENGER DOORS, AND AT THE SEAMS BY THE BUMPER. ASIDE FROM THAT ISSUE, THE PAINT ON ALL 4 DOORS AND ON THE LIFTGATE (IT IS A HATCHBACK) IS BLISTERING! I DID BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT WAS FLATLY TOLD THAT THERE IS ONLY A "PERFORATION" WARRANTY WHICH ONLY PERTAINS TO ACTUAL HOLES. MAZDA CANADA IS THEREFORE UNWILLING TO HELP DEFRAY ANY PART OF THE CONSIDERABLE REPAIR BILL. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO 3 SHOPS TO GET REPAIR ESTIMATES WHICH RANGE IN COST FROM $1000 TO FIX JUST THE OBVIOUS RUST SPOTS TO $1800 TO ALSO ADDRESS ALL THE BLISTERING. BASICALLY MOST OF THE CAR, WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF THE FRONT HOOD (WHICH I HAD COVERED IN CLEAR COATING WHEN I GOT IT) AND THE ROOF, NEEDS TO BE SANDBLASTED AND COMPLETELY REFINISHED TO PROPERLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE. ALL SHOPS I'VE SPOKEN TO FIND THIS RUSTING/BLISTERING ISSUE ON A 2004 WELL-MAINTAINED CAR TO BE VERY UNUSUAL AND ATTRIBUTE IT TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. ONE PLACE EVEN MENTIONED THAT HE RECENTLY REFINISHED TWO OTHER MAZDA 3S IN THE SAME COLOR AS MINE (WINNING BLUE). SINCE THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WITH THE ORIGINAL PAINTING OF THE CARS, MAZDA CANADA SHOULD RECOGNIZE THIS AND OFFER ITS CUSTOMERS SOME LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE. ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PAINT REPAIRS ARE QUITE COSTLY, THE COMPANY SHOULD TAKE THIS MATTER SERIOUSLY. AS IS, MY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN BRUSHED OFF AND IGNORED. *TR