Charged for an overdue Mazda service...

D

Dovi

Expert Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Messages
1,454
Reaction score
26
Location
Johannesburg
I have a Mazda 3, and I've been due for my 60 000 km service for about two months, but I kept delaying it because of work commitments. Took it in this morning, and they say that because I've now done 65 000 km I will have to pay for the service out of pocket. I think my next service is at 75 000 km or something.

I kind of just accepted that I'd have to fork out the cash, but another customer at the dealership was telling me I'm being ridiculous and shouldn't stand for it. Do I have any grounds to argue? I haven't got time right now to read the terms and conditions so just throwing this out into the universe in case anyone else has had the same thing happen to them.
 
They do give you a few km's leeway, but after X amount over the scheduled service, it starts impacting your motorplan.
 
Depends on the maintenance contract I suppose. I asked Toyota about this previously and the allow for 1000km either way.
 
It's usually about 1000km or a month leeway, you're over both so you cannot argue it. If for any reason the delay was caused by Mazda you could get it done on them, but because you couldn't get the car to them, you'll have to pay. Also check your warranty has been affected, some places it's 1 strike and you're out, others it's two.
 
What about "timed" service intervals, ie. yearly services etc. for drivers like me who do not travel enough for km's to be an issue?
 
With Kia it is 1500KM.
This is for warranty purposes though. I doubt if you go to 1501KM the cost of the service will be any higher.

Does the service plan not expire at 60 000km? Because then you are out of luck..

In the grand scheme of things I would be more worried about resale value of the car that has missed a service (and likely voided warranty) by such a margin.
 
I had a similar argument with Nissan, during the warranty period. I knew I was going to take a long trip in my 4 x 4 and hence wanted to do the service before the trip, BUT it was "too early" according to them and they refused to do the service. I showed them the next chance I would have to do the service would mean the vehicle would be over the 1000 km mark and the service would be now possibly be 5 000 km over the mark.

Ended up paying for the service out of my pocket, just to get it done before the trip.
 
shinji said:
What about "timed" service intervals, ie. yearly services etc. for drivers like me who do not travel enough for km's to be an issue?
Click to expand...

You get a month roundabout. Though it's preferable to do it yearly
 
Dovi said:
I have a Mazda 3, and I've been due for my 60 000 km service for about two months, but I kept delaying it because of work commitments. Took it in this morning, and they say that because I've now done 65 000 km I will have to pay for the service out of pocket. I think my next service is at 75 000 km or something.

I kind of just accepted that I'd have to fork out the cash, but another customer at the dealership was telling me I'm being ridiculous and shouldn't stand for it. Do I have any grounds to argue? I haven't got time right now to read the terms and conditions so just throwing this out into the universe in case anyone else has had the same thing happen to them.
Click to expand...

5,000km over the service schedule is a fair amount. I don't think you have any room to argue.
 
talk to them nicely, I am sure they can come to terms. some people go far over, because of the payment.
 
You're lucky they didn't void your plan.
 
Read the terms and conditions of your warranty and/or service plan.

It's all in there.

And they are perfectly right to make you pay for it. I'd be surprised if your warranty is still in tact.
 
Last edited:
SauRoNZA said:
Read the terms and conditions of your warranty and/or service plan.

It's all in there.

And they are perfectly right to make you pay for it. I'd be surprised if your warranty is still in tact.
Click to expand...

Yip, he's lucky if they don't cancel his warranty and balance of motor/service plan.
 
pinball wizard said:
Yip, he's lucky if they don't cancel his warranty and balance of motor/service plan.
Click to expand...

This reminds me of an ex-colleague who I took a lift with around the block and could literally feel the wheel balancing/alignment being completely out and the car stuttering.

Asked him what the hell since it's a pretty new car, has it been serviced?

Told me oh yeah but he'll take it in at the end of the year when it's due. So I said how many kilometres, don't remember but it was way over two service intervals already.

Explained to me that he can choose to take it in at the mileage or every two years. I was like no buddy it's EITHER OR whichever comes first, not your choice and pretty sure it's annually not bi-annually.

Pretty sure his warranty was long gone.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Read the terms and conditions of your warranty and/or service plan.

It's all in there.

And they are perfectly right to make you pay for it. I'd be surprised if your warranty is still in tact.
Click to expand...

Nope. Delta tried the same thing a few years back - charged me more (15%; not the whole thing) due to a timing issue. Warranty still in place.

They eventually stopped doing this as it pissed off a lot of customers.

So OP, go and complain. If I were you I would swear never to do business with them or Mazda again. Don't accept this as being "perfectly right" to make you pay for entire service.
 
Splinter said:
Nope. Delta tried the same thing a few years back - charged me more (15%; not the whole thing) due to a timing issue. Warranty still in place.

They eventually stopped doing this as it pissed off a lot of customers.

So OP, go and complain. If I were you I would swear never to do business with them or Mazda again. Don't accept this as being "perfectly right" to make you pay for entire service.
Click to expand...

Lol
Sign a contract and then complain when you break it

Ok
 
Oh I argued with Nissan for years over the matter to the highest level. Nissan HQ eventually agreed with me that dealerships should treat "early" service requests on a case-by-case basis, especially when a customer offers a reasonable reason why the service should be done "early". Received a discount on my first (and last Agent service) out of Warranty service.

But not sure how successful a person will be who just ignores the warranty service rules.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X