Black marks on wheels.

[njerald]

I was looking at my daughters new CX-9 (2 weeks old).

There are black marks in irregular patterns on all the 20" wheels.

Used some wax/cleaner but they appears to be under the clear coat. Told her to go down to the dealer and ask for new wheels.

Anyone else have this marks?

[OMF]

I was looking at my daughters new CX-9 (2 weeks old).

There are black marks in irregular patterns on all the 20" wheels.

Used some wax/cleaner but they appears to be under the clear coat. Told her to go down to the dealer and ask for new wheels.

Anyone else have this marks?
Yes, I have the marks, too. Reported my finding last week, 4 new rims are on order.
112182

[l-miwa]

Is this caused by brake dust somehow affecting the clearcoat or somehow getting underneath it?

[njerald]

Is this caused by brake dust somehow affecting the clearcoat or somehow getting underneath it?

Doubt it but really don't care as Mazda is going to have to replace them!

[l-miwa]

The reason I'm curious is that I've noticed the brake dust on my wheels and have cleaned it off every so often, but haven't really paid attention to look for the marks shown in OMF's picture. I'm wondering if this is something I have to keep track of.

Were the marks there when the vehicle was purchased?
Did they appear shortly after purchase?
Or have they developed over time?
Have they gotten worse?

[OMF]

Is this caused by brake dust somehow affecting the clearcoat or somehow getting underneath it?
Nope. It looks like this from day 0.

[OMF]

Q1 - Were the marks there when the vehicle was purchased?


Q2 - Have they gotten worse?

A1 - YES
A2 - NO

[Infymus]

I've found sometimes a wee tad spot of carburetor cleaner will take off stuff like that and not hurt the clear coat. Spot remove works too, just make sure you do it, then wipe it clean.

Of course, if the spots are etched into the clear coat, that's another story.

[OMF]

"Of course, if the spots are etched into the clear coat, that's another story." - And they are. No cleaner can remove them, not even professional cleaner solutions... That's why my dealer decided to replace them.

[njerald]

Dealer tried 7 cleaners and finally came to the conclusion that the marks are under the clear coat.

They contacted Mazda and ordered new wheels.

[Craig-CX9]

I noticed the same thing on my wheels.. I have the GT AWD with 20" wheels. Other than ordering new ones what else can be done? Did the dealer fight you on the replacement?
Thanks,
Craig

[njerald]

I noticed the same thing on my wheels.. I have the GT AWD with 20" wheels. Other than ordering new ones what else can be done? Did the dealer fight you on the replacement?
Thanks,
Craig

No fight. It is under the clear coat!!!

[njerald]

Scheduled for wheel replacement today.

Went to the dealer and left the car. They called and said the wheels that came in were 18'sm and wanted me to leave the car overnight until the new ones came in. No way!!!!

They took new wheels and triers off an in stock CX-9 and installed on mine.

They look good ...........and new tires............

[CX-920s]

I just got mine. GT with the 20s. Mine do not have this issue. Wonder if it will develope? Maybe they fixed the problems on the more recent ones sold? Mine has manufactured date in May.

[Talbot]

It sounds like an impurity that happened to a batchj of cx-9's during manufacturing that must have gotten on the wheel before the clear coat was applied. Strange that it affected so many though.

I wonder what it would have been caused by.

[CX-920s]

Well, guess what? I have to retract my previous statement. After washing it today for the first time I inspected closely and now see that I have some of these marks along with what appears to be paint runs under the clearcoat of each wheel. Also, I have the left drift on any road surface that I drive above 50mph. To the dealer tomarrow.

[OMF]

From the repeatability success rate of the rim finishing "quality" I am positive that the quality management system of the Tier 126 supplier (somewhere in China, I guess) is QS-9000, TS-16949, ISO-9001 etc. certified.(gun)

[cx9er]

There was a thread about the drifting. Did you see it...There is a service bulitin attached to the thread

[CX-920s]

Went to the dealer for service of the TSB. Drives great now. I marked the inside of the drivers front tire and it is still on the same side so they must have adjusted the bushings as in the TSB. The service tech did not know what the mechanic did to the 9. The paper work just said that they performed the TSB. Service manager was out on vacation so Ill have to wait till next week to talk about the wheels. So far the first service visit was outstanding.

[wakblak]

I had this problem as well.
The service guy said the rear alignment was out and they adjusted it.
Drives like a charm now.

[njerald]

New TSB blaming cleaning agents:

http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/02-006-07-1852.pdf

[OMF]

New TSB blaming cleaning agents:

http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/02-006-07-1852.pdf

I have seen a number of CX-9s on the dealers lot, with original plastic cover on the rims. Checked a few for black spots: It's there. If it is not covered under Mazda warranty, then you better off checking them carefully and making an official note at delivery.

[OMF]

I spent a few more minutes inspecting my REPLACED wheels and looked at them closely under a magnifier... The thickness of the clear coat varies between full, thick surface coverage and no coverage at all on some spots around the radius. The larger the radius the thicker the coat. Closer to the centre, there are spots absolutely not covered by clear coat!!!

However, there is no correlation between the black spot pattern I have seen on my original wheels and the variation in coat thickness on the replaced ones (uhm)....

Again, the best you can do: check ALL of your rims CAREFULLY at delivery. Move your car forward by half wheel turn distance, and inspect the other halves. My rims had the spots on one area only, and you couldn't find them facing upwards.

[Craig-CX9]

Update: I showed this to my dealer when I went in for my first oil change. He said that he needed to check with his rep.. a day later he called and said that his rep said that he will give me new ones but it's a one-shot deal. I said as long as you give me good ones that don't do the same thing. I got a call yesterday to schedule an appointment to have them installed.. 4 new rims when I can get in to get them.. and a new windshield.. but that is for a different post (stress crack in front of rain sensor).

Craig

[Craig-CX9]

So, we can't go through a car wash? My dealer told me that I must have driven through something bad. I told him that rain, road dirt, and car washes constitute "normal" expected treatment.. He is replacing my rims.

[vanessamac]

I have a 2008 GT CX9 and I also have noticed black markings on the rims, two of them r terrible, look like brake dust under the clear coat. I called the dealer and was advised to bring it in so he could look at it.* Very disappointed about this.* Only had it since September. Any suggestions???

[njerald]

I have a 2008 GT CX9 and I also have noticed black markings on the rims, two of them r terrible, look like brake dust under the clear coat. I called the dealer and was advised to bring it in so he could look at it.* Very disappointed about this.* Only had it since September. Any suggestions???

Read this thread and have them replaced!!!!!!!!!!!!

[blkspdfreak]

mr clean magic eraser, works on everything (j/k). if everyone is having the same problem its obvious that its a defect, mazda has to replace them.

[CX9ZoomR]

Here's a link to the TSB for this problem...

http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/02-006-07-1852.pdf

[njerald]

Here's a link to the TSB for this problem...

http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/02-006-07-1852.pdf

Try reading post #21 first!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CX9ZoomR]

Try reading post #21 first!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ooops! (sad2) Sorry....

[kosh2258]

For people who frequent automatic car washes, its worth noting that that the soap used during the soak cycles has a mild acid in it to help loosen and dissolve the dirt and road film.
This is especially true in colder climates during the winter. Many washes have the underbody cleaning cycle and those high pressure sprays use similar chemicals.
So these chemicals used in the car washes can have the same effect on the wheels as the cleaners mentioned in the TSB. The high pressure spray can drive the chemicals into cracks or chips in the finish and make the problem worse.


Ted

[vanessamac]

I received a call from local dealership today, advising me that the regional rep said my rims were not covered under warranty. Wanted to blame the spots on a wheel cleaner. I have never took my truck to a car wash, I always wash it myself so I know that is impossible. The black molting is also under the clear coat so I know a cleaner has not stripped the clear coat off. I have contacted Mazda USA and they r to contact me back next week. Very upset regarding this matter. I am beginning to wonder just how good Mazda really is!!!! This is my first Mazda vehicle.

[rk2112]

Sorry to hear all the people having this issues. I would assume if Mazda hears from enough people they will have to do something!?! I run my vehicles through the auto "high pressue water, brushless" carwashes in the winter all of the time. I guess I will just have to leave it dirty. So far so good.........I don't have any of the marks disscussed. I do use wheel wax which helps protect and keeps the wheels cleaner a lot longer. http://www.wheelwax.com/

[jabba]

imo, it's obviously a manufacturing defect. Heck, I've had alloy wheels on my car for 7 years now, and have used all kinds of cleaners on these wheels and never had these black marks.

I believe the CX-9 wheels are aluminum. One way to get permanent black marks on aluminum is to black anodize--this can be done with acids. So maybe the factory was sloppy in cleaning the aluminum wheels and left some acid cleaner on them...?

[njerald]

I received a call from local dealership today, advising me that the regional rep said my rims were not covered under warranty. Wanted to blame the spots on a wheel cleaner. I have never took my truck to a car wash, I always wash it myself so I know that is impossible. The black molting is also under the clear coat so I know a cleaner has not stripped the clear coat off. I have contacted Mazda USA and they r to contact me back next week. Very upset regarding this matter. I am beginning to wonder just how good Mazda really is!!!! This is my first Mazda vehicle.


Ridiculous!!!

The company that made the wheels screwed up.

[rk2112]

Mazda will have to do something!!! I have never had a vehicle with wheel mark problems caused by running it thorough an automatic carwash!