Cracks in tailgate

[deisz001]

Hi all,

After reading a thread in a Dutch Mazda forum, I discovered two cracks in the tailgate of my Mazda5. The cracks are located near the hinges. I've attached two pictures of the cracks. I included a ruler (in cm.) to give an idea of the size. The crack on the left is about 6cm, the one on the right about 4cm.

This is a Dutch 2005 1.8 Mazda5. I've already spoken with my local Mazda dealership and they say they have seen this problem in more Mazda5's, even an almost new one. They were a bit unsure about whether or not this is covered by guarantee.

Does anyone here have the same problem with the Mazda5?

Cheers! Stefan.

[deisz001]

Just returned from the dealer who has taken some pictures to send to Mazda for a service request. They say Mazda does not replace the liftgate anymore as they did with previous cases with the same cracks. Instead of replacing the liftgate, they will glue it. (Which I'm not totally happy about :-( )
The dealer showed me an official service bulletin about this issue. Unfortunately I can't find this bulletin anywhere on the net. Maybe someone over here?
Another thing they told me is that this problem with the tailgate is one of the things that was improved with the recent facelift of the Mazda5. The tailgate is now made of thicker plastic. (And that is the main reason I'm not very positive about glueing the cracks: the liftgate isn't going to be stronger than before the cracks...)

Cheers! Stefan.

[coolmazda5]

Hello Stefan,

Here is the list of technical service bulletins (TSBs) for North America, but I don't see that one. Until now I've been realizing that Mazda actually starting selling Mazda5s as 2005 models (after replacing the 1st gen Premacy) in Europe, while in the US and Canada started selling them as 2006 models, so not sure if it applies to us. Regardless, there are a couple of guys from Europe here. I've PM'ed you their member names so drop them another PM, perhaps they know where those TSBs are for the European models

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123724110

[coolmazda5]

Oh, and worst case scenario, tell the dealer to get you an aftermarket spoiler at least (not sure what model you have, if it does not have the OEM spoiler that may help) :)

http://www.mazdastuff.com/product.cfm?ProductID=2717

http://www.mazdastuff.com/custom/productzoom/M5_rear_roof_spoiler_B1.gif

[canadianexpress]

Yup just noticed my have the same problem. Sadly my car is approaching 4 years and most likely not covered for any work on it.

[coolmazda5]

Damn, so they also made it to NA. Anyone else?

[deisz001]

Sad to hear that it's not limited to Europe...
I think you really should try to have this fixed under warranty. I really think it's something that shouldn't happen to the tailgate. And it's a fact that there's a TSB about it (saw it at my local dealer, but unfortunately haven't got a copy), so it's a known issue. It's also a fact (at least: my dealer told me so) that the newer Mazda5's have a tailgate made of thicker plastic. Let's guess one time why they did that...
I contacted the Dutch Automobile Association (ANWB) about this issue, and they support my thinking that if my Mazda5 gets new cracks after the warranty has expired, Mazda should fix it again under warranty. (but I hope I won't have to experience that...)

Cheers! Stefan.

[mazdadude]

I just inspected mine and no cracks.

Perhaps this is a snow/cold weather issue?(sun)

[antlind]

I just inspected mine and no cracks.

Perhaps this is a snow/cold weather issue?(sun)

Perhaps not...I live in Calgary and my 06 is okay so far.

[Zoom5Zoom]

Yup just noticed my have the same problem. Sadly my car is approaching 4 years and most likely not covered for any work on it.

can you post pics please

[Captain KRM P5]

nstead of replacing the liftgate, they will glue it. (Which I'm not totally happy about :-( )
.

wow thats awful. i have not had this happen to mine but will keep an eye out for it.

[coolmazda5]

While driving today I saw a couple of USDM Sports with no popular package and they look rather different, so silly question to the ones with the problem, what type of tailgate do you have? The one with the OEM spoiler or the one without it? Would it be any difference in the design? (dunno)

[Captain KRM P5]

i don't think that it is to be honest.

[dfskinner]

I've got the same problem..... I believe it's from over opening the tailgate..... not sure.......

You know how the tailgate opens, then it will go just a little bit more.... once it completed that second stage I pushed it to make sure it was open all the way and I believe that's when the cracks appeared...... I've had a body shop take a look and they too believe it's stress cracks...... we're going to sand them down just a bit and repair the paint.... nothing much else can be done and mazda is sure not touching this.........

[canadianexpress]

I wonder if this will damage anything if left alone as rain water or even ice get in there in the winter?

[RCC]

I had to go outside with a flashlight and check. No cracks found.

[erik111]

My 06 has it bad, the pass side is small but the driver side is almost all the way from top to bottom of that section of the gate. I will be taking it in first thing Tues. morning. I will try to get pics tomorrow.

[SGT_OKINAWA]

None here in Japan. But still, (boom02) (boom05) I'll keep an eye for it on the Premacy.

Peace!(rei)

[deisz001]

Another injured 5:

Edit: Link To Another Mazda Forum

Hello there,
Forum rules do not allow posting to other Mazda forums but, Would it be possible to post a brief description of the other car (year, trim, etc?). That will help the rest here I believe

Thanks

Sorry for violating the forum rules. Wasn't aware of this rule...
The Mazda5 I mentioned is from 2006. So it is from before the facelift. I don't think the specific model is of any influence, since this is a part that is shared between all 5's from before the facelift. (Except maybe the models with an additional spoiler on top of the tailgate)

Cheers! Stefan.

[thaxman]

Was at the dealer for non-related reason & decided to look at the tailgate because I had heard about the cracks - and YES! Over left hinge. This is a PHX car, so cold has nothing to do with it. I am going to check if it is related to the 2nd lift position. If so, defintely a defect, I would demand coverage after warranty exp from Mazda EU, diesz001.

[deisz001]

From a German site:


die risse in der heckklappe enstehen, wie hier im forum vor längerer zeit bereits vermutet, nicht durch hochdrücken in die 2. stufe, sondern durch die unterschiedliche materialausdehnung. klappe aus kunsstoff, scharniere aus stahl. wurde von mazdaexperten bei der konstruktion einfach falsch berechnet.

dies hat mir mein händler vor kurzem, als meine repariert wurde, bestätigt !
Translation: the cracks in the tailgate appear, as has been guessed in this forum for some time, not because the tailgate is pushed towards the second position, but because of different expansion of materials: tailgate made of plastic, hinges made of steel. This has been badly designed by the Mazda engineers.

My dealer has confirmed this recently when my Mazda5 was in for repair.


Meine Theorie ist folgende:
Farbe SCHWARZ, bzw dunkle Farben, absorbieren mehr bis das ganze Licht und reflektieren fast keine übriggebliebenen Spektralfarben.

Heißt im Klartext: Schwarz heizt sich schneller auf als andere Farben, das ist ja wohl jedem klar, oder?

Somit spinn ich hier mal rum und behaupte, das die Risse vorwiegend an schwarzen Mazdas auftreten, diese durch die Farbe bedingt, höheren Temperaturschwankungen ausgesetzt sind.

Durch die Temperaturschwankungen dehnen sich Materialien aus und ziehen sich wieder zusammen, ist auch jedem klar.

Somit ergibt sich diese Theorie, daß sich eine schwarze Heckklappe mehr ausdehnt und zusammenzieht als zb eine weiße und dadurch an der schwächsten Stelle reisst.


Translation: My theory is the following: Color black, and/or dark colors, absorbs more light and reflects nearly no remaining light. This is called in plain language: Black heats itself faster than other colors, that is probably clear to everyone. This makes me suppose that the cracks mainly occur on black Mazda5's, since these, due to the color, have higher variations in temperature. By the variations in temperature materials expand and pull together again, that's also clear to everyone. Thus this theory results that a black tailgate expands more and pulls together more than e.g. a white tailgate and as a result cracks in the weakest place.

******* en of translation *******
I find this interesting, since:
- My Mazda5 is Phantom Blue, which is reasonably dark.
- Last summer, the cracks almost disappeared while the car was in the sun and they reappeared when the sun disappeared.

(Please excuse me for any mistakes in the translation, I'm Dutch and though I can read German, I'm far from a native speaker :-)

[thaxman]

So then, new poll: for those with a cracked tailgate, what color is the car?

Mine is also blue (Mica or Phantom, IDK, bought used). Its a medium metallic almost teal blue. 2006, AZ desert car.

[Northern]

I checked and I have a crack on left hinge. Time to call the dealer...

thaxman: mine is strato blue, ie. darkish blue.

[deisz001]

Just got my Mazda5 back from the dealer: they glued the cracks, painted it and it looks like new.
Now I hope those cracks won't re-appear...

Cheers! Stefan.

[coolmazda5]

Thanks Stefan for all the updates. Not the best fix at first sight, but on the other side I'm not sure if I would like the dealer to mess with the install of a new spoiler, especially as the model I have has the brake light and sprinkler attached to it.

Anyway, it is not a complex thing, just paranoid perhaps, my experience with people messing with uninstall-reinstall/reattach parts to fix other things has not been very positive. I'm on a "don't touch what is not broken" mode...

[thaxman]

Got a postcard - my tailgate is in. Well, at least I heard they only replace the whole thing. We'll find out.

[deisz001]

Thaxman,

Could you post a photo of the cracks? (Posting photo's may help future "victims" to convince Mazda that this is a factory-defect)

Stefan.

[thaxman]

Just washed it, so I can do that.

[thaxman]

FYI the tailgate comes unpainted AND without the rear glass. I was told it would be a quick swap, but my consultant never opened the box, and instead it spent the whole day @ the paint booth for color matching and I will get to bring it back in a few days. Good thing Mazda is only 4 miles away.....

[brg]

I'm in Winnipeg and have a black 2006 Mazda5 and just had the tailgate replaced off warranty :) They managed to reuse the window. Was in the shop for 3 days. They had me come in and meet the Mazda rep when he was in town and he arranged to have the work done. T

[deisz001]

Hi all,

Finally, I got hold of the TSB describing this problem :-)

Cheers! Stefan.

BTW: My tailgate has been just fine since it has been glued...

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