Hello. Has anyone here used a clamp-on after-market roof rack, such as a Yakima rack with Q Towers, which then put dents in the roof rails that run above the doors of their CX-5 or any other Mazda? I used such a Yakima rack on my Saab 9-3 for eight years, hauling two kayaks on dozens of trips, and never had any denting. So, I re-outfitted the rack for my new 2014 CX-5. I called Yakima to learn what parts to buy (the right Q clips and pads and longer cross bars) and put them on per the instructions. After taking my kayaks on the same road trip I'd taken many times in the Saab, I took the rack off to find that the four touch-points where it clamps onto the car had left dents in the metal. The rack did not damage the Saab but the Mazda roof rails gave way after the first use. I am an experienced user of these racks (9 years with no problems until now).
My local Mazda dealership says they are not responsible for damage done by after-market parts, which I'm not surprised to hear. However, I'd told the sales guy that I was going to haul 2 kayaks with the car and use my Yakima rack before I bought the CX-5, and he said nothing about potential damage. The Mazda district manager told me that their disclaimer about after-market parts is in the owner's manual, which you don't get until after you buy the car, of course. There are no warnings on the accessory pages on the Mazda website, either.
The bill for repairing the dents, re-painting the quarter panels, the Yakima parts I bought for the CX-5, and the new rack I'll have to buy (maybe a Mazda OEM rack?) will come to about $2,400. Ouch.
Do you have a similar story? If so, what is it and what did you do about it? Thanks very much for any input.
My local Mazda dealership says they are not responsible for damage done by after-market parts, which I'm not surprised to hear. However, I'd told the sales guy that I was going to haul 2 kayaks with the car and use my Yakima rack before I bought the CX-5, and he said nothing about potential damage. The Mazda district manager told me that their disclaimer about after-market parts is in the owner's manual, which you don't get until after you buy the car, of course. There are no warnings on the accessory pages on the Mazda website, either.
The bill for repairing the dents, re-painting the quarter panels, the Yakima parts I bought for the CX-5, and the new rack I'll have to buy (maybe a Mazda OEM rack?) will come to about $2,400. Ouch.
Do you have a similar story? If so, what is it and what did you do about it? Thanks very much for any input.
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