Moisture in 2008 Mazda5 Taillights! Bummer.

[BeachBumTom]

Today I sent this e-note to Mazda HQ: "I've been anxiously awaiting the 2008 Mazda5. Today I drove to two Orange County CA. Mazda dealerships. I saw 7 Tourings and Grand Tourings ALL with the same problem.......for some reason in the new restyled taillights MOISTURE has condensed or somehow gotten water droplets INSIDE of the lower portion of the taillight!!! At both dealerships, the nice salesmen varified the same finding, water droplets INSIDE of the light itself. At the one dealership all of the wet lights were on the left side only, but at the Huntington Beach dealership their one Touring had it only on the right side. Hm? But every one of the 7 Mazda5's had moisture. Orange County had had 3/4 inch of gentle, gradual rain in 2 days. The salesmen volunteered that it must be a design flaw that would certainly "soon" be corrected. MY QUESTION IS HOW, WHEN, and WHAT SHOULD I DO AS A POTENTIAL CUSTOMER?? Should I buy a car with leaky taillight and get it retrofitted........or wait til Mazda realizes the problem and retrofits ALL cars on all lots. Please, apprise." I sent this note because I really want to know what to do. I love the car but something definitely is leaking and what effect will it have on the lights, the electrical system, the parts setting below the lights, etc. I don't want to start out with a flawed car!?

 

[mazdadude]

There is a TSB for this, here is the link for the TSB, and below is the summary text of the TSB. Could this be what you saw, or was there actual condensation inside the lens body?

http://www.finishlineperformance.com/mazda5/docs/0002.pdf


REPAIR PROCEDURE
DO NOT perform any parts replacement for these two complaints.
WATER DROPLETS CONCERN
Inform the customer that the water droplets will dry and disappear. The moisture is outside of the sealing area
and NOT inside the taillight assembly. Taillight bulbs are not exposed to this moisture and their function is unaffected.
AIR BUBBLES CONCERN
Inform the customer that when manufacturing the taillight, the lens is once melted when it is fitted to the lens
casing. During the process air bubbles may become trapped in the lens. The presence of air bubbles does not
affect lighting function.
NOTE: If a taillight assembly is replaced for one of these reasons, the warranty claim will be denied or debited.

 

[BeachBumTom]

Dear MazdaDude, Thanks. I'm sorry to say I do not know what the definition of "sealing area" is. All I know is that on 7 of 7 2008 Tourings or G. Tourings it LOOKED to me like there were water droplets (3 inch by 3 inch "spot") "inside" of the taillight fixture or perhaps what they might call the taillight assembly.....there were lots of drops and it looked pretty wet. Thanks.

 

[coolmazda5]

I've seen it once on my 06 when washed (humid, hot day) but dried in about 1-2 days. The moist is not in contact with any electric components inside. I understand your concern but IMO it would help you negotiating for a great deal (hey dealer, look, water droplets!) and then, if really faulty needed, replace under warranty 1-2 months later (those install/uninstall quickly as I understand)

 

[BeachBumTom]

FYI, here's what the nice guy at Mazda replied to my observation. While it still is no real answer to my concern about buying a car with a "flaw," it is reassuring. Tom

Hello,
I checked to see if there have been any bulletins yet on this issue. But because the vehicle is so new nothing has been noted. Since the vehicle will come with a warranty that covers the lights, when the redesign comes out you can get them replaced. As for the ones currently in the vehicle that are affected, just stipulate that they be replaced prior to delivery of the vehicle.
Regards, Scott V.
Specialist, Customer Assistance E-Business