Bodywork damage

[tom99]

New to the forum, first post, looking for any similar issues to mine.
I have had my CX5 from new, about two and a half years and done 40,000 miles. Car goes fine, really pleased, apart from mileage not nearly as good as official figures, but you all know that. My issue concerns bodywork defects which started to appear towards the end of the first year, I attach a photo (I think). It shows indentations along the door frame along the length of the panel above the doors, on both sides. Paintwork not damaged.
I believe it to be a manufacturing artifact, stress buckling or something. Mazda UK and Europe, going by the picture alone and the word of the mazda dealer workshop manager deny defective manufacturing process and say it has to be external influence. This also concerns me as I believe this is a structural part of the car and to push the panel in as easily as appears means to me this is still a manufacturing defect as you should not be able to do that.
Has anybody else seen this?

[Willpower]

Do you park your car outside your house at nightime ?   Do you know of anyone local to you that could be very jealous ?   

I'm sorry, but to me it looks very much like some vandal has decided he doesn't like you very much.   

[tom99]

It is parked off the road in the drive in the front of the house. It is on both sides. Even if it is malicious damage by somebody, surely they would damage the paintwork. 

[Willpower]

A fist or elbow wouldn't break the paintwork.  I'm sorry perhaps I should shut up, but it really doesn't look like anything else.

[xtrailman]

Damage on both sides does not suggest vandalism to me.

The roof is very weak especially in the middle where very little pressure will see the roof depress.
But the area affected isnt.

I have read of roof damage to the hinge area for the hatchback, so roof problems are not unknown on the CX-5.

[BigAl]

Very puzzled about that one, have never seen anything like it. If you're pretty sure its not vandalism, I would post this on Mazda UK's Facebook page and see if they comment. It can't hurt to bring it up in the open. Might even be worth contacting What Car, etc.

Alan

[tom99]

The Mazda view is certainly that it is "external influence" and not a manufacturing issue.
I have lived in the same street and worked at the same place for over 20 years  and have not seen this effect on any of the cars that I have previously owned, hence my basis for thinking it is not vandalism.
If I have done it unintentionally, it can only be through washing the car and pressing on the panel. If it is that weak then surely something is wrong!
I am going to take it up with Motorcodes.co.uk as Mazda say they subscribe to this organisation with a link to it on their e-mails. Their web-site says that "Motor Codes is the government-backed, self-regulatory body for the motor industry. Its voluntary membership.........."
I was hoping that other owners had seen the effect. Whenever I see a CX 5 in a car park, and there are more of them now, I take a look and have not seen it on any others.

[Deeps]

Just out of interest yesterday as I found these indentations unusual to say the least having never seen anything like it in the past, Mazda cars or otherwise, I placed the heel of my hand in roughly the same place on my own CX-5 and gently pressed the panel. Not so hard as to deliberately want to cause damage you understand but more to see how robust the panel is at this point. Having done that I have to say that it would be almost impossible to bring about the indentations as described simply by washing the car unless a Gorilla was doing the job of course and then only if he really put his entire weight behind it.

If it was a fault in material/construction then I think it's fair to say that we'd have heard something about it at this time so personally I am of the mind that the damage can only have been caused by a deliberate action.

[zoomer]

Perhaps apples falling from a tree or something similar

[Huxie]

Something similar reported on an Australian forum:
http://www.ozmazda.com/board/index.php/topic/18409-cx5-unexplained-cant-rail-roof-dents-mysteriously-appear-sunroof-usage/

Pictures attached (hopefully)



Edit:   Please read this http://mazdacx5forums.co.uk/index.php?topic=64.0

[xtrailman]

Good find Huxie.

[Deeps]

Yes, excellent investigative prowess demonstrated. 

[howardsathome]

I have been watching this thread with interest to see what developed. I had a similar, but lesser experience when I took delivery of my car mid 2013.
I wanted something more distinctive than the total black finish. There is a Range Rover model in Black with a silver roof. So I had a sparkle white vinyl wrap fitted to the roof by an approved Mazda local specialist. When the car was in for PDI and pre delivery valet, the valet tried to peel the wrap off thinking it was a protective film! In the process he managed to put similar but smaller dents in the top rails on both sides.
The defects were fixed at no cost to me. However, when the white vinyl wrap was replaced, there were a couple of new small indentations on one side plus indentations in the plastic in fill strips which were also loose in a couple of places. Proved to be broken clips.
It is very interesting to see the Australian posts concerning the sun roof fitment and modified support. Not to mention the position of the foam inserts in the roof, plus a possible temperature related effect. I must say the white roof does reduce the heat effect inside the car on hot days compared to all black vehicles. My problems were all well resolved at a local level.   

[Huxie]

Edit:   Please read this http://mazdacx5forums.co.uk/index.php?topic=64.0

Sorry. Pictures here hopefully:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/51122000@N02/6920j7

[Deeps]

Don't know what Personal Insurance you have - if any - Tom99, (I have Rechtsschutzversicherung which roughly translated equates to legal expenses insurance) and I'd be off hot-footing to my solicitor with all the printed evidence I could muster - various forum posts including from Australia, pictures and any replies from Mazda - and let them get their teeth into it. Even the AA, should you be a member, will be able to offer you free advice.