Today whilst traveling near 20 miles on the motorway in my BRAND NEW MAZDA MPS 3 I had a MASSIVE PROBLEM.

It was not until I got to my destination that I saw what was wrong and had it confirmed by an honest RAC chap that, the idiot who carried out my FIRST 3000 mile service which was carried out on the 29/06/09 at a dealership in (CANT SAY) (ASK ME IN PM) did NOT tighten up the bolt that is responsible for holding all your oil in your oil sump.

As a result the bolt dropped off today, where ever it dropped off I have no idea but when I got out and looked at the back of the car I I saw oil splatted everywhere on, the back of it. I thought it was coming from the exhaust at first but then checked that and NO OIL. I then looked under the car toward the engine bay and saw OIL pouring out, all over the road and it was coming from the sump.

I called the RAC out immediately and they confirmed and idiot with no brain cells cant even tighten up a bolt on a car !

What I need help with though is because I have had to take the car back to that garage that did the service (As instructed by MAZDA UK after I called them) I have no trust in that dealer what so ever and do no feel confident that they can do the job right therefore I would like your thoughts and opinions on this matter as the car cost me £16,000 brand new.

My friend who is a qualified engineer said I should ...

A) Either be compensated or

Have a new engine fitted FOC or

C) Get a NEW car FOC

This matter could have been alot more serious if my engine seized on the motorway at motorway speeds I and other people could have been killed. The car whilst parked up could have caught fire if oil would have leaked on to the hot exhaust.

Please express your thoughts and opinions on this matter I am seriously considering legal advice on the matter

I look forward to hearing your responses as I am seriously BEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPEEEEED OFF !!!

Bad news that mate :(

I think the best you can expect is a new engine :(

I doubt if you could reject the car if they offer the above.....

All the best though Carl, keep in touch mate

i would ask for a new engine to be put in as there pob was some damage done....

if they tell you that the car is fine and all okay....you must insist that you want a new engine and will not accept the car back until this has been done...

no oil for any time is a big worry damage has already been done

good luck buddy make sure you keep pesturing mazda uk lots and lots

As well as wrecking your engine, the muppet responsible put other road users lives at risk, a biker+oil on road can be fatal.

I would push for a new car, a gesture that you will contact the papers if they don't cough up a new motor should do the trick.

How anyone can fail to tighten a sump plug is beyond me.

also you want in writing why something so basic had not been done properly and you have doubts now to what has been done to the car...

If it really is brand new, I'd be wanting a new car.

I would either want a new engine fitted plus compensation, or a new car

As others have said push for a new car; is possible been there twice myself.

Besides the potential engine damage there the issue of oil everywhere; some parts of a car are not designed for oiling.

Sorry to read this.

I would be gunning for a new car.I wouldn,t want that one anymore.I hope all goes well

drop soapy walrus a mail , he has offered to help with legal advice and may be in a better position to comment.

ask trading standards to get involved as well .

As pete8tch says you need to know the legal position. I would add you must make it clear to the dealer that they can inspect the car but nothing else. As soon as you allow them to do any work on it, you weaken your position, if you want to go for a new engine/new car.

Get a copy of the RAC guys report that confirms the sump plug hadn't been done up properly by the servicing garage.

I get the feeling you're going to need it.

If the car is only a few months old I'd be pushing for a new car as the change in engine code will be noted somewhere and as mentioned there are enough parts of the car that don't like being drenched in engine oil.

drop soapy walrus a mail , he has offered to help with legal advice and may be in a better position to comment.

ask trading standards to get involved as well .

Drop who a mail I cant find any user on here by the name of Soapy Walrus ???

Its 07:44 Hours and I'm ringing trading standards at 08:00 Hours to seek advice.

I'm sorry but theres unwritten rules in the world of Petrol Heads that you NEVER **** with another mans motor that is his pride and joy cos if you do, you are awakening the devil and boy is the DEVIL BEEEEEEEPPEEED OFF A MAZDA right now !!!

Edited 20 August, 200916 yr by Littlebull

Just be forewarned that the dealer will almost certainly go on the offensive, and will want to know why you didn't stop the moment the low oil pressure light came on. You say there was still oil coming from the sump when you stopped, in which case the dealer may well claim that you did not lose enough oil for this to happen, and that they have no case to answer other than the cost of a new sump plug, a top-up of oil, and a good clean of the underbody.

I'm not saying you should accept either of these explanations, however from your description of the events, this would be what would be going through my head if I were the service manager at your dealer's...

Just be forewarned that the dealer will almost certainly go on the offensive, and will want to know why you didn't stop the moment the low oil pressure light came on. You say there was still oil coming from the sump when you stopped, in which case the dealer may well claim that you did not lose enough oil for this to happen, and that they have no case to answer other than the cost of a new sump plug, a top-up of oil, and a good clean of the underbody.

I'm not saying you should accept either of these explanations, however from your description of the events, this would be what would be going through my head if I were the service manager at your dealer's...

THATS JUST THE f****** PROBLEM NO OIL LIGHT CAME ON !!!!!!!!!

If the oil pressure light was not illuminated, then has any damage to the motor been done?

It may have had enough left to keep the pressure up. When I ripped the sump off of my Octavia TDI the pressure light came on and the engine become very rough immediatley

Did it sound rough at all in any way before switched off? I totally sympathise with you on this, what kind of idiot garage cannot even manage to tighten a bolt to the correct level!!

TRADING STANDARDS CONTACTED...

They said get in touch with Mazda UK and mention these words...

As I have a contract under The Supply Goods and Services Act 1982. They have a duty to (Promise services with reasonable care & skill) Now under that clause I do f***** believe that they have broken their end of the contract.

I have all receipts as evidence

If the oil pressure light was not illuminated, then has any damage to the motor been done?

It may have had enough left to keep the pressure up. When I ripped the sump off of my Octavia TDI the pressure light came on and the engine become very rough immediatley

Did it sound rough at all in any way before switched off? I totally sympathise with you on this, what kind of idiot garage cannot even manage to tighten a bolt to the correct level!!

Didn't hear a thing but I did have the radio on quite loud as it was a sunny day and was just enjoying the car. As I said the 1st time i noticed what was wrong was when I stopped to get stuff out my boot and it was like looking at slip stream oil all over the back of my car.

Once again NO F****** OIL light came on. Not happy what so ever because of 1 IDIOT !

I don't think there's any doubt they didn't exercise reasonable care and skill; what I think they may try and challenge is the amount of damage (if any) their negligence caused. Like I said before, if no oil light came on, then a reasonable response to your claim is that the oil loss was spotted in time and no damage has occurred. If the engine runs rough or makes noise or WHY, then you would have evidence that there was damage. If it's just that you lost some of your oil but didn't see a pressure loss light, then maybe you can understand Mazda going on the defensive.

A similar thing happened with my mum's Honda. The coolant cap wasn't fitted properly at service and it ran dry. My mum stopped when the warning light came on and was recovered to the garage. The outcome was that the cap and coolant was replaced FOC and my mum was given a letter signed by the service manager admitting responsibility for the mistake and indemnifying her against any cylinder head or head gasket damage that comes to light in the next 6 (may be 12) months. No compensation or anything however, and believe me, my mum would have got it if she thought it was due.

I honestly expect this will be the best you could expect from Mazda unless, like I say, you have evidence that the engine isn't running as it should be. If the engine is running rough / noisy, you should expect to be offered a new one, but I really think expecting a new car is just going to cause you more problems than it solves, as you don't want to be asking for anything unreasonable yourself.

Sorry if this isn't the news you want to hear, but I think you have to be realistic...

Not clear if the cowboys who serviced the car are the supplying dealer. If so more the better. Write a letter stating that you are rejecting the car and why under the Sale of Goods act. Don't forget to send it by recorded delivery.

Rejecting a car is normally done with the supplying dealer, as they are the ones that you had the purchase contract with. Manufactures tend to keep referring you back to that dealer.

If the cowboys are not the supplying dealer then becomes more difficult, as you are going to have to show that the damage they have caused through their employees negligence has caused irreparable damage to the car.

This would probably require an independent motor engineers report to that effect.

You may have to accept compensation instead, possible options could be to push for an extended manufactures warranty and for the service agent to foot the bill for your car to be repaired elsewhere.

Another option may be through your insurance company, as the car has been damaged by a third party. Although I would seek more expert advice on this before taking that route.

Hope you get the issue resolved to your satisfaction.

BUT HE'S NOT STATED THERE'S ANY EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE!!!

Seriously, a reality-check is needed here! There doesn't seem to be any basis to these sue-sue-sue, compo-compo-compo posts. Tell the dealer you're not leaving until the car's been inspected at their cost, or until they agree to indemnify you against potential damage for a reasonable period. But going on the offensive based on what MIGHT have happened, rather than thinking, 'Phew! That was close! Won't get it serviced THERE again!' seems to me like your anger and disappointment is leading you into a situation where your and the dealer's solicitors are going to be the only winners.

I'm not saying this because I'm siding with the dealer; I'm saying it based on precedent, remember...

I think I see where ap0gee is coming from.

Maybe the OP could clarify the situation - your first post mentions driving 20 miles on the motorway, but you then say it was oil splashes on the back of the car that first alerted you to the problem.

So presumably you had exited the motorway and driven to your final destination. How far was this from the motorway?

You don't mention any other signs of a problem (performance drops, warning lights, abnormal noises) and oil was still coming out of the car by the time you had parked up, got out, noticed the oil splashes, checked the exhaust, and finally looked under the car - how long did that take?

All this suggests to me that the sump plug had not been off for long.

Whilst I appreciate it is poor form on the part of the servicing dealer for it to come loose, I'm sure these things happen on occasions.

Good luck if you want to take this further, but in my opinion having had a good rant should have made you feel better, and I wouldn't set your expectations too high.

In the meantime, more of the detailed facts and less of the sensationalist "what ifs" will mean you get more realistic advice on here.

10:04 Hours this morning

Service department from the dealer calls and the (Acting manager) informs me that they have put a plug in topped the oil up and fired the engine up and sounds ok and taken it for a run and seems ok. THEN... He tells me "I'm just making you aware that theres a DINT in your OFF SIDE REAR DOOR"

My reply "What do you take me for a F****** C*** ???" "That car is my pride and joy I knew that there was no damage on that vehicle when I left it in your compound at 18:55 Yesterday evening AS THE RAC REPORT ALSO STATES !.

The F** T*** didn't even have the balls to listen to my concerns as I expressed my dissatisfaction of their dealership.

10:20 Hours This Morning

OFF THE RECORD...

I have spoken to another Mazda dealer (One that I trust but is 200 odd miles away) service manager there said to make an Official complaint with Mazda UK.

10:28 Hours this morning

Official complaint logged with Mazda UK. I informed them of all of the above and said I will not be satisfied unless I have a NEW ENGINE & TURBO FITTED F.O.C. and further have the damage caused by the dealership repaired to a satisfactory standard F.O.C. on the OFF SIDE REAR DOOR. Otherwise I shall be calling the Police and making an official LOG of either WRECKLESS or CRIMINAL DAMAGE.

10:46 Hours this morning

Informed SANTANDER FINANCE of my official complaint with MAZDA UK and informed them that I shall not be paying them unless the above is carried out to my satisfaction as MAZDA UK will be in breach of contract if they do not carry out the work that is required. I was informed they are sending me out an official letter of complaint that I need to fill in and send back to them.

RANT DONE GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR !

I will not be satisfied unless I have a NEW ENGINE & TURBO FITTED F.O.C...Informed SANTANDER FINANCE of my official complaint with MAZDA UK and informed them that I shall not be paying them unless the above is carried out to my satisfaction as MAZDA UK will be in breach of contract if they do not carry out the work that is required...

Seriously, on what evidence are you saying you need a new engine and turbo? Unless there's any sign of damage, then what you're expecting is no different to expecting a tyre place to replace your suspension because they didn't inflate a new tyre correctly and you had a blowout. Refusing to pay the finance will just leave you with no car, a CCJ and a big legal bill. Get them to fix the door, sure, but if they say there's no damage to the engine, get it in writing, get them to accept responsibility for the initial c0ck-up, collect your car, and get it serviced somewhere else from now on. What you think you're entitled to, and what the laws says are your rights are poles apart:

These are the facts...

Like I said before, you don't seem to be able to point to anything actually being wrong with the car, so the best you can expect under the circumstances is for the dealer to give you some sort of binding confirmation that there's nothing wrong. So you'd be within your rights to ask them to foot the bill for an automotive engineer's report, but not a new engine and turbo...

There's more at stake than you appreciate if you start making threats to the finance company as well as reporting the dealer to the police over what is a civil matter...

[edit] PS: There's a bit of a cautionary tale later in the HJ article too, that you should maybe read and inwardly digest. [/edit]

Edited 20 August, 200916 yr by ap0gee
Additional info...

HJ article ????

Excessive engine wear will have been caused by running on such low oil as such I have lost all faith in the longevity of the engine and turbo as it will have been warranted to numerous thousands of miles.

However due to the negligence of the dealership in question they have reduced the life of the engine and turbo of the vehicle thus far placing me at a disadvantage in relation to its current market value with longevity and durability being affected.

I therfore need the problem rectifying with a NEW engine and turbo or shall be seeking compensation as it has now become a criminal matter if someone has wreckless'ly caused damage to my car on the off side rear door and not admitted it Hence I have made an appointment with my Solicitor for next Friday with regards to this issue.