Body paintwork warranty for 3 years, anti perforation warranty for 12 years.
I understand the need for body inspection & recording the documentation for the first 3 years and I have used Mazda dealerships in the first 3 years for body & paint inspections.
Can I carry out my own inspections for the next 9 years as I clean the car; Do my own annual body and paint inspection recording all findings (paper documentation, photographs & video records) and keep the anti perforation warranty in place?
Alas, read the small print in the manual where Mazda specifically excludes damage caused by salt corrosion. Their anti-perforation warranty is worthless on that score, even if theyāve done all the inspections etc.
So when I bought a new Mazda3 in 2016 the first thing I gave it was full under-seal and wax injection by a specialist Dinitrol contractor (Ultimate Protection, but I donāt know if theyāre still doing it though). Having done this I make sure (by rinsing salt and mud off from underneath as soon as possible) that it never accumulates salty crud. Now I donāt expect any need to attempt a claim on the āwarrantyā.
The reason I raise anti perforation warranty is I have significant blistering on the underside of the bonnet around where the hinge brackets are bolted to the underside of the bonnet.
The car is only 4 years old and the last body inspection carried out by Mazda was last March at the 3 year Service. Fourth year service done at an independent with mazda parts & fluids, so able to get service recorded on Mazda Digital Service Record.
Comprehensively done and documented a body and paint inspection by myself.
Not as if the areas mentioned are exposed to stone chips, salt or anything else I can think of that would cause blistering from the outside in. So thinking from the inside out (perforation?).
Anyone any views on my chances of a claim?
Iāll start by saying that I am not a legal expert. A few minutes googling leads me to believe that the anti-perforation warranty is about as much use a marshmallow cattle prod.
The first case I came accross: https://www.themotorombudsman.org/case-studies/anti-perforation-warranty
Despite the rust being defined by the dealership as perforation, it was not covered under the ANTI-PREFORATION warranty as it was not through rust. The case was decided on the side of the dealer by the ombudsman.
Itās worth having a word with the supplying dealer of course, they may decide to cover some or all of the cost. If you can not get satisfaction that way there may be a route down the consumer rights act 2015 which is valid for 6 years from new. I feel a visit to your local CAB or a friendly solicitor may be in your future.
As I said at the start I am in no way qualified or clever enough to offer any legal advice. I really do feel that a 4 year old car, in the 21st century should not be showing rust on parts that do not even get wet
Have you checked what that part is made of? A magnet will cling to steel but not alloy.
Steel rusts, but alloy gets a white fungus-like corrosion.
If alloy then the paint is easily touched up (with the correct type of paint) after cleaning away the āfungusā and it will not perforate.
If steel the rust burrows though the metal and needs more careful repair.
I believe the bonnet & interior strengthening panel are aluminium and the hinges would be steel (I ill try the magnet tomorrow and confirm). The Hinge bracket has no deterioration , only the bonnet parts. I will not touch it to expose powdery white stuff until I take it to my nearest Mazda dealership. I donāt think that the bonnet will be perforated yet, but a modern 4 year old car should not have this. Could come into the realms of" fit for service to last a reasonable time." Since a car is a very expensive product it could be said it should reasonably last longer than this. Will see what the dealership or Mazda say before seeking any legal advice thro my motor insurance legal Expenses Cover. Ops my motor insurance & legal cover ends 5 April, so may get little help there after that date.
Took the car to a Mazda Dealership before the coronavirus emergency.
Photographs were taken of the corrosion on underside of the bonnet at the hinges and forwarded to a facility in the porovince that deals with these things for Mazda and the dealership.
Dealership rang me several days later to ask if the bonnet had ever been removed.
I told them I thought it might have since 18 months before I had minor dent repair and paint respray (storm Ali) done on the bonnet. I had photographs of the damage and e-mailed them to the dealership.
The repair was done by a registered British Standard repairer who has approval with with all the major insurers for accident repairs.
The owner (family friend) reminded me that the bonnet respray also included blending into the front wings (Ceramic metallic) and the job was perfect. Because of that he said that the bonnet was not removed although he has no photographs taken at the repair to show that. In any case he , and I, thought that even so removal of the bonnet should not make any difference.
Situation now is that shortly after the Coronavirus Government advice shut a lot of things and I havenāt heard from the dealership or Mazda since.
These are difficult times, due to our age and a vunerable medical condition we have been shielding for around a month now. I can only wish Mazda people and all out there are keeping safe and that is the main thing at the minute.
Bearing that in mind any suggestions of what I be considering now , if anything?
Taking the car to a repairer of my own choice to get it sorted.
When the bonnet is removed I will be able to see for myself the exposed areas where the hinge is bolted to the bonnet.
Looked at the inside of my aluminium boot lid today and saw a very small area of similar corrosion around a hole where a rubber grommet is inserted. Likely to develop as did the areas around where the hinges are bolted to the bonnet.
The car is only in its fifth year. Has anyone else experienced this and can throw some light on why.
In case you didnāt know most NC1 boot lids go like this around the number plate lights. Again aluminium boot lids on the soft tops, ali bonnets too.
Mine has been repainted on the boot lid and touched up on the leading edge of the bonnet. Around the hinges all good.
Iāll say it seems a problem with finishing these areas with a proper paint job and probably coupled with poor prep too
It has probably taken 3-4 years for these problem areas to show up, too late then to effect a claim.
Must add mine was 11 years old when treated, Iāve seen younger ones with the same problems.
Had the NC (copper red) for 9 years. It had aluminium corrosion around the boot lid number plate lights and some under bonnet at seams of strengthening members. NC was and old car when the corrosion appeared and I was able to rub down, apply etch primer, respray (500ml spray can) and make a really good job of it
The corrosion spread on my NC around boot lights and under the bonnet was nowhere near as extensive as that on the bonnet underside of my ND and certainly not only after 4 years from new.
Tried to effect a claim but no joy (Covid 19 circumstances may not have helped).
The extensive spread of corrosion (from both hinge/bonnet bolt areas) on my ND (Ceramic) has occurred after such a short time and it makes me consider that there may be others experiencing this and that some protection (electrolytic insulation say) may be a cure.
Thinking of applying waxoyl to the area after repaint and refitting the bonnet.
No paint or other protection between contact surfaces of hinges and bonnet!
Bare metal (steel hinge) to bare metal (Aluminium bonnet).
The hinges may be under the bonnet but are not sealed from the outside environment with the bonnet closed. Furthermore these are dissimilar metals with aluminium being the least noble of the two.
I think that paint protection is not only needed where hinge and bonnet assembly is visable but also where the two components are in contact and the surfaces are hidden from view.
After prepping for paint, the aluminium still left with corrosion pits.
Pitting not a good thing but it is what it is.
Hinges and bonnet suitably prepped, primed and paint finish applied.
For a bit more protection Waxoyl put between contact surfaces before refitting bonnet in the hope that it will be a long time before the corrosion re emerges.
All done at a BS Kite and Insurer certified facility. Just waiting to hear what the bill is going to be.
The more I read about the failings of the ND the less I am inclined to replace my NC 3.5 with one.
All cars have failings. I believe Mazda MX5 are a very reliable well made car. So I am putting money into this car because I think it is a great car. Donāt let me put you off.
The first thing that put me off was the lack of a glovebox, where do I put my Mint Imperials?
The glovebox is between the seats behind you, plenty of room for a big bag of mints
In light of the report of ābubblingā round the hinges I gave my 5 year old (27/8/2015) ND SE-L Nav an inspection round the bonnet and boot hinges and Iām relieved to say that thereās not a trace of rust or aluminium corrosion anywhere. 
First brought this up march last and havenāt had anyone else reply with my problem.
Your reply would support that bonnet corrosion local to hinges it isnāt endemic in the ND.