This problem with the drivetrain has happened TWICE. I bought the car in mid December of 2005, and a month after that (at 1,100 miles) the rear axle and the LSD had to be replaced. Then, it was covered under warranty, so i didn't complain about it. Now that the car is 11,000 miles, the same problem happened, but now i have to pay for the whole thing. Mazda is saying that the problem is with "aggressive driving" which in my eyes is a whole jar of crap. I drive an FX45, with another 75HP under the hood, with a hefty V8, but i have never managed to break an axle in that. The problem is that the engine is too powerful, but when you try to get the power to the pavement, the engine's power is overwhelming for the drive train, and the LSD, Driveshaft, and the rear axle cannot withstand that amount of power. Also, it has only happened to the rear, drive side of the axle. So therefor, there is some type of ECU or other computer glitch, because the 4-wheel drive system in this car decides on which wheel to send its torque and how much of it. And the breakage of the axle is caused by excessive torque. If you are seriously thinking about buying this car... Think again. Try test driving a Subaru legacy, just as quick, and it wont give hefty problems like such
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
This problem with the drivetrain has happened TWICE. I bought the car in mid December of 2005, and a month after that (at 1,100 miles) the rear axle and the LSD had to be replaced. Then, it was covered under warranty, so i didn't complain about it. Now that the car is 11,000 miles, the same problem happened, but now i have to pay for the whole thing. Mazda is saying that the problem is with "aggressive driving" which in my eyes is a whole jar of crap. I drive an FX45, with another 75HP under the hood, with a hefty V8, but i have never managed to break an axle in that. The problem is that the engine is too powerful, but when you try to get the power to the pavement, the engine's power is overwhelming for the drive train, and the LSD, Driveshaft, and the rear axle cannot withstand that amount of power. Also, it has only happened to the rear, drive side of the axle. So therefor, there is some type of ECU or other computer glitch, because the 4-wheel drive system in this car decides on which wheel to send its torque and how much of it. And the breakage of the axle is caused by excessive torque. If you are seriously thinking about buying this car... Think again. Try test driving a Subaru legacy, just as quick, and it wont give hefty problems like such
- Adeel K., Sterling, VA, US