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A lawsuit has been filed against Mazda in the United States regarding its Mazda3 sedan model. But what is the real story behind the alleged false advertising and the outrage from customers?
In the US, all new vehicles are required to have a Monroney sticker, a regulation that has been in place since 1958 to protect consumers from price gouging or configuration fraud by dealerships. Information on the sticker includes the vehicle’s price, standard equipment, optional extras, fuel economy, and safety ratings from the NHTSA.
Mr. Kyle Johano, a Mazda3 2.5S Base Trim 2025 owner, discovered that the rear-seat audio system was missing, and the HD radio was non-functional. However, the Monroney sticker on his car stated that the Mazda3 should come equipped with eight speakers and HD radio.
This issue is not isolated to Mr. Johano’s vehicle, but it seems to be a widespread problem affecting almost all Mazda3s in the US market.
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The second-row speakers of the Mazda3 in the US are missing despite being “promised” in the advertisement. Image: Carscoops. |
The situation escalated when Mazda denied any wrongdoing, quietly changed the stickers, and referred to the incident as a “typo.” According to the lawsuit, a regional manager from Mazda confirmed that the issue was a “typo” on the sticker. Mr. Johanson further accuses Mazda of stealthily updating the electronic version of the stickers and promotional materials to cover up the mistake instead of taking responsibility and issuing a public statement.
Mr. Johanson even witnessed a dealership employee replacing an incorrect sticker with a corrected one on another Mazda3 vehicle.
The lawsuit, representing all affected customers who purchased the 2025 Mazda3 2.5 S Base Trim, demands that Mazda compensate for financial and emotional damages and publicly acknowledge their mistake.
Mazda has not yet officially responded to the lawsuit. While the allegations have not been verified by the court, the incident has caught the attention of consumer forums, especially regarding the transparency of the Japanese automaker in the US market.
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