Man buys ‘chirping’ used Mazda. Then he Googles the sound and drowns in ‘tons of remorse’

Buying a used car is always a gamble, but for one Mazda CX-5 owner, a faint noise heard days after purchase quickly spiraled into a potential five-figure nightmare, and a crash course in how unforgiving “as-is” sales can be.

In a Reddit post, the man said he purchased a 2020 Mazda CX-5 with 101,000 miles from a franchised car dealership just two weekends earlier. According to the post, the dealer touted a 120-point inspection and said all fluids had been changed. Because of medical reasons, the buyer didn’t test-drive the SUV himself. His spouse did instead, and nothing seemed amiss at the time. That changed once he got behind the wheel.

“Well just got driving it myself and noticed a ‘chirp’ upon acceleration,” he wrote. “A quick Google unveils the ‘Mazda Chirp’ when the torque converter is going out, and likely means a new transmission.”

What is the “Mazda Chirp”?

Among Mazda owners, the “Mazda Chirp” is a well-documented high-pitched squeak or chirping sound heard during light acceleration, often around 20–40 mph. Mechanics and owners commonly associate it with torque converter failure in certain Mazda automatic transmissions, an issue that can ultimately require full transmission replacement if left unresolved. After discovering this, the buyer said he became increasingly aware of other symptoms: shaking during shifts, rumbling under light throttle, and persistent noise. “Definite signs the tranny is on its’ way out,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, as the problems were becoming more noticeable, the salesperson who sold the CX-5 continued checking in by text and email. “I let them know everything going on with the Mazda (and my displeasure),” the buyer wrote. The dealership reportedly said a general manager would review the situation.

With a diagnostic appointment scheduled at another Mazda dealer, the buyer turned to Reddit. “Can I even expect any recourse from this?” he asked, wondering whether the dealer might help cover repair costs, unwind the sale, or trade him into another vehicle — especially given that it had been less than two weeks and under 300 miles since purchase.

“Sold as is means as the f—k is”

All the same, the poster was clear-eyed about his own missteps. “No I didn’t get a PPI,” or pre-purchase inspection, “I know I should have,” he wrote. “No I didn’t pick up the aftermarket warranty… I already feel s—y and tons of remorse about all of this.” He also acknowledged the legal reality: “Yes I’m aware that ‘sold as is’ means ‘as the f—k is’.”

Still, he hoped a franchised dealer might care about reputation. “I thought they’d have a shared interest in not putting up clunkers for sale,” he wrote.

One commenter laid out possible outcomes and offered crucial advice on tone. Based on the buyer declining both a pre-purchase inspection and warranty, the commenter ranked likely dealer responses if transmission failure is confirmed: replace the transmission at cost, possibly discounting labor, charge only for the transmission covering labor, cover both parts and labor, or cancel the sale entirely

“I’m telling you right now Number 4,” or covering both parts and labor, “is very unlikely,” the commenter wrote. “DO NOT go start yelling at the GM,” the commenter added. “If you want the GM to work with you, just explain your situation as best as you can.” Despite their reputation, GMs “can be very understanding.”