2004 Mazda RX-8 Complaint Log

FAILURE TO START IN COLD WEATHER. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATLEY 45 MILES, SHUT OFF, PARKED IN THE GARAGE. CAR SAT FOR APPROXIMATELY 24 HOURS, CAR WOULD NOT RESTART, ELECTRICAL APPEARS TO BE IN ORDER. MAZDA TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AND NOTED THE BRAKES WERE FROZEN, CAR WAS FORCEFULLY LOADED ONTO TOW TRUCK. DEALER INSISTS THE PROBLEM IS COMMON AN UPDATE WAS PERFORMED, SPARK PLUGS REPLACED. ONE WEEK LATER THE CAR AGAIN IS NOT STARTING AND IS IN THE DEALERSHIP UNKNOWN TIME OF REPAIR. INCIDENTS REPORTED TO MAZDA AWAITING RESPONSE. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER, THE MOTOR FLOODED WHICH CAUSED THE STARTER TO FAIL. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

MY MAZDA RX8 HAS BEEN BURNING OIL SINCE IT WAS NEW. I DON"T HAVE IT ANYMORE. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE AGAINST MAZDA CORPORATION? *TR

VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW,2004. I HAVE EVERY OIL CHANGE, EVERY 2,900-3,000 MILES AND VEHICLE IS PERFECTLY MAINTAINED BY THE DEALERSHIP ( HARRELSON MAZDA -CHARLOTTE,NC ). ONCE 30,000 MILES WERE PUT ON THE VEHICLE, ENGINE BEGAN TO FAIL ( STOPPED AT RED LIGHTS, STOPPED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY,ETC.). AFTER ABOUT 5 RETURN VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP TECHNICIANS, MY ENGINE WAS FINALLY 'REPLACED' UNDER WARRANTY. NOW MY NEW ENGINE HAS FAILED AGAIN AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES FOR THE SAME REASON AS ORIGINALLY: MAZDA SPECIFICALLY ADVISES 10W-20 OIL IN THIS VEHICLE. BUT THIS IS ONLY TO SATISFY U.S. EPA STANDARDS. EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, MAZDA STRICTLY ADVISES 10W-30 OIL, BECAUSE ANYTHING LESS WILL ALLOW ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND FAIL. I WAS NEVER WARNED THIS. I WAS NEVER ADVISED THIS. I SERVICED VEHICLE BY EVERY RECOMMENDATION OF MAZDA, THE OWNERS MANUAL, AND MY MAZDA AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP/TECHNICIANS. MY SAFETY HAS BEEN PLACED IN JEOPARDY, SOLELY AT THE FAULT OF MAZDA, FOR NOT NOTIFYING BUYERS THAT THE ENGINE HAD INCORRECT MAINTENANCE SPECIFICATIONS,ETC. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ANYTIME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, RECEIPTS OF SERVICE,MAINTENANCE, AND TECHNICIAN TESTIMONY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I BOUGHT THE 2004 RX8 USED. IT ONLY HAD 16,000 MILES BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD BROKE THE REAR DEFROST BUTTON AND THE DEALER SENT ME A NEW ONE IN THE MAIL. I HAVE REMOVER A MILLION INTERIORS AND STEREOS BEFORE SO I WAS DOING IT MYSELF. IN ORDER TO PUT THE NEW CONTROLS IN YOU HAVE TO SLIDE OUT THE ENTIRE FACE PLATE WHICH CONNECTS TO THE RADIO, CD PLAYER, AND AIR CONTROLS. ONCE I PUT IT BACK IN AND HOOKED EVERYTHING BACK CORRECTLY, IT WOULD NOT WORK. I HAVE REMOVED IT SEVERAL TIMES AND THE ENTIRE CONTROL PANEL DOES NOT WORK. ALL THE PRONGS ARE GOOD THE FUSES IN THE CAR ARE ALL GOOD BUT IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. THE BLOWER MOTOR, THE ASHTRAY LIGHT AND THE SEAT WARMERS ALL WORK BUT THE SCREEN THAT DISPLAYS THE TIME OF DAY, THE OUTSIDE TEMP AND ALL THE RADIO AND AIR EQUIPMENT STILL DOESN'T LIGHT UP. I JUST WONDER IF THE RADIO HAS GONE INTO ANTI-THEFT MODE AND SHUT DOWN. I USED TO OWN AN ACURA AND IT CAME WITH A CODE TO PUNCH IN IF YOUR RADIO EVER SHUT DOWN. I JUST WANT IT FIXED. ANY SUGGESTIONS??*AK

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 RX-8 6SPEED MY CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE. THE ACTUAL WELDING BROKE ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE CAR UNDERNEATH THE DASH. IT IS NOT THE CLUTCH ITSELF, BUT THE ACTUAL PEDAL ASSEMBLY. IT WAS WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE GOOGLED THIS ISSUE A BIT AND FOUND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM THANKS *TR

MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE FROM MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 AT 62K MILES. *TR

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOED ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB *NM

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A MAZDA RX8 6 SPEED (5/11/04). THIS CAR HAS HAD MORE PROBLEMS THAN I CAN EXPLAIN IN A SHORT MESSAGE. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IT WOULDN'T START ONE MORNING. I LATER GOT IT STARTED AND TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER. THEY DID A FLASH UPDATE ON MY PCM AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE AFTER THAT. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY TRANSMISSION. I WAS ON VACATION IN CARLISLE, AR WHEN THE CAR BROKE DOWN THE FIRST TIME (8/9/2004). MY CAR WAS TOWED IN TO NORTH POINT MAZDA IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK, THEN GOT TOWED TO CRAIN MAZDA IN LITTLE ROCK, WITHOUT EVEN INFORMING ME. AFTER REPLACING APPROXIMATELY 87 PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION, I GOT MY CAR BACK 40 DAYS LATER (9/18/2004). IMMEDIATELY AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE I KNEW IT WASNT RIGHT. IT WAS MAKING NOISES, WOULDNT SHIFT IN TO 2ND, 3RD OR REVERSE WITHOUT GRINDING. I TOOK MY CAR TO TOWN NORTH MAZDA IN RICHARDSON AS SOON AS I GOT A CHANCE (9/27/2004). I WAS TOLD "2ND AND 3RD GEARS ARE FRIED" AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH. AFTER REPLACING THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION I GOT THE CAR BACK 11 DAYS LATER (10/7/2004). I KNEW THE CAR STILL HAD A PROBLEM SO I SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE CAR TAKEN BACK IN ON 10/12/2004. I DROVE ABOUT 2 MILES FROM THE HOUSE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER WHEN IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THE CAR STILL TO THIS DAY REMAINS IN THE SHOP AGAIN. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS FOR 58 DAYS SINCE 8/9/2004. I GOT A CALL ON 10/20/04 FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT HAS MY CAR. THEY TOLD ME MAZDA DECLINES COVERAGE BECUASE OF NEGLECT OR ABUSE. I ABSOLUTELY "BABIED" THAT CAR BECAUSE I KNEW IT WASN'T RIGHT! ANY SUGGESTIONS?*AK

THE DRIVERS SUN VISOR BROKE WHEN PUT DOWN AND THE RESULT WAS A VISOR HANGING DOWN IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS TO TOTALLY BLOCK HER VISION. FORTUNATELY CAR WAS NOT IN A TURN OR STOPPING FOR TRAFFIC AS THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. THIS WAS A SUDDEN AND DISCONCERTING FAILURE. OTHER SUCH FAILURES HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON THE WWW.RX8CLUB.COM WEBSITE. I RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO CALLED THE MANUFACTURES REPRESENTATIVE WHO REFUSED TO REPLACE THE VISOR EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS 5800 MILES ON IT AND IS ONLY 11 MONTHS OLD AND COVERED UNDER A 4 YEAR WARRANTY. I SUGGEST STRONGLY THAT A RECALL BE MADE ON THE VISORS BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED DUE TO LOST OF VISION. ALSO I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR SAFELY BECAUSE OF THE VISOR HANGING DOWN. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN 10068252 ALSO.*AK

I HAVE GONE INTO MY DEALERSHIP ON MORE THAN 6 TIMES DUE TO MY 2004 RX-8 AIR CONDITIONING NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE A CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR, AND IN THE SUMMER TIME TEMPERATURES CAN REACH 105 OUTSIDE, AND MUCH HOTTER INSIDE MY CAR. MY AIR CONDITIONER FAILS TO WORK. EACH AND EVERY TIME I'VE TAKEN IT IN, IT HAS BEEN ON A DAY WHEN IT'S NOT THAT HOT OUTSIDE, AND THE TECH. SAYS THE OUT PUT OF THE A/C IS UP TO PAR. IT'S NOT TRUE CONSIDERING I'M DRIVING, AND SWEAT IS POURING DOWN MY FACE, AND MY BACK STICKS TO MY LEATHER SEATS. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN STATED THAT BY PUTTING IN A NEW A/C IT WOULD DO NO GOOD...THAT MAZDA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ALL OF THE A/C AND A NEW ONE WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE IS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING CONSIDERING THIS IS A NEW CAR. THIS IS A BIG ENOUGH PROBLEM THAT I WILL NEVER PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN, AND I TELL ANYONE WHO ASKS NOT TO PURCHASE ONE AS WELL. WHAT GOOD IS A CAR IF IT WON'T COOL DOWN??*JB

AC AND GENERAL CABIN TEMPERATURE PROBLEMS. I AM HAVING A COMBINATION OF PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATING AND COOLING OF THE CAR. IN THE SUMMER WHEN IT IS VERY HOT THERE IS A NOTICEABLE "PULSING" OR ON/OFF SYMPTOM OF THE COLD AIR GENERATED BY THE AC. I TIMED IT AND VERY COLD AIR COMES OUT OF THE VENT FOR ABOUT 30 - 45 SECONDS. THEN IT IS FOLLOWED BY ABOUT THE SAME DURATION OF REGULAR AIR (THE AC SEEMS TO SHUT OFF) SO ON HOT DAYS YOU GET A PULSE OF COLD FOLLOWED UP BY A PULSE OF WARM AIR. THE EFFECT IS THAT THE CABIN HEATS UP AND THE AC CANNOT KEEP UP WITH IT. IT THE WINTER WHEN IT IS COLD OUT THERE IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE. IT SEEMS THAT THE VENTS ARE ALLOWING OUTSIDE AIR TO GET INTO THE MIXTURE. IN THE WINTER ICE COLD AIR IS BEING MIXED IN WITH THE HEAT WHICH HAS THE SAME EFFECT WHERE THE HEATER CANNOT KEEP UP WITH HEATING THE CABIN OF THE CAR. THERE IS ALSO AN ANNOYING FEATURE ON THE DEFROSTER. YOU CANNOT DEFROST THE WINDOW WITH INSIDE AIR AS SOON AS YOU TURN ON THE DEFROSTER IT FLIPS THE OUTSIDE AIR VENT OPEN. SO WHEN IT IS VERY COLD YOU HAVE TO CHOSE BETWEEN SEEING OUT THE WIND SHIELD AND FREEZING OR HEAT THE CABIN AND THE WIND SHIELD FOGS UP. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN THREE TIMES AND HAVE SINCE GAVE UP. THE TECH'S OBVIOUSLY CANNOT OR WILL NOT FIX IT. THE TECH ACTUALLY HAD A THERMOMETER IN THE VENT OF THE CAR AND OF COURSE THE CAR IS INSIDE THE GARAGE IN THE SHADE. SO HE POPS IN THE THERMOMETER AND COMES BACK AND CHECKS IT A - OK. I GAVE THEM A DETAILED DESCRIPTION, DO YOU THINK THEY TOOK THE CAR OUT AND DROVE IT WHEN IT IS ABOVE 85 DEGREES OUTSIDE? NOPE *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH FAILED. DEALER INDICATED THE CLUTCH WAS MISUSED. *NM

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY AS I SHIFTED GEARS THE BRACKET KEEPING MY CLUTCH PEDAL TOGETHER BROKE...HAD TO DRIVE REALLY SLOW BECAUSE DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL CAUSES IT TO ALMOST GO INTO THE BRAKE PEDAL...PEDAL KEEPS SHIFTING TO THE RIGHT...THERE SEEMS TO ME A DESIGN FLAW AS MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REPORTING THIS AND ON THE RX8CLUB.COM WEBSITE...THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED BECAUSE IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY...AND IT SEEMS LIKE MAZDA IS NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, HAVING PEOPLE PAY ALMOST 400 OR MORE TO REPLACE AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW...PICTURES OF THE BROKEN BRACKET HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY MY MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE...PLEASE CONTACT MAZDA AND HAVE THEM ISSUE A RECALL OF SOME SORT...HOPEFULLY THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT...BECAUSE I KNOW I ALMOST DID , BUT WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GAIN CONTROL.. *TR

PURCHASED RX8 04/28/04, HAS HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON NEARLY WHOLE TIME OF OWNERSHIP, AFTER 3 TRIPS TO THE DEALER AT 50 MILES ONE WAY, WERE FINALLY TOLD THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD. HAD TO SPECIAL ORDER SO HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK FOR THE 4TH TIME TO GET FIXED. I DON'T SEE HOW A CATALYTIC CONVERTER COULD BE BAD ON A BRAND NEW CAR. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR CRACKED AND SEPARATED FROM POST. IT WAS HANGING AND WOULD NOT STAY UP, OUT OF FIELD OF VISION. THE DEALER REMOVED THE VISOR WHILE WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART. AFTER STARTING THE CAR LATER THE SAME DAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CENTRAL DISPLAY AND DOOR LOCKS DID NOT WORK. WHILE DROPPING OFF PASSENGER BEFORE RETURNING TO THE DEALER, PASSENGER FOLDED DOWN PASSENGER-SIDE SUN VISOR, WHICH ALSO CRACKED AND SEPARATED FROM THE POST. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER, WHO IS TRYING TO SAY THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND HAS CALLED MAZDA REP TO EXAMINE BUT IS KEEPING MY CAR. SEVERAL REPORTS OF THIS ON EDMUNDS AND OTHER AUTO CONSUMER SITES. I MERELY WANT VISORS REPLACED AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIXED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

MAZDA 2004 RX-8 FLOODED AND FAILED TO START TWICE, EACH TIME IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED WITH NEW PLUGS AND UPDATE PCM. *BF *SC

2004 MAZDA RX8 MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH BRACKET SNAPPED OFF WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT, RESULTING IN FAILURE TO SHIFT GEAR. *CN

VEH. BEING OPERATED ON THE NJ TURNPIKE AT 65 MPH WHEN CLUTCH FAILED. TOWED TO DEALER AT OWN EXPENSE. DEALER STATED FAILURE DUE TO ABUSE, BECAUSE OF TIRE WEAR. ADVISED TWO DAYS LATER THAT STARTER CRACIKED AND BELL HOUSING HAD HOLE FROM CLUTCH BREAKING APART. FAILED TO WARRANTY, COST$2,700.00 PARTS IN MY POSSESSION. *AK

THE DUMMY PEDAL ON THE LEFT HAS A DESIGN FLAW WHICH ENABLES HIGH HEELS TO BE TRAPPED BETWEEN THE PEDAL AND THE FLOORBOARD. MY FOOT HAS BEEN TRAPPED FORCING ME TO STALL THE CAR AND PULL OVER FIVE LANES ON THE FREEWAY AND OFF THE ROAD TO REMOVE MY FOOT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT MAZDA DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE! THIS WILL AFFECT WOMEN WHO WEAR HIGH HEELS AND DRIVE A STANDARD MAZDA RX-8.*AK

THERE IS CONTAMINATION IN THE OIL. SO MUCH SO THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHECK THE OIL. I'VE GONE 3000 MILES AND NEVER BEEN ABLE TO CHECK THE OIL. EVEN AFTER WIPING THE DIPSTICK, SIMPLY PUTTING IT BACK RECOATS THE DIPSTICK, SO THAT THE OIL LEVEL CANNOT BE READ. THE DEALER SIMPLY CHANGED THE OIL, BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, BUT WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALL LETTERS TO MAZDA-USA ARE IGNORED. WHY DOES MAZDA IGNORE SUCH A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS HAZARD? THIS COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IF THE ENGINE WERE TO SEIZE ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF LACK OF OIL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND IT HIT A POLE. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BROKE. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5 AND 70 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTARY ENGINE, STARTER, FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, AND THE BATTERY, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

IF THE CAR STALLS AFTER A COLD START, IT IS EITHER VERY DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTART. USING THE PROCEDURE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR THIS SITUATION WILL WORK, IF THE BATTERY DOES NOT FAIL FIRST. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE, ONCE THE CAR WAS TOWED. THE SECOND TIME, THE BATTERY DIED WHILE ATTEMPTING A RESTART PER THE OWNERS MANUAL, BUT THE CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE AND I RECHARGED THE BATTERY AND EVENTUALLY GOT THE CAR STARTED.*AK

I BOUGHT MY CAR AROUND THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2003. IN THE FIRST MONTH I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES FOR REPAIR. THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ENGINE. APPARENTLY ONE OF THE ROTORS WAS NOT FIRING CAUSING A RAW FUEL SMELL TO ENTER THE CAR THROUGH THE VENTILATION. WITH ONLY 2000 MILES, THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AFTER THE THIRD VISIT. TWO MONTHS HAVE PASSED AND AFTER THREE DAYS OF NO DRIVING, THE CAR WILL NO LONGER START. *JB

THE RX8 ENGINE HAS A TENDENCY TO FLOOD IF THE CAR IS MOVED OR DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE AND SHUT OFF COLD. IN MOST INCIDENCES THE CAR MUST THEN BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. ALTHOUGH MAZDA ACKNOWLEDGES THE ISSUE, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DISCLOSED PRIOR TO PURCHASE AND IS NOT ADDRESSED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. MOST RECENT INCIDENT IS RELATED TO GASOLINE IN THE OIL AFTER SEVERAL DIFFILCULT STARTS. THERE WERE 2 PREVIOUS FLOODING INCIDENTS.*AK

I PURCHASED MY AUTOMATIC RX8 IN LATE JAN. 2004. AS I WRITE THIS, I HAVE AVERAGED 14.3 MPG WITH MIXED DRIVING CONDITIONS (CITY AND HIGHWAY) DURING MY FIRST 3000 MILES. MY WORST TANKFUL WAS 12.3 MPG. MAZDA NORTH AMERICA REFUSES TO ADDRESS MY ISSUE, WHICH IS: MY FUEL ECONOMY IS WELL BELOW THE ESTIMATED FUEL ECONOMY ON THE STICKER. EITHER THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY RX8 OR MAZDA HAS INTENTIONALLY MISREPRESENTED THE FUEL ECONOMY OF THE RX8.

2004 MAZDA RX 8 HAS MANY DESIGN DEFECTS, BATTERY WAS REPLACED, SPARK PLUGS AND OIL FILTER WAS REPLACED 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. *TS THE STARTED WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING IN TRAFFIC AND WAS TAKING MULTIPLE TIMES TO TRY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES OF THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED, THE DEALERSHIP DECIDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS STILL NOT STARTING SMOOTHLY. THE DASH LIGHTS WERE BLINKING ON AND OFF AND THE HEAT WAS NOT WORKING. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, 02 SENSOR, AND A/C AMPLIFIER. THE HEATER CONTROL SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE SUN VISOR WAS REPLACED. *JB

MAZDA RX-8, PURCHASED DEC 24TH, 2003.F THE VEHICLE 'STALLS' WHEN COLD, THE ENGINE BECOME NON-RESTARTABLE (EVEN FOLLOWING THE MANIF'S DEFLOODING PROCEDURE) AND NEEDS TO BE RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE "FIXED". CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AT RAIL-ROAD TRACKS, INTERSECTIONS, AND EXTREEM CONDITIONS (SUCH AS DRIVING FAR FROM HOME EG. CAMPING, AND MOUNTAIN DRIVING).*AK

ALTHOUGH I FOLLOWED THE OWNER'S MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS, THE ENGINE FLOODED AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE (1.5 MILES) AND TURNED OFF. ENGINE WAS FLOODED WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER. SAID TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEW MAZDA RX8S. TEMPATURE WAS 19. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 6 DAYS IN VERY COLD WEATHER. THIS WOULD BE AREAL SAFETY ISSUE IF IT HAPPENS IN A REMOTE AREA.*AK

A NEW MAZDA RX-8 WAS PURCHASED IN THE FALL OF 2003. THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS STARTING IT IN THE COLD WEATHER. I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM MAZDA THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IT EXISTS FOR ANYONE THAT LIVES IN THE NORTHEAST. WHY WASN'T THIS DISCLOSED PRIOR TO BEING PURCHASED> ANY IDEA WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HAVE THE CAR RETURNED AND THE MONEY I GAVE THEM REFUNDED? THANKS IN ADVANCE. *AK

MAZDA RX-8 , 2500MILES HAS TWICE FAILED TO START AFTER SITTING IN GARAGE FOR 7-10 DAYS. MAINLY A BATTERY PROBLEM MAYBE???*AK

MAZDA RX-8 WITH LESS THAN 3000 MILES HAS TWICE SHUT OFF AND FAILED TO START. MAJOR PROBLEM WITH FUEL DELIVERY AND/OR SPARK IGNITION SYSTEM. *AK

RX8S MUST BE TOWED IF THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF OR STALLED WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. I WASHED MY CAR AND THEN PULLED THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE AND WAXED IT. THE NEXT DAY IT WOULD NOT START. NO WHERE IN THE MANUAL DOES IT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE FLOODING ISSUE, EXCEPT HOW TO "UNFLOOD" IT. PROCEDURE DOES NOT WORK. DEALERSHIP NEVER TOLD ME THIS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH THEY FLOOD ALL THE TIME WHEN THEY ARE MOVED OFF OF THE TRAILER. VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I CANNOT WITH A GOOD CONSCIENCE SELL THIS CAR TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL. I COULD BE SUED, IF SOMETHING TERRIBLY BAD HAPPENED AND I KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP HAS "PROPOSED TO HELP" BY MAKING A PROFIT ON ME BUYING THE NEW CAR AND THEN BUYING IT BACK AT WHOSALE PRICE. THE CAR HAS 4000 MILES ON IT. A 2004 AUTOMOBILE SHOULD NEVER LEAVE ITS OWNER STRANDED, PERIOD. THE CAR ALSO CONSISTENTLY GETS ONLY 15 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE NEEDS TO BE ANOTHER ROUND OF BUYBACKS FROM MAZDA, BUT UNFORTUNATELY I BOUGHT THIS CAR AFTER THE FIRST ROUND WAS COMPLETE.

IN THE NEW MAZDA RX8, THE REAR SEAT DESIGN WITH THE HIGH CENTER CONSOLE MAKES IT VERY HARD TO LATCH THE SEAT BELT WITH A CHILD BOOSTER SEAT, AND IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO FOR AN OLDER PERSON OR A PERSON WITHOUT GOOD MANUAL DEXTERITY AND A STRONG BACK. IT IS COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CHILD TO LATCH THEMSELVES IN. NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM FOR ATTACHING INFANT OR CHILD SEATS WITH SEAT BELTS INSTALLED IN THE SEAT ITSELF - IT'S A PROBLEM FOR OLDER CHILDREN (30-80 LBS) THAT SIT IN A BOOSTER AND USE THE 3 POINT SEAT BELT INSTALLED IN THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED MAZDA AND RECOMMENDED THAT THEY CREATE A SEAT BELT EXTENDER SO THAT THE BELT LATCH CAN BE RAISED UP HIGH ENOUGH TO REACH AROUND THE SIDE OF THE CAR SEAT, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE, BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY IN THE FORSEEN FUTURE. I HAVE ALSO SHOPPED AROUND FOR BOOSTER SEATS, AND HAVE YET TO FIND A MODEL THAT WORKS IN THIS CAR.*AK

DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS HAVE POOR SEALING AGAINST ROAD NOISE & WIND. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WIND NOISE BECOMES HIGHLY INTRUSIVE ON MY VEHICLE THROUGH THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE SAME APPLIES TO THE PASSENGER'S DOOR. *LA

MY BRAND NEW 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE'S BRAKE FAILED AT 300 MILES, AFTER ONLY 4 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP. BOTH ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. *LA

2004 MAZDA RX8 IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME RECALL PROBLEM AS THE 2005-08 MAZDA RX8. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO AN EVAPORATOR LEAK. *JB