2004 Mazda RX-8 Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE CROSSED THE CENTER LANE CRASHING INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT CAUSING THAT VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE AIR BAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT DEPLOY AS THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED A CRUSHED PELVIS, TAIL BONE SHATTERED, AND THEIR URETHRA WAS SEVERED IN HALF. THE CONTACT STATED THE SIDE AIR BAG DID VERY LITTLE TO PROTECT THE DRIVER. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF A POLICE REPORT BEING FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY FAILURE. CAUSING THE PEDAL TO SHIFT INWARD TOWARDS THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR

04 RX8 REPLACED MAF COIL PACKS PLUG WIRES 2 02 SENSORS SELINOID SHUTTER VALVE ACTUATER MAIN FUEL LINE FROM FRONT TO BACK OF TANK THE CAR WILL NOT STAY RUNNING AT FIRST EARLIER ON IT DIED ON MANY TIMES AN CONTINUED TO GET WORSE ITS BEEN TO SHOPS NO LUCK NO HELP IT NEVER SEEMED TO HAVE GAS NOW PRESENT PULLED UP BACK SEAT AN FOUND GAS LEAKING IS HIS A RECALL THE SHOE THAT DID RUN A TEST STATED HE DIDNT THINK IT WAS ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION PROBABLY MECHANICAL WHERES IS THE FUEL FILTERS COULD THAT BE AN ISSUE I TRY T O CRANK CAR IT SOUNDS BAD LIKE SOMETHING IS GONNA FALL OUT OR DOWN ALSO WAS TOLD IF YOU CLAMP ON SENDING UNIT THAT IT MAY NOT WORK PROPER????? *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING FAIL TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE STEERING COLUMN WIRE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 09/26/12 *LJ UPDATED 09/27/2012 *JS

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO SHIFT UP A GEAR THE CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED. I CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION INTO FIRST AND UP, BUT I CANNOT GET IT INTO REVERSE. *TR

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. MY CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED THE FIRST TIME AND IT WAS COVERED BY A RECALL DUE TO THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET FAILING. I HAD IT REPLACED ON 11-11-08. THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED ON 4-10-12. LUCKILY, I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH TO GO WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, HEARD A POP, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET SNAPPED AGAIN. I CONTACTED THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD IT REPLACED THE 1ST TIME. THEY STATED IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED AND THE RECALL HAD JUST RECENTLY EXPIRED. NOW, I KNOW THE CAR IS OUT OF MANUFACTURER WARRANTY, BUT THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS WELDED METAL BREAKING. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THIS HAPPENED WHEN YOU WENT TO CHANGE GEARS AND YOUR CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SNAPS? ALL OF THE SUDDEN NO ACCELERATION DANGEROUS. *TR

ON APRIL 3,2012 AT 10PM IN BUFFALO NY. I WAS DRIVING MY 04 RX8 AROUND A BEND AT 35MPH. I EXPERIENCED A JERK/TWITCH IN THE POWER STEERING. THE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON INSTANTLY I LOST THE STEERING SENDING ME INTO THE FRONT OF A STEEL DIVIDER OF A TRAIN BRIDGE. I WAS TAKEN TO ECMC BY AMBULANCE. I LUCKILY ONLY SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES TO MY BACK NECK RIBS HEAD AND SHOULDER. I AM NOT ONE TO SUE NOR AM I'M GOING TO PURSUE ANY LEGAL ACTION AGAINST MAZDA. I WILL SAY MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY MY CAR WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED $10,000 IN DAMAGE. I JUST THOUGHT ANYONE LOOKING TO BUY AN RX8 SHOULD READ ON NUMEROUS SITES THAT THIS MALFUNCTION IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM THAT MAZDA IS AWARE ABOUT BUT STILL DOES NOT WISH TO POST A TSB OR A RECALL. LOVE THE CAR BUT HAVE LOST FAITH IN MAZDA. SINCERELY UNHAPPY OWNER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5-10 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE COOLANT WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE DIAGNOSIS FROM BOTH WAS THAT THE ENGINE WAS FLOODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE EXITING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,100.

CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING. PREVENTED CAR FROM GOING INTO GEAR AND WAS LEFT STRANDED. *TR

ON 2/9/12 MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 WAS BROUGHT IN FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT AS PART OF A RECALL. SINCE THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGING AT DIFFERENT PLACES OR STICKING TO THE FLOOR. ON 3/30/12 THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO DICK EDWARDS MANHATTAN FOR "...WHEN CLUTCH IS ENGAGED THERE IS A FUNNY NOISE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION & THERE IS A VIBRATION." IT WAS MISDIAGNOSED AND NOT FIXED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 6/26/12 BECAUSE "WHEN USING CLUTCH THAT THE FIRST HALF OF THE PEDAL IS EMPTY AND THE SECOND HALF ENGAGES BUT IF YOU TRY TO SHIFT IN THE MIDDLE IT WILL GET STUCK AND NOT COME OUT." IT WAS MISDIAGNOSED & NOT FIXED. ON 10/26/12 IT WAS TAKEN TO OVERLAND PARK MAZDA & IT WAS FOUND THAT "CLUTCH WAS STICKING TO THE GROUND AND TRACED TO THE MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDER..." IT WAS MISDIAGNOSED & NOT FIXED. ON 11/9/12 THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO OVERLAND PARK MAZDA TO "BLEED CLUTCH AND ADJUST FREE PLAY FROM CLUTCH PEDAL PUSH ROD TO MAKE CLUTCH PEDAL MORE RESPONSIVE." THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT FIXED. IN 8/13 I BOUGHT THE CAR IN KANSAS CITY, MO. SINCE THEN I HAD THE CLUTCH DIAGNOSED AT RICK'S PERFORMANCE IN CALIFORNIA WHO FOUND "PLAY IN THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT - THE FLYWHEEL IS MOVING BACK AND FORTH OVER 1/2 INCH" & CONCLUDED THAT THE ENGINE REPLACED IN THE RECALL ON 2/9/12 AT DICK EDWARDS MANHATTAN WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT A PART HAD BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE ENGINE DURING ASSEMBLY. I TOOK THE CAR TO KEN HARVEY'S DUBLIN MAZDA IN DUBLIN, CA AND THEY CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS BY RICK'S PERFORMANCE & RECOMMENDED MAZDA REPLACE THE ENGINE AS IT SHOWS SIGNS OF INTERNAL DAMAGE. HOWEVER, MAZDA REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AS IT IS OUTSIDE OF THE 1 YEAR/12,000 MILE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES WITHIN THE WARRANTY BUT WAS NEVER FIXED. ALSO, ONLY 9K MILES HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE CAR IN THAT TIME FRAME. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT. COMES & GOES?? *TR

MY HUSBAND DROVE ME TO THE GROCERY STORE AND WE HEARD A LOUD POP. THE CAR BARELY WENT INTO FIRST GEAR AND STARTED GRINDING WHEN IT WENT INTO SECOND. WE BARELY MADE IT HOME!! IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF US TURNING INTO OUR ROAD AND WE ALMOST GOT HIT. WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT AFTER WE( LUCKILY) MADE IT HOME. THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL MOVED AND ANGLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN DEPRESSED AND WENT BACK TO REGULAR POSITION WHEN WE LET GO OF IT. *TR

MY CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN CREAKING NOW AND SHAKING NOW FOR QUITE SOME TIME. ORIGINALLY (A YEAR OR SO AGO) WHEN I ASKED TO RECEIVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT FROM MAZDA THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT "BAD" ENOUGH BUT WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WAIT FOR IT TO FAIL ON THE ROAD SO I HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT REPLACED AND A TOW TRUCK? I HAVE A 2004 AND THE WARRANTY FOR EVERYTHING IS NOW OVER BASED ON TIME. *TT

AS I TURNED ON MY CAR ONE TIME, THE POWER STEERING JUST DIDN'T COME ON. I THEN SHUT IT OFF, AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WORKED. AFTER THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THE POWER STEERING CEASED TO TURN ON AT ALL. IT WASN'T AS IF THE MOTOR FOR THE ELECTRIC STEERING WAS SLOWLY GOING OUT; IT WAS EITHER NIGHT OR DAY. *TR

MY MAZDA RX8 HAD POWER STEERING FAIL WHILE DRIVING MY CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL. SO NOT COOL. *TR

IN EARLY 2012 I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHUDDER AS I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. AFTER A THE INITIAL WHEEL TURN THE PROBLEM WOULD DISAPPEAR UNTIL THE NEXT DAY, OR WEEK. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE TO THE POINT THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED ALL TOGETHER FOR 3 MONTHS IN LATE 2013. INEXPLICABLY THE POWER STEERING RETURNED IN EARLY 2014, BUT IF THE TEMPERATURE WAS COLD THE STEERING WAS VERY HEAVY FOR A FEW DEGREES OF TURNING AND THEN THE CAR WOULD SENSE I HAD TURNED THE WHEEL A FEW DEGREES AND WOULD THEN ASSIST TOO MUCH AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK IN THAT DIRECTION. AS THE YEAR PROGRESSED THE PROBLEM CHANGED TO A CONSTANT SHAKE BACK AND FORTH WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE WOULD HAPPEN AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 0-10MPH AND ONLY WHEN EITHER INITIATING A TURN OR WHILE UNWINDING THE WHEEL FROM A TURN. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, AS THE TEMPERATURE HAS FALLEN AGAIN, WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT AND ENTERING A GRADUAL CURVE IN THE ROAD (TRAVELLING AT ANY SPEED) THE WHEEL WILL NOT GIVE POWER STEERING ASSIST AND THE WHEEL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN (COMPARED TO IF POWER ASSIST WAS WORKING CORRECTLY) AND THEN AFTER A COUPLE OF DEGREES THE ASSIST WILL JUMP IN AND THE CAR QUICKLY OVER CORRECTS AND VEHICLE VEERS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE STEER NECESSITATING IMMEDIATE CORRECTION IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THERE APPEAR TO BE MANY COMPLAINTS FROM A LOYAL MAZDA FAN BASE ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE, AND HOW SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE FROM MAZDA. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO EXACT FIX ISSUED, NOT EVEN A SERVICE BULLETIN.

CURRENTLY THERE IS A CRACK THAT IS FORMING AROUND MY DASH BOARD WHERE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS LOCATED. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER FORUM POSTS ABOUT THIS EVENTUALLY FORMING AN OUTLINE AROUND WHERE THE AIRBAG IS. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL AFFECT THE AIRBAG FROM EITHER OPENING OR OPENING WHEN IT SHOULDN'T. ANOTHER CONCERN OF MINE IS A PROBLEM THAT ALL RX8 OWNERS HAVE AND THAT IS THE FISHBOWL TAILLIGHTS. OUR TAILLIGHTS GET SO MUCH WATER IN THEM THAT THEY TURN INTO FISHBOWLS. I HAVE REPLACED THE GASKETS ON MINE 3 TIMES ALREADY. THIS TO ME IS AN ELECTRICAL HAZARD NOT TO MENTION A DRIVING SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

CAR WOULD LOOSE ITS POWER STEERING, NEVER ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO AN ENGINE RECALL, AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALER INFORMED ME OF LARGE OIL LEAKS. LEAKS ARE VISIBLE AND ARE COVERING PARTS OF THE WHEELS AND JOINTS WITH OIL. MAZDA HAS ADMITTED TO THIS DEFECT IN CANADA (FIELD ACTION NUMBER 142-36) AND ARE PROVIDING CANADIAN CUSTOMERS WITH A RECALL ON THIS FAULTY AND DANGEROUS PART BUT US CUSTOMERS HAVE YET TO RECEIVE SUCH TREATMENT. MY CAR IS A 2004 MODEL AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH ISSUES. THIS IS A HAZARD TO BOTH MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD DUE TO THE AMOUNTS OF OIL THAT THE CAR IS LEAKING DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING AND BAD DESIGN. THE MAZDA DEALERSHIPS ARE CHARGING CUSTOMER AN UPWARD OF 1,600 DOLLARS TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE WHICH SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE TO BEGIN WITH IF THIS CAR WAS DESIGNED IN A RELIABLE WAY. *TR

MY ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING IS GOING IN AND OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MANY 2004 RX-8 OWNERS ARE DISCUSSING ONLINE AND IN FORUMS. DEALERS AND MECHANICS KNOW OF THE PROBLEM WITH CONNECTORS AND RACKS GOING BAD BUT MAZDA HAS REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE CHRONIC PROBLEM. IT IS DANGEROUS AND COSTLY, I AM ON MY SECOND REPAIR OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PUSH MAZDA TO STEP UP AND ADDRESS THIS GROWING AND CHRONIC PROBLEM. *TR

FIRST INDICATIONS, THE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT UPON STARTING. USED ANOTHER CAR THAT DAY. NEXT DAY, NO WARNING LIGHT, HOWEVER, ON THE WAY HOME, THE STEERING ABRUPTLY MADE A *FULL* TURN TO THE RIGHT VERY QUICKLY (GOING ABOUT 30MPH ON A DIRT ROAD). I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE IT RAN OFF THE ROAD - NO FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH. SINCE THEN THE FAILURE LIGHT HAS APPEARED IN INCREASING FREQUENCY TO THE POINT IT IS MOSTLY ON. WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON, THE STEERING IS ESSENTIALLY MANUAL, BUT WORKABLE. THE WORST CASE IS WHEN IT IS OFF, AND SUDDENLY GOES INTO A FAILURE MODE WITHOUT *ANY* INDICATION (I.E. THE WARNING LIGHT STAYS OFF). IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, EVEN WHEN AT A FULL STOP AND THE WHEEL TURNS BY ITSELF TO THE RIGHT. PRETTY DISCONCERTING. THE FULL SYMPTOM DESCRIPTION IS THAT IT BECOMES EXTREMELY EASY TO TURN CLOCKWISE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. I'D RATHER IT WAS IN FAILURE MODE AND HARD TO STEER THAN INDICATING EVERYTHING IS FINE AND THEN SUDDENLY DECIDE IT WANTS TO GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION - ALWAYS TO THE RIGHT IN MY CASE. REVIEWING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE MAKES IT SEEM LIKE A FLAW IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OR PROBABLY THE SELECTED PART(S) MAZDA USED, BUT WORSE EVEN, THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT FAILURE MODES, ONE MAKING IT HARD TO STEER, BUT AT LEAST CONSISTENT, AND THE OTHER MODE LEAVING THE DRIVER GUESSING AS TO WHAT DIRECTION THE CAR WILL TRAVEL AND WHEN IT MAY DECIDE TO DO THAT. I'M HAVING IT REPAIRED AND WILL RETAIN THE FAILED COMPONENTS. WHEN IT DOES INDICATE FAILURE IT REMAINS THAT WAY UNTIL THE ENGINE IS SHUT DOWN. WHEN IT INDICATES EVERYTHING IS FINE, IT MAY FAIL ANYTIME, BUT NEVER INDICATES FAILURE. I'M SUBMITTING THIS IN HOPES THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT YET EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST CASE FOR ME WAS ON A DIRT ROAD - IF IT WAS ON A HIGHWAY ... OUCH. *TT

VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND IT IS HARD TO TURN RIGHT, SOMETIMES THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SHAKE REPEATEDLY AND SHAKE AND TURN LEFT BY ITSELF. I REPLACED THE STEERING HARNESS WITH A NEW ONE BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH DOORS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

I FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM IN MY STEERING WHILE DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THE STEERING FELT VERY LIGHT AND CRISP WHEN I WOULD TURN TO THE LEFT. WHEN I WOULD RETURN TO DEAD CENTER AND THEN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, THE STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF. THE NEXT DAY WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION" LIGHT WAS ON. POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED AT THAT TIME. UPON DOING RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2004 AND 2005 RX8'S. *KB

FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH PETAL AS IT ATTACHES TO THE FIREWALL UNDER EMERGENCY DECELERATION. THE METAL ATTACHING THE PETAL TO THE FIRE WALL SHEARED ON THE VERTICAL ATTACHMENTS. CAUSED A NEAR ACCIDENT, DANGEROUS CONDITIONS OF A VEHICLE STRANDED IN A TRAVEL LANE, AND SUBSEQUENT TOWING ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

I JUST GOT THE CAR BACK FROM DEALERSHIP THEY HAD TO PUT NEW MOTOR IN AT 67000 MILES REPLACED MOTOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER 3 COILS AND ALSO TOLD ME THEY HAD TO FLUSH IT OUT AS IT WAS FLOODED I DROVE LESS THAN 100 MILES AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT? NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THIS IS CRAZY!!!! COST ME OVER 1100.00 TO GET IT BACK AND DRIVE 2 TIMES AND NOW BROKE AGAIN THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF CRAP SHOULD HAVE DONE HOMEWORK ON IT BEFORE BUYING. *TR

THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE OIL COOLER LINE CONNECTORS ARE CORRODED SO BADLY AT 7 YEARS OF AGE THAT IT'S LITERALLY SPEWING OIL WHILST THE CAR IS RUNNING. I'VE DRIVEN CARS THAT WERE 15+ YEARS OLD WITH NO SUCH ISSUES. NOT ONLY IS THIS A MECHANICAL CONCERN, BUT IT COATS THE TIRES IN OIL, AND LEAVES TRACTION ON THEM ALMOST NIL. MAZDA CANADA HAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, YET, MAZDA USA HAS DONE NOTHING, EXCEPT FOR QUOTE PEOPLE ANYWHERE FROM 1800-2100 DOLLARS TO HAVE THESE LINES REPLACED. I THINK IT'S A COMPLETE DISGRACE TO AN OTHERWISE VERY RELIABLE CAR. *TR

POWER STEERING ISSUES, FAILING, ELECTRICAL ISSUES WHERE COOLANT OVERFLOW IS LOCATED NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILS DUE TO FAULTY POWER STEERING HARNESS CONNECTIONS. THIS FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 65 MPH. (VERY DANGEROUS). THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH RX-8 OWNERS. POWER STEERING CONNECTORS ARE SITUATED DIRECTLY UNDER COOLANT FLUID RESERVOIR TANK OVERFLOW HOSE. IF COOLANT LEAKS ON THESE CONNECTORS IT FOULS THE CONNECTION RESULTING IN POWER STEERING LOSS. INSUFFICIENT SOLDERING OF THESE CONNECTORS TO THE CONNECTION HOUSING BY THE MANUFACTURER IS ALSO TO BLAME. THIS HARNESS HAS BEEN REVISED 3 TIMES BY MAZDA IN HOPES OF CORRECTING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTIONING PART. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SENT TO ALL MAZDA OWNERS TO HAVE THE FAULTY POWER STEERING HARNESS F151-67-SHOB AND F151-67-SHOC REPLACED WITH THE MOST RECENT REVISED PART F151-67-SHOD FREE OF CHARGE AND COST OF LABOR. *TR

THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS STARTING TO SQUEAK A LOT AND WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL. HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T FAIL WHILE I AM DRIVING. *TR

THE FUEL LINE INPUT NIPPLE, ON THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, CRACKS AND CAUSES A LEAK. THE FUEL PUMP LOCK RING IS NOT THE PROBLEM AND CAN BE REUSED. REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY FIXES THE PROBLEM. IT IS VERY COMMON ON ALL 2004-2008 MODELS.

I NOTICED A SMALL OIL LEAK COMING FROM BELOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE OIL COOLER. UPON TAKING THIS APART, I SAW THAT THE OIL LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE OIL COOLER HOSE AND THE OIL COOLER HOSE FITTINGS WERE VERY RUSTED. I ORDERED THE PART TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE, COSTING ME $350. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE PART YET AND WILL BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR ONE WEEK. I HAVE READ UP ON THIS PROBLEM, AND I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL AFFECTING MY MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR THAT MY CAR WAS BUILT, BUT ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO RESIDE IN CANADA. MAZDA USA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS RECALL. *TR

AS MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME MY CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. I COULDN'T SHIFT GEARS SO I HAD TO COAST TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. *TR

1. CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WOULD MAKE POP NOISE WHEN BEING DEPRESSED AND RELEASED. 2. CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO FIREWALL SNAPPED CAUSING CLUTCH PEDAL TO NOT RETURN. COULD NOT CHANGE GEARS OR STOP WITH CAR ON. 3.HAD TO REPLACE WITH FACTORY PEDAL (THE SAME PEDAL THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM). *TR

VEHICLE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY DECREASES TO THE POINT OF LITTLE OR NO POWER ASSIST. MOST COMMON ON STARTS AFTER A LONG VEHICLE SOAK. SECONDARY CONCERN IS THAT THE BATTERY FAILS RAPIDLY AND REPEATEDLY, AND VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC EN ROUTE TO DEALER TO INVESTIGATE POOR POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE. ROOT CAUSE REPORTED AS A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN VEHICLE. AMPERAGE REQUEST OF POWER STEERING SYSTEM IS SO GREAT THAT CAN OVERWHELM ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, RESULTING IN POOR/NO BATTERY CHARGING AND BELIEVED CAUSE OF ON-ROAD STALL. PER MANUFACTURER SERVICE, ONLY FIX IS REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE POWER STEERING RACK. REPAIR TO BE PERFORMED WEEK OF 5/20/11; OLD PARTS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED, A MECHANIC STATED THE LOWER FRONT BALL JOINT WAS CRACKED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND REFERENCED RECALL 05V325000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT); HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL IN 2010 AND HAD PASSED INSPECTION; THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS WOULD BE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 78,500.

ENGINE STALLS AND LACK OF POWER. DEALER KEEPS SAYING ITS FINE. CANNOT EVEN DRIVE ANYMORE. IT STARTED WITH NOT STARTING THEN AFTER GETTING IT STARTED HESITATION AND LACK OF POWER KEPT GETTING WORSE. BECAME UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THE CLIMATE CONTROL KNOB FAILED AND WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ENGAGED, THE HEAT WOULD ACTIVATE INSTEAD AND VICE VERSA. THE CONTACTS WAS ADVISED BY HIS PERSONAL MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITHIN THE CLIMATE CONTROL UNIT AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000. UPDATED 07/08/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED IT TOOK FOUR VISITS TO THE DEALER FOR THEM TO FIX THE DEFETIVE HEATER/ AC CONTROLS. UPDATED 10/26/11

MAZDA RX8: SIR, I HAVE BEEN THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED IT, AND EACH TIME I'M ON A BUSINESS TRIP FOR ONE WEEK OR MORE, THE CAR HAS TO BE TOWED FOR SERVICES. EITHER FOR FLOODING OUT OR RECHARGING THE BATTERY. LAST MONTH I BOUGHT AN ADVERTISED DEVICE, CAR MD, TO HELP DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND IT INDICATES THERE'S AN ELECTRONIC SENSOR ISSUE, WHICH MAZDA CHOOSE NOT TO ADMIT. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 24,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN A LIVING NIGHTMARE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. NOW, THE COMPANY WANTS ME TO PAY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS WHEN I BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE IN RECTIFYING THIS MATTER OR POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OF WHAT AGENCY HAS OVERSIGHT OF THESE MATTERS. *TR

ELECTRICALLY ASSISTED POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL IT NO LONGER WORKS AT ALL. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I FOUND THIS FACT BY JOINING THE RX8 CLUB WEBSITE. MULTIPLE OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS OBVIOUS THAT IT IS CAUSED BY POORLY ENGINEERED/MANUFACTURED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS. SOME OWNERS HAVE GONE AS FAR AS REPLACING THE WIRE HARNESS ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RECUR. MAKING THE PROBLEM WORSE IS THAT THE MAZDA WEBSITE HAS NO MECHANISM TO REPORT THE PROBLEM TO THE MANUFACTURER. CURRENTLY THE ONLY TIME THE POWER STEERING IF FUNCTIONAL IS ONLY FOR SHORT PERIODS AFTER THE CARE HAS BEEN THROUGH A CAR WASH AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE HAS BECOME WET, AND THEN IT IS ONLY FUNCTIONAL UNTIL THE UNDERCARRIAGE DRIES OUT. *JS

ENGINE FAILURE, LOSS OF POWER, MULTIPLE EPISODES. *TR

MY VISOR LITERALLY FELL OFF THE CAR WHICH SHUT DOWN THE RADIO. AND NOW THE CAR IS STARTING FUNNY. I NEED HELP SOON. *TR

MY CLUTCH PEDAL WAS ALREADY REPLACED AT 101,000 MILES BY ANOTHER DEALER PART BY MAZDA THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE UPDATED BY MAZDA BECAUSE OF SO MANY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKETS IN THE RX8'S ALWAYS BREAKING. MAZDA EVEN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY OVER 100,000 MILES BECAUSE IT WAS BECOMING SO COMMON. THE SO CALLED UPDATED ONE THEY REPLACED, BROKE AGAIN, AND IT WAS NEW WHEN IT WAS PUT IN. IT LASTED 50K MILES AND THAT'S ALL. IM GOING ON MY 3RD CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND MAZDA WILL ONLY COVER THE FIRST BREAKAGE. I CALLED MAZDA CORPORATE AND THEY SAID THAT THE REPLACEMENT CLUTCH ONLY CARRIES A PART WARRANTY OF 30,000 MILES. AND THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. CLUTCH PEDALS IN EVERY OTHER CAR ON THE MARKET LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR. AND IM GOING ON 3 IN THIS CAR ALONE. MAZDA WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE PUT AN UPDATED CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY IN MY CAR AND THEY DIDN'T. GIVEN, THE WORK WAS DONE AT FIRESTONE BECAUSE MY CAR WAS THE CLOSEST TO THAT PLACE BECAUSE IT WAS UNDRIVABLE. BUT EVEN IF IT WAS DONE AT MAZDA THEY STILL WOULD HAVE GIVEN ME THE SAME CRAPPY WARRANTY. MAZDA SAYS THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY COVERS THE FIRST CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. THE FIRST ONE LASTED LONGER THAN THE SECOND ONE! AND THE SECOND ONE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE BETTER. COME TO FIND OUT. THE MAZDA DEALER THAT SOLD FIRESTONE THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, SOLD THEM THE OLD MODEL ONE AND CHARGED ME NEW PRICING! MY COMPLAINT TO YOU IS THAT SINCE ALL OF THESE RX8 OWNERS ARE BREAKING THEIR CLUTCH STILL. MAZDA IS NOT HOLDING ONTO THEIR PROMISE TO FIX CLUTCH PEDAL ISSUES. IS THERE ANY WAY YOU GUYS CAN FORCE MAZDA TO COVER THE NEWER PEDALS THAT BREAK TOO? I MEAN THIS WHOLE THING IS RIDICULOUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITION PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM REQUESTING DOT START AN INVESTIGATION SIMILAR TO TOYOTA' S REGARDING THE ENGINE FLOODING OF THE 2004 MAZDA RX8 *TGW THE CONSUMER STATE THE DEALER HAD HIS VEHICLE FOR 10 DAYS. AFTER 10 DAYS OF UNSUCCESSFULLY TRYING TO DIAGNOSE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, THEIR FINAL SOLUTION WAS TO FLUSH AND CLEAN THE ENGINE IN HOPING TO COVER-UP THE UNRESOLVED MECHANICAL ISSUE. IN DOING SO, THEY ONLY MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE. *JB

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8, WHICH HAD APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES AT THE TIME, WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING IN ONE DIRECTION AND STEERING BECAME VERY LIGHT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. THIS PROBLEM DISAPPEARED THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE CAR, BUT REAPPEARED INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE POWER STEERING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. THIS WAS INTERMITTENT FOR A WHILE, AS WELL, BUT EVENTUALLY THE POWER STEERING CEASED TO FUNCTION ALTOGETHER. THESE FAILURES WERE ACCOMPANIED BY A POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT, WHICH REMAINS ILLUMINATED TO THIS DAY. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THE PHENOMENON, I WAS VERY STARTLED BY IT AND FEEL THAT, HAD THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT AN INOPPORTUNE MOMENT, IT COULD HAVE VERY WELL CONTRIBUTED TO AN ACCIDENT. *TT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

MY MAZDA RX8 IS HAVING POWER STEERING PROBLEMS, ONE TIME IT LOST POWER STEERING WHILE I WAS DRIVING... TO MOST PEOPLE, THIS WILL BE SOMETHING PRETTY SCARY AND VERY DANGEROUS IF THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. I WOULD RECOMMEND CHECKING THIS OUT, BECAUSE THIS IS DEFINITELY A LAWSUIT JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN... *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 AT 52,000 MILES. AT 65,000 MILES I WAS ON MY WAY BACK FROM MALIBU WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ROADSIDE SERVICE TOWED MY CAR TO THE NEAREST MAZDA DEALER IN THOUSAND OAKS. THERE THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR NEEDED TO HAVE THE COILS AND SPARK PLUGS REPLACED COSTING $880. AFTER THEY FINISHED THE JOB, I WENT BACK TO PICK UP MY CAR FROM THE LOT. I TURN MY CAR ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON YET AGAIN, WASTING MY 2 HR. TRIP. AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSIS THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY WIRING HARNESS, OXYGEN SENSOR, RADIATOR SENSOR, AND FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALL THIS COSTING AROUND $2600 WHICH AMOUNTS MY TOTAL EXPENSES TO APPROXIMATELY $3500. AFTER CHECKING FOR RECALLS ON MY CAR ON NHTSA, I FOUND A RECALL FOR ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEMS WHICH, IF NOT FIXED, RESULTED IN ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE RIGHT NOW. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE 100,000 MILES OR 10 YEAR ENGINE WARRANTY. WHEN I NOTIFIED THE DEALER ABOUT THE RECALLS AND THE WARRANTY, THEY REFUSED TO OFFER ME ANY HELP, STATING THAT MY CAR HAD ALREADY HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED AND THAT THE WARRANTY ONLY SPECIFICALLY COVERED THE 1.3 RENESIS ROTARY ENGINE AND NOT ITS RELATED COMPONENTS. THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEMS THEY CAUSED BY SELLING A FAULTY PRODUCT. WHEN THE DEALER COULDN'T OFFER ME ANY HELP I DECIDED TO CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO HELP ME IN ANY WAY. THE PRICE THAT THEY ARE DEMANDING IS RIDICULOUS AS WELL SEEING AS HOW A BRAND NEW MOTOR COSTS $2200 AND WITH LABOR WOULD AMOUNT CLOSE TO WHAT I NOW HAVE TO PAY. SINCE MAZDA REMAINS FIRMLY RESOLVED ON THE ISSUE, I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO HELPLESSLY PAY THE MONEY THAT THEY ASK FOR. MY LAST RESORT IS TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT TO NHTSA AND HOPE THAT YOU MAY HELP ME RETRIEVE THE MONEY THAT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO ME AND TO FORCE MAZDA TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LEMON PRODUCT THAT THEY ARE SELLING. *TR