2004 Mazda RX-8 Electrical System Problems

SPORADIC POWER STEERING LOSS, ALMOST GOT INTO 2 ACCIDENTS. WHILE DRIVING I WOULD LOSS POWER STEERING.

I BOUGHT A CAR THAT HAD A RECALL OF THE AIR BAG THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG HAD BEEN DEPLOYED WAS TOLD BY DEALER IT WAS UNDER RECALL.AFTER CHECKING WITH THE DEALER THE SIDE SEAT AIR BAG WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL WAS NOT REPLACED OR EVEN LOOKED AT .SO WE TOOK THE SEAT OUT TO SEE ANT OBVIOUS ISSUES AND WE FOUND ALL THE WIRES THAT PLUG INTO SEAT ALL WAY TO UNDER CARPET AGAINST FRAME ALL THE WIRES WERE MELTED.WITCH IS AN OBVIOUS MANAFATURING PROBLEM.WE HAVE READ MUPLTILE FORUMS WHERE TONS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM BUT YET NO RECALL WE COULD FIND ON THIS ISSUE.MY MOTHER IS ON OXYGEN AND IF MY CAR CATCHES FIRE TO DO THIS AND NO ONE LOOKING INTO THIS IT CAN BE FAR WORSE.THIER IS ANOTHER RECALL ON FRONT END SUSPSION THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO REPLACE AT THIS TIME.THEY TELL ME THEY ARE WAITING TO SEE IF THEY COME UP WITH A BETTER SOLUTION TO FIX IT.IM GOING TO MAZDA DEALER TOMORROW MORNING TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT I'M EXPLAIN TO YOU AND SINCE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IF THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING I'M TURNING THIS OVER TO LAWYER.I FEEL WHEN I MENTIONED IT TO THEM THE FIRST TIME AND THEY DID NOTHING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE ISSUE WAS THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF FIGURING THIS OUT BUT I WILL TRY AGAIN.THE AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND THE PERSON SAID THEY WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.THATS HOW I KNEW ABOUT AIR BAG RECALL .WHEN I TOOK CAR TO BE FIXED THE TECH TOLD ME IT DIDN'T COVER MY SEAT. AND NEVER BOTHERED CHECKING IT.

"TAKATA RECALL"-CAR STARTS WHEN COLD,THEN IT DIES IN THE TRAFFIC,GOT ENGERYS PUSHING CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC,LIKE CAR BUT IT HAS LOTS OF RECALLS AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED RIGHT AWAY.WON'T DRIVE MADZA 2004 AFTER THIS HAPPENED. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUSH THE CAR OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, AFTER IT DIED, HE LOST HIS GRIP AND WAS DRAGGED BEHIND THE VEHICLE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, A BURNING ODOR ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE, LIFTED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED SMOKE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE WIRES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WERE MELTED. THE CONTACT ALSO SMELLED FUEL COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,777. UPDATED 10/17/17*LJ *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2004 AUTOMATIC RX8 IN SEPTEMBER OF 2011. IT BEGAN GIVING ME TROUBLE WITH THE TYPE OF GAS IT TOOK. I FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT BP PREMIUM SEEMED TO KEEP IT FROM "COUGHING". I THOUGHT THAT I HAD FIXED THE ISSUES AND IT DROVE FINE FOR A GOOD WHILE. I CHANGED THE OIL RELIGIOUSLY AT ABOUT 3000 MILES OR LESS. IT WOULD DISPLAY THE OIL LIGHT AFTER ONLY ABOUT 1500-2000MILES. I HAD A DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID THE OIL LEVEL WAS FINE AND THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT HAD THE LIGHT ON. THE OIL LIGHT NOW COMES ON AT JUST 300MILES INTO THE LAST OIL CHANGE. IN FEB OF THIS YEAR IS WHEN THE CAR STARTED DETERIORATING AT A RAPID PACE, AND I WAS COMPLETELY DUMBFOUNDED TILL I BEGAN DOING SOME RESEARCH AND SAW THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUES I HAVE HAD. FOR ONE- THE AC NEVER WORKS CORRECTLY. I HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE KNOB FOR A BIT TO MAKE IT COOL, AND STILL EVEN THEN IT DOES NOT WORK. I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO AND FROM THE STORE NOW BECAUSE I AM WORRIED IT WILL NOT START BACK UP. I ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE ENGINE IS WARMED UP AND SOMETIMES JUST LEAVE IT RUNNING INSTEAD OF TAKING THE CHANCE OF TURNING IT OFF. THE ENGINE LIGHT ALSO COMES ON AND RANDOM TIMES, AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE GAS CAP WAS NOT ON TIGHT ENOUGH. THAT IS A LIE, I ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO TIGHTEN IT, AND WHY WOULD THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AFTER THE OIL LIGHT EVERYTIME IF IT WAS HUMAN ERROR. THE CAR WHINES WHEN AT A STOPLIGHT OR SITTING FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. IT SOUNDS AS IF IT IS COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE IF YOU ARE SITTING IN IT. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THAT NOISE IS EITHER. THIS FAULTY CAR SHOULD COME WITH A WARNING ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT, I AM SCARED TO PUT MY FAMILY IN IT, AND I AM DISGUSTED WITH THE WAY MAZDA DECIDED TO TREAT ME WHEN I CALLED THEM TO INQUIRE ABOUT CERTAIN RECALLS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE CENTER CONSOLE OVERHEATED TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS UNABLE TO BE TOUCHED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COVER WAS BULGING AND COULD CRACK AT ANY MOMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,010.

PART NUMBERS FE03-51-21YD (REAR) AND FE03-51-22YC (FRONT). I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING CORRECTLY MY DRIVING AREA AT NIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER TODAY AND I WAS TOLD THAT THESE PARTS ARE NOT COVERED. THERE HAS BEEN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) ON THIS CAR CONCERNING THIS ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE SENSORS BECAUSE THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. THEY WERE FAULTY TO BEGIN WITH. IN ADDITION THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME. *TR

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

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

2004 MAZDA RX8 VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN COLD WEATHER OR DAMP WEATHER. MANY TRIPS TO DEALER TO NO ONE COULD FIND WHAT WAS WRONG. PROBLEM PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE WOULD ONLY START WHEN IT WANTED TO, FINALLY GOT TO THE POINT THAT IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. ONCE THIS HAPPENED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE IMMOBILIZER MODULE HOWEVER SERVICE TECH'S AT DEALER CAN NOT SAY FOR SURE THAT IT IS THE ONLY PROBLEM. HAVE READ COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS THAT OWN THIS VEHICLE HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM BELIEVE THAT IT IS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. *TR

MAZDA RX 8 FAILED TO START. SECOND TIME SENT TO DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS HAD CAR FOR 5 DAYS WAITING FOR A BATTER FOR MY CAR. *JB

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.

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

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

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