2004 Mazda RX-8 Suspension Problems

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR ON A RURAL ROAD, THE FRONT PASSENGER BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, CAUSING THE CONTROL ARM TO FIRST DROP ONTO THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL AND THEN ONTO THE GROUND AS THE WHEEL MOVED OUT OF ITS NORMAL POSITION. IN THE PROCESS, THE PASSENGER SIDE INNER TIE ROD WAS SEVERELY BENT, THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE WHEEL WAS BADLY SCORED, THE TIRE SURFACE (WHICH CONTACTED THE FENDER) WAS DAMAGED, AND THE PASSENGER FRONT FENDER WAS BENT WHEN THE TIRE CONTACTED IT. I SPOKE WITH MAZDA USA, WHO PUT ME IN CONTACT WITH A LOCAL DEALER. I TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND DROPPED IT OFF. THEY HAVE REPLACED BOTH CONTROL ARMS (PER THE RECALL) AS WELL AS THE BENT TIE ROD AND PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL BEARING. THEY ALSO PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT. MECHANICALLY, THEY HAVE REPAIRED THE CAR. HOWEVER, MAZDA IS REFUSING TO REMEDY THE DAMAGED WHEEL OR TIRE OR THE FENDER. SINCE THE CAR HAS BEEN LOWERED, THEIR CLAIM IS THAT THE FENDER MAY NOT HAVE BEEN DAMAGED ON A STOCK CAR AT STOCK RIDE HEIGHT. THEY MAY BE RIGHT, AND THE FENDER DAMAGE IS MINOR, SO I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT. HOWEVER, SINCE A STOCK VEHICLE WOULD LIKELY HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME WHEEL/TIRE DAMAGE, I WAS TOLD THAT IF THE VEHICLE HAD A STOCK WHEEL & TIRE THEY WOULD REPLACE THE WHEEL & TIRE SINCE THEY WERE BOTH DAMAGED. I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT "STOCK TIRE" MEANS ON A 14-YEAR-OLD CAR SINCE ANY CAR WILL HAVE HAD THE TIRES REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THEN, BUT AFTERMARKET OR NOT THE FAILURE OF THE RECALLED PART CAUSED DAMAGE TO THESE PARTS. BESIDES, WITH DAMAGE TO THE TREAD SURFACE OF THE TIRE, IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE SAFETY OF THE TIRE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED (OR, AT THE VERY LEAST, THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF WHAT IS A NEARLY NEW TIRE HAS BEEN SEVERELY REDUCED).

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER (MODERN MAZDA DODGE RAM, 68 WATERBURY RD, THOMASTON, CT, 06787, 860-283-4304) TO BE SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V355000 (SUSPENSION), 16V793000 (FUEL SYSTEM), AND 17V354000 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WOULD TAKE ONE DAY TO COMPLETE; HOWEVER, IT TOOK FOUR DAYS. THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE AND, WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE. ONE WEEK LATER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT COULD RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE, BUT THEN DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPRESSOR FAILED AND IT WOULD ONLY LAST APPROXIMATELY TWO MORE YEARS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE AGAIN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START EVEN WITH A JUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES, PERFORMED AN INVESTIGATION, AND CONFIRMED THAT THE DEALER'S INFORMATION WAS CORRECT. NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 144,000. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM LOWER BALL JOINT WAS DETERIORATING WHICH COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V325000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED STRONG EXHAUST FUMES IN THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REMAIN IN POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO MAKE THE VEHICLE REMAIN IN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 05V325000 (SUSPENSION) AND 05V317000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE BALL JOINTS SEPARATED AND FRACTURED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V325000 (SUSPENSION). THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PENDING THE MANUFACTURER'S APPROVAL FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS BEING REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHEN THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V325000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT) WAS CLOSED AND THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY PRICE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE A TIRE WHEN THE BALL JOINT FRACTURED IN HIS HAND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE BALL JOINT. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V325000 (SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS) IN 2005 AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,683.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A CREAKING NOISE WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A TEAR LINE CRACK IN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM IN THE SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN 2005 FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V325000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT) AND THE MANUFACTURER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. HE BELIEVES THAT THE COMPONENT THAT WAS USED TO PREVIOUSLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS FAULTY; THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WOULD RANDOMLY ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A RUPTURED OIL COOLING LINE. DURING THE REPAIR, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE OIL PAN WAS PERFORATED AND LEAKING OIL. THE OIL PAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE OIL COOLING LINE WAS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS ALL CAUSED BY RUST. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO FIND A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE, BUT BELIEVED IT SHOULD HAVE ALSO BEEN RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE ALL SEASON TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES AND NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. MAZDA SUGGESTED THAT HE TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE DEALER ONLY PLACED AIR IN THE TIRES. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING ALMOST 60 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A VERY ROUGH VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. HE ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE BLOW OUT. THE DOT NUMBER AND TIRE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD FILL WITH WATER. THERE WAS A STRANGE CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE A STRUT PROBLEM. UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND A MECHANIC STATED THAT FUEL FLOODED THE ENGINE AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED. IN ADDITION, IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT CONDENSATION WAS PRESENT AND A VACUUM NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED, WHICH WOULD PREVENT WATER INTERFERENCE. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE EXTERIOR LIGHTING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE WATER ENTRY. FINALLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING FAILED, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED THE TIRE TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. UPDATED 020209 *BF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS WORN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FRONT AND REAR COILS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 02/03/09. *JB

ENGINE FAILURE, PURCHASED CAR 3/11/2006, A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THE CAR STARTED IDLING ROUGHLY, THEN STALLING, THE COMPUTER MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE ENGINE ONCE, I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION, THE LAST INCIDENT HAPPENED LAST WEEK 7/29/2007, I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE PULLING OUT INTO THE PASSING LANE AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER BUT DID NOT STALL MY HEAD WAS SLAMMED FORWARD ALMOST HITTING THE STIRRING WHEEL AND A FEW SECONDS LATER SHOT OFF LIKE A ROCKET SLAMMING MY HEAD BACK AGAINST THE DRIVERS SEAT, CAUSING MY NECK TO WHIP LASH I HAVE HAD A BAD HEADACHE SINCE, AND I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A BIG DIESEL TRUCK. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN GETTING THE OIL AND TIRES CHANGED, AND ALSO GETTING CHECKED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY ARE SAYING THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING ON THE ROAD TEST. WELL IT HAPPENS TO ME QUITE OFTEN WHEN I GO TO PASS SOMEONE ON THE INTERSTATE, IT HESITATES BEFORE IT KICKS IN AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. I AM PAYING FOR A CAR THAT SPENDS MORE TIME IN THE SHOP THAN OUT. I BOUGHT IT 3/11/06 IT STAYED IN THE SHOP ALMOST CONTINUALLY UNTIL 7/18/2006, AND I WAS MAKING PAYMENTS. NOW IT IS STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN WITH THE ROUGH IDLE AND HESITATION. I AM GETTING TO THE POINT THAT I WANT MY MONEY BACK AND I'LL GIVE THEM THE CAR BACK. I AM GETTING TO SCARED TO DRIVE IT. NOW I FIND OUT TODAY ABOUT OTHER RECALLS THE CONTROL ARM I WAS NOT AWARE OF, I GUESS THAT IS WHY MY CAR IS STARTING TO PULL HARD TO THE RIGHT, NOW I HAVE TO HAVE THAT TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE MOVED 350 MILES AWAY AND I CAN'T LEAVE UNTIL MY CAR GETS FIXED AND OUT OF THE SHOP, THIS IS STARTING TO BE BULL!!! SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING I HAVE A FRIEND WHO ALSO HAS AN RX8 WE PURCHASED OURS ON THE SAME DAY AND SHE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND HERS IS A 2006 WHERE MINE IS A 2004, SO MAZDA HASN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM.*JB

HI, I WANT TO REPORT A CONTROL ARM FAILURE ON MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 THAT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT AND MINOR INJURY. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON DECEMBER 7 IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND AFTER COMPLETING A RIGHT HAND TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, I WAS ACCELERATING AWAY WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM SEPARATED AT THE BALL JOINT RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. THE CAR SPUN AROUND AND WENT OVER A 10" CURB WITH ALL FOUR WHEELS AND STRUCK A HIGHWAY SIGN. I SUFFERED A JAMMED RIGHT THUMB AND HYPER-EXTENDED RIGHT SHOULDER, WITH NO MEDICAL ATTENTION NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BOB MOORE MAZDA IN EDMOND OKLAHOMA WHERE IT REMAINS WITH PARTS ON BACK ORDER. INTERESTINGLY THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN TO THE DEALER ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 15 AND THE INSPECTION RECALL ON THE CONTROL ARMS WAS PERFORMED. I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE REPLACEMENT OF ALL SUSPECT CONTROL ARMS AND NOT JUST AN "INSPECTION. *JB

I RECEIVED 2 SAFETY RECALL NOTICES ON MY RX8. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I LEASED THE VEHICLE AND I THOUGHT THEY CORRECTED AND/OR INSPECTED THE PROBLEM. OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 60 DAYS, THE SERVICE I HAVE RECEIVED HAS BEEN UNSATISFACTORY AND I HAVE BEEN LEAD TO BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER MAY NOT HAVE ADDRESSED THE SAFETY RECALL ISSUES. (CRACKED BALL JOINT AND HEAT INSULATION). I HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM AND I THINK THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, TO THE POINT THEY WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS WILL INEVITABLY CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO LOSE VALUE. *JB