Mazda RX-8 Complaints

784 consumer complaints on file.

#10505125March 31, 2013
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH PANEL THAT IS ABOVE THE AIR BAG CRACKS; WHICH CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG AND CAUSE INJURY TO INDIVIDUAL (POSSIBLY PREVENT DEPLOYMENT OR CREATE DASH PIECES THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY). THIS IS HAPPENING TO MULTIPLE RX-8'S (GO TO RX-8 CLUB)! SINCE THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH MOST IF NOT ALL RX8'S IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY MAZDA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503190March 15, 2013
STEERING
POWER STEERING JERKS AND SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO WHILE SETTING STILL STEERING WHEEL DID A COMPLETE 360. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502686March 13, 2013
ENGINE
NOTICEABLE OIL LEAK, SCATTERED ALL OVER WHERE THE VEHICLE IS NORMALLY PARKED AS WELL AS ALL OVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNDERBODY. OIL LEVEL DROPS APPROXIMATELY 1 US QUART PER 2-3 DAYS, DRIVEN ONLY LIGHTLY TO AND FROM PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. 10 MILES A DAY TOPS. DIAGNOSED BY INDEPENDENT ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC AS SUBSTANTIAL LEAK FROM THE OIL COOLER LINES, DUE TO RUST AND EXTREME CORROSION. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN IN A HARSH CLIMATE, AND GENERALLY NOT IN SNOW OR ICE. I SEE A RECALL FOR THIS IN SOME COUNTRIES, BUT NOT THE UNITED STATES, DESPITE BEING SUBJECTED TO THE SAME ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499890February 24, 2013
EQUIPMENT, POWER TRAIN
2004 MAZDA RX-8 TOURING WITH 6-SPEED MANUAL HAS A BROKEN CLUTCH PEDAL. THE ALUMINUM CLUTCH PEDAL WEAVES LEFT AND RIGHT. IT IS ON THE VERGE OF SNAPPING IN HALF. PLACED THE CAR AT JAX AUTOMOTIVE WHILE I PURCHASE A NEW OEM CLUTCH PEDAL WITH REINFORCED BRACKETS FROM RACE ROOTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10498181February 14, 2013
ENGINE
I WENT TO START MY RX8 AND IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED AAA TO HAVE IT JUMPED, THINKING IT WAS A BATTERY PROBLEM. THE AAA EMPLOYEE SENT TO JUMP THE CAR COULD NOT JUMP IT AND I HAD TO TOW IT TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY. MY PERSONAL MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT WAS A SPECIFIC PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE THAT WAS COVERED BY AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY" MAZDA ISSUED BECAUSE THE 2005 RX8S HAD SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. INSTEAD OF DOING A RECALL, MAZDA DOES EXTENDED WARRANTIES. THEY DID THE SAME THING WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET, WHICH I HAD TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO TAKE CARE OF IT AT NO COST TO ME. THEY ALWAYS WANT TO CHARGE, EVEN WHEN IT IS SOMETHING COVERED BY A WARRANTY. SO, MY HUSBAND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEARBY DEALERSHIP. AUTOMATICALLY, THEY TELL US WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE BATTERY BECAUSE THEY NEED TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. BATTERY $185 WITH LABOR AND $150 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEN, WE ARE TOLD THAT ONLY IF THEY ARE ABLE TO PROVE THAT IT WAS A SPECIFIC PROBLEM COVERED IN THE WARRANTY THAT MAZDA WOULD COVER IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. IF THEY FIND IT IS NOT THAT SPECIFIC PART, WE WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I WAS TOLD BY MY PERSONAL MECHANIC IT WAS THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE WHICH IS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, BUT OF COURSE, MAZDA WANTS TO DO THEIR OWN TESTS. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $4,000 WHEN A QUICK ONLINE SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SPECIFIC CAR. I THINK MAZDA SHOULD HAVE THEIR FEET HELD TO THE FIRE AND DO RIGHT BY THEIR CUSTOMER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10497986February 13, 2013
STEERING
LOST POWER STEERING. CAR WOULD STILL TURN WITH HEAVY EFFORT. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO ELECTRONIC ASSIST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493657January 21, 2013
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STARTED TO INTERMITTENTLY PULL SLIGHTLY IN ONE DIRECTION. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF THIS, THE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY POWER STEERING WAS GONE AS I WAS DOING 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD RANDOMLY START TO PULL TO ONE DIRECTION. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE. I LOWERED MY SPEED TO THE MINIMUM OF 55MPH (IN INDIANA, THE 45MPH IN ILLINOIS) AND STILL HAD THE SAME ISSUES FOR THE REST OF THE DRIVE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND THIS PROBLEM IS FAIRLY COMMON IN THE RX-8S. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493363January 17, 2013
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED. THIS MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER VEHICLE, MAKING DRIVING DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10489581December 23, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
POWERS STEERING FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487191December 3, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND SMELLED GASOLINE FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE OIL PAN, THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485701November 28, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
2004 MAZDA RX8. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL DEFECTS IN THE VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ABOUT A YEAR AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS STARTED FILLING UP WITH WATER. ALSO, THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WITH NO WARNING. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, HE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TWO OXYGEN SENSORS. AFTER THE OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED, THE STALLING CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE DEALER, WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483668November 7, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND AS I WAS SHIFTING GEARS I FELT THE CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCELERATION. THE TOP SPEED I GOT TO WAS 55MPH. WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO GET OFF THE CAR, I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND FROM INSIDE WHERE THE SHIFT KNOW IS LOCATED. I CHECKED UNDER THE CAR FOR A POSSIBLY FIRE, AND THERE IT WAS. APPARENTLY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD CLOGGED UP AND THAT'S WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH A CAR THAT BARELY HAS 55,000 AND ALREADY HAS PROBLEMS LIKE A FIRE. WHAT IF I THE CAR CAUGHT IN FIRE WITH MY FAMILY INSIDE. CANT IMAGINE. I CALLED AN AGENCY THAT TOLD ME THE CAR HAD A SAFETY RECALL, AND HAD ASKED ME IF THE DEALER HAD PROVIDED WITH AN INSPECTION STICKER WHICH WAS NOT IN THE WINDSHIELD. I WISH I COULD HAVE MY DOWN PAYMENT I GAVE BACK BECAUSE I WOULD NOT FEEL SECURE AND SAFE DRIVING A CAR (WITH MY CHILD AND WIFE) WITH A CAR THAT TURNED ON FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481032October 18, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD SEIZE AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO VEER ABNORMALLY TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO MOVE OFF THE ROADWAY AND RESET THE POWER STEERING ASSIST THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE BATTERY TERMINAL HAD FAILED. AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY TERMINAL, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY THEN ADVISED THAT THEY WERE INSPECTING THE WIRING HARNESS BEING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,500.... UPDATED 12/14/12 *BF UPDATED 12/19/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481030October 18, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALER FOR MY RX8'S POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. WHEN IT SHUT OFF TWICE OF THE MANY TIMES, IT PULLED MY CAR TO THE HARD RIGHT AND I ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE OF IT. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME THE FIRST TIME TO REPLACE THE BATTERY TERMINAL BECAUSE IT WAS LOOSING POWER TO THE STEERING UNIT. THEN MULTIPLE TIMES LATER, HUNDREDS MORE, THEY SAID THAT REPAIRING THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTORS WAS RECOMMENDED BY THEIR TECH LINE AND THEY SAID THAT MAY NOT BE THE LAST THING NEEDED. FIRST OF ALL, THE DEALERSHIP, HERITAGE MAZDA OF LUTHERVILLE, MD, SEEM TO BE WORKING HARD ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS TRULY IS A TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUE AND ITS COSTING ME HUNDREDS IN A SHOT IN THE DARK TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY MATTER, EVEN MIKE WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADDED THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. ON THE RX8 CLUB WEBSITE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME POWER STEERING FAILURE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480785October 16, 2012
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479235October 8, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET MOUNTED TO THE FIRE WALL CRACKED ON BROKE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE UNIT CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO BE UNUSABLE AND UNABLE FOR ANY FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS TO BE ENGAGED. LUCKILY I WAS PULLING OFF THE ROAD INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT USE OF THE CLUTCH. THIS IS DANGEROUS BEYOND BELIEF AND IS PRESENTLY COVERED BY MAZDA UNDER AN 8 YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY EXTENSION PLAN BUT THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATED SAFETY RECALL REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE OR YEAR. THE FACTORY PART IS MADE OF TIN AS BEST I CAN TELL AND CAN BE BENT AND DEFORMED WITH BARE HANDS AT THE POINT WHERE ITS BOLTED TO THE FIREWALL, A CRITICAL MOUNTING POINT AS EVIDENCED BY THE GROWING NUMBER OF CASES FOR THIS EXACT DEFECT. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO PURCHASE THE PART AT MY OWN EXPENSE BUT DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO SINCE THIS IS SUCH A BASIC SAFETY DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE DEADLY RESULTS TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER INNOCENT DRIVERS IN THE VICINITY OF THE AFFECTED MAZDA RX8. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473947September 5, 2012
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471169August 16, 2012
ENGINE
THE ENGINE OIL COOLER HOSES DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK WHICH WAS CAUSED BY CORROSION TO THE METALLIC PARTS OF THE ASSEMBLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467750July 26, 2012
POWER TRAIN
AT A STOP LIGHT, I DEPRESSED MY CLUTCH PEDAL. I HEARD AN AUDIBLE SNAP AND THE CLUTCH BECAME UNUSABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465755July 16, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I JUMPED INTO MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 AFTER WORK STARTED IT UP AND WENT TO DRIVE AND NOTICED IT WAS REALLY HARD TO TURN AND I LOOKED AND NOTICED THAT A LIGHT THAT WAS A STEERING WHEEL WITH AN EXCLAMATION MARK NEXT TO IT SO I DROVE IT HOME NOT EVEN A MILE AWAY AND READ ABOUT IT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT IT HAPPENS A LOT. PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER VERY VERY SOON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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