Mazda RX-8 Complaints (2004)

490 consumer complaints on file.

#10290860November 3, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290615November 2, 2009
POWER TRAIN
I OWN A MAZDA RX-8 2004 MODEL AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE ON APPROX 10/31/09. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL I NEEDED TO CHANGE GEARS BUT I REALIZED THAT MY CLUTCH WAS GETTING STUCK BEHIND MY BRAKE PEDAL AND THAT I COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. I SLOWED DOWN AND AFTER TUGGING AND TUGGING I WAS ABLE TO SWITCH GEARS. I STOPPED THE CAR TO CALL MY FRIENDS THINKING IT WAS A BAD CLUTCH BUT NO ONE COULD GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND SPENT 200 DOLLARS GETTING IT TOWED AND ANOTHER 180 TO GET IT FIXED. THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET. ITS MADE OUT OF MATERIAL SO FLIMSY THAT IT HAD SNAPPED FROM THE WELDS. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND AFTER DOING MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I FOR ONE DON'T WANT TO EVER BE STUCK O THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSTATE AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290083October 28, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A NO-START CONDITION. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AS 59,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289927October 27, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1. CLUTCH PEDAL FELT ABOUT A 1/2" LOW (AS IF HYDRAULIC FLUID HAD AN AIR POCKET AND NEEDED BLEEDING) ABOUT TWO BLOCKS BEFORE FAILURE. 2. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT BEHIND 3 CARS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, SHIFTED INTO FIRST WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN; ACCELERATED VERY SLOWLY AND TRIED SHIFTING TO SECOND GEAR BUT THE PEDAL MADE A SNAPPING SOUND AND WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN FIRST UNTIL I LET THE CAR ROLL BACK A LITTLE AND GOT IT IN NEUTRAL. I WAS STUCK IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND THERE WAS GRIDLOCK, LOTS OF HONKING AND YELLING AND A FEW CARS CAME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING ACCIDENTS. I PUSHED MY CAR TO THE EDGE OF THE INTERSECTION AND WAITED FOR THE TOW TRUCK. THE TOW TRUCK HAD TO HAVE SMALLER PICKUP BROUGHT IN TO WINCH MY CAR OUT OF THE INTERSECTION BECAUSE HE SAID IT WAS UNSAFE TO SET UP THE TOW RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. 3. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND AFTER INSPECTION HE SAID IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN TO A NEW PEDAL FROM MAZDA. HE WAS SURPRISED IT LASTED FOR 60K MILES. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I ORDERED A REINFORCED CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY FROM HERE: HTTP://WWW.FLUIDMOTORSPORTS.COM/P-188-TRANSMISSION-AND-ACCESSORIES.ASPX TURNS OUT HERE ARE THREE AFTERMARKET COMPANIES MANUFACTURING REINFORCEMENTS, MAZSPORT, BHR AND RACE ROOTS; EACH HAS THEIR OWN DESIGN AND THEY ARE SELLING HUNDREDS OF THEM BECAUSE ALL THE PEDALS FAIL IN 40 - 80K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289277October 21, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE BRACKET FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, THE CLUTCH WOULD SQUEAK A LITTLE BIT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. I NOTICED THAT THE BRACKET WAS LOOSE ONCE, SO I TIGHTENED THE BOLT ON IT, BUT THAT DIDN'T CHANGE THE SQUEAKING. LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THE WHOLE BRACKET WAS ABOUT TO FAIL! I TOOK A CLOSE LOOK AT THE BROKEN BRACKET, AND IT APPEARS THAT A WELD BROKE. IT OCCURRED ONE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK. AS I DOWNSHIFTED FROM THIRD TO SECOND GEAR, I HEARD A 'CRACK' AND THEN MY CLUTCH WOULDN'T WORK PROPERLY. I LOOKED DOWN, AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS NEXT TO (AND TOUCHING) THE BRAKE PEDAL (IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT CLOSE). I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO SHIFT. NOW, I CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AS THE CLUTCH WILL NOT ENGAGE WITH THE BROKEN BRACKET. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IN CASES LIKE MINE WHEN IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289285October 21, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. HE STATED THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START AND THAT WHILE DRIVING IT FAILED TO OPERATE AT MINIMAL SPEED. HE ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE MIDDLE INTERIOR CONSOLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN PERTAINING TO THE SAME FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS WERE MADE WITH THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CONTACT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT STATED THE PART WAS REPROGRAMMED BUT NOT REPLACED AS RELAYED TO HIM BY THE MANUFACTURER. NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 101,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289311October 21, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ON MY MAZDA RX-8 SNAPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND SINCE THEN HAVE HAD A LOT OF DIFFICULTY SWITCHING GEARS WHILE DRIVING. I LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE LIKE THIS EVEN THOUGH THE PEDAL AT TIMES BECAME STUCK BENEATH THE BREAK PEDAL. I HIRED AN MOBILE MECHANIC TO REWELD THE PEDAL BRACKET ALTHOUGH JUST YESTERDAY IT SNAPPED AGAIN. MY VEHICLE IS A MAZDA 2004 RX-8 AND THERE IS NOT A SINGLE DEALERSHIP I HAVE FOUND THAT WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289112October 20, 2009
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
1. NO EVENTS, JUST DRIVING 2.CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED OFF NOT ALLOWING ME TO CHANGE GEARS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 3. SINCE MAZDA DIDN'T WANT TO COVER IT, I HAD IT REWELDED MYSELF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289190October 20, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CLUTCH BRACKET FAILURE; (1) OF THE 3 WELDING POINTS FAILED, CAUSING THE BRACKET TO SEPARATE AT THE WELD, BENDING, AND SEPARATING THE PLATE INTO 2 PIECES, MAKING SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF GEARS DIFFICULT DURING OPERATION. THE SERVICE REP. AT GAINESVILLE MAZDA LAUGHED AT ME WHEN I ASKED IF THEY WOULD GIVE ME A DISCOUNT ON A NEW BRACKET. GAINESVILLE MAZDA IS AT 2600 N MAIN STREET GAINESVILLE, FL 32609 (352) 505-9459. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288810October 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN
IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 11:15 IN THE NIGHT, I WAS ON MY WAY BACK FROM A LATE NIGHT FOOD RUN AT MCDONALD'S. THE DISTANCE FROM MY RESIDENCE TO MCDONALD'S IS APPROXIMATELY 2.2 MILES. AS I APPROACHED A STOP SIGN, ONE (1) BLOCK AWAY FROM MY RESIDENCE, I DEPRESSED MY CLUTCH PEDAL IN ORDER TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND THAT IS WHEN I HEARD A LOUD CLATTERY CLANG. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE CLUTCH PEDAL FELT EXTREMELY SOFT AND I FOUND IT VERY HARD TO CHANGE GEARS. BEING THAT I WAS SO CLOSE TO HOME I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO FURTHER EXAMINE AND EVALUATE WHAT EXACTLY HAD HAPPENED. HENCE, I IGNORED IT PARKED MY CAR AND WENT INSIDE. THE NEXT MORNING ON MY REGULAR ROUTINE I STARTED MY CAR TO GO TO SCHOOL, AGAIN THE CLUTCH FELT EXTREMELY SOFT AND MUSHY. TRIED TO PUT THE GEARS IN REVERSE BUT FAILED. THIS IS WHEN I FINALLY REALIZED THAT SOMETHING WAS DEFINITELY WRONG. MY FIRST INCLINATION WAS THAT THE CLUTCH DISC THAT HAD WORN, BUT AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET HAD BROKEN.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288708October 16, 2009
POWER TRAIN
I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, START ENGAGING THE CLUTCH TO GO INTO FIRST GEAR AND I HEAR A CRACK. I AM IN FIRST GEAR AND AS I AM ABOUT TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR I AM UNABLE TO DO SO. I NOTICE THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAS NO PRESSURE AND IT IS NEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL. FROM HERE ON I WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. SO AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I SEE THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL IS BROKEN AND CAN EASILY MOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. I AM JUST GLAD THAT I WAS ON THE STREET BECAUSE I WAS ON MY WAY TO CATCH THE FREEWAY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAS TO BE FIXED, SOMETHING BAD COULD HAVE HAPPENED AND TO THINK I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY FOR LONG TRIPS IS VERY SCARY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287215October 13, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICE MY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. I HAD TO SHUT OFF THE CAR TO GET IT IN REVERSE. I THEN TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID MY SLAVE CYLINDER WAS OUT. SO THEY REPLACED IT. LATER I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL TELLING MY CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET WAS ALSO BROKE. WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN THE RESULT IN MY SLAVE CYLINDER TO FAIL. THE BRACKET WAS BROKE ON THE LEFT BOTTOM BOLT PATTERN THAT CONNECTS TO THE FIRING WALL. I AM GLAD THIS DID NOT HAPPEN OR COMPLETELY BRAKE OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING FOR THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A POSSIBLE FATAL ACCIDENT. I AM PUTTING IN FOR THIS BECAUSE APPARENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS BRACKET BRAKE. IT SEEMS TO BE ON THE SAME SIDE AS EVERYONE ELSE IS DESCRIBING. AS THE PEDAL BRAKES IT LEANS OR BRAKES TO THE RIGHT WHICH HEADS TOWARDS THE BRAKE PEDAL ITSELF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287243October 13, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE AUTO LEVELING HEADLIGHTS IN MAZDA RX8S AND CERTAIN OTHER MAZDA VEHICLES ROUTINELY MALFUNCTIONS DUE TO CORROSION. THIS CAUSES THE HEADLIGHTS TO AUTOMATICALLY RETURN TO THEIR LOWEST POSITION IN MOST CASES TOO LOW FOR DRIVING CONDITIONS CAUSING A MAJOR HAZARD TO ALL DRIVERS BOTH OF THE MAZDA AND OTHER VEHICLES. MAZDA RECOGNIZED THIS ISSUE WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2007 HOWEVER NEVER RECALLED THE VEHICLES FOR REPAIR AND WEATHERPROOFING. EVEN IF THE HEADLIGHTS ARE MANUALLY ADJUSTED THEY WILL RETURN TO THE LOWEST POSITION ONCE THE CAR IS STARTED AND THE MALFUNCTIONING AUTO LEVELING SENSORS KICK IN. THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE PURCHASED OUR MAZDA RX8 FROM DOES NOT SEE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEREFORE WILL NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE THE SENSORS. AFTER CONFERRING WITH STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT INSPECTORS, THEY DIFFER IN OPINION AS TO THE AUTO LEVELING MALFUNCTION BEING A HAZARD ESPECIALLY IF THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. MAZDA SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL AND REPLACE THE MALFUNCTIONING SENSORS TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS DUE TO LACKING VISIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286616October 7, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING 1200 MILES FROM HOME DOING ABOUT 45 MPH ON THE LOCAL ROADS, AND MY CLUTCH PEDAL STARTED FEELING FUNNY, MAYBE A LITTLE LOOSE. THEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AS I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS AND CHECKED IT OUT. THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET HAD FAILED AND I CALLED UP THE DEALERSHIP AS IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY OFFERED TO REPLACE IT AT MY COST ($600) AT WHICH THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT SO I SHOULDN'T BE LIABLE FOR SUCH DAMAGES, EVEN AFTER 59,000 MILES. AND ESPECIALLY AFTER SEEING THAT SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM, IT POSES A HUGE SAFETY RISK. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT BACK HOME, SHIFTING PERFECTLY TO MATCH REVS BUT WAS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO START. SOMETIMES THE PEDAL WOULD BE PUSHED SO FAR BACK THAT IT WOULD RUN BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT WORRIED ME SO MUCH THAT I MIGHT HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED SO FAR TO GET SOMEONE TO FIX IT. BUT THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286639October 7, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MY CLUTCH PEDAL BEGAN SQUEAKING ABOUT 4,000 MILES AGO. JUST YESTERDAY, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I DOWNSHIFTED INTO 4TH GEAR AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS SO I HAD TO STAY IN 5TH UNTIL I COULD SAFELY PULL OF AT AN EXIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286689October 7, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2004 MAZDA RX-8 CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE OFF DURING NORMAL DRIVING. NO CORRECTIVE ACTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN YET MAZDA REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER THERE NEW EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286206October 3, 2009
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE MAZDA PEOPLE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FAILING. THEY HAVE A TSB OPEN ON IT. I HAVE A 2004 RX8 AND I JUST INSTALLED MY 6TH VISOR. UP UNTIL NOW MAZDA HAS REPLACED THEM FOR FREE, BUT NOW IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY AND I'M PAYING FOR THEM. SOMETIMES WHEN THEY FAIL THEY FAIL BY DROPPING DOWN AND INTERFERING WITH THE DRIVERS VISION. I THINK IT'S HIGH TIME THAT MAZDA ENGINEER A FIX AND REPLACE ALL OF THESE VISORS OUT ON THE ROAD. FROM NHTSA WEB SITE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285176September 24, 2009
POWER TRAIN
1) NOTHING JUST DRIVING IT 2) FAULTY CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SNAPPED RENDERING THE CLUTCH USELESS. 3) NOT YET CORRECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284464September 17, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I NOTICED MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 ONTO THE DRIVEWAY OF A FRIEND'S LANDLORD'S DRIVEWAY. I DROVE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL COOLER LINES HAD CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1200. MAZDA DOES NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY BUT HAS ISSUED A RECALL IN CANADA FOR THIS VERY ISSUE BUT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT IN THE U.S.A. LEAKS CAN BE FAIRLY SLOW AND UNNOTICEABLE FOR QUITE A WHILE AND COAT THE WHEELS AND BRAKES WITH OIL, CAUSING LOSS OF HANDLING AND TROUBLE BRAKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283549September 10, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
PURCHASED MAZDA RX 8, FEB 28,2009, GULF VIEW AUTO, PORT RICHEY, FL, IMMEDIATELY MOVED TO UPSTATE NY 2 DAYS LATER. GAS GAUGE, INOPERATIVE. FEDERAL RECALL, MAZDA REFUSES TO FIX AFTER RECALL ISSUED DUE TO FIRES.SECTION 30120(1), FAILING TO REPAIR DEFECT, CAN BE PUNISHABLE BY CIVIL FINES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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