Mazda RX-8 Complaints (2004)

490 consumer complaints on file.

#10227914May 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I BOUGHT MY 2004 RX-8 USED WITH 48,000 MILES ON IT. ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH, ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT OR SITTING AT AN IDLE. WAS TOLD I HAD A COMPRESSION VARIANCE IN THE ENGINE AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. UNDISCLOSED TO ME AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE WAS THE FACT THAT THIS CAR HAD ALREADY HAD THE ENGINE REPLACE PREVIOUSLY. I NOW HAVE A CAR THAT IS ON ITS 3RD ENGINE IN 52,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224287April 12, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE ON 12/5/06 AT RUSSEL MAZDA IN CATONSVILLE, MD. VERY SATISFIED WITH THE LOOK OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVING NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE THE VEHICLE I MADE MY DECISION TO PURCHASE. SEVERAL OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS OWN MAZDA?S AND BELIEVE IN YOUR VEHICLES BUT NONE OWN THE RX-8. ON 1/4/07, AFTER MOVING A SHORT DISTANCE TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULDN?T RESTART 5 MINUTES LATER. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO RUSSEL MAZDA IN CATONSVILLE FOR SERVICE. DEALER STATES ?NO START CONDITION. CAR TOWED IN. CUSTOMER HEARS A WHINING SOUND FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN TRYING TO STAR ENGINE. ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER, ?POSSIBLE STARTER?. CAR FLOODED, DE-FLOODED CAR AS PER BULLETIN #01-048/06XXB479R1//.3 ? PROCEDURE ?A? ONLY. AFTER BELIEVING THIS PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED, I ASSUMED EVERYTHING WAS OK. TO NO AVAIL, ON APRIL 4, 2008, DUE TO AN EMERGENCY, ONCE AGAIN I HAD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE A SHORT DISTANCE. AFTER PARKING VEHICLE AT HOME FOR 2 DAYS DURING A SHORT ILLNESS, I WENT TO START VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK VEHICLE WOULDN?T START. ?DE-JAVU?! I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED TO START VEHICLE AGAIN. AFTER THAT, I HAD TO CALL OUT OF WORK ADVISING THEM OF CAR TROUBLE. I THEN WAITED 4 HOURS TO TRY STARTING AGAIN, STILL NO START. I CALLED THE CASTLE FORD/MAZDA IN BELTSVILLE WHO ADVISED ME TO TOW VEHICLE IN. ONCE UNIT ARRIVED, AFTER ONE WEEK OF WAITING FOR RESULTS OF DIAGNOSIS, VEHICLE WAS FLOODED AGAIN. THE DEALER GAVE ME AN INITIAL REPAIR ESTIMATE OF $850.00. I WAS ABLE TO HAVE THEM LOWER THAT AMOUNT TO $650.00. MY TRUST IN MAZDA?S PRODUCTS HAS TRULY BEEN TARNISHED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223653April 8, 2008
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
CLUTCH PEDAL SUPPORT BRACKET FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221091March 13, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2004 MAZDA RX 8. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 11,000 MILES DUE TO LOW COMPRESSION AND OTHER ISSUES. 10,000 MILES LATER I AM GETTING THE SAME SYMPTOMS IN THE NEW ENGINE. MY DEALER IS GREAT, BUT THE CAR IS A LEMON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219144February 25, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY MAZDA RX-8 HAS STALLED MANY TIMES WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHILE GOING ON TRIPS ON THE INTERSTATE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD LOSE POWER AND STALLS AND I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND START IT AGAIN WHICH IT WOULD TAKE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD START. I HAVE HAD MY MAZDA TOWED FROM MY HOUSE TO THE DEALER BEC IT WOULD NOT START AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS FLOODED. NOW IT WON'T START AGAIN AND IT IS REALLY FRUSTRATING AND STARTING TO WORRY ME HOW DANGEROUS IT IS DRIVING MY MAZDA. I HAVE HAD MY MAZDA FOR A YEAR NOW AND THE ONLY TIME I DRIVE IT IS WHEN I GO ON A LONG TRIP OR TO GO SHOPPING AND MOSTLY ON WEEKENDS OR AFTER I GET OFF FROM WORK. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS RESOLVE SO THAT I WON'T GET HURT OR SOMEBODY ELSE WILL GET HURT BEC OF THIS. I UNDERSTAND THAT MAZDA RX-8 HAD A RECALL ON FUEL SYSTEM I JUST WONDER IF THIS WAS TAKEN CARE OF FOR THIS CAR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE CAR IS FINE AND TO MAKE SURE TO WARM IT UP BEFORE YOU SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN ,I HAVE DONE THAT AND NOW MY MAZDA WILL NOT START AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218965February 23, 2008
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
CLUTCH PEDAL STARTED SQUEAKING, CLUTCH PEDAL BRACE BROKE AND CAR WON'T GO INTO GEAR AT ALL, ORDERING A NEW CLUTCH PEDAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216896February 4, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE AT THE WELDS WITH 60K MILES ON MY CAR. MY CAR IS BONE STOCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216281January 28, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2004 RX8. MY ENGINE FLOODS REGULARLY, I AM AFRAID TO VALET MY CAR DUE TO THIS CONSTANT PROBLEM. MY DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR FAILED, I HAD TO REPLACE OUT OF POCKET, NOW THE DEALER IS SAYING MY CAR HAS LOW COMPRESSION AND SUGGEST I TRADE IT IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THEY DO NOT WANT TO REPLACE MY ENGINE AS I AM OVER THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST MAZDA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216229January 27, 2008
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
THE HEATER CONTROL UNITS ARE FAILING ON MAZDA RX8. WHEN DRIVING THE AIR GOES HOT TO COLD BACK AND FORTH. IF YOU MOVE THE KNOB BACK AND FORTH YOU CAN GET YOUR HEAT BACK. I HAVE HAD WINDOWS FOG UP BECAUSE THE HEAT HAS GONE OUT. I HAVE CONTACTED MAZDA AND THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THIS AFFECTS. IF YOU DO A SEARCH ON RX8CLUB.COM YOU WILL SEE ALL THE FAILURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215345January 18, 2008
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
VEHICLE'S CLUTCH BRACKET ASSEMBLY BROKE AT TWO SEPARATE WELD POINTS MAKING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS, 07, I BEGAN NOTICING A VERY LOUD SQUEAK UPON DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. IN RESEARCHING THIS, IT APPEARS THAT THIS WAS SYMPTOMATIC OF THE FIRST WELD SPOT FAILING. I BEGAN NOTICING AN INABILITY TO PULL THE CAR OUT OF GEAR. THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT BUDGE, EVEN WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THIS PROBLEM WAS MOST SEVERE AT VEHICLE START UP. UPON STARTING THE CAR, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO ANY GEAR. TO MAKE THE CAR DRIVABLE, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE STARTED WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL DEPRESSED, AND THE CAR ALREADY IN 1ST GEAR (WITH THE VEHICLE OFF, IT WAS VERY SIMPLE TO GET THE CAR INTO ANY GEAR). I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER TWO DAYS AFTER THE PROBLEM BEGAN. THEY ADVISED ME THAT MY PROBLEM SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS DUE TO FAILURE IN THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. I HAD ADVISED THEM THAT I HAD READ ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH BRACKET, AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL ALIGNMENT. I QUESTIONED WHETHER I HAD TOO MUCH FREE PLAY, AND NOT ENOUGH CLUTCH STROKE. THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR THE DAY AND ADVISED ME BY PHONE THAT THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM WAS FULLY FUNCTIONAL. MY CLUTCH PEDAL ALIGNMENT WAS OFF AND THEY MADE ADJUSTMENTS. WITH REGARDS TO THE NOISE I WAS HEARING UPON DEPRESSING THE PEDAL, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. UPON RECEIVING MY CAR, ALL THE PROBLEMS APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN RESOLVED. THE NOISE WAS GONE, THE CAR WAS SHIFTING LIKE IT HAS SINCE OWNING THE CAR. A NIGHT LATER, LESS THAN 20 MILES LATER, UPON MAKING A SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, I HEARD A VERY LOUD SNAP AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL DISAPPEARED FROM BENEATH MY FOOT. THE CLUTCH BRACKET HAD SNAPPED (A BREAKAGE AT A SECOND WELD SPOT) AND NOW WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE CAR. THE CAR RETURNED TO HAVING THE SAME DIFFICULTIES WITH REGARDS TO SHIFTING. MAZDA WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR AS A SAFETY DEFECT, INSISTING THAT IT WAS DRIVING ABUSE AND NOT A DESIGN FLAW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213693January 4, 2008
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
DRIVING ON HIWAY AT 65MPH I WAS PUSHING IN CLUTCH PETAL TO CHANGE GEARS AND HEARD LOUD POP COME FROM CLUTCH PETAL. I WAS STILL ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS BUT AFTER INSPECTING THE PETAL THE MOUNTING BRACKET ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD BROKE OFF AND THE PETAL BENDS TO THE RIGHT SIDE. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212555December 22, 2007
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKEN TWICE! THE CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, SO I TOOK IT TO MAZDA AND THEY FIXED IT. ABOUT A MONTH LATER, IT BROKE AGAIN. I HEARD THE TELL SIGNS BECAUSE IT STARTED SQUEAKING AGAIN AS IT DID THE FIRST TIME AND NOW ITS SQUEAKING AGAIN! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210694December 3, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1) CAR OFTEN STALLS/WON'T START 2) ENGINE CRANKS AND WON'T START/ HAD TO TAKE IT TO A SHOP MANY TIMES 3) DEALER SAYS "ENGINE FLOODED" AND REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209915November 26, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ROTARY ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY, BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEFORE STARTING AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. THE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209071November 15, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
2004. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208916November 14, 2007
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
AC AND GENERAL CABIN TEMPERATURE PROBLEMS. I AM HAVING A COMBINATION OF PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATING AND COOLING OF THE CAR. IN THE SUMMER WHEN IT IS VERY HOT THERE IS A NOTICEABLE "PULSING" OR ON/OFF SYMPTOM OF THE COLD AIR GENERATED BY THE AC. I TIMED IT AND VERY COLD AIR COMES OUT OF THE VENT FOR ABOUT 30 - 45 SECONDS. THEN IT IS FOLLOWED BY ABOUT THE SAME DURATION OF REGULAR AIR (THE AC SEEMS TO SHUT OFF) SO ON HOT DAYS YOU GET A PULSE OF COLD FOLLOWED UP BY A PULSE OF WARM AIR. THE EFFECT IS THAT THE CABIN HEATS UP AND THE AC CANNOT KEEP UP WITH IT. IT THE WINTER WHEN IT IS COLD OUT THERE IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE. IT SEEMS THAT THE VENTS ARE ALLOWING OUTSIDE AIR TO GET INTO THE MIXTURE. IN THE WINTER ICE COLD AIR IS BEING MIXED IN WITH THE HEAT WHICH HAS THE SAME EFFECT WHERE THE HEATER CANNOT KEEP UP WITH HEATING THE CABIN OF THE CAR. THERE IS ALSO AN ANNOYING FEATURE ON THE DEFROSTER. YOU CANNOT DEFROST THE WINDOW WITH INSIDE AIR AS SOON AS YOU TURN ON THE DEFROSTER IT FLIPS THE OUTSIDE AIR VENT OPEN. SO WHEN IT IS VERY COLD YOU HAVE TO CHOSE BETWEEN SEEING OUT THE WIND SHIELD AND FREEZING OR HEAT THE CABIN AND THE WIND SHIELD FOGS UP. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN THREE TIMES AND HAVE SINCE GAVE UP. THE TECH'S OBVIOUSLY CANNOT OR WILL NOT FIX IT. THE TECH ACTUALLY HAD A THERMOMETER IN THE VENT OF THE CAR AND OF COURSE THE CAR IS INSIDE THE GARAGE IN THE SHADE. SO HE POPS IN THE THERMOMETER AND COMES BACK AND CHECKS IT A - OK. I GAVE THEM A DETAILED DESCRIPTION, DO YOU THINK THEY TOOK THE CAR OUT AND DROVE IT WHEN IT IS ABOVE 85 DEGREES OUTSIDE? NOPE *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206845October 25, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STEERING
PURCHASED USED VEHICLE IN APRIL 2007, FIRST INCIDENT 8/14/2007 ENGINE STALLED (ENGINE INTERNAL FAILURE) AT 45,107 MILES ENGINE REPLACED BY MAZDA DEALERSHIP. SECOND INCIDENT SEPTEMBER 2007 POWER STEERING GOES OUT (POOR CONNECTION ON ENGINE ROOM HARNESS) CONNECTION FIXED STEERING GEAR REPLACED; THIRD INCIDENT OCTOBER 2007, STEERING PROBLEM (STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR MALFUNCTION) BROKEN WIRE REPAIRED--LEARNED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED 15 TIMES PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205753October 15, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX8 WITH 67,900 MILES. THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF AN INTERNAL FAULT FAILURE. I AM BEING CHARGED 8,500 TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH A 3 YEAR OLD CAR WITH MID MILEAGE NEEDING AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I AM A TEACHER AND DON'T HAVE THE SALARY TO REPLACE A CAR EVERY 3 YEARS OR AT 67,900 MILES. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203676September 21, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5 AND 70 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTARY ENGINE, STARTER, FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, AND THE BATTERY, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202857September 13, 2007
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I HAVE A 2004 MAZDA RX8 WHICH I PURCHASED NEW ON OCTOBER 13, 2005. THE CAR HAS 21,420 MILES ON IT ... ALL 'BABIED' AS I'M 52 YEARS OLD ... AND ALL SERVICE HAS BEEN DONE BY THE DEALER. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY PLUS I HAVE A HIGH-PRICED EXTENDED WARRANTY ON TOP OF IT! TWO DAYS AGO I NOTICED THE CLUTCH WAS SLIPPING SO I CALLED MY DEALER. THEY WANTED ME TO WAIT A WEEK TO BRING IT IN; I DECIDED IT WOULDN'T BE MOVING ON IT'S OWN IN A WEEK AND DROPPED BY THE DEALER THE SAME DAY. TODAY THEY PHONED ME TO SAY THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACING. FURTHER, THIS WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNDER EITHER THE FACTORY WARRANTY OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY; INSTEAD, I WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE $1480.00 REPLACEMENT COST! A CAR WITH ONLY 21K MILES ON IT THAT HAS BABIED SINCE DAY ONE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING CLUTCH PROBLEMS (I'VE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS) NOT SHOULD I BE LIABLE FOR THIS EXORBITANT COST! UPON SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THE PARTS I NEED ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE DEALER; THEREFORE, I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE OPTION OF HAVING SOMEONE ELSE DOING THE REPAIRS WITHOUT PAYING AN ASTRONOMICAL FEE FOR A THROW-OUT BEARING AND PLATE ($497.00)! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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