Mazda RX-8 Complaints (2004)

490 consumer complaints on file.

#10201805September 4, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE STALLING OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. ON JUNE 24, 2007, THE DEALER REPLACED THE COIL, HOWEVER, IT FAILED TO WORK AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE. THIS ALSO DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE COIL A SECOND TIME AND THE DEALER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE ENGINE APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AGO. THE ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND A VALID VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 36,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199627August 15, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I PURCHASED MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 IN MARCH 2005 AND PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON DID NOT START UNTIL APRIL 2006. AT THAT TIME THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 26,000 MILES ON IT (I HAVE A LONG COMMUTE 90% OF WHICH IS FREEWAY). THE FIRST SEVERAL TIMES BACK TO THE DEALER MINOR THINGS WERE ADJUSTED OR CLEANED SUCH AS THE SPARK PLUGS AND A SMALL VALVE A KIT TO A BUTTERFLY VALVE IN A CARBURETOR ENGINE. EVENTUALLY THE VALVE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE LIGHT STILL CAME BACK ON. IN FACT, ON ONE OCCASION THE CAR WAS PULLED OUT OF THE SHOP DOORS PRONOUNCED FIXED AND UPON MY STARTING IT AGAIN THE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. EVENTUALLY MAZDA APPROVED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BE REPLACED, WHICH IT WAS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS STAYED OFF SINCE THAT REPLACEMENT (ABOUT 3-MONTHS) , BUT OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE ARISEN. FIRST, EITHER THE INTAKE OR EXHAUST HEADS WERE NOT SEALED CORRECTLY SINCE THE ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING THROUGH THE DASH. THIS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT BUT NEVER PROPERLY REPAIRED. NOW, AS OF AUGUST 3, 2007 THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS WHERE WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE CAR SHUTS DOWN. THE NEEDLES IN THE DIALS ON THE DASH BOUNCE WILDLY BACK AND FORTH WHILE A CLICKING SOUND IS COMING FROM THE FUSE BOX IN THE ENGINE. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CAR IS BACK IN FOR IT'S 10TH VISIT TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN CLEVELAND. I HAVE STARTED THE BUY BACK PROCEDURE WITH MAZDA. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199398August 13, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198556August 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM), SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10195033June 30, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
THE REAR PASSENGER TAIL LAMP ON THE 2004 MAZDA RX-8 IS KNOWN TO COLLECT WATER INSIDE THE LAMP, SOMETIMES AS MUCH AS 2 INCHES OR MORE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MAZDA AND THEY WILL REPLACE THE LAMP ONLY IN UNDER WARRANTY. BUT ACCORDING TO THE MAZDA DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE, WATER IN A TAIL LAMP IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO PASS THE ANNUAL TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY INSPECTION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, ALTHOUGH IT IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE LAMP WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY MAZDA SINCE MY VEHICLE MILEAGE EXCEEDS THE WARRANTY. IF IT IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THEIR INSPECTION PROCEDURES AND IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT BY MAZDA, I BELIEVE THAT MAZDA OWNS THE RESPONSIBILITY IN REPLACING THE TAIL LAMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10194013June 22, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE A RECALL NOTICE PRESENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. SINCE THAT TIME, HIS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER, EXCESSIVE AIR CONSUMPTION, AND POOR MILEAGE. THE # OF CYLINDERS IS 0 BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS A ROTARY ENGINE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 71,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182512February 13, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON 1/26/07 I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE LATEST RECALL REPAIR AND A TUNE UP, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS THE POWER LOSS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. PRIOR TO THIS, THE CAR WAS STALLING, LOSING POWER AND HAVING TO DOWN SHIFT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ITS SPEED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, AND LITTLE POWER WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE TUNE UP INCLUDED REPLACING THE SPARK PLUGS, AIR FILTER, AND OIL CHANGE, IN ADDITION TO THE RECALL WORK. THE CAR SEEMED TO RUN FINE AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETE, BUT LASTED ONLY ABOUT A WEEK. THE CAR EXHIBITS THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH POWER LOSS AGAIN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHO SAID MY SPARK PLUG WIRES ARE NOW THE CULPRIT, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE OKAY A COUPLE WEEKS PRIOR. SAID THE SPARK PLUG WIRES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, WHICH IS OKAY, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE CAUSE SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE CAR. MY CAR IS ALMOST OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178853January 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
PROBLEMS WITH ROTARY ENGINE STARTING. USUALLY HAPPENS AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW 25 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. POOR IGNITION SYSTEM FOR COLDER WEATHER. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH IT EACH WINTER I HAVE OWNED THE CAR(2004 TO PRESENT DAY). A TRIP TO THE DEALER HAS BEEN NECESSARY EACH TIME AND WHILE THE WARRANTY IS STILL VALID, THIS IS AN INCONVENIENCE BUT IT'S AFTER THE EXPIRATION IS WHEN I WORRY. A RECALL WAS NOTED AND REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED THE FALL OF 2006 BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED YESTERDAY. THIS RECALL INCLUDED SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT, BATTERY REPLACEMENT, STARTER MOTOR REPLACEMENT, AND REPROGRAMMING THE ONBOARD COMPUTER CHIP FOR IGNITION CHANGES. THE NEW STARTER MOTOR MADE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO STARTING TIME BUT DIDN'T CHANGE IT'S CONDITION IN COLDER WEATHER. THE MAZDA DEALER HAS BEEN LITTLE HELP IN RESOLVING THE SITUATION. THEIR REMEDY HAS BEEN JUST TREATING THE SYMPTOMS AND NOT FIGURING ON A SOLUTION TO THE IGNITION PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THAT "THESE CARS DO NOT LIKE COLD WEATHER" AND "THESE CARS DO NOT LIKE SHORT TRIPS". I WOULD FIGURE THAT IF A COMBUSTION MOTOR CANNOT START IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 25 DEGREES F, THEN THEY SHOULD OFFER A BETTER CAR/MOTOR REPLACEMENT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177869January 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE FAILURE, AFTER DRIVING SHORT DISTANCES ENGINE DOES NOT ALWAYS WANT TO RESTART; DURING TIMES OF SITTING IN TRAFFIC, CAR WILL IDLE ROUGHLY AND SPUTTER, SOMETIMES DIE AND WON'T IMMEDIATELY RESTART; CAR HAS DIED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START OUT INTO TRAFFIC; TRANSMISSION DOESN'T CHANGE GEARS PROPERLY... I HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE FEB. 04 AND IT HAS BEEN SERVICED OVER A DOZEN TIMES FOR ENGINE FAILURE AND TRANSMISSION ISSUES ALONE. IT HAS HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION, LINKAGE, GEAR BOX, STARTER, BATTERY, AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY PUTTING IN THE 2ND REPLACEMENT ENGINE. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY THESE CARS HAVE SO MUCH TROUBLE, BUT I WOULDN'T HAVE ANOTHER ONE IF IT WAS GIVEN TO ME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173103November 10, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PURCHASED A 2004 MAZDA RX8 DURING MAY 2004. AUG. 2004 THE CAR WAS IN FOR A RECALL ON HARD START/ LACK OF POWER ISSUES. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR 24 DAYS AND HAS REQUIRED 8 TRIPS TO THE SERVICE DEPT. FOR ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PCM WAS SHIPPED TO MAZDA USA FOR A REPROGRAM. THIS SOLUTION DID NOT WORK AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE POWER LOSS, HESITATION, ROUGH IDLE, AND CEL LIGHT PROBLEMS. INITIALLY, I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A HIGH SPEED LEAN OUT CONDITION. ACTUALLY, THIS VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE ENGINE FROM THE DAY IT WAS PURCHASED. THIS IS CONFIRMED BY THE FACT MAZDA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON ALL RX8 ROTARY ENGINES AND THERE IS A RECALL ON ALL ROTARY ENGINES FOR TESTING TO SEE IF THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACEMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS FIX MAY OR MAY NOT WORK. OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ENGINE REPLACEMENTS. MY CAR HAS STARTED TO EXHIBIT THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT LED TO THE FIRST REPLACEMENT. ALSO, THE ENGINES ARE REMANUFACTURED FURTHER REDUCING THE RESALE VALUE OF THE CAR. THE TREATMENT FROM THE DEALER AND MAZDA USA CUSTOMER MEDIATION IS ACTUALLY "CUSTOMER NO SERVICE" AND A DISGRACE. IN A PRESS RELEASE RX8 OWNERS WERE GUARANTEED "WHITE GLOVE TREATMENT". IT APPEARS THAT THE ONLY REMEDY SEEMS TO AN ATTORNEY AND/OR THE LEMON LAW. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173074November 9, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PERFORMING GENERAL MAINTENANCE, THE BRAKES WERE OBSERVED TO BE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKES WERE CORRODED DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ROTORS WERE CORRODED. UPDATED 11/30/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172505November 2, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH EXCESSIVE HEAT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAR LOSES OR LACKS POWER. CAR HAS DIED MANY TIMES. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TWICE TO DEALER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER FOR SERVICE OVER 7 TIMES. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 32000 MILES. TODAY: 2 NOV 2006. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I PICKED UP CAR YESTERDAY FROM DEALER AFTER BEING REPAIRED FROM SIMILAR (POWER) PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR TOO MANY TIMES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167366September 5, 2006
VISIBILITY
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUN VISOR CAN CRACK/BREAK AND OBSTRUCT VISION WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166293August 23, 2006
VISIBILITY
DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR HAS BROKEN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 3 MONTHS. THE TOP SEAM SPLITS RENDERING THE VISOR COMPLETELY UNUSABLE. IT LOOSELY HANGS DIRECTLY IN THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SIGHT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166385August 23, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX-8 AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL RANDOM BREAK-DOWNS & THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. HALF THE TIME, MY CAR IS JUST PARKED AND WILL NOT START UP EVEN AFTER SITTING FOR AWHILE. MAZDA HAS REPLACED THE ENTIRE ENGINE, BATTERY, AND COILS. I WAS WITHOUT MY CAR FOR 22 DAYS. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND 11 OTHER MAZDA RX-8 OWNERS WITH THE EXACT PROBLEMS. SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE ROTARY ENGINE. I WROTE MAZDA CONSUMER COMPLIANCE AND GAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION RELATED TO MY CAR AND THEY OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND GUARANTEED MY CAR WAS FULLY REPAIRED. THEY SENT ME A CONTRACT FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND BASICALLY SIGNING THE WARRANTY EXCLUDES ME TO EVER SEEK ANY MONETARY OR JUSTIFICATION FROM MAZDA AGAIN ON THIS VEHICLE. I DID NOT SIGN THE CONTRACT. I PICKED UP MY CAR AND 6 DAYS LATER MY CAR WOULD NOT START (SAME AS BEFORE). I TOWED IT BACK TO THE DEALER, WITHIN 2 DAYS THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT MY UNDERCARRIAGE WAS COMPLETELY TORN APART AND I MUST OF RAN OVER SOMETHING VERY RECENTLY AND IT WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY ARE NOW CHARGING ME $250 FOR A REPLACEMENT OXYGEN SENSOR. I CAN CARE LESS ABOUT THE $250, IT'S JUST OBVIOUS THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THEIR ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE BY DESIGN. I AM SURE MY VIN # IS FLAGGED AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF THE LETTER I WROTE TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THE LETTER WAS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM BEFORE I SEEK LEGAL COUNCIL. I GUESS NOW THEY ARE IMPLYING THAT I AM PURPOSELY HARMING MY VEHICLE, WHICH IS ABSURD. I HEARD THAT THERE WAS A NEW RECALL FOR THE MAZDA RX-8 COMING OUT SOON BUT THEY ARE WAITING FOR NHTSA TO APPROVE IT. I AM HOPING IT'S FOR MAZDA TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAD SUCH A RECALL FOR THIS SAME VEHICLE IN THE PAST DUE TO FALSE ADVERTISING OF THE HORSE POWER OF THIS VEHICLE. IT'S UNSAFE TO HAVE YOUR CAR RANDOMLY DIE ON YOU. I JUST HOPE SOMETHING GETS ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET HURT WHILE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163268July 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, AND THE ENGINE LOST ALL PICKUP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO SPECIFICALLY DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162771July 18, 2006
VISIBILITY
SUN VISOR SPLITS IN MIDDLE WHEN FOLDED DOWN ON HOT DAYS AND BLOCKS WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. SUN VISOR IS ELECTRICALLY WIRED AND HANGS FROM WIRE OBSCURING MOST OF WINDSHIELD ON DRIVERS SIDE. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED SUNVISOR SEVERAL TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. ON INTERNET COMMUNITY MANY IF NOT ALL OTHER USERS REPORT THAT THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THEM. HTTP://WWW.RX8CLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=12572. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160229June 20, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I BOUGHT MY RX8 IN AUGUST OF 2004. AFTER THE FIRST 16000 MILES I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. IT STARTED OUT WITH CHATTERING COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN THE CAR WAS BEING ACCELERATED. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER DURING ACCELERATION. I FIRST TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON 1/09/06. THE DEALER PERFORMED RECALL 3305G AND TOLD ME THIS WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS SOME IMPROVEMENT BUT LOSS OF POWER WAS STILL OCCURRING. IN THE MORNING OF 4/17/06 CAR WOULD NOT START. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND CAR WAS TOWED FOR REPAIR. DEALER ATTRIBUTED PROBLEM TO POWER TRAIN MODULE (REFLASHING). ON 5/23/06 CAR WAS AGAIN IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, DEALER PERFORMED COMPUTER CHANGES. ON 5/25/06 THE CAR WENT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME THE PCM MODULE WAS REMOVED AND SENT OUT FOR REPAIR. ON 6/19/06 CAR EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEMS (VIBRATION, STALLING AND LOSS OF POWER). THIS TIME I INFORMED THE DEALER THAT I NEEDED THE CAR FULLY REPAIRED OR REPLACED. I CALLED MAZDA AND STARTED A COMPLAINT FILE (#107953120). CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND I AM DRIVING A RENTAL PAID FOR BY THE DEALER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160023June 16, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED MY 2004 RX-8 IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, 8/19/03. MY FIRST PROBLEMS OCCURRED 2/18/04, PCM AND COOLANT PROBLEMS. ON 3/29/04, I BEGAN HAVING RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I ALSO TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEMS ON 4/12/04, 3/3/06, 3/31/06, 4/3/06 AND 4/5/06. ON 7/19/04, I TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE BECAUSE THE DRIVER''S-SIDE SUN VISOR FELL APART. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN ON 7/29/04, FOR MORE SUN VISOR PROBLEMS. IT IS STILL LOOSE. I TOOK MY CAR FOR RECALL SERVICES ON 1116/04 AND 9/1/05. ON 7/1/05, I TOOK IN MY CAR AS IT WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGHLY AND DYING. ON 8/9/05, I AGAIN TOOK IN MY CAR FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEMS AND THE FACT THAT IT WAS CONTINUING TO IDLE ROUGHLY AND DIE. I TOOK IN MY CAR ON 9/1/05, BECAUSE IT WAS STILL IDLING VERY ROUGHLY AND DYING. ON THAT OCCASION I WAS ALMOST ''T-BONED'' BY ANOTHER CAR THAT MANAGED TO SWERVE AT THE LAST MOMENT. DURING THIS 22-DAY-LONG SERVICE VISIT, AT 27,534 MILES, MY ENGINE WAS REPLACED. I TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE ON 5/22/06, BECAUSE MY CAR WAS IDLING VERY ROUGHLY AND DIED 3 TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY. EACH TIME I NARROWLY AVOIDED BEING REAR-ENDED BY TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. THIS VISIT LASTED 10 DAYS. ON 6/12/06, MY CAR BEGAN IDLING VERY ROUGHLY AND DIED 4 TIMES. AGAIN I NARROWLY AVOIDED BEING HIT BY TRAFFIC. ON 6/13/06, I TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE, WHERE IT REMAINS, AS OF 6/16/06. ON THIS SITE FOR 2004 RX-8'S ALONE, THERE ARE 9 OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE. WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR, I CONSTANTLY FEAR THE NEXT INSTANCE WHEN THE CAR WILL DIE. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE ESCAPED SERIOUS INJURY AND SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THIS POINT. HOWEVER, I AM CERTAIN THAT SHOULD THIS PROBLEM CONTINUE, AS IT SURELY WILL, THAT I WILL NOT CONTINUE TO BE SO FORTUNATE. DESPITE ALL MY COMPLAINTS MAZDA CONTINUES TO DO NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THEY NEED TO BUY BACK MY VEHICLE, AS IT IS QUITE OBVIOUSLY IRREPARABLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158337May 26, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
MAZDA RX-8'S HAVE SEVERAL DOCUMENTED CASES OF WHAT THE DEALERSHIPS REFER TO AS "EXPLODING CLUTCHES". IT SEEMS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT CAUSES THE CLUTCHES TO FAIL PREMATURELY (5-20K MILES) LOCKING THE TRANSMISSION IN GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A FEW INDIVIDUALS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHERE THE INABILITY TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE FATAL. MAZDA AND ITS DEALERS HAVE IGNORED CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MATTER. I'M HAVE COMPILED AND CONTINUE TO COMPILE DOCUMENTATION INDICATING THAT THIS IS FAR FROM A FEW ISOLATED EVENTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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