Mazda RX-8 Complaints

784 consumer complaints on file.

#10322203March 25, 2010
STRUCTURE
THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY MAZDA RX-8 2004 MODEL IS MAKING A STRANGE NOISE EVERYTIME I STEP ON IT. THE CLUTCH DOESN'T FEEL LIKE ITS WORKING RIGHT, AND MYT BREAK SNAP ANYTIME SOON JUST LIKE WHAT ALREADY HAPPEND TO LOTS OF RX-8'S.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322229March 25, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2004 MAZDA RX8 MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH 64500 MILES. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN NORMALLY ON THE WAY TO WORK WHEN DURING A SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR THE CLUTCH BRACKET BROKE IN HALF ON THE OUTSIDE PORTION OF THE CAR, WHICH CAUSED THE PEDAL TO SHIFT OVER TOWARDS THE BRAKE MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAR IS NOW IS UNABLE TO MOVE BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE PUT INTO GEAR OR DRIVEN SAFELY. THIS IS A PERMANENT FAILURE UNTIL IT IS FIXED. THE CLUTCH BRAKET MUST BE REMOVED AND WELDED OR A ENTIRE PIECE ORDERED AND REASSEMBLED WITH THE EXISTING COMPONENTS FOR AN ESTIMATED PRICE OF ALMOST $500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321621March 23, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2004 MAZDA RX8 MANUAL WITH 59,000 MILES. THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET ATTACHED TO THE FIREWALL SNAPPED WHILE I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE GEAR IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. I ENDED UP WITH ALMOST NO CLUTCH AT ALL. I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BRACKET BROKEN INTO PIECES. A NEW CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE INSTALLED TO REPLACE THE BROKEN ONE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321354March 22, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY MAZDA RX 8 BROKE AT 80,000 MILES. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM. *DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320255March 16, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX8 AND HAVE NEVER HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH A CAR IN MY LIFE. SHORTLY AFTER BUYING IT, IT WOULD NOT START, HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER, THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 8 TIMES NOW BECAUSE IT STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR WHEN TAKING OFF. IT HAS SAT ALL WINTER DUE TO NOT STARTING. MY HAD SWEAT JUST THINKING ABOUT DRIVING THIS CAR AND I WILL ONLY TAKE BACK ROADS, ONE NEAR MISS ON THE HIGHWAY WAS ENOUGH FOR ME TO STAY OFF AND STAY ON BACK ROADS, AT LEAST THEN I HAVE SOME CHANCE OF GETTING IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SO MANY TIMES I HAVE LOST COUNT ALTHOUGH I HAVE ALL OF THE REPAIR ORDERS. THEY DID REPLACE THE ENGINE, BUT IT STILL RUNS ROUGH, NOW THE ENGINE LITE IS ON AGAIN!!!! THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE TO DRIVE AND I CAN NOT TRADE IT IN BECAUSE ALL THE DEALERS KNOW ABOUT THE CAR AND WILL NOT GIVE ME EVEN ONE HALF OF WHAT I PAID FOR IT. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR FOR SO MANY REASONS AND CAN NOT BELIEVE THE CAR ITSELF HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. THEY SHOULD BUY THEM ALL BACK FOR WHAT WE PAID FOR THEM MINE WAS $23,000. WHY AREN'T YOU DOING WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO TOYOTA??????? I AM GOING TO DIE IN THIS CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ASK FOR APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE, WELL I HAVE ABOUT 20 OF THEM AND YOU ONLY ALLOW ONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319146March 12, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING A 2005 MAZDA RX8 I LOST CONTROL AFTER SHIFTING FROM 5 TO 4TH GEAR. THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK IN AND MOVED SLIGHTLY RIGHT NEAR THE BREAK PEDAL AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THIS SURPRISED ME WHICH CAUSED ME TO RUN OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED A TOW COMPANY TO TRANSPORT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT USED WITH 58000 MILES ON IT. THEY SAID THE CLUTCH HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR 1400 DOLLARS. AT THE TIME I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY SO I ASKED FOR IT TO BE TOWED BACK TO A LOCAL GARAGE. MY LOCAL GARAGE FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLE BROKE AWAY FROM THE MOUNTING PLATE. THIS IS A PART THAT YOU WOULD NOT EXPECT TO BREAK. ALL INDICATIONS POINT TO A FAULTY WELD. THE METAL RIPPED FROM THE POINT OF A SPOT WELD. THIS SPOT WELD MAY HAVE WEAKENED WHAT IS RELATIVELY THIN METAL FOR THIS USE. I HAD A LOCAL GARAGE REPLACE THE PART FOR 500 DOLLARS WITH PARTS AND LABOR. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE ORIGINAL GUARANTEE BUT MAZDA REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE COST BECAUSE IT WAS NOT REPAIRED BY MAZDA. ALL I WANTED WAS THE COST OF THE PART. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I HAVE A SAFETY CONCERN IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319361March 12, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A MAZDA RX8-2004. SINCE PURCHASE IT HAS ALWAYS IDLED ROUGH. ON OCCASION THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START, SUPPOSEDLY FLOODED. NOW JUST YESTERDAY IT WAS IDLING ROUGH AGAIN BUT WHILE MERGING ON TO THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE CUT OFF IN AN INSTANT. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT DID RESTART. I'M AFRAID TO HAVE MY FAMILY IN THIS CAR ANYMORE. THERE ARE KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE ROTARY ENGINE AND FAILURE IT A BIG PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE ENGINE BEFORE BUT PASSED THE MAZDA "TESTS" AND WAS NEVER REPLACED. IT'S BEEN DOCUMENTED BY THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS. THIS ENGINE FAILURE IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE TOYOTA GAS PEDAL PROBLEM THAT IS PUTTING CONSUMERS LIVES AT RISK. THIS PROBLEM IS THE REVERSE, YOU COULD BE CHANGING LANES AND LOOSE ALL POWER AND GET RUN OVER BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. WHY ARE THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE BEING IGNORED? IS IT BECAUSE IT'S ONLY ONE MAZDA MODEL AND IT DOESN'T HAVE THAT MANY CARS ON THE ROAD? THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON AND A DANGER TO DRIVE. I CANNOT BELIEVE MORE DEATHS HAVE NOT OCCURRED AND MAZDA IS ALLOWED TO SWEEP THIS UNDER THE CARPET. I WOULD GET RID OF THIS CAR BUT ALL CAR DEALERS KNOW THE DEAL WITH IT AND WON'T GIVE YOU A PENNY FOR IT THUS I NEED TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS DEATH TRAP. PLEASE HELP US HELPLESS CONSUMERS. MAZDA SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318989March 11, 2010
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
1. DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 50 MPH EXITING OFF A LONG OFF RAMP. 2. CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE. PUSHED CLUTCH IN AND HEARD A LOUD "CRACK!". BARELY GOT THE CAR INTO FIRST GEAR AND INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE IT WAS DOA AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE PEDAL WAS BENT AND NEARLY STUCK BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL. 3. NO REPAIR. DEALER ASKING $595 TO REPAIR. I CAN'T AFFORD IT (I AM UNEMPLOYED AND COULDN'T FIND A SINGLE JOB IN A YEAR AND A HALF). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318387March 10, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, AIR BAGS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STEERING, EQUIPMENT
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN WITH THE PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8. I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE SEPTEMBER 2003 AND IT HAS HAD COUNTLESS ISSUES, PARTS REPLACED AND FAILURES. THE INCIDENT I EXPERIENCED LAST NIGHT PUT ME OVER THE EDGE AND ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE. MY RX-8, WHICH WAS JUST AT THE DEALER 2 WEEKS AGO, HAD AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION WHILE I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN MASSACHUSETTS. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE WENT FROM APPROX 50MPH TO 10MPH IN A MATTER OF A FEW SECONDS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT INJURING MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE; HOWEVER, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. EVERY SINGLE PART IN MY RX-8 HAS BEEN REPLACED EXCEPT FOR THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND ENGINE. I HAVE DISHED OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ALREADY AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY HAZARD TO THOSE OF US DRIVING THE VEHICLE, BUT IT IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD TO THOSE AROUND US. HAD THE CAR BEHIND ME NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION MY VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUSED A DEADLY CAR CRASH IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I HAVE CONTACTED NUMEROUS DEALERSHIPS, THE BBB, AND AM NOW LOOKING INTO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. MAZDA NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE MY CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2003, BBB WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CASE, HOWEVER I HAVE 57 PAGES OF DETAILED REPAIRS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO THIS VEHICLE SINCE I OWNED IT, WHICH I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO SEND TO YOU. TONS OF PEOPLE ONLINE HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES; JUST FROM AUTOMOTIVE.COM THERE ARE 30+ EMAIL ADDRESSES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO MINE. PLEASE HELP US GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS FAULTY ENGINE AND MAKE MAZDA OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKES. PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE IN DANGER AND THIS IS NEITHER ACCEPTABLE NOR ETHICAL. PS- AN EMPLOYEE OF NHTSA HAS BEEN CONTACTED PRIOR REGARDING THIS SITUATION. HER NAME IS [XXX] AND HER CONTACT INFORMATION IS [XXX]EXT #: [XXX]. I RECEIVED THIS FROM THE AUTOMOTIVE.COM FORUM. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316516March 9, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2005 MAZDA RX-8. CONSUMER STATES ROUGH RUNNING, STALLING AND FLOODING. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO START. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS CARBON IN THE ENGINE AND PERFORMED IT A COMPRESSION TEST. IT BARELY PASSED THE TEST. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WERE A LOT OF DEFECTS IN MAZDA RX-8 ENGINES AND THAT HE WOULD PROBABLY NEED A NEW ENGINE IN THE FUTURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND DECARBED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINUED TO IDLE ROUGHLY, STALL AND FLOOD SINCE THE FIRST VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP. SIX MONTHS LATER WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO START THE VEHICLE TO WARM IT UP, THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE DECARBED AGAIN AND THE COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317434March 7, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 AND WITHOUT SYMPTOM, MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE. SUBSEQUENTLY, I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT MY VEHICLE INTO GEAR. I WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, UNABLE TO PULL OVER TO CLEAR TRAFFIC. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO WESTCOTT MAZDA AND THEY REPLACED THE BRACKET FOR ME. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE, BUT I DO HAVE THE RECEIPTS FOR THE TOWING AND THE REPLACEMENT BRACKET FROM WESTCOTT MAZDA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317420March 6, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE WHILE SHIFTING GEARS IN 2004 MAZDA RX 8. CLUTCH PEDAL MOVES SIDE TO SIDE NOW, AND SEEMS LIKELY TO INTERFERE WITH BRAKING. ALSO MAKES SHIFTING GEARS MORE DIFFICULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317331March 6, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1. ABOUT 2 HOURS OF CITY DRIVING. 2. WHILE DRIVING OUR MAZDA RX-8, THE CLUTCH PEDAL SUDDENLY DEVELOPED EXCESSIVE FREE PLAY AND THE CLUTCH WAS HARD TO DISENGAGE. AFTER PARKING THE CAR AND LETTING IT COOL FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE CLUTCH PEDAL RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE SYMPTOMS WERE EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN MAZDA TSB # 05-004/06 'MANUAL TRANSMISSION - CLUTCH HARD TO DISENGAGE'. THIS TSB DESCRIBES A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHERE ETHANOL USED IN THE CLUTCH RELEASE CYLINDER BOOT CAN VAPORIZE AND INCREASE PRESSURE WITHIN THE BOOT, WHICH THEN CAUSES THE PISTON TO BE PUSHED BACK INTO THE RELEASE CYLINDER BODY. AS A RESULT, A GAP APPEARS BETWEEN THE PISTON AND THE PUSH ROD, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE FREE PLAY AND THE CLUTCH HARD TO DISENGAGE. THE TSB SAYS THAT THE ETHANOL CAN VAPORIZE 'AT HOT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES OR APPROX. 85 F.' THIS IS SURPRISING, BECAUSE, 85 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT IS A VERY NORMAL TEMPERATURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE TSB SAYS THAT A MASS PRODUCTION CHANGE WAS MADE SINCE WE BOUGHT OUR CAR AND THAT ETHANOL IS NO LONGER USED DURING THE MANUFACTURE OF THE CLUTCH RELEASE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. THE TSB RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF THE AFFECTED PART. THIS SITUATION IS OBVIOUSLY VERY DANGEROUS. WHEN THE CLUTCH BECOMES HARD TO DISENGAGE, THE CAR CAN'T BE DRIVEN SAFELY. WE LIVE IN A CROWDED, URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND MUST BE ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS OR PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL VERY QUICKLY. 3. MAZDA REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE CLUTCH RELEASE CYLINDER BECAUSE OUR CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315449March 2, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) JUNE 4 2009 THE CLUTCH PEDAL BEGIN HARD TO PUSH. WEEKS LATER ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. MAZDA DEALER SAID IS JUST THE PUMP. THEY PUT SOME OIL. JUST 2 DAYS AFTER THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. WORSE AND WORSE EVERYDAY. THEN I JUST PARKED MY CAR. MAZDA DEALER DIDN'T FIND AN SOLUTION. FINALLY AFTER SEVERAL CALLS I GOT TIRED OF IT AND I DECIDED TO SEE FOR MYSELF UNDER THE DASH. I DISCOVERED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL METALLIC BASE WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED/BROKEN. THEY SAID NO GUARANTEE WILL COVER THAT. THEY SAID THAT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY AND ASKED ME ABOUT MY DRIVING. SO, FINALLY IN SEPTEMBER 26 / 2009 ALEXANDRIA MAZDA DEALER REPLACED THE WHOLE PIECE AND I PAID FOR THAT. THEY CHARGED ME: $520.78. ( FE05-41-300C ) CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BROKEN. I HAVE THE INVOICE. THEY KEPT THE BROKEN PIECE WITH THEM. MONTHS AFTER THIS INCIDENT I FOUND IN INTERNET THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME PIECE WITH THE SAME CAR MODEL. WHAT IS GOING ON ? I FEEL THAT IS NOT FAIR TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT MY FAULT. VIN [XXX] MAZDA RX8 - 2004 PART: FE05-41-300C - $263.28 LABOR : $257.50 TOTAL: $520.78 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315939March 2, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) AROUND 30 DAYS AGO I HEARD A "POP" SOUND WHEN I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL OF MY 2005 MAZDA RX-8. IT FELT A LITTLE SOFTER AFTER THE "POP" SOUND. I THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD BROKEN BUT COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING AND THE CLUTCH SEEMED TO WORK OK. HOWEVER, OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS, IT BECAME HARDER AND HARDER TO GET THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE. ON FEBRUARY 23, 2010, I BROUGHT MY 2005 MAZDA RX-8 TO CONGRESSIONAL MAZDA IN ROCKVILLE, MD TO HAVE MY CLUTCH INSPECTED. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE QUOTE WAS OVER $500 SO I SAID I WOULD BRING THE CAR BACK IN WHEN I HAD THE MONEY. HOWEVER, WHEN I DROVE AWAY I COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR AND THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE BACK TO THE DEALER IN 1ST GEAR AND ASKED THEM TO ORDER THE PART AND REPLACE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET. WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, THE CAR SHIFTED FINE. I HAVE THE BROKEN CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND I CAN SEE CLEARLY THAT THE METAL ON ONE SIDE OF THE MOUNTING BOLT HAS TORN APART MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FULLY ENGAGE THE CLUTCH. THAT MUST HAVE BEEN THE "POP" SOUND I HEARD. I HAVE 77,000 MILES ON MY RX-8. I DRIVE THE CAR TO WORK, NOT ON COMPETITIVE OR CHALLENGING TRACKS OR COURSES. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT MAZDA USED POOR QUALITY METAL AND/OR POOR QUALITY SPOT WELDS IN CONSTRUCTING THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY ON THE 2005 RX-8 AND I REQUEST THAT NHTSA EVALUATE IF THERE IS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING QUALITY OF THAT PART. I HAVE THE OLD CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET AND CAN SEND IT TO NHTSA FOR INSPECTION. I BELIEVE MAZDA NEEDS TO RECALL THE CARS AND REPLACE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH A BETTER CONSTRUCTED SYSTEM. THE REPLACEMENT CLUTCH ASSEMBLY I RECEIVED HAS THE SAME POOR QUALITY METAL AND SPOT WELDS AS THE ORIGINAL PART. MAZDA DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ADDRESSING THIS POTENTIALITY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION. [XXX] *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314063February 25, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DEFECTIVE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY;ALLOWS WATER/RAIN TO ENTER ASSEMBLY SECONDARY TO DEFECTIVE TAIL LIGHT GASKET WHICH DEGRADES WITH AGE. 2004 MAZDA RX-8. CONSUMER OBSERVED TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY RETAINING WATER AFTER A RAIN EVENT. CONSUMER RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MAZDA ISSUED A "SERVICE RECALL" TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE GASKET IN THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE RECALL NOTICE BECAUSE, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THE RECALL WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. MY QUESTION TO YOU, NHTSA, IS WHY, WHEN A SERVICE RECALL INDICATES THAT WATER IN THE TAIL LIGHT COULD RESULT A SHORT, OR, THE TAIL LIGHTS NO LONGER WORKING, IS THIS A SERVICE RECALL AND NOT A "SAFETY RECALL?" IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF I WERE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP AND AT 2AM, ENCOUNTERED A SEVRE WINTER THUNDER STORM - RAIN AND SLEET - AND MY TAIL LIGHTS ACCUMULATED WATER, AND SHORTED OUT, THAT THIS IS NOT, ACCORDING TO YOUR AGENCY, A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT A SERVICE RECALL, WHICH IS NOT VALID UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THE PROBLEM IS A DEFECTIVE GASKET - WHICH DEGRADES OVER-TIME, AND WHEN IT FAILS, RESULTS IN THE FAILURE OF THE TAIL LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE, IS NOT CLASSIFIED AS SAFETY ISSUE BY YOUR DEPARTMENT; I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU PROVIDE ME WITH THE DOCUMENTATION (AUTHORITY) THAT PERMITS AN AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER TO CLASSIFY THE POSSIBILE FAILURE OF THE VEHICLES TAIL LIGHTS AS A "SERVICE RECALL," AND NOT A SAFETY (ISSUE) RECALL. I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD FORWARD MY (THIS) INQUIRY TO MR. LAHOOD'S OFFICE BECAUSE HE RECENTLY IDICATED BEFOR A CONGRESSIONAL THAT HE TAKES, AND CONSIDERS EVERY INQUIRY TO HIS DEPARTMENT SERIOUSLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313935February 24, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY DOING POSTED 55 MPH, GO DO DOWNSHIFT FROM 6TH TO 5TH GEAR BECAUSE I WAS EXITING AND WHEN I DEPRESSED MY CLUTCH PEDAL IT SNAPPED OFF CAUSING MY TO NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF GEAR. I HAD TO VEER OFF THE ROAD KILL THE ENGINE AND WAIT FOR AAA TO COME TOW ME TO A LOCAL REPAIR. THIS IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF I WERE IN TOWN OR RESIDENTIAL AREA COULD OF BEEN TROUBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312729February 22, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2005 MAZDA RX8 WITH 30K MILES. I NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN APPLYING MY CLUTCH PEDAL APPROX A MONTH AGO. THE OTHER EVENING WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL ONTO A BUSY ROAD THE CLUTCH MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN I APPLIED THE CLUTCH AND I WAS UNABLE TO PUT IT INTO GEAR. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO ROLL BACK TO A SAFE PLACE AND WAIT FOR A TOW. MAZDA INFORMED ME THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM & I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I'VE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HAD I BEEN ABLE TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC AND IT BROKE, I WOULD NOT OF BEEN ABLE TO SHIFT WHICH WOULD HAVE LEFT ME IN A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT MAZDA IS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THIS PART W/O A CHARGE. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311801February 18, 2010
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 10-30MPH; PROCEEDING TO MAKE A TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO STICK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE STEERED IN ONE DIRECTION. THE DRIVER MANEUVERED THE STEERING WHEEL IN A FORWARD AND BACKWARD POSITION TO RELEASE IT. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE POWER STEERING RACK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 3/16/10 *CN UPDATED 05/10/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311414February 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CLUTCH BRACKET ON MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 BROKE MAKING THE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE PROPERLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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