Mazda RX-8 Complaints

784 consumer complaints on file.

#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
#10178173January 9, 2007
SEAT BELTS
TL*- THE FRONT SEAT BELT IN A 2005 RX-8 WAS INSERTED INTO THE BACK SEAT RECEIVER WHERE THE BACK SEAT BELT WOULD NORMALLY GO. THE INDIVIDUAL THAT DID THIS WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE CAR AND ENDED UP BEING TRAPPED IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS TRAPPED WEIGHT ABOUT 80-90 POUNDS ,AND HAD TO WIGGLE HIS WAY OUT OF THE SEAT BELT TO GET OUT. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE FACT THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WAS ABLE TO GET THE BUCKLE LOCKED INTO THE REAR RECEIVER AND COULD NOT DISENGAGE ITWAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *AK UPDATED 1/29/2007 - CHILD ACCIDENTALLY USED THE PASSEGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT AND BUCKLED IT INTO THE REAR BUCKLE. THE CHILD WAS UNABLE TO UNBUCKLE THE SEAT BELT. THE CONSUMER WENT ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND HELP THE CHILD BUT THE BELT HAD RETRACTED PREVENTING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FROM OPENING. *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
#10175800December 11, 2006
TIRES, WHEELS
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW SET OF POTENZA'S ON THE DEC 7. I HAD THEM MOUNTED ON IN THE AFTERNOON DEC 8. WENT STRAIGHT HOME 10 MILES AWAY. ON DEC 9, I NOTICED MY CAR WOULD SWERVE A BIT I WAS ENTERING THE FREEWAY, I SPUN OUT SIX OR SEVEN TIMES AT 45 MPH. WHEN I PULLED OVER I SAW THAT I WAS DRIVING ON MY RIM, MY TIRE ON THE RIGHT REAR SIDE WASN'T ON. I RETRIEVED THE TIRE. THE TREAD AND WALL TORE AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT HIT ANYONE/ANYTHING FROM THE SPIN OUT, MY CAR, A 2005 MODEL, IS CONSIDERED A TOTAL WRECK FROM ALL THE DAMAGES THAT RESULTED FROM THE TIRE LOSS. *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
#10171234October 18, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ON THREE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER EACH TIME WHERE THE BATTERY AND THE STARTER WERE REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168209September 14, 2006
VISIBILITY
DRIVER'S SIDE SUN SHADE BROKE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM APPARENTLY WITH THE MAZDA RX8. I HAD THE CAR FOR ONLY ONE MONTH WITH FEWER THAN 1000 MILES WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IT WASN'T A PARTICULARLY HOT DAY, AND I HAD BARELY USED THE SUN SHADE BEFORE IT CRACKED. IT BECAME A SAFETY CONCERN AS IT WAS HANGING IN MY SIGHT OF VIEW, AND I HAD TO HOLD THE VISOR OUT OF THE WAY WITH MY LEFT HAND WHILE DRIVING WITH THE OTHER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168291September 14, 2006
VISIBILITY
SUN VISORS SPLIT AT THE SEAMS, FALLS DOWN DURING DRIVING AND BLOCK MY VIEW. THIS FIRST HAPPENED WHEN MY CAR HAD 1059 MILES, EVEN THOUGH I RARELY USE THE VISORS. THE DRIVERS VISOR WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME DUE TO THE CONDITION. IT HAS SINCE HAPPENED AGAIN AT 3725 MILES TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER VISORS. MY DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND MAZDA IS WORKING ON IT. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IN A TIMELY MANNER. MY NEW VISORS HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPLACED AS THEY HAVE BEEN ON ORDER FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167732September 9, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PURCHASED A MAZDA RX8 2005, ON 7-16-2006. NOTE VEHICLE WAS NEW ONLY 159 MILES ON ODOMETER. I PURCHASED IT FROM CLASSIC MAZDA IN MENTOR OHIO AND THEY NEVER ADVISED ME OF OPEN RECALL REGARDING POSSIBLE FIRE FROM LEAKING FUEL TANK. FOUND OUT FROM ANOTHER MAZDA DEALER WHERE VEHICLE SITS AT THIS TIME WITH MECHANICAL ISSUE. MY FAMILIES SAFETY WAS COMPROMISED BY GREED OF CLASSIC MAZDA BY NOT INFORMING US PRIOR TO SALE OF OPEN SAFETY RECALL. *JB
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
#10166141August 21, 2006
VISIBILITY
DURING DRIVE HOME ON FREEWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, PULLED DOWN DRIVER SUN VISOR. VISOR SPLIT AT SEAM. TRIED TO FOLD VISOR BACK UP OUT OF THE WAY BUT WOULD NOT STAY. SPLIT FURTHER APART AND WOULD NOT STAY ON ROD. DANGLING IN FIELD OF VISION TO FRONT AND LEFT SIDE OF DRIVER. I DRIVE A STICK SHIFT SO THIS WAS VERY AWKWARD AND SCARY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF OBTAINING CAR. SEALER REPLACED VISOR AND COMMENTED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND DID NOT KNOW OF ANY REDESIGN OR RECALL THAT MAY BE FORTH COMING. TWO MONTHS LATER THE SAME VISOR SPLIT AGAIN BUT LUCKILY CAR WAS PARKED AT THE TIME AND I WAS PUTTING UP A WINDOW SUNSHADE. VISOR HAD ONLY BEEN USED VERY VERY MINIMALLY DUE TO ITS LACK OF INTEGRITY. HAD TO REMOVE SUN VISOR PRIOR TO DRIVING VEHICLE. DEALER AGAIN REPLACED IT. I LOOKED OVER THE SUN VISOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT IS STARTING TO SPLIT APART SO ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT HAS TO BE REPLACED TO. WARRANTY HAS COVERED THUS FAR BUT AM CONCERNED THAT THERE WILL BE NO PERMANENT FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM BY THE TIME WARRANTY RUNS OUT. SUN VISORS DO HAVE TO BE USED FOR SAFER DRIVING ABILITY WHEN THE SUN IS AT A PARTICULAR ANGLE. THIS COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT NOT TO MENTION POSSIBLE LAW SUITS DUE TO THE KNOWN LACK OF INTEGRITY IN THIS SUN VISOR DESIGN. I AM UNDER THE IMPRESSION FROM THE DEALER THAT THIS ISSUE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN ALL THE RX-8 MODELS THUS FAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165780August 17, 2006
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
DEFECTIVE AIR CONDITIONING -WILL NOT PROVIDE A VEHICLE UNTIL FIXED. 2005 MAZDA RX8. CONTACTED MAZDA CORPORATION SUPPOSEDLY AND THEY WILL NOT HELP. WHO SHOULD I CONTACT TO GET ASSISTANCE? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164964August 8, 2006
VISIBILITY
WHILE DRIVING, DURING NORMAL POSITIONING OF SUN VISOR, THE VISOR SPLIT AND FELL DOWN, HANGING BY THE ELECTRICAL WIRES AND DANGLING IN FRONT OF MY FACE. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE UNTIL I COULD PULL OFF THE ROAD. IT WAS STILL NOT POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE VISOR WITHOUT TOOLS, MAKING EVEN THE RIDE HOME DANGEROUS. *NM
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
#10163319July 24, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GOING 70 MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE THE VEHICLE BACK END SWERVED LEFT AND THEN RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, HOWEVER THE CONTACT SUSPECTS THAT TRACCION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED.
Crash:
Yes
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

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