Mazda RX-8 Complaints

784 consumer complaints on file.

#10447836February 13, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING WENT OUT. COMES & GOES?? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447346February 10, 2012
AIR BAGS
CURRENTLY THERE IS A CRACK THAT IS FORMING AROUND MY DASH BOARD WHERE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS LOCATED. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER FORUM POSTS ABOUT THIS EVENTUALLY FORMING AN OUTLINE AROUND WHERE THE AIRBAG IS. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL AFFECT THE AIRBAG FROM EITHER OPENING OR OPENING WHEN IT SHOULDN'T. ANOTHER CONCERN OF MINE IS A PROBLEM THAT ALL RX8 OWNERS HAVE AND THAT IS THE FISHBOWL TAILLIGHTS. OUR TAILLIGHTS GET SO MUCH WATER IN THEM THAT THEY TURN INTO FISHBOWLS. I HAVE REPLACED THE GASKETS ON MINE 3 TIMES ALREADY. THIS TO ME IS AN ELECTRICAL HAZARD NOT TO MENTION A DRIVING SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447237February 9, 2012
STEERING
THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST STEERING ON OUR RX8 COMPLETELY FAILED IN 2007/2008 (APPROX 25,000 MILES) THE STEERING RACK, STEERING MODULE, AND STEERING WIRE HARNESS WERE REPLACED BY MAZDA UNDER WARRANTY. WITHIN A YEAR, THE STEERING FAILED AGAIN. ACCORDING TO MAZDA, IT WAS THE WIRE HARNESS WHICH WAS THEN REPLACED OR SERVICED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IT HAS NOW BEEN 4 YEARS AND STILL THE CAR ONLY HAS A TOTAL OF 60,000 MILES ON IT AND THE STEERING HAS FAILED AGAIN. THIS TIME THOUGH, FAILURE HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT. THE ASSIST WILL TURN OFF AND BACK ON AS YOU ARE DRIVING. THIS PRODUCES VERY TREACHEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS INCLUDING SUDDEN VEERING OR POTENTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL. DRIVING 10 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE STEERING ASSIST TURNED OFF & ON TWICE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME, I BARELY AVOIDED COLLIDING WITH A VEHICLE IN THE NEXT LANE AFTER A SUDDEN VEER. I WAS MUSCLING THE STEERING AND THE ASSIST CAME BACK ON. A DRIVER NOT AWARE OF ANY ISSUE WHO EXPERIENCES THE PROBLEM FOR THE FIRST TIME COULD EASILY MAKE A SUDDEN STEERING CHANGE AND IT COULD BE FATAL. MAZDA IS NOW SAYING IT IS THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE YET THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR ($1,400) BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. UPON SEARCHING ONLINE, THERE ARE 100'S OF REPORTS OF THIS EXACT ISSUE OF MULTIPLE STEERING FAILURES BEING REPORTED BY OTHER INDIVIDUAL RX8 OWNERS AS WELL AS OTHER MAZDA VEHICLES. MAZDA CONTINUES TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM FOR THE RX8 YET THEY HAVE ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF ALL 2007-2009 MAZDA 3 & MAZDA 5 STEERING SYSTEMS. WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO GET OUR CAR FIXED AND PAY THE BILL. MAZDA REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT EVEN AFTER I CALLED THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE. THEY FILED MY COMPLAINT THEN BASICALLY SAID TOUGH LUCK. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER'S CAR AND SHE CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR. I AM LITERALLY SCARED TO LET HER DRIVE IT. IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447177February 8, 2012
STEERING
I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH POWER STEERING. IT WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. I PULLED OVER, SHUT MY CAR OFF, TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK. THEN LATER THAT DAY IT WENT OUT AGAIN BUT THIS TIME IT NEVER CAME BACK ON. I TOOK IT TO MAZDA AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE CONTROL MODULE. THEY ARE WANTING TO CHARGE ME $1400 FOR A BOX HALF THE SIZE OF A POPTART BOX (COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE HAHA). I CONTACTED CORPORATE AND THEY REFUSE TO SEE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE. I DEFINITELY THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I HAVE READ ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND FORUMS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR HAVING THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. IF THERE IS NOTHING DONE ABOUT THIS ASAP I GUARANTEE THERE WILL BE SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DOWN THE ROAD. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446179February 1, 2012
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED. THE MAZDA DEALER SAID THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE, HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT GUARANTEE CHANGING THE PART ( $1600 DOLLARS PARTS AND LABOR ) WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN THESE CARS. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446038January 31, 2012
STEERING
FIRST INDICATIONS, THE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT UPON STARTING. USED ANOTHER CAR THAT DAY. NEXT DAY, NO WARNING LIGHT, HOWEVER, ON THE WAY HOME, THE STEERING ABRUPTLY MADE A *FULL* TURN TO THE RIGHT VERY QUICKLY (GOING ABOUT 30MPH ON A DIRT ROAD). I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE IT RAN OFF THE ROAD - NO FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH. SINCE THEN THE FAILURE LIGHT HAS APPEARED IN INCREASING FREQUENCY TO THE POINT IT IS MOSTLY ON. WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON, THE STEERING IS ESSENTIALLY MANUAL, BUT WORKABLE. THE WORST CASE IS WHEN IT IS OFF, AND SUDDENLY GOES INTO A FAILURE MODE WITHOUT *ANY* INDICATION (I.E. THE WARNING LIGHT STAYS OFF). IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, EVEN WHEN AT A FULL STOP AND THE WHEEL TURNS BY ITSELF TO THE RIGHT. PRETTY DISCONCERTING. THE FULL SYMPTOM DESCRIPTION IS THAT IT BECOMES EXTREMELY EASY TO TURN CLOCKWISE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. I'D RATHER IT WAS IN FAILURE MODE AND HARD TO STEER THAN INDICATING EVERYTHING IS FINE AND THEN SUDDENLY DECIDE IT WANTS TO GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION - ALWAYS TO THE RIGHT IN MY CASE. REVIEWING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE MAKES IT SEEM LIKE A FLAW IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OR PROBABLY THE SELECTED PART(S) MAZDA USED, BUT WORSE EVEN, THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT FAILURE MODES, ONE MAKING IT HARD TO STEER, BUT AT LEAST CONSISTENT, AND THE OTHER MODE LEAVING THE DRIVER GUESSING AS TO WHAT DIRECTION THE CAR WILL TRAVEL AND WHEN IT MAY DECIDE TO DO THAT. I'M HAVING IT REPAIRED AND WILL RETAIN THE FAILED COMPONENTS. WHEN IT DOES INDICATE FAILURE IT REMAINS THAT WAY UNTIL THE ENGINE IS SHUT DOWN. WHEN IT INDICATES EVERYTHING IS FINE, IT MAY FAIL ANYTIME, BUT NEVER INDICATES FAILURE. I'M SUBMITTING THIS IN HOPES THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT YET EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST CASE FOR ME WAS ON A DIRT ROAD - IF IT WAS ON A HIGHWAY ... OUCH. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446055January 31, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAILURE OF CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY. A PLASTIC PLATE CRACKED AND CAUSED AN IRRITATING PLASTIC BINDING NOISE, EVER TIME I RELEASED THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THIS APPARENTLY HAPPENS A LOT, SOMETIMES IT IS FIXABLE BUT IN MY CASE I HAD TO REPLACE MY ENTIRE ASSEMBLY, AS I WAS TOLD IF IT COMPLETELY CRACKED I WOULD LOSE THE FUNCTION OF MY CLUTCH PEDAL. FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER LOCK ACTUATOR. I HAVE READ MANY ACCOUNTS OF THIS PART FAILING. USUALLY BLAMED ON HOT OR COLD CLAIMANT, HOWEVER MINE JUST FAILED EARLIER THIS WEEK, WITH WEATHER IN THE MID 40'S. JUST FROM THE AMOUNT OF POSTINGS I FOUND WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO ME IT NEEDS TO BE REPORTED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445477January 26, 2012
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON THE CAR STARTED TO REDUCE AND BECOME MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEN JUST OFF OF CENTER. TURN FURTHER AND IT WILL REGAIN ITS POWER BACK TO CENTER. IT THEN WILL DO IT AGAIN WHEN YOU START ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT TURNING. *TR I AM AFRAID THAT IT MAY GO OUT COMPLETELY WHICH I HAVE HEARD HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER SIMILAR CARS. THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED AS IT CAN BE VERY SERIOUS AS IT CAN OCCUR AT ANY SPEEDS AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THANKS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444843January 23, 2012
POWER TRAIN
MY HUSBAND DROVE ME TO THE GROCERY STORE AND WE HEARD A LOUD POP. THE CAR BARELY WENT INTO FIRST GEAR AND STARTED GRINDING WHEN IT WENT INTO SECOND. WE BARELY MADE IT HOME!! IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF US TURNING INTO OUR ROAD AND WE ALMOST GOT HIT. WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT AFTER WE( LUCKILY) MADE IT HOME. THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL MOVED AND ANGLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN DEPRESSED AND WENT BACK TO REGULAR POSITION WHEN WE LET GO OF IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444487January 19, 2012
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
MY CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN CREAKING NOW AND SHAKING NOW FOR QUITE SOME TIME. ORIGINALLY (A YEAR OR SO AGO) WHEN I ASKED TO RECEIVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT FROM MAZDA THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT "BAD" ENOUGH BUT WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WAIT FOR IT TO FAIL ON THE ROAD SO I HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT REPLACED AND A TOW TRUCK? I HAVE A 2004 AND THE WARRANTY FOR EVERYTHING IS NOW OVER BASED ON TIME. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443503January 11, 2012
STEERING
AS I TURNED ON MY CAR ONE TIME, THE POWER STEERING JUST DIDN'T COME ON. I THEN SHUT IT OFF, AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WORKED. AFTER THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THE POWER STEERING CEASED TO TURN ON AT ALL. IT WASN'T AS IF THE MOTOR FOR THE ELECTRIC STEERING WAS SLOWLY GOING OUT; IT WAS EITHER NIGHT OR DAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442729January 6, 2012
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND CHANGING GEARS NORMALLY THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC BREAKAGE CAUSING THE CARS TRANSMISSION TO BECOME INOPERABLE. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE DAMAGED TO BE FORCED INTO NEUTRAL TO COME TO A STOP. CLUTCH PEDAL HAD ALREADY PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED IN 2009 AFTER IDENTICAL INCIDENT OCCURRED. MAZDA NORTH AMERICA HAS REFUSED TO HONOR A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT FOR THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442280January 3, 2012
STEERING
MY MAZDA RX8 HAD POWER STEERING FAIL WHILE DRIVING MY CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL. SO NOT COOL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440243December 17, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING ISSUES, FAILING, ELECTRICAL ISSUES WHERE COOLANT OVERFLOW IS LOCATED NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437997December 1, 2011
STEERING
MY ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING IS GOING IN AND OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MANY 2004 RX-8 OWNERS ARE DISCUSSING ONLINE AND IN FORUMS. DEALERS AND MECHANICS KNOW OF THE PROBLEM WITH CONNECTORS AND RACKS GOING BAD BUT MAZDA HAS REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE CHRONIC PROBLEM. IT IS DANGEROUS AND COSTLY, I AM ON MY SECOND REPAIR OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PUSH MAZDA TO STEP UP AND ADDRESS THIS GROWING AND CHRONIC PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436154November 16, 2011
STEERING
MY POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES OFF AND ON RANDOMLY. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON MY POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK, WHICH IN MOST CASES I AM ALREADY ON THE ROAD AND THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. THE POWER STEERING COMES AND GOES, SOMETIMES IT LAST FOR A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE IT TURNS OFF BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY ITS THE RACK, WHICH I SPENT OVER $1000 TO REPLACE AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE ABOUT 15 FRIENDS WITH THIS SAME CAR AND THEY HAVE ALL HAD THE SAME ISSUE. MAZDA NEEDS TO FIX THIS BEFORE A WRECK HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONES POWER STEERING GOES OFF WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING 70 MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435132November 10, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO AN ENGINE RECALL, AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALER INFORMED ME OF LARGE OIL LEAKS. LEAKS ARE VISIBLE AND ARE COVERING PARTS OF THE WHEELS AND JOINTS WITH OIL. MAZDA HAS ADMITTED TO THIS DEFECT IN CANADA (FIELD ACTION NUMBER 142-36) AND ARE PROVIDING CANADIAN CUSTOMERS WITH A RECALL ON THIS FAULTY AND DANGEROUS PART BUT US CUSTOMERS HAVE YET TO RECEIVE SUCH TREATMENT. MY CAR IS A 2004 MODEL AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH ISSUES. THIS IS A HAZARD TO BOTH MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD DUE TO THE AMOUNTS OF OIL THAT THE CAR IS LEAKING DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING AND BAD DESIGN. THE MAZDA DEALERSHIPS ARE CHARGING CUSTOMER AN UPWARD OF 1,600 DOLLARS TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE WHICH SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE TO BEGIN WITH IF THIS CAR WAS DESIGNED IN A RELIABLE WAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432671October 24, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW,2004. I HAVE EVERY OIL CHANGE, EVERY 2,900-3,000 MILES AND VEHICLE IS PERFECTLY MAINTAINED BY THE DEALERSHIP ( HARRELSON MAZDA -CHARLOTTE,NC ). ONCE 30,000 MILES WERE PUT ON THE VEHICLE, ENGINE BEGAN TO FAIL ( STOPPED AT RED LIGHTS, STOPPED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY,ETC.). AFTER ABOUT 5 RETURN VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP TECHNICIANS, MY ENGINE WAS FINALLY 'REPLACED' UNDER WARRANTY. NOW MY NEW ENGINE HAS FAILED AGAIN AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES FOR THE SAME REASON AS ORIGINALLY: MAZDA SPECIFICALLY ADVISES 10W-20 OIL IN THIS VEHICLE. BUT THIS IS ONLY TO SATISFY U.S. EPA STANDARDS. EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, MAZDA STRICTLY ADVISES 10W-30 OIL, BECAUSE ANYTHING LESS WILL ALLOW ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND FAIL. I WAS NEVER WARNED THIS. I WAS NEVER ADVISED THIS. I SERVICED VEHICLE BY EVERY RECOMMENDATION OF MAZDA, THE OWNERS MANUAL, AND MY MAZDA AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP/TECHNICIANS. MY SAFETY HAS BEEN PLACED IN JEOPARDY, SOLELY AT THE FAULT OF MAZDA, FOR NOT NOTIFYING BUYERS THAT THE ENGINE HAD INCORRECT MAINTENANCE SPECIFICATIONS,ETC. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ANYTIME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, RECEIPTS OF SERVICE,MAINTENANCE, AND TECHNICIAN TESTIMONY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432366October 21, 2011
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS STARTING TO SQUEAK A LOT AND WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL. HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T FAIL WHILE I AM DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427718September 28, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH DOORS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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