Mazda RX-8 Complaints

784 consumer complaints on file.

#10308876February 12, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
I OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX-8 AND WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN THE MANUAL CLUTCH PEDAL SHIFTED FROM ITS NORMAL POSITION SO FAR THAT IT GOT STUCK UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT HOME BUT WHEN LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM, I NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BRACKET HAD BROKEN, ALLOWING THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO MOVE UNDER THE BRAKE. I DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND THAT APPROXIMATELY 40 OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS BRACKET BREAKING IN THE SAME PLACE ON THE 2004-2008 RX-8. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308940February 12, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS DURING A LIGHT SHIFT MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET SNAPPED. THE PEDAL IS NOW LOOSE AND MOVES EASILY FROM SIDE TO SIDE ONLY WORKING IF PUSHED ON THE CORRECT WAY. IT HAS BEEN SQUEAKING FOR A FEW MONTHS AND SUDDENLY ON AN EASY DRIVE IT JUST SNAPPED. THE PEDAL AND ASSEMBLY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABUSED OR MODIFIED IN ANY WAY NOR HAS THE CAR BEEN DRIVEN PARTICULARLY HARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307768February 9, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 02/26/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. UPDATED 06/10/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308113February 9, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
REGULAR DRIVING LEAD THE CAR A 2004 MAZDA RX-8 6 SPEED CLUTCH PEDAL TO LITERALLY BREAK AT 3 OF THE SPOT WELDS, DISABLING THE ABILITY TO PUSH THE CLUTCH IN. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR HOME AS IT HAPPENED DOWN THE STREET. IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY DURING A EMERGENCY DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN GOD KNOWS WHAT COULD HAPPEN. I WENT TO THE LOCAL EXHAUST SHOP AND HAD THEM DO A SOLID BEAD ALL AROUND THE MOUNTING BRACKET FIXING THE ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO SNAP OFF IT JUST DOES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307514February 8, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO SQUEAK AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THEY FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH BRACKET HAD CRACKED AT ONE OF THE WELDED LOCATION. THIS HAPPENED UNDER NORMAL DAILY DRIVING TO WORK AND BACK. IT COST ME $369.00 TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ONE. I DON'T THINK THAT THIS SHOULD HAPPEN UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM BECAUSE IF I DID NOT TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER RIGHT AWAY, THE CRACK WOULD HAVE LED TO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307542February 8, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON, I HAD BEEN USING IT FOR ABOUT 20 MILES, OCCASIONALLY BUMPING THE SPEED UP OR DOWN AS CONDITIONS PERMITTED. MY PRIMARY REASON FOR THAT IS ON LONG TRIPS I GET BETTER GAS MILEAGE THAT WAY. THE DIVIDED HIGHWAY CAME TO AN END AND THERE WAS A TRAFFIC LIGHT ABOUT A HALF MILE AHEAD, SO I BUMPED IT DOWN ABOUT 2 MPH, THEN BUMPED IT DOWN A FEW SECONDS LATER ANOTHER 2 OR 3 MPH. THE LIGHT TURNED RED THEN, SO I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES (DOING ABOUT 65 AT THIS POINT). THE ENGINE REVED UP, THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE SO I STEPPED ON THE CLUTCH. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV UP SO I PRESSED THE CANCEL BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV UP (ABOUT 6K NOW) SO I TOOK THE CAR OUT OF GEAR AND TURNED THE CRUISE CONTOL OFF. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV UP (ABOUT 7K NOW) AND I'M COMPLETELY STOPPED AT THE LIGHT. NO THROTTLE CONTROL AT ALL. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AT THAT POINT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE CAR STARTED FINE AND RAN NORMALLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303419January 31, 2010
STEERING
THIS IS REGARDING A 2004 MAZDA RX-8 WITH ABOUT 65,000 MILES. POWER STEERING ON CAR WORKS OK WHEN CAR FIRST STARTED. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES (AND USUALLY BY THE TIME I HIT THE HIGHWAY) THE CAR WILL JERK ITSELF TO THE LEFT AND BACK TO THE RIGHT VERY SHARPLY, ALMOST CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS. AFTER JERK, STEERING LIGHT WILL LIGHT ON DASHBOARD AND NO POWER STEERING ASSIST IS AVAILABLE. POWER STEERING HAS ALSO GONE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, ALSO ALMOST CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I FOUND OUT THROUGH RX8CLUB.COM THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, AND THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE UPWARD OF $2,000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302441January 26, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
2004 MAZDA RX8 HAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE EXTERNAL OIL COOLER. THE PIPE THAT TRANSPORTS OIL FROM THE ENGINE TO THE COOLER AND BACK IS EXPOSED AND SUBJECT TO CORROSION FROM ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE, IN PARTICULAR THE ALUMINUM REINFORCING MATERIAL IN THE PIPE IS VULNERABLE TO ROAD SALT. THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO MAZDA. IN CANADA THEY HAVE ISSUED FIELD ACTION NUMBER 142-36, WHICH IS A RECALL IN WHICH THEY REPLACE THESE PIPES WITH A REDESIGNED PART THAT IS LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS DEFECT. THEY HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO EXTEND THIS RECALL TO THE US BECAUSE (QUOTING FROM THE RECALL DOCUMENT): "THE MAZDA RX-8 IS SOLD IN THE U.S., HOWEVER THROUGH REVIEW OF FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED, THERE IS VERY LITTLE EVIDENCE OF THIS CONDITION IN THE U.S. MAZDA HAS CONCLUDED THAT NO FIELD ACTION IS REQUIRED IN THE U.S. MARKET AT THIS TIME." THE REASON I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT IN MY CASE, THE PIPE PERFORATED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, SPRAYING A LARGE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL AT HIGH PRESSURE INTO THE INTERNAL ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND ONTO THE ROAD BEHIND ME. HAD I NOT KILLED THE IGNITION ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, I BELIEVE THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE VOIDED ALL OF ITS OIL ONTO THE ROAD. I BELIEVE THIS EXPOSED THOSE DRIVING BEHIND ME TO HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS, AND COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT (ALTHOUGH NONE OCCURRED IN THIS CASE). AGAIN QUOTING FROM THE CANADIAN RECALL DOCUMENT: "THE SMALL AMOUNT OF POTENTIAL OIL SEEPAGE WILL BE EVIDENCED TO THE CUSTOMER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND IS NOT BELIEVED TO PRESENT ANY RISK TO SAFETY." CLEARLY I DO NOT AGREE WITH THEIR ASSESSMENT HERE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302209January 25, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I'VE BEEN HEARING THIS SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM MY CLUTCH FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS. APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AGO I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I FELT/HEARD A POPPING SOUND. MY CLUTCH PEDAL WAS NOW ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. I ASSUMED MY CLUTCH WAS GONE BUT THE CAR STILL DROVE HOME I WAS 1/2 MILE FROM HOME. I DROVE SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY HOME. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MAZDA TODAY AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY CLUTCH BRACKET IS BROKEN. THE ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THIS IS ROUGHLY 500$. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300049January 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MY CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED AGAIN FOR THE 3RD TIME IN 2 YEARS, !@#$%??? WHEN IS MAZDA RESOLVE THIS ISSUE?? UNTIL SOME ONE DIES???? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300067January 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET SNAPPED WHILE SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TAKEN TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP, WHO INSISTED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRACKET. HAD BEEN MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. PEDAL BECAME LOOSE ON THE HORIZONTAL AXIS (E.G. COULD BE MOVED LEFT OR RIGHT WITH LITTLE PRESSURE. COULD STILL BE SHIFTED WITH CAREFUL APPLICATION OF PRESSURE, BUT NOT SAFE FOR CONTINUED DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299859January 15, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE MAZDA RX-8 IS HAVING AN ISSUE THAT IS COMING UP MORE FREQUENTLY NOW FROM A FAULTY A/C SWITCH OR HEATING SYSTEM FAILURE. THE HEAT DOES NOT COME INTO THE VEHICLE WHEN THE HEAT IS TURNED ON AND ONLY COLD AIR COMES INTO VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAPPENS IN THE BEGINNING ONLY RANDOMLY UNTIL THE UNIT COMPLETELY FAILS. THE A/C MODULAR IS A ELECTRONIC SWITCH THAT CHANGES VENTS AND A/C OR HEAT. THE VENT MECHANISM STILL FUNCTIONS BUT THE HEAT IS NEVER TRANSFERRED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONSEQUENCES FROM THIS ITEM FAILING, ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER TIME, THE WINDSHIELD CANNOT BE DEFROSTED AND DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WAY HUMAN EXHAUSTION WILL CAUSE THE WINDOW FOG UP IMPAIRING DRIVER'S VISION. AS WELL AS COLD TEMPERATURES WITHIN THE VEHICLE THAT DO NOT SUFFICE WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299933January 15, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1. THE EVENTS WERE MOST LIKELY COLD WEATHER, ALABAMA HAS HAD AN UNUSUALLY COLD WINTER DURING THE 2009-2010 PERIOD. 2. THE CLUTCH HAS BROKEN. THE WELD THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE HAS BROKEN. 3. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH BRACKET DUE TO ITS BREAKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299757January 14, 2010
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MAZDA RX 8 HOME FROM WORK WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CLUTCH PEDAL DROPPED AND MY CAR WOULD NOT SWITCH GEARS, LUCKILY I COASTED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME MY ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS DESTROYED TO NOTHING AND MY CLUTCH PEDAL WAS BENT, DUE TO BROKEN BRACKET ON CLUTCH PEDAL. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DUE TO A PART THAT WASN'T A WEAR AND TEAR PART. TOTAL COST IS $1490. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299693January 13, 2010
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
BRAND NEW GOODYEAR TIRE WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES ON IT BLEW WHILE GOING DOWN HIGHWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298686January 8, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2006 MAZDA RX8 SHINKA FAILED CLUTCH PEDAL WHILE DRIVING IN LOCAL AREA. I TOOK IT TO MACHINIST NEXT DOOR, AND HE TOLD ME THAT THIS PEDAL IS UNBELIEVABLE HOW WEAK IT IS. THE METAL PART WHICH HOLDS CLUTCH PEDAL IS VERY THIN. NOW I'VE BEEN CHARGED AROUND $400 TO FIX IT, AND IT FEELS LIKE IT IS MAZDA'S FAULT. I COULDN'T GO TO SCHOOL YESTERDAY, AND MY SCHOOL IS PRIVATE COLLEGE, SO I WASTED ANOTHER $150 MISSING ONE DAY OF CLASS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298663January 7, 2010
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I OWN A 2005 MAZDA RX-8 WITH 51XXX MILES ON IT. DRIVING HOME I STEPPED ONTO THE CLUTCH PRION TO A TURN AND SNAP! THE CAR WAS LOCKED IN SECOND GEAR AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS NOT RETURNING TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. ONLY A FEW MILES HOME, I REALIZED THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE ON THE LEFT SIDE AROUND THE BOLT. IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS CHEAPLY MADE AND POORLY WELDED. I ALSO GOT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE IF I WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED AND GOT LOCKED IN GEAR. I AM TAKING THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE BRACKET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298020January 4, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
DURING THE COURSE OF MY MORNING COMMUTE TO WORK THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO A SAFE LOCATION BY USE OF "REV MATCHING" SHIFTING AS DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD NO LONGER ENGAGE THE CLUTCH AND THE PEDAL NO LONGER RETURNED TO THE PROPER POSITION. THE ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED, REWELDED, AND REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297060December 27, 2009
STRUCTURE, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I BOUGHT A USED MAZDA RX8 (2005 WITH ABOUT 60 THOUSAND MILES) WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. AFTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS OF DAILY DRIVING (NO RACING OR HARD SHIFTING) MY CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE PEDAL IN PLACE BROKE DUE TO ITS VERY THIN METAL DESIGN. UPON RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY RX-8 OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE INSTALLED A REINFORCED BRACKET AT MY OWN EXPENSE AND STILL NEED TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE IT HAS UNALIGNED THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION. IF THIS BREAK WOULD HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY OTHER TIME I BELIEVE IT COULD EASILY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE HIGHWAY GETTING TO SCHOOL AND I BELIEVE THAT AT 65 MPH THIS BREAK WOULD HAVE AT LEAST DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED AND A RECALL MUST BE IMPLEMENTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295709December 14, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I FEEL GRINDING WHEN I SHIFT FROM 1 GEAR TO 2. SOMETIMES IS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT TO THE 2 AND 3 GEAR. I BLEED THE CLUTCH LINE, CHANGED TRANSMISSION OIL. IT IS WEIRD BECAUSE THE CAR HAS LOW MILEAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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