Mazda RX-8 Complaints

784 consumer complaints on file.

#10277165July 17, 2009
STEERING
EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF POWER STEERING ON 2004 MAZDA RX-8 WITH APPROXIMATELY 25K MILES OF USE. PREVIOUSLY, POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY BUT WOULD CORRECT ITSELF AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT. WE REQUESTED SERVICING OF THIS PROBLEM IN APRIL OF 2008 BUT IT DIDN'T SHOW UP IN THE COMPUTER SCAN OF THE CAR SO THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US TO BRING IT BACK WHILE THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING. HOWEVER, IT WASN'T POSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SAFELY WHILE THE FAILURE WAS OCCURRING AND IT WOULD CORRECT ITSELF ONCE THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND RESTARTED. VERY UNSAFE TO HAVE THE STEERING FAIL/SEIZE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN OPERATION. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL JULY 12, 2009 WHEN IT FAILED COMPLETELY. CAR IS CURRENTLY BACK IN THE DEALER SHOP WAITING FOR PARTS THAT CONTAIN A SENSOR THAT SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM TO BE SHIPPED FROM JAPAN. THE REPAIR WILL REQUIRE REMOVING AND REPLACING MOST OF THE STEERING SYSTEM AS THE PART CAN ONLY BE REPLACED AS AN ENTIRE UNIT. WE WERE INFORMED THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AS IT'S NOT A DEFECT AND OCCURS THROUGH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277058July 16, 2009
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
COMPLAINT IS TO MAZDA USA FOR THEIR WEAK CLUTCH PEDAL WELDS. I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY RX8 (2004) SINCE SEPTEMBER 2007 AND THE FIRST TIME IT SNAPPED WAS IN 2008 LATE SUMMER. I GOT IT REWELDED AT A LOCAL SHOP AND AFTER ABOUT 9 MONTHS THE BRACKET BROKE IN HALF, BROKE RIGHT THROUGH THE WELDS AND CRACKED THE METAL. SO I BOUGHT A NEW BRACKET AND AN AFTERMARKET REINFORCEMENT BRACKET FOR ABOUT 450$ WHICH SHOULD ALL BE COVERED BY MAZDA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276797July 14, 2009
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA RX-8. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2008, BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE VISORS CRACKED AT THE SEAMS AND FELL DOWN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VISORS WITH NEW ONES THAT WERE MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME MANNER. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DEALER EXPECTED HER TO PAY FOR NEW, POORLY MADE VISORS. ON JULY 6, 2008, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR FELL DOWN IN HER FACE AND NEARLY CAUSED HER TO STRIKE A CURB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE VISOR IMPAIRS THE DRIVER'S VISION. SHE STATED THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED INSTEAD OF A TSB. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, SHE DISCOVERED NUMEROUS CONSUMERS WHO WERE EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THEIR VISORS FALLING DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MAZDA SIMPLY REMEDIES THE FAILURE WITH THE SAME POORLY MADE VISORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,368.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276257July 9, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING 40-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAITED 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT CAN SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,206 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275887July 6, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I WANT TO GO ON FILE THAT I HAVE A CONCERN WITH THE SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM WITH OUR 2004 MAZDA RX 8. WE PURCHASED IT USED FROM A REPUTABLE FORD DEALER SEVERAL MONTHS BACK AND HAD AN ISSUE WITH STARTING THE CAR. AFTER SOME ONLINE RESEARCH WE FOUND OUT THE CAR IS PRONE TO GAS FLOODING WHEN NOT ALLOW TO RUN UNTIL THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS HALFWAY. IF SHUT OFF BEFORE THE ENGINE FLOODS WITH GAS. I TOOK IT TO CORY FAIRBANKS MAZDA WHERE THE VIN WAS CHECKED AND THAT THE CAR DID HAVE THE RECALL 4206F ALREADY DONE AND THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IS TO LET THE CAR WARM UP. MY CONCERN IS THE CONSTANT EXCESSIVE FLOW OF GAS DURING START UP, RAW GAS CONSTANTLY FLOWING THROUGH THE CATALYTIC AND THE EXCESSIVE HEAT CREATED BY THESE ENGINES COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND INJURE ALL THOSE IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. I HAVE EMAILED MAZDA ALSO ABOUT MY CONCERNS AND FEEL THE SOLUTION IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275316June 30, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I HAVE A MAZDA RX8 2005. IT REPEATEDLY STALLS AND HAS NEEDED A NEW ENGINE TWICE IN LESS THAN A YEAR. MAZDA COVERED THE FIRST ENGINE BUT IS NOW REFUSING THE SECOND. I AM AWARE THAT THESE PARTICULAR VEHICLES HAVE MANY PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274780June 23, 2009
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE, TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE ALL SEASON TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES AND NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. MAZDA SUGGESTED THAT HE TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE DEALER ONLY PLACED AIR IN THE TIRES. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING ALMOST 60 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A VERY ROUGH VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. HE ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE BLOW OUT. THE DOT NUMBER AND TIRE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD FILL WITH WATER. THERE WAS A STRANGE CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE A STRUT PROBLEM. UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273957June 16, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE ENGINE HAD LOW COMPRESSION. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW WHO WILL PAY FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272946June 5, 2009
STEERING
FAILURE OF POWER STEERING ON 2004 MAZDA RX-8. POWER STEERING SHUTS DOWN INTERMITTENTLY DURING DRIVING. STEERING THEN PULLS TO THE RIGHT DURING DRIVING AND AT A STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL ROTATE ON IT'S OWN. DEALER HAS REPAIRED SUSPECTED SHORT IN WIRING HARNESS, CLEANED HARNESS GROUND CONNECTIONS, REPLACED A SENSOR IN THE POWER STEERING CIRCUIT. CAR IS CURRENTLY BACK IN THE DEALER SHOP WAITING FOR A NEW HARNESS "PIGTAIL" TO REPLACE ON THE ELECTRICAL STEERING HARNESS. CONTACTED MAZDA AND THEY SAID SINCE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, IT'S MY PROBLEM--EVEN THOUGH I CONSIDER THE CAR UNSAFE FOR DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269330May 19, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CLUTCH PEDAL STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD OF MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8. EVERYTIME I SWITCHED GEARS IT SQUEAKED UNTIL IT SNAPPED AND CAR STALLED. CONSEQUENCE IS THAT I COULDN'T DRIVE MY CAR ANYMORE AND HAD TO TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY ACCORDING TO PAPERWORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269357May 19, 2009
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CLUTCH PEDAL DETACHED FROM THE MOUNTS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE IN OR OUT OF GEAR AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268836May 15, 2009
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE WHILE SHIFTING GEARS ON FREEWAY. COULD BARELY GET CAR INTO AND OUT OF GEAR TO REMOVE CAR FROM TRAFFIC AND SAFELY IN PARKING LOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268857May 15, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY AS I SHIFTED GEARS THE BRACKET KEEPING MY CLUTCH PEDAL TOGETHER BROKE...HAD TO DRIVE REALLY SLOW BECAUSE DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL CAUSES IT TO ALMOST GO INTO THE BRAKE PEDAL...PEDAL KEEPS SHIFTING TO THE RIGHT...THERE SEEMS TO ME A DESIGN FLAW AS MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REPORTING THIS AND ON THE RX8CLUB.COM WEBSITE...THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED BECAUSE IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY...AND IT SEEMS LIKE MAZDA IS NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, HAVING PEOPLE PAY ALMOST 400 OR MORE TO REPLACE AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW...PICTURES OF THE BROKEN BRACKET HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY MY MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE...PLEASE CONTACT MAZDA AND HAVE THEM ISSUE A RECALL OF SOME SORT...HOPEFULLY THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT...BECAUSE I KNOW I ALMOST DID , BUT WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GAIN CONTROL.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268677May 13, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
ONLY A PARTIAL FAILURE OCCURRED, BUT HAD I NOT TAKEN PREVENTIVE MEASURES, A FULL FAILURE WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE OCCURRED. NOTICED BIZARRE SQUEAKING FROM CLUTCH PEDAL UNDER NORMAL USE. REMOVED PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND NOTICED METAL HAD TORN HALFWAY THROUGH ON BRACKET. HAD USE CONTINUED, METAL WOULD HAVE TORN COMPLETELY THROUGH, RENDERING THE CLUTCH PEDAL USELESS WITHOUT REPAIR. HAD A FULL FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A CAR ACCIDENT, ENDANGERING LIFE AND PROPERTY. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, I HAD THE CLUTCH BRACKET SEAM-WELDED IN THE EXISTING PROBLEM AREA AND IN ALL POTENTIAL PROBLEM AREAS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268455May 12, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
IT STARTED TO CLICK AND SQUEAK. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHEN THE PEDAL BRACKET SNAPPED WHEN ME AND MY CHILDREN ALMOST GOT HIT BY A COAL TRUCK BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO MY DADS SHOP AND WELD IT WHICH I'M STILL UNSURE OF HOW LONG IT WILL LAST SINCE THE METAL IS THIN AND IT IS SQUEAKING AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268496May 12, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE ENGINE, THE MOTOR WOULD KICK, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT STOP. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THE REPAIR ONLY LASTED ONE WEEK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MAZDA DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A FLOODING ISSUE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR FREE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A MONTH LATER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE OUTER GRIP ON THE FLY WHEEL WAS LOOSE. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ENGINE STILL WOULD NOT START. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269168May 11, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
2004 MAZDA RX8 IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME RECALL PROBLEM AS THE 2005-08 MAZDA RX8. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO AN EVAPORATOR LEAK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268301May 9, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 THE CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED AND WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WOULDN'T COME BACK UP. I WAS NOT ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BUT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY AND TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. AFTER INSPECTING THE CLUTCH PEDAL I DETERMINED THAT A WELD JOINT ON THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE CLUTCH PEDAL COMPLETE BROKE OFF. CLEARLY THIS IS THE RESULT OF POOR DESIGN, POOR WELDS AND POOR METAL THICKNESS. MAZDA CLAIMS THIS PART IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY SO I PROCEEDED TO REMOVE THE BRACKET AND REPAIR THE WELDS MYSELF. FROM WHAT I'VE READ ON THE FORUMS THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AND I WOULD THINK IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS. MAZDA WANTS OVER $500 TO MAKE THE REPAIR WHICH IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267482May 1, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I'VE BEEN HAVING A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS WHERE MY SAFETY HAS BEEN IN DANGER BECAUSE MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. LAST TIME HAPPENED IN A MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED IN CURVY UPHILL ROADS AND HIGHWAYS, WHERE I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. I AM MORE THAN CONCERNED BECAUSE ITS NOT JUST MY SAFETY BUT THE ONES TRAVELING WITH ME AND THE ONES THAT NOT. MAZDA HAS ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE OF THE 2004 RX-8, BUT IN THE DEALERSHIP THEY ALWAYS MAKE SOMETHING UP NOT TO CHECK IT UNDER WARRANTY. I NEED YOUR INTERVENTION TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND ABOUT THE RECALL IN THIS WEBSITE. I HAVE LOST MONEY, AND TIME BUT NOT WILLING TO RISK MY LIFE. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT STEPS TO TAKE ACTION, BECAUSE ALL THEY DO IS DENY THAT'S ITS WARRANTY RELATED EVEN WHEN THEY KNOW ABOUT THE RECALLS THAT RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM, ALL THEY DO IS SELL YOU SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION COILS (WHICH THEY SAY IS THE CAUSE AND NEVER SOLVES ANYTHING BUT THEIR SALES). THIS HAS TO STOP. ITS NOT FAIR TO PAY SO MUCH FOR A 2004 CAR AND GET BACK SUCH A NIGHTMARE. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO KNOW IF I CAN GET A REMEDY UNDER FEDERAL LAWS OF TRANSPORTATION SAFETY. THIS IS SERIOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267387April 30, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH AND WENT TO SHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR INTO 4TH GEAR WHEN I FELT A "POP" AT WHICH POINT MY CLUTCH FELL TO THE FLOOR AND I NO LONGER HAD ANY ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF ONTO THE NEXT EXIT RAMP AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED MAZDA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHO TOWED THE CAR TO MAZDA BEDFORD. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CLUTCH WAS "BLOWN" AND NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. THE MAZDA FORUM IS FULL OF SIMILAR EPISODES AND I WAS ENCOURAGED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Mazda RX-8