Mazda RX-8 Complaints (2004)

490 consumer complaints on file.

#10511965May 14, 2013
STEERING, SUSPENSION
DRIVER CAME UPON A DEER AND SLAMMED THE BRAKES, MISSING THE DEER. WHILE SLAMMING THE BRAKES THE FRONT END COLLAPSED UPON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAUSING SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE AND MAKING THE CAR INOPERABLE. THE FRONT END REQUIRED NEW LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM, STABILIZER BAR CONTROL LINK, NEW SHOCK/STRUT ASSEMBLY, NEW TIE RODS (INNER AND OUTER), NEW SWAY BAR LINK AND 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE ORIGINAL CAUSE OF THIS DAMAGE WAS A CRACK IN THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS THE SUBJECT OF RECALL # 36261. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL. UPON TALKING WITH MAZDA ([XXX]... FILE #[XXX]) ON MAY 14, 2013 I WAS INFORMED THAT WHILE THIS RECALL DID AFFECT OTHER RX8'S OF THE SAME YEAR, MY RX8 WAS NOT COVERED. I BELIEVE MY RX8 SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF RECALL #36261. 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
#10509740April 26, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I PURCHASED MY 2004 AUTOMATIC RX8 IN SEPTEMBER OF 2011. IT BEGAN GIVING ME TROUBLE WITH THE TYPE OF GAS IT TOOK. I FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT BP PREMIUM SEEMED TO KEEP IT FROM "COUGHING". I THOUGHT THAT I HAD FIXED THE ISSUES AND IT DROVE FINE FOR A GOOD WHILE. I CHANGED THE OIL RELIGIOUSLY AT ABOUT 3000 MILES OR LESS. IT WOULD DISPLAY THE OIL LIGHT AFTER ONLY ABOUT 1500-2000MILES. I HAD A DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID THE OIL LEVEL WAS FINE AND THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT HAD THE LIGHT ON. THE OIL LIGHT NOW COMES ON AT JUST 300MILES INTO THE LAST OIL CHANGE. IN FEB OF THIS YEAR IS WHEN THE CAR STARTED DETERIORATING AT A RAPID PACE, AND I WAS COMPLETELY DUMBFOUNDED TILL I BEGAN DOING SOME RESEARCH AND SAW THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUES I HAVE HAD. FOR ONE- THE AC NEVER WORKS CORRECTLY. I HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE KNOB FOR A BIT TO MAKE IT COOL, AND STILL EVEN THEN IT DOES NOT WORK. I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO AND FROM THE STORE NOW BECAUSE I AM WORRIED IT WILL NOT START BACK UP. I ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE ENGINE IS WARMED UP AND SOMETIMES JUST LEAVE IT RUNNING INSTEAD OF TAKING THE CHANCE OF TURNING IT OFF. THE ENGINE LIGHT ALSO COMES ON AND RANDOM TIMES, AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE GAS CAP WAS NOT ON TIGHT ENOUGH. THAT IS A LIE, I ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO TIGHTEN IT, AND WHY WOULD THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AFTER THE OIL LIGHT EVERYTIME IF IT WAS HUMAN ERROR. THE CAR WHINES WHEN AT A STOPLIGHT OR SITTING FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. IT SOUNDS AS IF IT IS COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE IF YOU ARE SITTING IN IT. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THAT NOISE IS EITHER. THIS FAULTY CAR SHOULD COME WITH A WARNING ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT, I AM SCARED TO PUT MY FAMILY IN IT, AND I AM DISGUSTED WITH THE WAY MAZDA DECIDED TO TREAT ME WHEN I CALLED THEM TO INQUIRE ABOUT CERTAIN RECALLS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505125March 31, 2013
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH PANEL THAT IS ABOVE THE AIR BAG CRACKS; WHICH CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG AND CAUSE INJURY TO INDIVIDUAL (POSSIBLY PREVENT DEPLOYMENT OR CREATE DASH PIECES THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY). THIS IS HAPPENING TO MULTIPLE RX-8'S (GO TO RX-8 CLUB)! SINCE THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH MOST IF NOT ALL RX8'S IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY MAZDA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503190March 15, 2013
STEERING
POWER STEERING JERKS AND SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO WHILE SETTING STILL STEERING WHEEL DID A COMPLETE 360. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502686March 13, 2013
ENGINE
NOTICEABLE OIL LEAK, SCATTERED ALL OVER WHERE THE VEHICLE IS NORMALLY PARKED AS WELL AS ALL OVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNDERBODY. OIL LEVEL DROPS APPROXIMATELY 1 US QUART PER 2-3 DAYS, DRIVEN ONLY LIGHTLY TO AND FROM PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. 10 MILES A DAY TOPS. DIAGNOSED BY INDEPENDENT ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC AS SUBSTANTIAL LEAK FROM THE OIL COOLER LINES, DUE TO RUST AND EXTREME CORROSION. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN IN A HARSH CLIMATE, AND GENERALLY NOT IN SNOW OR ICE. I SEE A RECALL FOR THIS IN SOME COUNTRIES, BUT NOT THE UNITED STATES, DESPITE BEING SUBJECTED TO THE SAME ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499890February 24, 2013
EQUIPMENT, POWER TRAIN
2004 MAZDA RX-8 TOURING WITH 6-SPEED MANUAL HAS A BROKEN CLUTCH PEDAL. THE ALUMINUM CLUTCH PEDAL WEAVES LEFT AND RIGHT. IT IS ON THE VERGE OF SNAPPING IN HALF. PLACED THE CAR AT JAX AUTOMOTIVE WHILE I PURCHASE A NEW OEM CLUTCH PEDAL WITH REINFORCED BRACKETS FROM RACE ROOTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10497986February 13, 2013
STEERING
LOST POWER STEERING. CAR WOULD STILL TURN WITH HEAVY EFFORT. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO ELECTRONIC ASSIST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493363January 17, 2013
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED. THIS MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER VEHICLE, MAKING DRIVING DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10489581December 23, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
POWERS STEERING FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487191December 3, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND SMELLED GASOLINE FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE OIL PAN, THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485701November 28, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
2004 MAZDA RX8. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL DEFECTS IN THE VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ABOUT A YEAR AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS STARTED FILLING UP WITH WATER. ALSO, THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WITH NO WARNING. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, HE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TWO OXYGEN SENSORS. AFTER THE OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED, THE STALLING CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE DEALER, WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481032October 18, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD SEIZE AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO VEER ABNORMALLY TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO MOVE OFF THE ROADWAY AND RESET THE POWER STEERING ASSIST THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE BATTERY TERMINAL HAD FAILED. AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY TERMINAL, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY THEN ADVISED THAT THEY WERE INSPECTING THE WIRING HARNESS BEING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,500.... UPDATED 12/14/12 *BF UPDATED 12/19/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481030October 18, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALER FOR MY RX8'S POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. WHEN IT SHUT OFF TWICE OF THE MANY TIMES, IT PULLED MY CAR TO THE HARD RIGHT AND I ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE OF IT. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME THE FIRST TIME TO REPLACE THE BATTERY TERMINAL BECAUSE IT WAS LOOSING POWER TO THE STEERING UNIT. THEN MULTIPLE TIMES LATER, HUNDREDS MORE, THEY SAID THAT REPAIRING THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTORS WAS RECOMMENDED BY THEIR TECH LINE AND THEY SAID THAT MAY NOT BE THE LAST THING NEEDED. FIRST OF ALL, THE DEALERSHIP, HERITAGE MAZDA OF LUTHERVILLE, MD, SEEM TO BE WORKING HARD ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS TRULY IS A TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUE AND ITS COSTING ME HUNDREDS IN A SHOT IN THE DARK TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY MATTER, EVEN MIKE WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADDED THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. ON THE RX8 CLUB WEBSITE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME POWER STEERING FAILURE. [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
#10480785October 16, 2012
STEERING
VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND IT IS HARD TO TURN RIGHT, SOMETIMES THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SHAKE REPEATEDLY AND SHAKE AND TURN LEFT BY ITSELF. I REPLACED THE STEERING HARNESS WITH A NEW ONE BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479235October 8, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET MOUNTED TO THE FIRE WALL CRACKED ON BROKE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE UNIT CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO BE UNUSABLE AND UNABLE FOR ANY FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS TO BE ENGAGED. LUCKILY I WAS PULLING OFF THE ROAD INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT USE OF THE CLUTCH. THIS IS DANGEROUS BEYOND BELIEF AND IS PRESENTLY COVERED BY MAZDA UNDER AN 8 YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY EXTENSION PLAN BUT THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATED SAFETY RECALL REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE OR YEAR. THE FACTORY PART IS MADE OF TIN AS BEST I CAN TELL AND CAN BE BENT AND DEFORMED WITH BARE HANDS AT THE POINT WHERE ITS BOLTED TO THE FIREWALL, A CRITICAL MOUNTING POINT AS EVIDENCED BY THE GROWING NUMBER OF CASES FOR THIS EXACT DEFECT. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO PURCHASE THE PART AT MY OWN EXPENSE BUT DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO SINCE THIS IS SUCH A BASIC SAFETY DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE DEADLY RESULTS TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER INNOCENT DRIVERS IN THE VICINITY OF THE AFFECTED MAZDA RX8. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473947September 5, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING FAIL TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE STEERING COLUMN WIRE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 09/26/12 *LJ UPDATED 09/27/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471169August 16, 2012
ENGINE
THE ENGINE OIL COOLER HOSES DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK WHICH WAS CAUSED BY CORROSION TO THE METALLIC PARTS OF THE ASSEMBLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467750July 26, 2012
POWER TRAIN
AT A STOP LIGHT, I DEPRESSED MY CLUTCH PEDAL. I HEARD AN AUDIBLE SNAP AND THE CLUTCH BECAME UNUSABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465755July 16, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I JUMPED INTO MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 AFTER WORK STARTED IT UP AND WENT TO DRIVE AND NOTICED IT WAS REALLY HARD TO TURN AND I LOOKED AND NOTICED THAT A LIGHT THAT WAS A STEERING WHEEL WITH AN EXCLAMATION MARK NEXT TO IT SO I DROVE IT HOME NOT EVEN A MILE AWAY AND READ ABOUT IT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT IT HAPPENS A LOT. PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER VERY VERY SOON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465848July 16, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET INDICATES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR MAZDA YET THERE ARE NO RECALLS TO FIX FAULTY ENGINEERING. THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW LEAKS ONTO THE CONNECTORS FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING CAUSING CORROSION AND SPORADIC CONNECTIONS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Mazda RX-8