Mazda RX-8 Complaints
784 consumer complaints on file.
- #10425507September 14, 2011STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID, STEERING
I FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM IN MY STEERING WHILE DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THE STEERING FELT VERY LIGHT AND CRISP WHEN I WOULD TURN TO THE LEFT. WHEN I WOULD RETURN TO DEAD CENTER AND THEN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, THE STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF. THE NEXT DAY WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION" LIGHT WAS ON. POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED AT THAT TIME. UPON DOING RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2004 AND 2005 RX8'S. *KB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10425221September 13, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE ENGINE LOSES POWER AND STALLS AFTER DRIVING AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE IN HOT WEATHER. FAILURE SYMPTOMS ARE MOST NOTICEABLE AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND WILL PRESENT AS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWED BY STALLING AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATES. MANUFACTURER HAS EXTENDED THE ENGINE WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES AND WILL DE-CARBON THE ENGINE AND REPLACE SPARK PLUGS WHEN REPORTED. HOWEVER, THIS SOLUTION IS NOT A PERMANENT REPAIR, AND SYMPTOMS RETURN UPON DRIVING WITHIN TWELVE MONTHS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10425269September 13, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH PETAL AS IT ATTACHES TO THE FIREWALL UNDER EMERGENCY DECELERATION. THE METAL ATTACHING THE PETAL TO THE FIRE WALL SHEARED ON THE VERTICAL ATTACHMENTS. CAUSED A NEAR ACCIDENT, DANGEROUS CONDITIONS OF A VEHICLE STRANDED IN A TRAVEL LANE, AND SUBSEQUENT TOWING ON THE VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10424716September 12, 2011STEERING
CAR HAD ISSUE STEERING TO THE RIGHT FOR APROX. 5 MILES, WHEN OFF HIGHWAY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED AT 35 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. HAD TO BE DRIVEN TO DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10423904September 6, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH, I NOTICED THE PEDAL WAS SOFTER THAN NORMAL, DID NOT ENGAGE, AND SAT VERY LOW, AND ONLY A FEW INCHES FROM THE FLOOR. AT THIS POINT, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS NO LONGER OPERATIVE. I COULD NOT ENGAGE ANY OF THE FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS. UPON INSPECTION, THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAD CONSIDERABLE FORE AND AFT MOVEMENT, AS WELL AS EXCESSIVE LATERAL MOVEMENT. THE BRACKET HOLDING THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS NOT FULLY SECURE AND APPEARED TO BE BROKEN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10423799September 5, 2011STEERING
I JUST GOT THE CAR BACK FROM DEALERSHIP THEY HAD TO PUT NEW MOTOR IN AT 67000 MILES REPLACED MOTOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER 3 COILS AND ALSO TOLD ME THEY HAD TO FLUSH IT OUT AS IT WAS FLOODED I DROVE LESS THAN 100 MILES AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT? NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THIS IS CRAZY!!!! COST ME OVER 1100.00 TO GET IT BACK AND DRIVE 2 TIMES AND NOW BROKE AGAIN THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF CRAP SHOULD HAVE DONE HOMEWORK ON IT BEFORE BUYING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10423817September 5, 2011STEERING
I WENT OVER TO MY FRIENDS HOUSE TO SWIM AROUND 1400 AND, AT THAT TIME, EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. AFTER WE WERE DONE SWIMMING AND I GOT IN THE CAR TO LEAVE, I TURNED THE CARE ON AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DASH. I PROCEEDED TO THE MANUAL WHICH SAYS IT IS DUE TO A POWER STEERING FAILURE. I'VE READ IN MANY FORUMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS CAR MODEL. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT IT IS USUALLY THE POWER STEERING HARNESS OR THE RACK (MOTOR OR TORQUE SENSOR). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10422548August 30, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE STALLS AND LACK OF POWER. DEALER KEEPS SAYING ITS FINE. CANNOT EVEN DRIVE ANYMORE. IT STARTED WITH NOT STARTING THEN AFTER GETTING IT STARTED HESITATION AND LACK OF POWER KEPT GETTING WORSE. BECAME UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10422337August 28, 2011STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8, WHICH HAD APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES AT THE TIME, WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING IN ONE DIRECTION AND STEERING BECAME VERY LIGHT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. THIS PROBLEM DISAPPEARED THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE CAR, BUT REAPPEARED INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE POWER STEERING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. THIS WAS INTERMITTENT FOR A WHILE, AS WELL, BUT EVENTUALLY THE POWER STEERING CEASED TO FUNCTION ALTOGETHER. THESE FAILURES WERE ACCOMPANIED BY A POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT, WHICH REMAINS ILLUMINATED TO THIS DAY. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THE PHENOMENON, I WAS VERY STARTLED BY IT AND FEEL THAT, HAD THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT AN INOPPORTUNE MOMENT, IT COULD HAVE VERY WELL CONTRIBUTED TO AN ACCIDENT. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10422343August 28, 2011POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MY SECOND INCIDENT ON THE SAME VEHICLE/PART. I PREVIOUSLY HAD THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN MY MAZDA RX-8 REPLACED BECAUSE OF A BROKEN BRACKET. THE REPLACEMENT WAS AN IDENTICAL PART WITH NO REDESIGNS. APPROXIMATELY 16 MONTHS LATER IT BROKE YET AGAIN. SAME CONDITIONS, DRIVING ON THE ROAD, SUDDEN LOSS OF RESISTANCE AND CRUNCHING SOUND FROM PEDAL, UNABLE TO SHIFT PROPERLY. INSPECTING THE VEHICLE AFTER PARKING REVEALED THAT THE EXACT SAME SPOT WELD BROKE, LEAVING THE BRACKET TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL AND NOT PROVIDING LEVERAGE FOR THE CLUTCH PISTON INTO THE MASTER CYLINDER. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10420920August 22, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
2009 RX 8 MAZDA VIN#[XXX] I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF CAUSING THE CAR TO IMMEDIATELY SLOW DOWN BY 10 MILES AN HOUR. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT RE-ENGAGE. I AM NOW HAVING AN ISSUE WHERE IT FEELS MY ABS IS ENGAGING WHEN I FIRST START DRIVING IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. THEY SIMPLY STATED IT COULD JUST BE THE 100+ DEGREE TEXAS WEATHER. 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
- #10421087August 22, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE OIL COOLER LINE CONNECTORS ARE CORRODED SO BADLY AT 7 YEARS OF AGE THAT IT'S LITERALLY SPEWING OIL WHILST THE CAR IS RUNNING. I'VE DRIVEN CARS THAT WERE 15+ YEARS OLD WITH NO SUCH ISSUES. NOT ONLY IS THIS A MECHANICAL CONCERN, BUT IT COATS THE TIRES IN OIL, AND LEAVES TRACTION ON THEM ALMOST NIL. MAZDA CANADA HAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, YET, MAZDA USA HAS DONE NOTHING, EXCEPT FOR QUOTE PEOPLE ANYWHERE FROM 1800-2100 DOLLARS TO HAVE THESE LINES REPLACED. I THINK IT'S A COMPLETE DISGRACE TO AN OTHERWISE VERY RELIABLE CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10418339August 10, 2011SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS BEING REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHEN THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V325000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT) WAS CLOSED AND THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY PRICE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10418060August 8, 2011LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 MAZDA RX-8/6 SPEED. I WAS IN 2ND GEAR SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR WHEN MY CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE OFF. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR IN GEAR AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I'M CURRENTLY RENTING A CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME IT WILL BE AROUND 10 DAYS TO FIX IT. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT MY CLUTCH WAS DAMAGED AND THE DEALERSHIP WON'T REPLACE IT. OUT OF POCKET COSTS ARE AT 1,700.00$ RIGHT NOW. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10414660July 22, 2011EQUIPMENT
DASHBOARD OVER AIRBAG BEGAN TO CRACK OVER THE AIRBAG ON 01/102010. AS THE MONTHS WENT ON, IT GOT MUCH BIGGER. I HAVE CONTACT MY LOCAL DEALER AND ALSO MAZDA USA. THEY SEEM TO DODGE THE WHOLE THING, OR SAY ITS JUST COSMETIC.I'M AFRAID FOR MY FAMILYS SAFTEY, WITH THE WHOLE AIRBAG MAYBE COMING OUT.I'M GLAD THAT I HAVE AN EXTRA WARRANTY BECAUSE SO MANY THINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10413399July 18, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
THE ROTARY ENGINE RX8 (MY 2005) CONTINUES TO HAVE STARTING PROBLEMS. I HAVE JUST OVER 100,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. I'VE REPLACED THE STARTER THREE TIMES NOW, THE SPARK PLUGS AT LEAST TWICE, THREE BATTERIES. IT IS AN UNRELIABLE VEHICLE AND HAS HAD TO BE TOWED SIX TIMES NOW. OBVIOUSLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THAT YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR STALLS IF OR WHEN YOU CAN RESTART THE VEHICLE. *KB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10413105July 15, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STEERING
2005 RX-8 LEAKING OIL COOLER LINE FAULTS BREAKS CAR VEERED OFF THE ROAD ONTO RIGHT SIDE GRASS UNDER HEAVY BREAKING DUE TO SUDDENLY SLOWING TRAFFIC. NORMALLY, CAR BREAKS VERY WELL, LINEARLY, AND STRAIGHT. AFTER CHECKING WHAT CAUSED THIS, I FOUND THE ENTIRE LEFT UNDERSIDE SPRAYED WITH ENGINE OIL. OIL CAME FROM RUSTED ENGINE COOLER LINES LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL. ABOUT A 10 SECOND ENGINE RUN SHOWED A STREAM OF OIL SPRAYING TOWARDS THE TIRE THROUGH A CRACK IN THE RUSTED COOLING LINE. UNDERBODY, LEFT FRONT TIRE, AND BREAKS WERE COVERED WITH OIL. THERE WAS NO COLLISION ONLY BECAUSE THE AREA WHERE CAR WAS PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE HAD NO OBSTACLES. LUCKY ME! CAR IS OBVIOUSLY NOT DRIVABLE AS ENGINE OIL IS VISIBLY LEAKING AND BREAKS ARE COMPROMISED WITH GREASY OIL RESIDUE. APPARENTLY CANADA HAS A RECALL FOR THESE FAULTY COOLING LINES - 'RX-8 OIL COOLER HOSE ' SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM (SSP) 76' ' SEEMS UTTERLY APPROPRIATE AS IN AN UNLUCKY SITUATION THIS COULD TURN OUT FATAL! *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10410761July 6, 2011STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10408887June 25, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I NOTICED A SMALL OIL LEAK COMING FROM BELOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE OIL COOLER. UPON TAKING THIS APART, I SAW THAT THE OIL LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE OIL COOLER HOSE AND THE OIL COOLER HOSE FITTINGS WERE VERY RUSTED. I ORDERED THE PART TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE, COSTING ME $350. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE PART YET AND WILL BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR ONE WEEK. I HAVE READ UP ON THIS PROBLEM, AND I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL AFFECTING MY MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR THAT MY CAR WAS BUILT, BUT ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO RESIDE IN CANADA. MAZDA USA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10408445June 22, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THE EHICLE STALLED WHEN THE RPMS INCREASED TO APPROXIMATELY 1000. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. SEVERAL DEALERS WERE NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0