Mazda RX-8 Complaints (2004)

490 consumer complaints on file.

#10628211August 25, 2014
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE BALL JOINTS SEPARATED AND FRACTURED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V325000 (SUSPENSION). THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PENDING THE MANUFACTURER'S APPROVAL FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10618269August 1, 2014
AIR BAGS, ENGINE
HORRIBLE IN 2004 YEARS OF THIS VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT POPPED UP SUDDENLY FOR NO APPERANT REASON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616164July 24, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
VEHICLE HAD STRONG SMELL OF RAW GASOLINE FUMES IN THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. UPON REMOVING THE REAR SEAT TO ACCESS THE FUEL PUMP FOR INSPECTION, A POOL OF GASOLINE WAS FOUND AROUND THE FUEL PUMP AND SURROUNDING AREA TO INCLUDE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR THE PUMP. IT APPEARS THE LEAK OCCURS FROM A FAULTY PLASTIC NIPPLE ON THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY THAT CONNECTS THE PUMP TO THE MAIN FUEL LINE. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH UNCOVERED THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT WITH THE MAZDA RX8. THE FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE IS IMMENSE. I WOULD RECOMMEND A FURTHER REVIEW BY THE NHTSA TO ASSESS THE SEVERITY AND SPECTRUM OF THE FUEL PUMP ISSUE IN THE MAZDA RX8. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10604518June 19, 2014
STEERING
STEERING TORQUE SENSOR THAT SOMETIMES FAILS TO PROPERLY REGISTER DRIVER STEERING INPUT, CAUSING THE SYSTEM TO REMOVE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) ASSISTANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10594124May 26, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 5/14/2013 AFTER A WEEK OR SO IT STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND MISFIRING , POPPING NOISE, TRANSMISSION WARMS UP. THE GEAR THAT I HOLD AND SHIFT JUST WARMS UP ALL THE TIME IT FEELS LIKE IT MIGHT FIRE UP. THEN I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I TOOK IT TO MAZDA MECHANIC THEY CHARGED AROUND 900$. THEN IT DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING I WENT ANOTHER ONE AND THEY TOLD ME LOSS COMPRESSION IT WAS 115 THAT TIME. I KEPT DRIVING IT AND THEY SAID I NEED TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION TOO.. I PAID THIS CAR 6500. AND NOW IT S ALL BAD. AND APPARENTLY I NEED TO BUY NEW ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE IT WILL COST ME ABOUT 6000$ .NOW ITS ON 129,000MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593771May 23, 2014
ENGINE
ON 2/9/12 MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 WAS BROUGHT IN FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT AS PART OF A RECALL. SINCE THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGING AT DIFFERENT PLACES OR STICKING TO THE FLOOR. ON 3/30/12 THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO DICK EDWARDS MANHATTAN FOR "...WHEN CLUTCH IS ENGAGED THERE IS A FUNNY NOISE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION & THERE IS A VIBRATION." IT WAS MISDIAGNOSED AND NOT FIXED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 6/26/12 BECAUSE "WHEN USING CLUTCH THAT THE FIRST HALF OF THE PEDAL IS EMPTY AND THE SECOND HALF ENGAGES BUT IF YOU TRY TO SHIFT IN THE MIDDLE IT WILL GET STUCK AND NOT COME OUT." IT WAS MISDIAGNOSED & NOT FIXED. ON 10/26/12 IT WAS TAKEN TO OVERLAND PARK MAZDA & IT WAS FOUND THAT "CLUTCH WAS STICKING TO THE GROUND AND TRACED TO THE MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDER..." IT WAS MISDIAGNOSED & NOT FIXED. ON 11/9/12 THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO OVERLAND PARK MAZDA TO "BLEED CLUTCH AND ADJUST FREE PLAY FROM CLUTCH PEDAL PUSH ROD TO MAKE CLUTCH PEDAL MORE RESPONSIVE." THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT FIXED. IN 8/13 I BOUGHT THE CAR IN KANSAS CITY, MO. SINCE THEN I HAD THE CLUTCH DIAGNOSED AT RICK'S PERFORMANCE IN CALIFORNIA WHO FOUND "PLAY IN THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT - THE FLYWHEEL IS MOVING BACK AND FORTH OVER 1/2 INCH" & CONCLUDED THAT THE ENGINE REPLACED IN THE RECALL ON 2/9/12 AT DICK EDWARDS MANHATTAN WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT A PART HAD BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE ENGINE DURING ASSEMBLY. I TOOK THE CAR TO KEN HARVEY'S DUBLIN MAZDA IN DUBLIN, CA AND THEY CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS BY RICK'S PERFORMANCE & RECOMMENDED MAZDA REPLACE THE ENGINE AS IT SHOWS SIGNS OF INTERNAL DAMAGE. HOWEVER, MAZDA REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AS IT IS OUTSIDE OF THE 1 YEAR/12,000 MILE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES WITHIN THE WARRANTY BUT WAS NEVER FIXED. ALSO, ONLY 9K MILES HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE CAR IN THAT TIME FRAME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586813May 6, 2014
STEERING
POWER STEERING WAS LOST MID-TURN, HAD TO WRESTLE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE TURN. FORUM SEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT MANY OTHER RX-8 OWNERS ARE HAVING STEERING ISSUES AND INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING LOSS. IN THE WORST OCCURRENCES, THE WHEEL BECOMES LOCKED TO ONE SIDE. USER-BASE HAS RESEARCHED AND FOUND SENSOR ISSUES THAT MAZDA MAY WANT TO ADDRESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10582787April 14, 2014
STEERING
ELECTRICALLY ASSISTED POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL IT NO LONGER WORKS AT ALL. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I FOUND THIS FACT BY JOINING THE RX8 CLUB WEBSITE. MULTIPLE OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS OBVIOUS THAT IT IS CAUSED BY POORLY ENGINEERED/MANUFACTURED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS. SOME OWNERS HAVE GONE AS FAR AS REPLACING THE WIRE HARNESS ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RECUR. MAKING THE PROBLEM WORSE IS THAT THE MAZDA WEBSITE HAS NO MECHANISM TO REPORT THE PROBLEM TO THE MANUFACTURER. CURRENTLY THE ONLY TIME THE POWER STEERING IF FUNCTIONAL IS ONLY FOR SHORT PERIODS AFTER THE CARE HAS BEEN THROUGH A CAR WASH AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE HAS BECOME WET, AND THEN IT IS ONLY FUNCTIONAL UNTIL THE UNDERCARRIAGE DRIES OUT. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578220April 8, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPORADICALLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575017March 26, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
RUSTED OIL COOLER LINES AND FITTINGS ON MY RX8 DRIVEN IN OHIO WHERE ROAD SALTING IS PREVALENT IN SNOW MONTHS. FILING THIS COMPLAINT SINCE THERE IS A RECALL ISSUED FOR MY SAME MODEL YEAR IN CANADA (SPECIAL PROGRAM 76) FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE DUE TO SNOW AND SALT. MODIFIED LINES ARE AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS ISSUE BUT MAZDA IS NOT EXTENDING RECALL COVERAGE TO U.S. REPAIR COST AT DEALER ABOVE $1K. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573589March 19, 2014
STEERING
THE ELECTRICAL ASSIST POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. SOMETIME, WHEN STARTING THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING WORKS FINE. OTHER TIMES, IT WILL NOT WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566866March 3, 2014
POWER TRAIN, STEERING, ENGINE
POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHEN I WAS TURNING ON TO THE HIGH WAY. MAKING IT STIFF AND HARD TO TURN. CLUTCH PEDDLE COLLAPSED MAKING IT HAD TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE CLUTCH RATIO IS OFF, *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564850February 18, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BECAME INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING BUT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549327October 24, 2013
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547558October 10, 2013
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED AND HAS MANY TIMES CAUSE ME COMING CLOSE IN HITTING THE CAR NEXT TO ME WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN BY ITSELF IN A FULL 360. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO OPEN MY HOOD AND SHAKE TO HARNESS WIRE. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED A LONG TIME AGO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10538614September 3, 2013
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE
WAS DRIVING NORMAL CONDITIONS DOWN A 35 MPH ROAD WHEN I WENT TO UPSHIFT GEARS AND DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET CRACKED AND POPPED OFF DUE TO POOR QUALITY AND BAD ENGINEERING, IN MY OPINION. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT THROUGH LOSS OF CONTROL. I WAS NOT ABUSING THE VEHICLE/ HAVE NOT ABUSED THE VEHICLE.. THIS ITEM SHOULD NOT BREAK IN THE MANNER IT DID. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10523216July 5, 2013
STEERING
WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO "STICK" OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW DAYS, STEERING WENT FROM WORKING TO NOT WORKING AT ALL. STEERING MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND HASN'T GONE OFF SINCE. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (ALTHOUGH IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE EPS MODULE AND TO REPLACE IT WOULD BE ~$1100. PURCHASED THE MODULE AND THAT WASN'T THE ISSUE THEY REALIZED. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM AT A COST OF $4000! WHAT A JOKE. WHY SHOULD I PAY ANYTHING FOR AN OBVIOUS DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY. I'VE READ TOO MANY POSTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND MAZDA IS TURNING A DEAF EAR. THIS COMPANY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR EVEN ALLOWING SUCH AN ISSUE TO LEAVE THE FACTORY, BUT EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT, YOU SHOULD BE IMMEDIATE TO CORRECT IT, BUT YOU AREN'T. I GUESS THAT IT WILL TAKE FOR SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I TAKE A CHANCE ON DRIVING MY CAR ALONG THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE WHEN I COME TO A CURVE, THE STEERING CAN FREEZE AND I HAVE TO WRESTLE THE CAR AROUND THE TURN. A DANGEROUS SITUATION. MAZDA, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS OBVIOUS FLAW IN THIS VEHICLE, AMONGST MANY OTHER FLAWS. AN ISSUE WITH STEERING SHOULD BE A NON-ISSUE. ARE YOU SERIOUS MAZDA? A LOT OF OWNERS CAN'T EVEN STEER THEIR VEHICLE WITHOUT CREATING A SWEAT. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED IN YOUR SEEMINGLY LACK OF CONCERN WITH THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10515296June 5, 2013
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE AND JERK FORWARD. THE CONTACT ACCELERATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE ENGINE BUT BLACK SMOKE WAS SEEN FROM EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD EXPERIENCED AN INTERNAL FIRE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE CONTACT REPORTED THE FAILURE TO THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,700.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513336May 23, 2013
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILS DUE TO FAULTY POWER STEERING HARNESS CONNECTIONS. THIS FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 65 MPH. (VERY DANGEROUS). THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH RX-8 OWNERS. POWER STEERING CONNECTORS ARE SITUATED DIRECTLY UNDER COOLANT FLUID RESERVOIR TANK OVERFLOW HOSE. IF COOLANT LEAKS ON THESE CONNECTORS IT FOULS THE CONNECTION RESULTING IN POWER STEERING LOSS. INSUFFICIENT SOLDERING OF THESE CONNECTORS TO THE CONNECTION HOUSING BY THE MANUFACTURER IS ALSO TO BLAME. THIS HARNESS HAS BEEN REVISED 3 TIMES BY MAZDA IN HOPES OF CORRECTING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTIONING PART. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SENT TO ALL MAZDA OWNERS TO HAVE THE FAULTY POWER STEERING HARNESS F151-67-SHOB AND F151-67-SHOC REPLACED WITH THE MOST RECENT REVISED PART F151-67-SHOD FREE OF CHARGE AND COST OF LABOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512671May 18, 2013
POWER TRAIN
WHILE SHIFTING FROM 4TH TO 5TH GEAR, I HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND COME FROM THE CLUTCH PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY THE INABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PRESSURE COMING FROM THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET HAD SNAPPED, CAUSING THE PEDAL TO MOVE AT AN ANGLE AND THE PUSH ROD THAT LEADS FROM THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER PUNCTURED THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER CAUSING IT TO FAIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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