Mazda RX-8 Complaints

784 consumer complaints on file.

#10380773February 4, 2011
STEERING
VEHICLE CAN TURN LEFT ON ITS OWN WITH A FAULTY POWER STEERING RACK AND/OR CONTROL MODULE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375381January 10, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THE COVER FOR THE AIR BAGS WAS BEGINNING TO FRACTURE ALONG THE BRACKETS. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE AIR BAG BRACKET WAS FRACTURING BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. UPDATED 03/29/11 *BF UPDATED 05/04/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374986January 6, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 2005 MAZDA RX-8. STARTING WITH COLD AIR COMING FROM HEATER. NOW THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS MY CAR NEEDS A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND A NEW STARTER ACCORDING TO THE MAZDA GUYS. IF IT'S NOT ONE THING IT'S ANOTHER WITH THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373172December 28, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2005 MAZDA RX8; EXCESSIVE SQUEAKING NOISE FROM CLUTCH PEDAL UPON ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT AND FEELS LOOSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371763December 20, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND MAKING A TURN HE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE POWER STEERING WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371808December 20, 2010
SEAT BELTS
MY STEPDAUGHTER PLACED HER INFANT/CARSEAT IN THE REAR SEAT OF OUR 2010 MAZDA RX-8. SHE REACHED FOR THE CLOSEST SEATBELT (THAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE FRONT SEATBELT) AND LATCHED THE CAR SEAT IN PLACE. AFTER SHE SAT DOWN IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, SHE REALIZED HER MISTAKE. THREE PEOPLE ATTEMPTED TO PRESS THE BELT RELEASE HOWEVER ALL OF US FAILED. ALSO, THE BELT ROLLED IN AS IT'S DESIGNED TO SO I COULD NOT GATHER ENOUGH SLACK TO TAKE THE INFANT OUT WHILE IN THE CARSEAT. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, WE WERE ABLE TO REMOVE HER INFANT FROM THE CARSEAT, AND THEN I FORCIBLY REMOVED THE CAR SEAT. THE SEATBELT IMMEDIATELY ROLLED BACK AGAIN AS IT'S DESIGNED TO DO SO NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED, I COULD NOT GET THE SEAT BELT RELEASED. I TOOK THE MAZDA TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THEY WOULD HAVE TO BREAK THE SEAT BUCKLE IN ORDER TO FREE THE BELT. I WOULD THEN HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW BUCKLE SINCE IT WAS OPERATOR ERROR RELATED. I COUNTERED BY ASKING WHY THE DESIGN OF THE FRONT AND REAR BUCKLES WERE SO SIMILAR CITING A PROBABLE SAFETY ISSUE. IN FACT, THE INFANTS MOTHER WAS TRAVELING AS A PASSENGER AND ONLY REALIZED THE PROBLEM WHEN SHE REACHED BACK FOR HER PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT. SHOULD SHE HAVE BEEN THE DRIVER, SHE MAY NOT HAVE REALIZED THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. THEY DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER AND REMAINED STEADFAST WITH THEIR DECISION. THEY BROKE THE BUCKLE , AND IT WAS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371041December 17, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT BECAME STUCK UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE UNTIL THE MATS WERE TAKEN OUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOOK A COMPLAINT BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367874November 26, 2010
AIR BAGS
DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN AN EXTREMELY LOUD POP SOUNDED RESEMBLING A BACKFIRE OR THE EXPLOSION OF AN AEROSOL CAN. AFTER PULLING BACK INTO THE SPACE, A FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE NOISE REVEALED A MALFUNCTION WITH THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG. THE DOOR PANEL HAS BEEN KNOCKED ASKEW RESULTING IN A BACK DOOR THAT WILL NOT OPEN. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS JERKED TIGHT AND REMAINS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. HAD A PASSENGER BEEN SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT, THE TIGHTENING OF THE BELT UPON THE MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY. THE OTHER AIRBAGS ARE OF GREAT CONCERN AT THIS POINT BECAUSE IF THERE IS ANOTHER MALFUNCTION WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION ON THE ROAD, SERIOUS INJURY WOULD OCCUR. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT CONTINUES TO EITHER BLINK OR REMAIN CONSTANTLY LIT. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT YET BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THE DEALER AS I'M GUESSING IT WILL BE VERY COSTLY TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367211November 22, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MOST MODELS OF THE 2005 RX-8 ARE EQUIPPED WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. IN ORDER TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS, THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE A "CUTOFF" THAT PREVENT BLINDING ONCOMING DRIVERS, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS REQUIRED BY LAW. THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE AN AUTOLEVELING FUNCTION WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO LEVEL THE HEADLIGHTS AT THE PROPER HEIGHT DEPENDENT ON THE POSITION OF THE CAR'S SUSPENSION. THE HEADLIGHT LEVELERS ARE CONTROLLED BY TWO SENSORS, ONE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT AND ONE ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL HUB, CONNECTED TO THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THESE SENSORS WHICH CAUSES THE HEADLIGHT LEVELERS TO MALFUNCTION, AIMING THE HEADLIGHTS EITHER TOO LOW (WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IN THE RX-8) OR TOO HIGH (WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BY BLINDING ONCOMING TRAFFIC). THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LOCATED BENEATH THE CAR AT EACH SENSOR THAT MOISTURE CAN GET INSIDE, CAUSING CORROSION. THIS CAUSES THE SENSORS TO FAIL AND THE HEADLIGHTS WILL AUTO-AIM THEMSELVES IN ANY ORIENTATION, AND THIS CANNOT BE OVERRIDDEN...I KNOW, I HAVE TRIED REPEATEDLY TO MANUALLY RE-AIM THEM MYSELF. MANUALLY RESETTING THE HEADLIGHTS WILL ONLY CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO MIS-AIM THEMSELVES AGAIN WHEN THE CAR IS RESTARTED AND THE SENSORS RETURN FAULTY SIGNALS. CURRENTLY, MY HEADLIGHTS ARE AIMED FAR TOO HIGH FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND I ROUTINELY GET "FLASHED" BY OTHER DRIVERS. DRIVING MY CAR AT NIGHT IS UNSAFE FOR MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS DUE TO THIS DEFECT. AS PREVIOUSLY NOTED, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THERE HAVE BEEN APPARENTLY ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT THAT MAZDA HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THIS DEFECT, AND THE LEVELERS HAVE BEEN RE-ENGINEERED TO USE MORE HEAVY-DUTY CONNECTORS. I WOULD URGE THE NHTSA TO EVALUATE THIS ISSUE AND COMPEL MAZDA TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT ASAP. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION! LINK TO TECHNICAL BULLETIN: HTTP://WWW.FINISHLINEPERFORMANCE.COM/PDF/RX8/BULLETIN/09-008-07-1729A.PDF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366792November 19, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OIL COOLER METAL HOSES HAVE CORRODED DUE TO ROAD SALT AND DRIVING IN SNOWY AREAS (MASSACHUSETTS). THERE IS A RECALL IN CANADA (SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM 76) FOR THE MAZDA RX8 DUE TO OIL COOLER LINES GETTING CORRODED. WEATHER IN THE NORTHERN STATES OF UNITED STATES IS SIMILAR - I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS ALSO NOT A PROBLEM FOR US AND THERE IS NO RECALL IN THE USA. THE REST OF THE CAR SEEMS CORROSION FREE AND THE CAR WAS WASHED EVERY WEEK IN THE WINTER AND ABOUT ONCE A MONTH IN THE SUMMER, SPECIFICALLY TO GET RID OF ROAD SALT. DEALER CHARGE WITH PARTS AND LABOR TO REPLACE THE OIL LINES IS $2100 !! CAR HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT AND IS A 2005 MODEL. MY GUESS IS THE OIL COOLER LINES WERE MADE OF A BAD MATERIAL IF THEY ARE CORRODING SO EASILY WHILE NOTHING ELSE CORRODES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365286November 10, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 STARTED MAKING A NOTICEABLE SQUEAKING NOISE CONSTANTLY FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS. AT ONE POINT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AROUND 50 MPH, IT MADE A LOUD CRACKING SOUND AND I NOTICED THE CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME IMMEDIATELY LOOSE WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE GEARS. IT CAUSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO STOP WORKING AND THUS IMPEDING MY ABILITY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND CONTROL ITS SPEED. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS FAILURE COULD OF CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED AND/OR ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364957November 8, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ENGINE WAS EXHIBITING A DECREASE IN POWER AND WAS SPORADICALLY SLOW TO START. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOW COMPRESSION AND WOULD NEED A MOTOR REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER DENIED THE REPAIR UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD CONSULT WITH THE DEALER AND CONTACT HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,130.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363885November 3, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2005 RX8 CONTINUALLY LEAKED OIL TO THE POINT OF THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT COMING ON. SINCE RX8'S CONSUME OIL IN THE COMBUSTION PROCESS, AT FIRST THIS SEEMED SOMEWHAT NORMAL. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF ADDING OIL ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT COME BACK ON, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC BROUGHT ME OUT TO THE CAR TO SHOW ME THAT THE OIL COOLING LINES HAD BEEN RUSTED OUT AND AS HE PUT IT "WERE SPRAYING OIL". ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT MAZDA USED PARTS THAT DON'T RESIST CORROSION, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE LINES WERE LITERALLY SPRAYING OIL AND HAD THE POTENTIAL TO SPRAY OIL ONTO THE WHEELS/BRAKES CREATING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. MAZDA IS NOW CHARGING AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T BE OCCURRING IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS EXACT PROBLEM HAS LED TO A RECALL IN CANADA, BUT MAZDA CLAIMS THERE AREN'T ENOUGH OCCURRENCES IN THE USA. THAT DOES NOT SIT WELL WITH OWNERS WHO COMMONLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED ON THE INTERNET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363422October 31, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MY 2005 MAZDA RX8 IS LEAKING OIL FAST. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME MY OIL COOLER HOSES ARE RUSTED OUT. IT WILL BE $1000.00 TO GET THIS FIXED. MAZDA ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS, BUT THEY SAY MY VIN# DOES NOT QUALIFY. I THINK THIS IS WRONG AND IF CARS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. I AM LEAVING A TRAIL OF OIL EVERYWHERE I GO AND COULD RUN OUT OF OIL EVEN WITH REFILLING AND CHECKING IT EVERYDAY. THIS CARE WAS BOUGHT IN CHICAGO AFTER BEING A DEMO DEALER CARE IN MINNESOTA SO IT HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO A LOT OF ROAD SALT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362972October 29, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
OIL COOLER LINES IN FRONT OF VEHICLE RUSTED OUT AFTER 60K MILES. OIL LEAKED ONTO TIRES/BRAKES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362828October 28, 2010
POWER TRAIN
I OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX8 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I HAD MY CLUTCH PEDAL BREAK WHILE DRIVING. I ORIGINALLY THOUGH OF IT AS AN ISOLATED CASE DUE TO A BAD COMPONENT. I HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED AT MY OWN COST BUT THIS PART HAS BROKEN AGAIN TODAY. WHILE SEARCHING FOR COMMON ISSUES I HAVE FOUND QUITE A FEW OTHER PEOPLE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS PART BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD BUT THIS CAME WITH NO WARNING. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSY STREET OR THE HIGHWAY IT MAY HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT ISSUE. THIS PART SEEMS TO BE OF VERY POOR QUALITY AS IT HAS BROKEN FROM THE SAME PLACE AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362505October 26, 2010
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH HE DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE BEFORE STOPPING THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM THE STOP POSITION HE REALIZED THAT HE HAD TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER FOR IT TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HER RESIDENCE WHERE HE NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAD DETACHED FROM ITS HINGE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE, AND IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 51,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361407October 20, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE STOPPED WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER SEVERAL REPEATED ATTEMPTS, HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE LACKED POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED (REPAIR DETAILS WERE NOT GIVEN). THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND PROGRESSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000. UPDATED 01/13/11*BF UPDATED 01/24/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361282October 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8'S CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET HAS BROKEN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP FOR SOME CLUTCH PROBLEMS I HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH THE CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING OR DISENGAGING PROPERLY AND THE FIRST THING THEY LOOKED AT WAS MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET. IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS IS WHAT WAS CAUSING ALL OF MY PROBLEMS. THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL BROKE ALONG THE WELDS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE TECH TOLD ME IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 04 RX-8'S AND IT IS USUALLY MISDIAGNOSED AS A CLUTCH FAILURE. THIS IS A REALLY BIG PROBLEM AS THE BRACKET BRAKING CAUSES THE CLUTCH TO NOT FULLY ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE WHICH LEADS TO PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE AND CAN ALSO BE AS EXTREME AS THE CLUTCH PEDAL COMPLETELY BREAKING OFF AND OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I HAD TO HAVE MY CLUTCH REPLACED AS WELL DUE TO THE EXTRA WEAR CAUSE BY NOT FULLY ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING. MY CAR HAS EVEN STALLED IN INTERSECTIONS AFTER A LIGHT TURNS GREEN BECAUSE THE CLUTCH WOULD FULLY ENGAGE TO SHIFT INTO 1ST PROPERLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360340October 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE PEDAL IN PLACE BROKE AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 102000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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