Mazda RX-8 Complaints

784 consumer complaints on file.

#10295485December 13, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY FAILS WHILE DRIVING WHEN THE 2004-2008 MAZDA RX-8 REACHES AROUND 45,000 MILES. WHEN THE PEDAL FAILS YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR OUT OF GEAR OR PUT IT BACK INTO GEAR. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. LUCKILY, WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME I WAS LEAVING A STOP SIGN ABOUT ONE BLOCK FROM MY HOME. MANY PEOPLE ON AN RX-8 FORUM (RX8CLUB.COM), HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OCCUR AND IT IS TYPICALLY NEAR 45,000 MILES. MAZDA DOES NOT COVER THIS PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295503December 13, 2009
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
DIVING AT 50 MPH AND MY CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE, MOVING SIDE TO SIDE AND UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. I WAS 3 MILES FROM A MAZDA DEALER AND GOT THERE. WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART IN STOCK (IN DEMAND, OF COURSE) AND I HAD TO PAY $25.00 FOR OVER NIGHT SHIPPING TO GET MY CAR FIXED THE NEXT DAY. I WAS GIVEN MY OLD PETAL AND BROKEN PART AND PAID $470 FOR THE FIX. AFTER REVIEWING THIS PROBLEM ON-LINE I SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2004-2008 RX-8'S FROM 20,000-70,000 MILES. HAD MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR AT THE TIME, THIS WOULD BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT LETTER. PLEASE RECALL THIS CAR AND CORRECT THIS ON GOING DANGEROUS , LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. MAZDA MECHANIC'S KNOW ALL TO WELL ABOUT THIS, WHY DOESN'T THE PUBLIC. WHY DON'T YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295473December 12, 2009
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
2004 MAZDA RX8 CLUTCH BRACKET BROKE. MY WIFE JUST GAVE BIRTH AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN USING THE RX8, MUCH CAUSE SHE CAN'T DRIVE, BUT I WANTED TO START IT UP AND TAKE IT OUT FOR A TRIP TO THE STORE BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR A WEEK. WHEN I WENT TO START IT, THE CLUTCH JUST FELT LIKE IT SNAPPED. THE BRACKET SNAPPED IN HALF ON THE LEFT SIDE. WOW THANK GOD THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE MY WIFE WAS PREGNANT OR WHAT ABOUT WITH MY SON IN THE CAR. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY MAZDA. I AM SURE THAT WE HAVE THE DRIVER EXPERIENCE AND GOOD ENOUGH DRIVING SKILLS TO HAVE SAFELY AVOIDED DISASTER, BUT I AM VERY HAPPY THAT IT HAPPENED ON JUST A NORMAL STARTUP RATHER THEN AT 70 MPH IN HEAVY ATLANTA TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294624December 6, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN THE MAZDA RX8 BEGAN CREAKING DURING USE. AFTER INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE ONLINE, I LEARNED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AMONG MAZDA RX8 OWNERS AND THAT CONTINUED USE OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD LEAD TO FAILURE WITH THE CREAKING BEING A SIGN THAT THE PEDAL IS PREMATURELY WEARING. SINCE MAZDA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT AND OFFER A RECALL, I REMOVED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND HAD THE MOUNTING BRACKET REWELDED. I'VE ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE METAL USED FOR THE BRACKET IS INCREDIBLY THIN AND THAT THE SPOT WELDS MADE AT THE FACTORY BY MAZDA ARE WHOLLY INSUFFICIENT TO KEEP THE BRACKET FROM MOVING UNDER STRESS, LEADING TO PERMANENT FAILURE WHEN IT BREAKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292645November 18, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING MY MAZDA RX8 AT 35MPH DOWN A CITY STREET AT NIGHT. I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO SHIFT GEARS. THERE WAS AN EXTREMELY LOUD POP, THEN THE CLUTCH DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE IT INTO GEAR TO GET IT HOME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL BENT/COLLAPSED, AND THE CLUTCH BURNED OUT. UP TO THIS POINT THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF CLUTCH WEAR, NO SLIPPAGE OF THE CLUTCH, EVERYTHING OPERATED NORMALLY. I HAVE HAD EVERY SERVICE COMPLETED ON THE CAR, AND HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOR A MAJOR REPAIR ONLY 3 MONTHS (OR LESS) AGO. THE CLUTCH PEDAL SHOULD NOT HAVE BENT, AND WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH. AGAIN, UP TO THIS POINT THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF CLUTCH WEAR, THE CAR WAS OPERATING FINE. I CAN PROVIDE ALL SERVICE RECORDS FOR THE VEHICLE. THIS EXACT PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED SEVERAL TIMES ON RX-8 CLUB THREADS, AND MATCHES IDENTICAL TO THIS VERY THREAD: HTTP://WWW.RX8CLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=132912 AND HTTP://WWW.RX8CLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=182412&HIGHLIGHT=CLUTCH+BRACKET THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT HAD I BEEN TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED OR HAD THE CLUTCH PEDAL FOLDED UNDERNEATH THE BREAK PEDAL. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO FOLD UNDER THE PRESSURE OF MY FOOT, MUCH LESS UNDER NORMAL CLUTCH OPERATING CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE I WAS JUST SHIFTING GEARS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A DEADLY ACCIDENT! THE DAMAGES TO THE CAR INCURRED AS OF TODAY ARE APPROXIMATELY $1900 BEFORE TAXES. NORMAL CLUTCH DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN INDICATED BY SLIPPAGE OF THE CLUTCH DISC AGAINST THE PRESSURE PLATE. THIS SORT OF DAMAGE COULD HAVE ALSO SEIZED THE ENGINE HAD THE PRESSURE PLATE DECONSTRUCTED IN THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE PROPERTY DAMAGE I CLAIM IN THIS WAS THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE ITSELF, NOT ANYONE ELSE'S PROPERTY. THE COSTS FOR REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR ARE OUTLANDISH AND UPSETTING. I WILL PROVIDE ANY DOCUMENTATION ON REQUEST, AS WELL AS PICTURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291984November 12, 2009
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH PEDAL IS HAS BEGUN TO MAKE CREAKING SOUNDS AND FEELS LOOSE WHEN FULLY DEPRESSED. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE PEDAL BREAKING AND SNAPPING AND I SUSPECT THIS IS LEADING UP THAT THE POINT THAT IT ULTIMATELY DOES BREAK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292016November 12, 2009
VISIBILITY
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR GOT CRACKED AT THE TOP OF THE SEAM AND NOW ALWAYS HANGS DOWN IN DRIVERS LINE OF SIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291601November 10, 2009
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, ATTEMPT TO CHANGE INTO 3RD GEAR AND MY CLUTCH PEDAL DROPPED RIGHT TO THE FLOOR, WHICH CAUSED MY CAR TO JERK INTO THE NEXT LANE AS I WASN'T EXPECTING MY FOOT TO HAVE FREEFALL. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, I FOUND THAT MY CLUTCH PEDAL MOUNT HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE ASSEMBLY CAUSING MY CLUTCH TO BE UNABLE TO DISENGAGE ENTIRELY. THE ASSEMBLY WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED OR WELDED TO RETURN TO REGULAR FUNCTIONALITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291436November 9, 2009
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAULTY DESIGN. WHILE DRIVING AND SHIFTING GEARS (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SNAPS, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. THE THIN METAL TEARS AWAY FROM AROUND ONE OF THE BOLTS THAT HOLDS THE ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL. THIS IS HAPPENING ON OTHER RX-8'S OF PEOPLE I ASSOCIATE WITH TO THE POINT THAT WELDING UP THE OLD BRACKET IS BECOMING COMMON. MAZDA HAS NOT COME UP WITH A STRONGER ASSEMBLY SINCE THEY INTRODUCED THE RX-8 IN 2004. THE ALTERNATIVES TO CORRECT THE ISSUE (OUT OF WARRANTY) IS TO: (A) PURCHASE A NEW ONE FROM MAZDA. (B ) HAVE YOUR OLD ASSEMBLY WELDED OR PURCHASE A REMANUFACTURED WELDED ONE. (C) PURCHASE A BRACKET THAT ADDS SUPPORT TO THE ASSEMBLY I DID BOTH B & C, WELDED AND ADDED SUPPORT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291341November 7, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2004 MAZDA RX8 CLUTCH LEVER BRACKET BROKEN. SHIFTED CAR FROM 3RD TO 4TH HEARD A LOUD SNAP AND THE PEDAL DID NOT FEEL RIGHT. I WAS VERY CLOSE TO HOME SO I MADE IT BUT WAS HARD TO SHIFT. FOUND THE LEVER BRACKET TO BE BROKEN AND CRACKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290956November 4, 2009
VISIBILITY
2004 MAZDA RX-8: WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SWING DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DOWN FOR USE, THE SUN VISOR SEPARATED AT THE TOP MOLDED PLASTIC SEAM EDGE AND NO LONGER STAYS IN UPRIGHT POSITION, BLOCKING DRIVER'S VISION. VISOR HAD TO BE FORCIBLE REMOVED FROM ROOF ATTACHMENT STEM SINCE IT HUNG IN COMPLETE DOWN POSITION, CREATING A DRIVING HAZARD IF IT WOULD BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN. IT COULD NOT BE SWUNG TO SIDE AS THIS BLOCKED THE SIDE VISION. VISOR WAS RARELY USED, SO FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO WEAR OR NEGLECT. THIS IS SECOND OCCURRENCE FOR EXACT SAME PROBLEM. LAST OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 2.5 YEARS AGO, AND WAS REPLACED BY MAZDA UNDER THE ORIGINAL CAR WARRANTY AT NO COST. THE VEHICLE IS NOW BEYOND THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY PERIOD AND BEYOND THE 12 MONTH PART REPLACEMENT WARRANTY. WHEN REQUESTING THIS REPAIR RECENTLY THROUGH THE AT LOCAL MAZDA DEALER TO BE COVERED AS A LATENT DEFECT AT NO COST, EXPLAINING THIS WAS SECOND OCCURRENCE, THE SERVICE WRITER TOOK INFORMATION AND STATED HE WOULD TRY TO HAVE MAZDA COVER REPAIR AGAIN. CONTACTED SERVICE WRITER ON 11-4-09, HE STATED MAZDA DENIED MY REQUEST TO HAVE THE REPAIR COVERED AT NO COST. I HAVE A CURRENT REQUEST INTO MAZDA USA AT 800-222-5500 AGAIN REQUESTING RELIEF FOR THE REPAIR. THIS FORMAL COMPLAINT IS BEING FILED SINCE THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291029November 4, 2009
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2004 RX8 BROKE AND CAUSED ME TO ALMOST GET IN ACCIDENT WHEN THE CAR WOULD NOT RELEASE OUT OF 4 GEAR. THE CLUTCH SHIFTED TOWARDS MY BREAK PEDAL AND IT ALMOST MADE ME WRECK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290860November 3, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY MAZDA RX8 HAS BEEN BURNING OIL SINCE IT WAS NEW. I DON"T HAVE IT ANYMORE. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE AGAINST MAZDA CORPORATION? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290615November 2, 2009
POWER TRAIN
I OWN A MAZDA RX-8 2004 MODEL AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE ON APPROX 10/31/09. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL I NEEDED TO CHANGE GEARS BUT I REALIZED THAT MY CLUTCH WAS GETTING STUCK BEHIND MY BRAKE PEDAL AND THAT I COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. I SLOWED DOWN AND AFTER TUGGING AND TUGGING I WAS ABLE TO SWITCH GEARS. I STOPPED THE CAR TO CALL MY FRIENDS THINKING IT WAS A BAD CLUTCH BUT NO ONE COULD GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND SPENT 200 DOLLARS GETTING IT TOWED AND ANOTHER 180 TO GET IT FIXED. THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET. ITS MADE OUT OF MATERIAL SO FLIMSY THAT IT HAD SNAPPED FROM THE WELDS. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND AFTER DOING MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I FOR ONE DON'T WANT TO EVER BE STUCK O THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSTATE AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290364October 30, 2009
VISIBILITY
PASSENGER SUN VISOR SPLIT ACROSS THE TOP. FELL OFF THE HOOK AND HUNG BY THE WIRES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290083October 28, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A NO-START CONDITION. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AS 59,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290163October 28, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND POOR CHOICE OF MATERIALS FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY. 2. THE CAR IN QUESTION IS A 2005 MAZDA RX8. THE CLUTCH PEDAL EVENTUALLY HAD MOVEMENT LEFT-TO-RIGHT AND THE WELDS ON THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY BROKE. I WAS LEFT UNABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. 3. THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BY A LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP UNDER BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THEY DID CLEARLY STATE THAT THE EXACT SAME PART WAS USED TO REPLACE IT. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REVISIONS TO THE WELDS AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL STARTED CREAKING AGAIN! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289927October 27, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1. CLUTCH PEDAL FELT ABOUT A 1/2" LOW (AS IF HYDRAULIC FLUID HAD AN AIR POCKET AND NEEDED BLEEDING) ABOUT TWO BLOCKS BEFORE FAILURE. 2. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT BEHIND 3 CARS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, SHIFTED INTO FIRST WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN; ACCELERATED VERY SLOWLY AND TRIED SHIFTING TO SECOND GEAR BUT THE PEDAL MADE A SNAPPING SOUND AND WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN FIRST UNTIL I LET THE CAR ROLL BACK A LITTLE AND GOT IT IN NEUTRAL. I WAS STUCK IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND THERE WAS GRIDLOCK, LOTS OF HONKING AND YELLING AND A FEW CARS CAME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING ACCIDENTS. I PUSHED MY CAR TO THE EDGE OF THE INTERSECTION AND WAITED FOR THE TOW TRUCK. THE TOW TRUCK HAD TO HAVE SMALLER PICKUP BROUGHT IN TO WINCH MY CAR OUT OF THE INTERSECTION BECAUSE HE SAID IT WAS UNSAFE TO SET UP THE TOW RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. 3. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND AFTER INSPECTION HE SAID IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN TO A NEW PEDAL FROM MAZDA. HE WAS SURPRISED IT LASTED FOR 60K MILES. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I ORDERED A REINFORCED CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY FROM HERE: HTTP://WWW.FLUIDMOTORSPORTS.COM/P-188-TRANSMISSION-AND-ACCESSORIES.ASPX TURNS OUT HERE ARE THREE AFTERMARKET COMPANIES MANUFACTURING REINFORCEMENTS, MAZSPORT, BHR AND RACE ROOTS; EACH HAS THEIR OWN DESIGN AND THEY ARE SELLING HUNDREDS OF THEM BECAUSE ALL THE PEDALS FAIL IN 40 - 80K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289356October 22, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE CLUTCH BRACKET ON MY VEHICLE BROKE AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT IN AN INTERSECTION. I CAN BARELY SHIFT NOW AND AFTER READING ABOUT IT I SEE THAT SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289277October 21, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE BRACKET FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, THE CLUTCH WOULD SQUEAK A LITTLE BIT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. I NOTICED THAT THE BRACKET WAS LOOSE ONCE, SO I TIGHTENED THE BOLT ON IT, BUT THAT DIDN'T CHANGE THE SQUEAKING. LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THE WHOLE BRACKET WAS ABOUT TO FAIL! I TOOK A CLOSE LOOK AT THE BROKEN BRACKET, AND IT APPEARS THAT A WELD BROKE. IT OCCURRED ONE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK. AS I DOWNSHIFTED FROM THIRD TO SECOND GEAR, I HEARD A 'CRACK' AND THEN MY CLUTCH WOULDN'T WORK PROPERLY. I LOOKED DOWN, AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS NEXT TO (AND TOUCHING) THE BRAKE PEDAL (IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT CLOSE). I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO SHIFT. NOW, I CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AS THE CLUTCH WILL NOT ENGAGE WITH THE BROKEN BRACKET. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IN CASES LIKE MINE WHEN IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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