Mazda RX-8 Complaints (2004)

490 consumer complaints on file.

#10154669April 6, 2006
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
I HAVE GONE INTO MY DEALERSHIP ON MORE THAN 6 TIMES DUE TO MY 2004 RX-8 AIR CONDITIONING NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE A CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR, AND IN THE SUMMER TIME TEMPERATURES CAN REACH 105 OUTSIDE, AND MUCH HOTTER INSIDE MY CAR. MY AIR CONDITIONER FAILS TO WORK. EACH AND EVERY TIME I'VE TAKEN IT IN, IT HAS BEEN ON A DAY WHEN IT'S NOT THAT HOT OUTSIDE, AND THE TECH. SAYS THE OUT PUT OF THE A/C IS UP TO PAR. IT'S NOT TRUE CONSIDERING I'M DRIVING, AND SWEAT IS POURING DOWN MY FACE, AND MY BACK STICKS TO MY LEATHER SEATS. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN STATED THAT BY PUTTING IN A NEW A/C IT WOULD DO NO GOOD...THAT MAZDA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ALL OF THE A/C AND A NEW ONE WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE IS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING CONSIDERING THIS IS A NEW CAR. THIS IS A BIG ENOUGH PROBLEM THAT I WILL NEVER PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN, AND I TELL ANYONE WHO ASKS NOT TO PURCHASE ONE AS WELL. WHAT GOOD IS A CAR IF IT WON'T COOL DOWN??*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151905February 21, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF 2004 RX-8 BATTERY AND SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TS ONE SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWICE AND HAD TO BE CHARGED THREE TIMES. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED TO ALLEVIATE STALLING. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, 02 SENSOR, AMPLIFIER AND STARTER WERE ALSO REPLACED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149641February 7, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STRUCTURE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS AND NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE ENGINE VIBRATES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DISCOVERED TWO MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. THE REPAIR PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149295February 2, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO RESOLVE AN ON-GOING ENGINE STARTUP /VEHICLE STALL PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 RX-8. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 15,000+ MILES AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR SHORT, DAILY RUNS TO WORK AND RECREATIONAL DRIVES. THE ROTARY ENGINE HAS A REQUIRED ENGINE WARM-UP PROCEDURE BEFORE SHUTTING IT OFF. A DEFLOODING PROCEDURE IS ALSO REQUIRED IF ENGINE FAILS TO START IN THE MANUFACTURERS MANUAL. MAZDA HAS ALREADY HAD A RECALL ON THE FUEL SYSTEM COMPUTER WITH UPDATE SOFTWARE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FROM MY GARAGE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THIS DONE BECAUSE OF A NONSTART SITUATION. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE CORRECTED BY THEM ALTHOUGH A STALLING WHILE A RED LIGHTS OR NO STARTUP AFTER REFUELING AT GAS STATIONS PROBLEMS RECURRED. THE CAR AGAIN HAD TO BE TOWED FROM MY GARAGE TO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED FOR THE NONSTART-UP ISSUE. A REPLACEMENT OF BATTERY, ALTENATOR AND SPARK PLUGS WERE DONE. THE PROBLEM SEEMINGLY CLEARED FOR HALF THE DAY UNTIL A TRIP FOR FUEL CAUSED ANOTHER NONSTART INCIDENCE(STUCK AT THE PUMP) IN A $34,000 CAR! IT FINALLY RESTARTED AFTER 10 MIN AND WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE DEALER THE NEXT AFTERNOON WHERE THE PROBLEM THEN RECURRED IN THEIR GARAGE. THE DEALER HAS NOW TOLD ME I MUST WAIT LONGER AFTER THE MANUFACTURER'S REQUIRED ENGINE WARM-UP TIME TO SHUT OFF THE CAR AND NOT TO RESTART ENGINE IN SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. IS THIS INSANE OR WHAT! THIS EXPLANATION DIDN'T FLY WITH ME, SO THE CAR HAS BEEN NOW RECHECKED AND OK'D TO DRIVE AGAIN BY THEIR TECHNICIANS WITH NO CHANGES MADE. THEY WISHED ME "GOOD LUCK!" *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147098January 6, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MAZDA RX 8 FAILED TO START. SECOND TIME SENT TO DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS HAD CAR FOR 5 DAYS WAITING FOR A BATTER FOR MY CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147563January 3, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT, STRUCTURE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
2004 MAZDA RX 8 HAS MANY DESIGN DEFECTS, BATTERY WAS REPLACED, SPARK PLUGS AND OIL FILTER WAS REPLACED 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. *TS THE STARTED WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING IN TRAFFIC AND WAS TAKING MULTIPLE TIMES TO TRY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES OF THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED, THE DEALERSHIP DECIDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS STILL NOT STARTING SMOOTHLY. THE DASH LIGHTS WERE BLINKING ON AND OFF AND THE HEAT WAS NOT WORKING. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, 02 SENSOR, AND A/C AMPLIFIER. THE HEATER CONTROL SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE SUN VISOR WAS REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146195December 27, 2005
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING THE 2004 MAZDA RX-8 I HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AT NIGHT IN A LEFT TURN SITUATION. THE RX-8 TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. MY SON EMPHATICALLY STATES THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. HE WAS OF COURSE CITED FOR FAILING TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY. IT WAS THE SECOND TIME HE HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE. HE IS AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER, WITH OVER 11 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE DESIGN AND POSITION OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR IN THE RX-8 MAY HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT. THE LOW HEADROOM IN THE RX-8 PLACES THE LARGE REARVIEW MIRROR AT THE LEVEL OF THE DRIVER'S EYES. MY EXPERIENCE IN THE MONTH THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE IS THAT THE MIRROR TENDS TO OBSCURE THE DRIVER'S VIEW TO THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, MORE THAN IS TYPICALLY THE CASE IN OTHER VEHICLES. THIS IS TRUER FOR TALLER DRIVERS. IN THE CASE DESCRIBED ABOVE, THE DRIVER WAS 6' 2" TALL. FOR SOMEONE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE VEHICLE, THE TENDENCY OF THE MIRROR TO SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY MAY NOT BE IMMEDIATELY APPARENT. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10145812December 21, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
HI, I WANT TO REPORT A CONTROL ARM FAILURE ON MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 THAT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT AND MINOR INJURY. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON DECEMBER 7 IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND AFTER COMPLETING A RIGHT HAND TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, I WAS ACCELERATING AWAY WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM SEPARATED AT THE BALL JOINT RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. THE CAR SPUN AROUND AND WENT OVER A 10" CURB WITH ALL FOUR WHEELS AND STRUCK A HIGHWAY SIGN. I SUFFERED A JAMMED RIGHT THUMB AND HYPER-EXTENDED RIGHT SHOULDER, WITH NO MEDICAL ATTENTION NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BOB MOORE MAZDA IN EDMOND OKLAHOMA WHERE IT REMAINS WITH PARTS ON BACK ORDER. INTERESTINGLY THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN TO THE DEALER ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 15 AND THE INSPECTION RECALL ON THE CONTROL ARMS WAS PERFORMED. I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE REPLACEMENT OF ALL SUSPECT CONTROL ARMS AND NOT JUST AN "INSPECTION. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10144404December 4, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY
PERFORATION - 2004 RX-8. THE CAR IS SHOWING BUBBLING RUST UNDERNEATH PAINT, ABOVE PASSENGER DOOR. THE DEALER SAYS THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNTIL RUST GOES THROUGH THE PAINT TO THE OUTSIDE. GREAT POLICY FOR ALMOST NEW CAR! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142443November 10, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, TIRES
I RECEIVED 2 SAFETY RECALL NOTICES ON MY RX8. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I LEASED THE VEHICLE AND I THOUGHT THEY CORRECTED AND/OR INSPECTED THE PROBLEM. OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 60 DAYS, THE SERVICE I HAVE RECEIVED HAS BEEN UNSATISFACTORY AND I HAVE BEEN LEAD TO BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER MAY NOT HAVE ADDRESSED THE SAFETY RECALL ISSUES. (CRACKED BALL JOINT AND HEAT INSULATION). I HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM AND I THINK THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, TO THE POINT THEY WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS WILL INEVITABLY CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO LOSE VALUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141963November 7, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED A 2004 MAZDA RX-8 IN MAY 2004. IN NOV 2005, THE FIRST COLD DAY, THE ENGINE FLOODED. THE SAME WEEKEND I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MAZDA WARNING ME OF THE PROBLEM AND TO BRING IT IN FOR A RECALL. I WAS ADVISED TO LET THE CAR WARM UP BEFORE DURING IT OFF. I MADE UP A WARNING SIGN FOR THE ATTENDANTS AT THE PARKING LOT, SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS FLOODED TWO TIMES AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIMES; AIRPORT PARKING LOT AFTER LONG LONG FLIGHTS. I AM PRETTY UPSET ABOUT MAZDA'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS THIS PROBLEM. A LETTER TO MAZDA RESULTED IN THEM SENDING ME INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO "DE-CHOKE" THE ENGINE WHICH CAN AND HAS KILLED THE BATTERY AND HAS NEVER WORKED. THIS IS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH MAZDA AND MY LAST. I AM THE OWNER OF THE CAR AND I AM EMBARRASSED ABOUT THE WHOLE THING. I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MAZDA CAN LEAVE THEIR CUSTOMERS LITERALLY, "OUT IN THE COLD". *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140100October 18, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH 2004. DURING THE TIME SPAN OF JULY 2004-OCTOBER 2005 THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPT. FOR FAILURE TO START AND ENGINE FAILURE DURING DRIVING THE CAR. OCTOBER 5, 2005 THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO PICK UP THE CAR THAT IT WAS FIXED. I WENT AND PICKED UP THE CAR AND STARTED HOME IN THE CAR THE CAR QUIT RUNNING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MILES PER HOUR AND MYSELF AND TWO CHILDREN WERE ALMOST HIT BY TWO BIG TRUCKS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139733October 14, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE 80F OR HIGHER. AIR CONDITIONER ON SEEMS TO CONTRIBUTE. POSSIBLY ALTITUDE IS A FACTOR. MUCH WORSE IN CITY DRIVING 2. CAR LOOSES POWER, ESPECIALLY AT TAKE OFF. I HAVE PULLED OUT ONTO THE FREEWAY AND TAKEN >1 MILE TO GET UP TO 50 MPH 3. MAZDA HAVE DOWNLOADED SOFTWARE PATCHES TWICE - NO IMPROVEMENT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137534September 25, 2005
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX8. I HAVE 24,700+ MILES & NO PROBLEMS UNTIL NOW. 8 MONTHS AGO, I CAME TO MARIN, CA. TO WORK ON CONTRACT. AS THIS CONTRACT IS LONG TERM , I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION. 2 MONTHS LATER, I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE ODOR OF CLUTCH BURN, RARELY & WITH NO REASON. I WAS DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE, SO I MADE AN APPT. WITH MARIN MAZDA. THIS WAS WHEN I MET JOHN LAUSTER, MARIN MAZDA'S SVC. MGR. DURING MY 1ST VISIT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM, AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS OPERATING. 3 MONTHS LATER, I EXPERIENCED IT AGAIN AND BROUGHT IT IN. AGAIN, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. ON SEPT. 20 '05, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO SLIP A LITTLE, & WITHIN 20 MINUTES THE SLIPPAGE WAS TO THE POINT WHERE I COULDN'T DRIVE IT WITHOUT POSSIBLY DAMAGING THE TRANS. I CALLED MARIN SERVICE TO BRING IT IN, & TOWED TO THE DEALER. JOHN CALLED ME FRIDAY STATING THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE CLUTCH, BEARINGS, FLYWHEEL, & THAT MY TRANSMISSION WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, SO COST WOULD BE PASSED TO ME. $1300.00. HE PUT IN FOR APPEAL TO THE FACTORY REP FOR COVERAGE DUE TO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES & TOLD ME HE WOULD CALL ME BACK WITH THE DECISION. I CONTACTED MAZDA USA- I WENT THROUGH THE MOTIONS, THINKING THAT THEY WOULD COVER IT AS THE PROBLEM WAS OBVIOUS & RELATED TO A RECENT RECALL INVOLVING THERMAL DAMAGE. I GOT THE CALL FROM JOHN. HE STATED THE FACTORY REP CLAIMED IT AS "NORMAL WEAR" & MAZDA WOULD NOT COVER IT. I TOLD JOHN THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT UP 6 MONTHS AGO. HE STATED MAZDA HAD MADE ITS DECISION. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE- & WAS SHOCKED BY THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR EVENTS I FOUND WITH MAZDA PRODUCTS. ALL EXPERIENCED WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH INITIALLY- THE DEALER & MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS AN ITEM THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR, & PUSHED THE COST ON THE CONSUMER. I CALLED JOHN BACK. BUT HE WAS FIRM; MAZDA FACTORY REP'S DECISION WAS FINAL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138800September 23, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER CONCERNS REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT GIVEN BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR VEHICLE INSPECTION REGARDING THE FUEL TANK AND FRONT LOWER ARM BALL JOINTS RECALLS.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 3305G ON THE FUEL TANK. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT THEY WHERE NOT ABLE TO GIVE HER AN APPOINTMENT UNTIL TWO WEEKS LATER. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT SINCE THE RECALLED COMPONENT COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE THAT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE REPAIRED IT IMMEDIATELY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135414September 6, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AND HITTING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP , AND IF PRESSING THE RESUME BUTTON ,THE CAR WILL ACTUALLY SET ITSELF 5 MPH MORE THAN WHAT ORIGINALLY HAD THE SPEED SET FOR. ONCE THE CAR GOES TO 5 MPH OVER THE SPEED THE CAR WAS SET FOR THE CAR WILL ACT AS IF IT WAS TRYING TO MAKE ITSELF GO BACK DOWN TO THE SPEED THAT WAS ORIGINALLY SET ,AND THE VEHICLE WILL JERK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THURSDAY TO SEE IF THEY COULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THIS PROBLEM STOP IS TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND RESET IT AND THEN IT WILL STOP. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WILL HAPPEN AT ABOUT 60% OF THE TIME THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET. ALSO, THE ENGINE FAN WILL STAY ON ALL THE TIME. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEREFORE , IT CANNOT BE FIXED AT THIS TIME. THE ELECTRIC FAN WILL ACTUALLY STAY ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THEN BY TURNING THE IGNITION BACK ON AND OFF IT THE VEHICLE WILL STOP RUNNING. THIS MOSTLY OCCURS IF THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133927August 23, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AROUND THE MIDDLE OF JUNE I STARTED NOTICING STRANGE BEHAVIOR IN THE PERFORMANCE OF MY ENGINE IN MY MAZDA RX-8. WHILE MAINTAINING A HIGHWAY SPEED OF ROUGHLY 65MPH I WOULD HEAR A RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE, LIKE MARBLES BOUNCING AROUND INSIDE. THIS WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER IN ANY GEAR. AT NO TIME DID THE TEMP GAUGE NOTIFY ME OF OVERHEATING. THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY WHEN I EASED OFF THE GAS TO A DANGEROUSLY SLOW HIGHWAY SPEED. ONCE GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE, BUT WITH NOTICEABLY REDUCED PERFORMANCE. AFTER THE THIRD OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM IN MID JULY, I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR A DIAGNOSIS. WHILE EXPLAINING THE PROBLEMS TO ONE OF THE SERVICEMEN, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL TANK OF WHICH I WAS UNAWARE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE ENGINE PROBLEM I DESCRIBED WAS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT THEY JUST STARTED HEARING ABOUT ON MANY OF THE RX-8''S, AND THERE WAS NO KNOWN FIX. HE MENTIONED THAT MY CAR COULD BE THERE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, NOT THE ONE DAY I WAS EXPECTING, AND THAT THERE WERE A LARGE NUMBER OF CARS WITH THE SAME ''MYSTERY'' ENGINE PROBLEM, AND THAT ONE CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN THERE FOR 35 DAYS. THIS CONCERNED ME, BUT I WAS ASSURED THAT MAZDA ENGINEERS WERE WORKING ON A FIX SO IT WOULDN''T BE A LONG WAIT ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM SANDRA, MY SERVICE REP, INFORMING ME THAT MY CAR WAS READY. SHE TOLD ME THAT THE KNOCKING I WAS HEARING IN THE ENGINE IS DUE TO USING THE WRONG GAS. I TOLD HER THAT I HAVE ALWAYS USED 93 OCTANE AND NOTHING LOWER, AND THAT THE NOISE WAS NOT THE REGULAR KNOCKING YOU GET FROM BAD GAS. SHE TOLD ME SHE WOULD HAVE TO CALL MAZDA CORP BACK TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MY PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY SHE CALLED ME BACK AND TOLD ME THAT MAZDA WAS GOING TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. FROM WHAT SHE TOLD ME, NO ONE REALLY KNEW WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM, BUT THAT REPLACING THE ENGINE SHOULD FIX IT. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WOULDN''T BE READY FOR ''A COUPLE OF WEEKS''.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129013July 17, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING, THE CENTER CONSOLE GETS EXTREMELY HOT. THE AREA BEHIND THE SHIFTER AND ALSO INSIDE THE CUPHOLDERS ARE EFFECTED. I LEFT MY WATCH IN THE CUPHOLDER AND WHEN I GRABBED IT WHEN I WAS GETING OUT OF THE CAR, IT WAS SCALDING HOT. MAYBE THAT WOULD BE GOOD IN THE WINTER TO KEEP MY COFFEE WARM, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY ABNORMAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128483July 12, 2005
EQUIPMENT, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I JUST BOUGHT A 2004 MAZDA RX8 AND A PIECE OF ROAD DEBRIS HIT MY AC CONDENSER CAUSING ALL THE FREON TO LEAK OUT. THIS HAPPENED DUE TO THE GAPING HOLE IN THE FRONT AIR DAM OF MY VEHICLE. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN TEXAS WHERE TEMPS CAN CLIMB WELL OVER 100 DEGREES. (HIGHER INSIDE THE CAR) I WORRY MY 3YR OLD SON IS AT RISK OF HEAT STROKE OR WORSE FROM THE TEMPS. MAZDA WILL NOT COVER THIS IN THEIR WARRANTY YET THEY DO NOTHING TO PROTECT THE HIGHLY VULNERABLE CONDENSER, OIL COOLER, AND RADIATOR FROM BEING PELTED FROM ROAD DEBRIS. AS A MATTER OF FACT THE AIR DAM IS SO POORLY DESIGNED THAT IT ACTUALLY FUNNELS ROCKS INTO THE AC CONDENSER ITSELF. I AM NOW WORRIED THAT A PIECE OF ''ROAD DEBRIS'' MAY HIT MY OIL COOLER AND SPILL OIL ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT CONSIDERED SAFE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. MANY PEOPLE ONLINE I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THE SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED, ''WE SEE CARS IN HERE FOR THIS ALL THE TIME''. THE TOTAL REPAIR COST IS OVER 800$. EVEN HAVING TO PAY MY DEDUCTIBLE IS ASKING A LOT FOR THIS TYPE OF ''MALFUNCTION''. MAZDA ADVERTISES THIS CAR AS A 4-DOOR COUPE AND SELLS THE CAR ON ITS ''PRACTICALITY''. HOW PRACTICAL IS IT TO HAVE ''ROAD DEBRIS'' DESTROY YOUR AC A WEEK AFTER PURCHASE? I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM INGRAM PARK AUTO CENTER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, TX. FROM A GENTLEMAN NAMED JUAN LEON. THEY WERE OF NO HELP IN THE MATTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119574May 3, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I BOUGHT AN RX-8 LAST YEAR, AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE SINCE THE DAY I BROUGHT IT HOME. THE ENGINE LIGHT AND TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE HAVE BEEN RANDOMLY GOING ON AND OFF FOR A YEAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS, NONE OF WHICH COULD FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE EVEN REPLACED TIRES BECAUSE I COULDNT TELL THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE WAS SHOWING A PROBLEM, DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS GOING ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. MORE RECENTLY MY CAR DIED ON ME IN THE LEFT LANE OF I95 IN SOUTH FLORIDA, AS I USED THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR DECELERATED FOR NO REASON THEN DIED. IT WAS TOWED BACK TO A LOCAL DEALER WHEN IT WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER 5 DAYS SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAID THE CAR WAS FINE. SHORTLY AFTER PICKING UP MY CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE INDICATORS WERE NO LONGER RANDOMLY LIGHTING UP. (I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS WEIRD SINCE THE DEALER SAID THEY DIDNT DO ANYTHING TO THE CAR) JUST THIS PAST FRIDAY, THE CAR DIED AGAIN THIS TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR INTERSECTION IN SOUTH FLORIDA. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER LOCAL DEALER WHO CALLED ME TODAY TO TELL ME THAT THEY ONCE AGAIN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR COULD BE PICKED UP. THIS IS NOW A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MYSELF, MY PASSENGERS AND ANY OTHER CARS IN THE VICINITY WHEN MY CAR DIES. WHAT IS MAZDA GOING TO DO WHEN I HAVE A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR GET KILLED BECAUSE THEY CREATED A CRAPPY CAR?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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