Mazda RX-8 Complaints
784 consumer complaints on file.
- #10549327October 24, 2013ENGINE
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, 2013STEERING
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
- #10542902September 10, 2013POWER TRAIN
AS I WAS PRESSING MY CLUTCH PEDAL TO PLACE MY CAR INTO FIRST GEAR, I HEARD AND FELT A SNAP IN THE CLUTCH. I THEN NOTICED THAT MY CLUTCH WOULD NOT FULLY DISENGAGE AND I HAD TROUBLE PLACING MY CAR INTO GEARS AND OUT OF THEM. ONCE I ARRIVED HOME I EXAMINED MY CLUTCH AND NOTICED THAT THE BRACKET HAD SNAPPED. I CONTACTED THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NO LONGER COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE PART OUT OF POCKET FOR A FLAW THAT MAZDA CREATED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10538614September 3, 2013POWER 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
- #10525774July 19, 2013SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAXDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELT WAS INSERTED INTO THE REAR SEAT RECEIVER BY A TEN YEAR OLD CHILD. THE CHILD BECAME TRAPPED IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE HARNESS WAS REMOVED FROM THE DOOR SO THAT HE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER HIS BODY OUT OF THE SEAT BELT AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10525420July 17, 2013STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10523805July 8, 2013POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AROUND 07/04/2013, MY CLUTCH START TO GIVE ME A FEW PROBLEMS. THE MAJOR ONE WAS THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD NOT RESPOND HOW IT NORMALLY SHOULD. I WOULD STICK AND EVENTUALLY MADE IT VERY HARD TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR AND REVERSE. SINCE IT WAS A HOLIDAY WEEKEND, I HAD TO WAIT TILL 07/08/2013 UNTIL MY NORMAL MECHANIC WAS OPEN. WHILE INSPECTING IT, HE FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD SHIFT AND WIGGLE SIDE TO SIDE, WHICH IS VERY ABNORMAL. WHEN I WENT TO INSPECT IT MYSELF, I HEARD A "SNAP!" AND THE PEDAL SHIFTED ALL THE WAY TO THE BRAKE PEDAL.UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PEDALS BRAKED, CONNECTING IT TO THE CAR'S FIRE WALL HAD SNAPPED APART. I HAD HEARD THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN FACT BY MAZDA, AND THEY HAD SENT OUT A RECALL ON THE PART. I WENT TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL, BUT A WARRANTY EXTENSION, AND MY CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENSION AND I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A NEW PART, AND PAY THE LABOR. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE NOW, AND I NOW HAVE TO PAY FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT MAZDA REFUSES TO FIX. EVEN IN THE MOST EXTREME SITUATIONS, THIS PART SHOULD NEVER BREAK. IT IS STILL A VERY DANGEROUS AND POSSIBLY FATAL DEFECT, THAT IS STILL KNOWN BY THE MAKER, AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT IS STILL HAPPENING TO THIS TYPE OF CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10523216July 5, 2013STEERING
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
- #10522492June 30, 2013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND I WAS ABOUT TO SHIFT INTO THIRD BUT I HEARD A POP AND IT WOULD NOT GET INTO GEAR. MY PEDAL STAYED DEPRESSED AND WOULD ONLY COME UP IF I KICKED IT FROM BEHIND. I DID HEAR A FEW CREAKS WHEN I RELEASED THE CLUTCH THE DAY BEFORE AND JUST THOUGHT IT NEEDED OIL. TURNS OUT THE LEFT SPOT WELD BROKE AND THE BRACKET CRACKED ON THE LEFT SIDE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10515296June 5, 2013ENGINE
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
- #10515010June 4, 2013SUSPENSION
ON MAY 7, 2013, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO PARETTI MAZDA OF METAIRIE BECAUSE A FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE NEAR THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE. THE SERVICE TECH TOLD ME THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT AND DIRECTED ME TO ENTERPRISE RENTAL FOR A RENTAL CAR. ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER I OBTAINED THE RENTAL CAR, THE SERVICE TECH CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SHOCK HAD COMPLETELY FAILED AND WAS LEAKING FLUID FROM THE UPPER SEAL AND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SHOCK HAD ALSO FAILED, BUT WAS NOT LEAKING THAT MUCH FLUID. HE TOLD ME THE CAR WAS DRIVEABLE AND ASKED THAT I RETURN THE RENTAL CAR AND PICK UP MY MY VEHICLE, WHICH I DID. THE SERVICE TECH TOLD ME HE WAS ORDERING THE REAR SHOCKS. ON MAY 9, 2013, I RECEIVED AN AUTOMATED CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP STATING THAT MY PARTS HAD ARRIVED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I CALLED THE SERVICE TECH, WHO ASKED IF I COULD DROP THE CAR OFF ON MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013, FOR THE REPAIRS. I EXPRESSED CONCERN TO THE SERVICE TECH THAT WHEN I DROVE OVER THE SLIGHEST IMPERFECTION IN A ROAD, THE REAR END WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE, WHICH WAS REAR END SUSPENSION BOTTOMING OUT. THE SERVICE TECH ASSURED ME THAT THE CAR WAS FINE, AND THAT I COULD DRIVE IT OVER THE WEEKEND. LATER THAT EVENING, AROUND 8 P.M., I DROVE INTO THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOUSE AND THE DRIVER'S LOWER SIDE CONTROL ARM FAILED AND SHEERED OFF WHERE THE STRUT CONNECTS TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THE STREET AND FULLY INTO THE DRIVEWAY. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10513429May 24, 2013ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL COOLANT LINE EXPLODED AND SPILLED OIL ONTO THE BRAKES. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKING DISTANCE AND TIME WAS INCREASED GREATLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A METAL PIECE THAT BECAME FRACTURED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY OR RECALL FOR THE PART. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,239. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10513336May 23, 2013STEERING
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, 2013POWER 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
- #10513183May 17, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CONVERTER FIRE VOIDED WARRANTY AFTERMARKET PARTS INSTALLED CAUSE OR NOT THE CAUSE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10511965May 14, 2013STEERING, SUSPENSION
DRIVER CAME UPON A DEER AND SLAMMED THE BRAKES, MISSING THE DEER. WHILE SLAMMING THE BRAKES THE FRONT END COLLAPSED UPON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAUSING SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE AND MAKING THE CAR INOPERABLE. THE FRONT END REQUIRED NEW LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM, STABILIZER BAR CONTROL LINK, NEW SHOCK/STRUT ASSEMBLY, NEW TIE RODS (INNER AND OUTER), NEW SWAY BAR LINK AND 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE ORIGINAL CAUSE OF THIS DAMAGE WAS A CRACK IN THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS THE SUBJECT OF RECALL # 36261. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL. UPON TALKING WITH MAZDA ([XXX]... FILE #[XXX]) ON MAY 14, 2013 I WAS INFORMED THAT WHILE THIS RECALL DID AFFECT OTHER RX8'S OF THE SAME YEAR, MY RX8 WAS NOT COVERED. I BELIEVE MY RX8 SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF RECALL #36261. 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
- #10510756May 6, 2013POWER TRAIN
THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT ALLOW A SHIFT INTO GEAR, CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY BROKE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10509740April 26, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I PURCHASED MY 2004 AUTOMATIC RX8 IN SEPTEMBER OF 2011. IT BEGAN GIVING ME TROUBLE WITH THE TYPE OF GAS IT TOOK. I FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT BP PREMIUM SEEMED TO KEEP IT FROM "COUGHING". I THOUGHT THAT I HAD FIXED THE ISSUES AND IT DROVE FINE FOR A GOOD WHILE. I CHANGED THE OIL RELIGIOUSLY AT ABOUT 3000 MILES OR LESS. IT WOULD DISPLAY THE OIL LIGHT AFTER ONLY ABOUT 1500-2000MILES. I HAD A DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID THE OIL LEVEL WAS FINE AND THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT HAD THE LIGHT ON. THE OIL LIGHT NOW COMES ON AT JUST 300MILES INTO THE LAST OIL CHANGE. IN FEB OF THIS YEAR IS WHEN THE CAR STARTED DETERIORATING AT A RAPID PACE, AND I WAS COMPLETELY DUMBFOUNDED TILL I BEGAN DOING SOME RESEARCH AND SAW THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUES I HAVE HAD. FOR ONE- THE AC NEVER WORKS CORRECTLY. I HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE KNOB FOR A BIT TO MAKE IT COOL, AND STILL EVEN THEN IT DOES NOT WORK. I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO AND FROM THE STORE NOW BECAUSE I AM WORRIED IT WILL NOT START BACK UP. I ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE ENGINE IS WARMED UP AND SOMETIMES JUST LEAVE IT RUNNING INSTEAD OF TAKING THE CHANCE OF TURNING IT OFF. THE ENGINE LIGHT ALSO COMES ON AND RANDOM TIMES, AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE GAS CAP WAS NOT ON TIGHT ENOUGH. THAT IS A LIE, I ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO TIGHTEN IT, AND WHY WOULD THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AFTER THE OIL LIGHT EVERYTIME IF IT WAS HUMAN ERROR. THE CAR WHINES WHEN AT A STOPLIGHT OR SITTING FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. IT SOUNDS AS IF IT IS COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE IF YOU ARE SITTING IN IT. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THAT NOISE IS EITHER. THIS FAULTY CAR SHOULD COME WITH A WARNING ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT, I AM SCARED TO PUT MY FAMILY IN IT, AND I AM DISGUSTED WITH THE WAY MAZDA DECIDED TO TREAT ME WHEN I CALLED THEM TO INQUIRE ABOUT CERTAIN RECALLS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508397April 16, 2013ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET IN MY 2005 MAZDA RX-8 HAS BROKEN AND AS A RESULT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE GEARS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10505472April 3, 2013POWER TRAIN
THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ON MY '05 RX8 BROKE. IT HAD BEEN SQUEAKING FOR SOME TIME BUT I DID NOT RECOGNIZE IT WAS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE LEFT SIDE SPOT WELD FAILED AND THE MOUNTING EAR SHEARED OFF OF THE BRACKET. MAZDA NA REFUSED TO APPLY THE 100K MILE WARRANTY TO MY 106.8K MILE CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0