Mazda RX-8 Complaints (2004)
490 consumer complaints on file.
- #10463875July 1, 2012ENGINE
DRIVING HOME FROM THE STORE, BACKED INTO MY DRIVEWAY. GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND SAW OIL THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE DRIVEWAY AND ALL UNDER THE UNDERCARRIAGE, RIGHT DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION, AND TIRE. THE OIL COOLER HOSE RUSTED THROUGH AND DUMPED OIL ON THE TIRE. THIS WAS THE REASON I WAS HAVE EXTRA LONG STOPS AND PULLING TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE DURING BRAKING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10463597June 29, 2012EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PART NUMBERS FE03-51-21YD (REAR) AND FE03-51-22YC (FRONT). I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING CORRECTLY MY DRIVING AREA AT NIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER TODAY AND I WAS TOLD THAT THESE PARTS ARE NOT COVERED. THERE HAS BEEN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) ON THIS CAR CONCERNING THIS ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE SENSORS BECAUSE THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. THEY WERE FAULTY TO BEGIN WITH. IN ADDITION THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462154June 18, 2012POWER TRAIN
CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY FAILURE. CAUSING THE PEDAL TO SHIFT INWARD TOWARDS THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10461471June 13, 2012STEERING, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE CROSSED THE CENTER LANE CRASHING INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT CAUSING THAT VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE AIR BAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT DEPLOY AS THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED A CRUSHED PELVIS, TAIL BONE SHATTERED, AND THEIR URETHRA WAS SEVERED IN HALF. THE CONTACT STATED THE SIDE AIR BAG DID VERY LITTLE TO PROTECT THE DRIVER. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF A POLICE REPORT BEING FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10461362June 12, 2012STEERING, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE PRECEDING THE CONTACT. THE PRECEDING VEHICLE THEN SPUN INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DETACHED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES AND SUFFERED A CRUSHED PELVIS, SHATTERED TAIL BONE AND A SEVERED URETHRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID VERY LITTLE TO PROTECT THE DRIVER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10459336May 23, 2012FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
04 RX8 REPLACED MAF COIL PACKS PLUG WIRES 2 02 SENSORS SELINOID SHUTTER VALVE ACTUATER MAIN FUEL LINE FROM FRONT TO BACK OF TANK THE CAR WILL NOT STAY RUNNING AT FIRST EARLIER ON IT DIED ON MANY TIMES AN CONTINUED TO GET WORSE ITS BEEN TO SHOPS NO LUCK NO HELP IT NEVER SEEMED TO HAVE GAS NOW PRESENT PULLED UP BACK SEAT AN FOUND GAS LEAKING IS HIS A RECALL THE SHOE THAT DID RUN A TEST STATED HE DIDNT THINK IT WAS ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION PROBABLY MECHANICAL WHERES IS THE FUEL FILTERS COULD THAT BE AN ISSUE I TRY T O CRANK CAR IT SOUNDS BAD LIKE SOMETHING IS GONNA FALL OUT OR DOWN ALSO WAS TOLD IF YOU CLAMP ON SENDING UNIT THAT IT MAY NOT WORK PROPER????? *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10457623May 7, 2012POWER TRAIN
MY CLUTCH PEDAL WAS ALREADY REPLACED AT 101,000 MILES BY ANOTHER DEALER PART BY MAZDA THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE UPDATED BY MAZDA BECAUSE OF SO MANY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKETS IN THE RX8'S ALWAYS BREAKING. MAZDA EVEN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY OVER 100,000 MILES BECAUSE IT WAS BECOMING SO COMMON. THE SO CALLED UPDATED ONE THEY REPLACED, BROKE AGAIN, AND IT WAS NEW WHEN IT WAS PUT IN. IT LASTED 50K MILES AND THAT'S ALL. IM GOING ON MY 3RD CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND MAZDA WILL ONLY COVER THE FIRST BREAKAGE. I CALLED MAZDA CORPORATE AND THEY SAID THAT THE REPLACEMENT CLUTCH ONLY CARRIES A PART WARRANTY OF 30,000 MILES. AND THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. CLUTCH PEDALS IN EVERY OTHER CAR ON THE MARKET LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR. AND IM GOING ON 3 IN THIS CAR ALONE. MAZDA WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE PUT AN UPDATED CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY IN MY CAR AND THEY DIDN'T. GIVEN, THE WORK WAS DONE AT FIRESTONE BECAUSE MY CAR WAS THE CLOSEST TO THAT PLACE BECAUSE IT WAS UNDRIVABLE. BUT EVEN IF IT WAS DONE AT MAZDA THEY STILL WOULD HAVE GIVEN ME THE SAME CRAPPY WARRANTY. MAZDA SAYS THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY COVERS THE FIRST CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. THE FIRST ONE LASTED LONGER THAN THE SECOND ONE! AND THE SECOND ONE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE BETTER. COME TO FIND OUT. THE MAZDA DEALER THAT SOLD FIRESTONE THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, SOLD THEM THE OLD MODEL ONE AND CHARGED ME NEW PRICING! MY COMPLAINT TO YOU IS THAT SINCE ALL OF THESE RX8 OWNERS ARE BREAKING THEIR CLUTCH STILL. MAZDA IS NOT HOLDING ONTO THEIR PROMISE TO FIX CLUTCH PEDAL ISSUES. IS THERE ANY WAY YOU GUYS CAN FORCE MAZDA TO COVER THE NEWER PEDALS THAT BREAK TOO? I MEAN THIS WHOLE THING IS RIDICULOUS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10457716May 7, 2012POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO SHIFT UP A GEAR THE CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED. I CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION INTO FIRST AND UP, BUT I CANNOT GET IT INTO REVERSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10456782April 28, 2012STEERING
ON APRIL 3,2012 AT 10PM IN BUFFALO NY. I WAS DRIVING MY 04 RX8 AROUND A BEND AT 35MPH. I EXPERIENCED A JERK/TWITCH IN THE POWER STEERING. THE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON INSTANTLY I LOST THE STEERING SENDING ME INTO THE FRONT OF A STEEL DIVIDER OF A TRAIN BRIDGE. I WAS TAKEN TO ECMC BY AMBULANCE. I LUCKILY ONLY SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES TO MY BACK NECK RIBS HEAD AND SHOULDER. I AM NOT ONE TO SUE NOR AM I'M GOING TO PURSUE ANY LEGAL ACTION AGAINST MAZDA. I WILL SAY MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY MY CAR WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED $10,000 IN DAMAGE. I JUST THOUGHT ANYONE LOOKING TO BUY AN RX8 SHOULD READ ON NUMEROUS SITES THAT THIS MALFUNCTION IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM THAT MAZDA IS AWARE ABOUT BUT STILL DOES NOT WISH TO POST A TSB OR A RECALL. LOVE THE CAR BUT HAVE LOST FAITH IN MAZDA. SINCERELY UNHAPPY OWNER. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10456094April 23, 2012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5-10 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE COOLANT WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE DIAGNOSIS FROM BOTH WAS THAT THE ENGINE WAS FLOODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10455039April 12, 2012POWER TRAIN
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. MY CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED THE FIRST TIME AND IT WAS COVERED BY A RECALL DUE TO THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET FAILING. I HAD IT REPLACED ON 11-11-08. THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED ON 4-10-12. LUCKILY, I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH TO GO WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, HEARD A POP, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET SNAPPED AGAIN. I CONTACTED THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD IT REPLACED THE 1ST TIME. THEY STATED IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED AND THE RECALL HAD JUST RECENTLY EXPIRED. NOW, I KNOW THE CAR IS OUT OF MANUFACTURER WARRANTY, BUT THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS WELDED METAL BREAKING. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THIS HAPPENED WHEN YOU WENT TO CHANGE GEARS AND YOUR CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SNAPS? ALL OF THE SUDDEN NO ACCELERATION DANGEROUS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10454163April 4, 2012STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE EXITING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,100.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10453104March 26, 2012POWER TRAIN
CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING. PREVENTED CAR FROM GOING INTO GEAR AND WAS LEFT STRANDED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10448518February 20, 2012STEERING
CAR WOULD LOOSE ITS POWER STEERING, NEVER ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10448345February 17, 2012STEERING
LOSS OF POWER STEERING. RESTART ENGINE OK. HAPPENED TWICE AGAIN SINCE THEN, SAME SOLUTION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10447836February 13, 2012STEERING
POWER STEERING WENT OUT. COMES & GOES?? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10447346February 10, 2012AIR BAGS
CURRENTLY THERE IS A CRACK THAT IS FORMING AROUND MY DASH BOARD WHERE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS LOCATED. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER FORUM POSTS ABOUT THIS EVENTUALLY FORMING AN OUTLINE AROUND WHERE THE AIRBAG IS. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL AFFECT THE AIRBAG FROM EITHER OPENING OR OPENING WHEN IT SHOULDN'T. ANOTHER CONCERN OF MINE IS A PROBLEM THAT ALL RX8 OWNERS HAVE AND THAT IS THE FISHBOWL TAILLIGHTS. OUR TAILLIGHTS GET SO MUCH WATER IN THEM THAT THEY TURN INTO FISHBOWLS. I HAVE REPLACED THE GASKETS ON MINE 3 TIMES ALREADY. THIS TO ME IS AN ELECTRICAL HAZARD NOT TO MENTION A DRIVING SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10446179February 1, 2012STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED. THE MAZDA DEALER SAID THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE, HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT GUARANTEE CHANGING THE PART ( $1600 DOLLARS PARTS AND LABOR ) WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN THESE CARS. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 2010. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10446038January 31, 2012STEERING
FIRST INDICATIONS, THE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT UPON STARTING. USED ANOTHER CAR THAT DAY. NEXT DAY, NO WARNING LIGHT, HOWEVER, ON THE WAY HOME, THE STEERING ABRUPTLY MADE A *FULL* TURN TO THE RIGHT VERY QUICKLY (GOING ABOUT 30MPH ON A DIRT ROAD). I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE IT RAN OFF THE ROAD - NO FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH. SINCE THEN THE FAILURE LIGHT HAS APPEARED IN INCREASING FREQUENCY TO THE POINT IT IS MOSTLY ON. WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON, THE STEERING IS ESSENTIALLY MANUAL, BUT WORKABLE. THE WORST CASE IS WHEN IT IS OFF, AND SUDDENLY GOES INTO A FAILURE MODE WITHOUT *ANY* INDICATION (I.E. THE WARNING LIGHT STAYS OFF). IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, EVEN WHEN AT A FULL STOP AND THE WHEEL TURNS BY ITSELF TO THE RIGHT. PRETTY DISCONCERTING. THE FULL SYMPTOM DESCRIPTION IS THAT IT BECOMES EXTREMELY EASY TO TURN CLOCKWISE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. I'D RATHER IT WAS IN FAILURE MODE AND HARD TO STEER THAN INDICATING EVERYTHING IS FINE AND THEN SUDDENLY DECIDE IT WANTS TO GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION - ALWAYS TO THE RIGHT IN MY CASE. REVIEWING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE MAKES IT SEEM LIKE A FLAW IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OR PROBABLY THE SELECTED PART(S) MAZDA USED, BUT WORSE EVEN, THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT FAILURE MODES, ONE MAKING IT HARD TO STEER, BUT AT LEAST CONSISTENT, AND THE OTHER MODE LEAVING THE DRIVER GUESSING AS TO WHAT DIRECTION THE CAR WILL TRAVEL AND WHEN IT MAY DECIDE TO DO THAT. I'M HAVING IT REPAIRED AND WILL RETAIN THE FAILED COMPONENTS. WHEN IT DOES INDICATE FAILURE IT REMAINS THAT WAY UNTIL THE ENGINE IS SHUT DOWN. WHEN IT INDICATES EVERYTHING IS FINE, IT MAY FAIL ANYTIME, BUT NEVER INDICATES FAILURE. I'M SUBMITTING THIS IN HOPES THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT YET EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST CASE FOR ME WAS ON A DIRT ROAD - IF IT WAS ON A HIGHWAY ... OUCH. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10444843January 23, 2012POWER TRAIN
MY HUSBAND DROVE ME TO THE GROCERY STORE AND WE HEARD A LOUD POP. THE CAR BARELY WENT INTO FIRST GEAR AND STARTED GRINDING WHEN IT WENT INTO SECOND. WE BARELY MADE IT HOME!! IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF US TURNING INTO OUR ROAD AND WE ALMOST GOT HIT. WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT AFTER WE( LUCKILY) MADE IT HOME. THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL MOVED AND ANGLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN DEPRESSED AND WENT BACK TO REGULAR POSITION WHEN WE LET GO OF IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0