2004 Mazda RX-8 Other / unspecified Problems

I TYPICALLY DRIVE MY RX8 LIKE IT SHOULD, ONE DAY I COME HOME PARK MY CAR PER USUAL. NEXT MORNING I GO TO TURN ON MY CAR, THE DSC LIGHT STAYED ON, THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT, THEN ON MY WAY TO WORK, I WAS DRIVING CAUSALLY, THEN WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, MY STEERING BECAME VERY HEAVY AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN, MY POWER STEERING HAD WENT OUT. AFTER DEALING WITH ABOUT 2 FULL DAYS AT THE DEALERSHIP, SPENDING THOUSANDS, STILL NO POWER STEERING, AND I'M NOT CREDITED ANY PORTION OF WHAT I PAID TO GET FIXED AND ITS STILL NOT FIXED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND A RECALL MUST BE DONE IMMEDIATELY BEFORE PEOPLE SERIOUSLY GET INJURED, INJURE OTHERS, OR EVEN DIE. THIS IS ALL POSSIBLE, IF I DIDN'T HAVE BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL, AN ACCIDENT MOST DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652274

Incident

Oct 31, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

2004 MAZDA RX-8 TOURING WITH 6-SPEED MANUAL HAS A BROKEN CLUTCH PEDAL. THE ALUMINUM CLUTCH PEDAL WEAVES LEFT AND RIGHT. IT IS ON THE VERGE OF SNAPPING IN HALF. PLACED THE CAR AT JAX AUTOMOTIVE WHILE I PURCHASE A NEW OEM CLUTCH PEDAL WITH REINFORCED BRACKETS FROM RACE ROOTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10499890

Incident

Jan 29, 2013

OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX8 AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BROKE WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE READ OF EVIDENCE ONLINE THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS PART IS A DEFECT BY THE MANUFACTURER. I TOOK MY CAR TO PAUL MILLER FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WOULD BE NEEDED TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT WAS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. THE COST TOTAL IS $440.98 THIS SEEMS RIDICULOUS SINCE I HAVE READ THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO EXERT TOO MUCH FORCE ON THE PEDAL. THE RESISTANCE IS DETERMINED BY THE CLUTCH, NOT THE DRIVER. I THINK THEIR ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN RX8'S AND EXPERIENCE THIS SAME PROBLEM. HOW CAN IT BE THAT WITH ALL THE ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE THAT I HAVE REAL ONLINE ALONE THAT A RECALL HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN ISSUED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329674

Incident

May 3, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN WITH THE PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8. I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE SEPTEMBER 2003 AND IT HAS HAD COUNTLESS ISSUES, PARTS REPLACED AND FAILURES. THE INCIDENT I EXPERIENCED LAST NIGHT PUT ME OVER THE EDGE AND ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE. MY RX-8, WHICH WAS JUST AT THE DEALER 2 WEEKS AGO, HAD AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION WHILE I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN MASSACHUSETTS. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE WENT FROM APPROX 50MPH TO 10MPH IN A MATTER OF A FEW SECONDS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT INJURING MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE; HOWEVER, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. EVERY SINGLE PART IN MY RX-8 HAS BEEN REPLACED EXCEPT FOR THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND ENGINE. I HAVE DISHED OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ALREADY AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY HAZARD TO THOSE OF US DRIVING THE VEHICLE, BUT IT IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD TO THOSE AROUND US. HAD THE CAR BEHIND ME NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION MY VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUSED A DEADLY CAR CRASH IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I HAVE CONTACTED NUMEROUS DEALERSHIPS, THE BBB, AND AM NOW LOOKING INTO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. MAZDA NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE MY CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2003, BBB WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CASE, HOWEVER I HAVE 57 PAGES OF DETAILED REPAIRS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO THIS VEHICLE SINCE I OWNED IT, WHICH I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO SEND TO YOU. TONS OF PEOPLE ONLINE HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES; JUST FROM AUTOMOTIVE.COM THERE ARE 30+ EMAIL ADDRESSES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO MINE. PLEASE HELP US GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS FAULTY ENGINE AND MAKE MAZDA OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKES. PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE IN DANGER AND THIS IS NEITHER ACCEPTABLE NOR ETHICAL. PS- AN EMPLOYEE OF NHTSA HAS BEEN CONTACTED PRIOR REGARDING THIS SITUATION. HER NAME IS [XXX] AND HER CONTACT INFORMATION IS [XXX]EXT #: [XXX]. I RECEIVED THIS FROM THE AUTOMOTIVE.COM FORUM. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FO

NHTSA ID

10318387

Incident

Mar 10, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND A MECHANIC STATED THAT FUEL FLOODED THE ENGINE AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED. IN ADDITION, IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT CONDENSATION WAS PRESENT AND A VACUUM NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED, WHICH WOULD PREVENT WATER INTERFERENCE. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE EXTERIOR LIGHTING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE WATER ENTRY. FINALLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING FAILED, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED THE TIRE TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. UPDATED 020209 *BF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS WORN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FRONT AND REAR COILS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 02/03/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10255043

Incident

Nov 14, 2007

Mileage

32,000 mi

TAKING OFF (SMOOTHLY) FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, I ACCELERATE THE CAR TO 15 MPH AND BEING TO SHIFT IN 2ND GEAR. AS I DEPRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL I HEARD A LOUD THUD AND REALIZED THAT MY CLUTCH PEDAL HAD COMPLETELY SNAPPED OFF AT THE FRAME OF THE CAR. I WAS IN CITY TRAFFIC WITH NO WAY TO SHIFT THE CAR BACK INTO GEAR (I HAD ALREADY PULLED THE GEAR SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR). I MANAGED TO COAST THE CAR TO A PARKING LOT BUT BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE OF EQUIPMENT - TRAFFIC WAS BACKED UP FOR AT LEAST A 1/2 MILE. 1. EVENT THAT LEAD TO FAILURE: NORMAL OPERATION 2: THE FAILURE: CLUTCH PEDAL 3: THE REPAIR: NEW CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250459

Incident

Aug 30, 2008

Mileage

55,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10128483

Incident

Jun 25, 2005

Mileage

29,000 mi

A NEW MAZDA RX-8 WAS PURCHASED IN THE FALL OF 2003. THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS STARTING IT IN THE COLD WEATHER. I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM MAZDA THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IT EXISTS FOR ANYONE THAT LIVES IN THE NORTHEAST. WHY WASN'T THIS DISCLOSED PRIOR TO BEING PURCHASED> ANY IDEA WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HAVE THE CAR RETURNED AND THE MONEY I GAVE THEM REFUNDED? THANKS IN ADVANCE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10060543

Incident

Jan 4, 2004

IN THE NEW MAZDA RX8, THE REAR SEAT DESIGN WITH THE HIGH CENTER CONSOLE MAKES IT VERY HARD TO LATCH THE SEAT BELT WITH A CHILD BOOSTER SEAT, AND IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO FOR AN OLDER PERSON OR A PERSON WITHOUT GOOD MANUAL DEXTERITY AND A STRONG BACK. IT IS COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CHILD TO LATCH THEMSELVES IN. NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM FOR ATTACHING INFANT OR CHILD SEATS WITH SEAT BELTS INSTALLED IN THE SEAT ITSELF - IT'S A PROBLEM FOR OLDER CHILDREN (30-80 LBS) THAT SIT IN A BOOSTER AND USE THE 3 POINT SEAT BELT INSTALLED IN THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED MAZDA AND RECOMMENDED THAT THEY CREATE A SEAT BELT EXTENDER SO THAT THE BELT LATCH CAN BE RAISED UP HIGH ENOUGH TO REACH AROUND THE SIDE OF THE CAR SEAT, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE, BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY IN THE FORSEEN FUTURE. I HAVE ALSO SHOPPED AROUND FOR BOOSTER SEATS, AND HAVE YET TO FIND A MODEL THAT WORKS IN THIS CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10043639

Incident

Oct 27, 2003