2005 Mazda RX-8 Engine Problems

OIL COOLER HOSES RUST OUT AT FITTINGS AND LEAK OIL UNCONTROLLABLY. ONE SEARCH OF ANY RX8 FORUM AND YOU WILL FIND ALL YEARS ARE EFFECTED.

NHTSA ID

11196800

Incident

Mar 16, 2017

Mileage

102,325 mi

THE EXTERNAL OIL LINES AND CONNECTION FITTINGS FOR THE ROTORY ENGINE LUBRICATION POINTS AND COOLING HAVE CORRODED AWAY FORM ROAD SALT IN MINNESOTA. DRIVING CAUSES ENGINE OIL TO BE SPRAYED ON FRONT WHEEL AND BRAKES CAUSING FRONT BRAKE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE PROBLEMS. THE CORROSION WAS SO BAD THAT EACH ATTEMPT TO FIX AN OIL LEAK ENDED UP BRAKING MORE CORRODED OIL FITTINGS OFF. THE TOTAL REPAIR IN 2017 ENDED BEING OVER $1,000 DOLLARS FOR JUST PARTS PLUS LABOR. MAZDA HAS PREVIOUSLY PAID TO FIX ALL MAZDA RX-8S SOLD TO PEOPLE IN CANADA BECAUSE OF ROAD SALT CORROSION FAILURES OF THESE SAME OIL LINES. WHY DOESN'T THE USA HAVE CONSUMER PROTECTION LIKE CANADIAN CITIZENS HAVE! I PAID A REPAIR SHOP BY ME $1,037.81 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MECHANIC LOST ABOUT ANOTHER $1,000 IN AFTER MARKET FITTINGS AND HOSES PLUS TIME, BUT EACH FIX BROKE MORE FITTINGS. HE FINALLY BOUGHT ALL NEW FACTORY PARTS AND SOLD THEM TO ME FOR COST AND ONLY CHARGED US FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS LABOR. TONY BECK,S AUTO REPAIR IN PINEISLAND MN JUST COULDN'T CHARGE ANYONE WHAT IT REALLY COST HIM. US RX-8 OWNERS ARE GETTING SCREWED BY YOU NOT RECALLING THIS OIL LINE FAILURE PROBLEM. THESE OIL LINES AND FITTINGS GO ALL AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE AND ARE HIGH PRESSURE 1/2 INCH ID HYDRAULIC LINES. HOW CAN OIL SPRAYING FRONT DISC BRAKES AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE! STEVE W. FROM MINNESOTA, WE HAVE LOTS OF ROAD SALT JUST LIKE CANADA, THAT'S WHY THE I-35 BRIDGE FELL DOWN. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THESE SALT CORROSION CAUSED OIL LEAKS! CAUSED MASSIVE OIL LEAKS THAT CAN ALLOW ENGINE

NHTSA ID

11053886

Incident

Jun 8, 2017

I PURCHASED A USED 2005 MAZDA RX-8 FROM A DEALER. SIGNED A WARRANTY ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NOT A BUYERS GUIDE OR A USED CAR STICKER DISPLAYED ANYWHERE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ORIGINALLY BELONGED TO MAZDA BOMMARITO AS EVIDENCED BY THE FADED RESIDUAL IMPRINT OF THE BOMMARITO LETTERING THAT HAD BEEM REMOVED LIKELY DUE TO BEING UNWANTED INVENTORY. I KNEW AHEAD OF TIME THAT THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAS A ROTARY ENGINE THAT REQUIRES STANDARD MAINTENANCE AND CARE WHICH I HAVE BEEN PERFORMING AND DOCUMENTING ALONG WITH ALL RECALLS. THESE INCLUDE- LET THE ENGINE WARM UP, REGULARLY TOPPED OFF ALL FLUIDS DECARBED AND CLEANED SENSORS ETC INTERNAL MAINTENANCE CARE/BREAK IN PERIOD AND REPLACED SPARK PLUGS/ LEADS WITH FACTORY GENUINE OEM FIRST HAND. AFTER OWNING IT LESS THAN A YEAR, WITH ONLY 50K MILES ON IT, IT BEGAN TO RUN VERY POORLY. I HAD THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND HAVE DOCUMENTATION AND RECORDS OF WORK FROM SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, SHOPS AND OFFICIAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP(BOMMARITO WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY TRANSPORTED FROM TO THE NEIGHBORING DEALER) IM PAYING $8,000 FOR AT IT AND DROVE IT FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND IN SPITE OF REGULAR UPKEEP IT LOST COMPRESSION IN ITS REAR ROTOR. II HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE FROM MAZDA THAT COVERS ROTARY ENGINE CORE REPLACEMENTS. HOWEVER SINCE ITS "USED" IT MIGHT NOT BE COVERED BY MY STATES LEMON LAW. THERE ARE 1000'S OF OWNERS DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUES ON BEHALF OF MAZDA. I MAILED THE SUBSEQUENT OWNERSHIP NOTIFICATION TO THE MAZDA IMPORTER TO TRANSFER THE RECORDS OF THE PREVIOUS OWNERS ON A LEASE PURCHASE WHICH I HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF ALTHOUGH THE DEALER WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY INFO ABOUT THE COUPES HISTROY WHICH SEEMS DISHONEST.. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT ENTIRELY AT FAULT. MAZDA IS TOO. HAVE ALL THIS IN PAPERWORK. I AM AWAITING A RETURN NOTICE FROM MAZDA ABOUT TRANSFER OF WARRANTY FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER(S) DOCUMENTS ARE BELOW.

NHTSA ID

10958332

Incident

Dec 12, 2016

Mileage

50,000 mi

I BELIEVE SAFETY AND EMISSIONS RECALL 0516J IS CAUSING MY CAR TO TURN OFF WHILE IN MOTION, IT CAN BE IN NEUTRAL OR IN GEAR. I CALLED MAZDA CORP AND TOLD THEM THE VEHICLE TURNS OFF WHILE IN MOTION AND BELIEVE IT'S CAUSE BY THE RECALL; THEY SAID THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION AT THE MOMENT AND DID NOT SUGGEST ANYTHING BUT WAIT. THIS IS A DAILY DRIVING CAR AND I CAN NOT AFFORD TO CALL OUT OF WORK BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD SUGGEST A COURTESY VEHICLE WHILE THIS RECALL IS BEING FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10957579

Incident

Feb 23, 2017

MY STEERING WHEEL IS TURNING TO THE LEFT ON ITS OWN AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THE PROBLEM. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND I AM DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY OF PARTS. ISSUE 2: AFTER THE FIRST RECALL ON MY VEHICLE, MY MOTOR IS GIVING ME ISSUES AGAIN AFTER BEING REPLACED 40,000 MILES LATER. IT TURNS OFF AT IDLE AND HAS PROBLEMS STARTING. I FEAR THIS MIGHT BE A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10824047

Incident

Feb 3, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

THERE IS A FLAW IN THE MAZDA RX8 ENGINE. IT IS WHY THEY STOPPED MAKING THEM IN 2011. THE ENGINES HAVE BAD APEX SEALS. AS A RESULT - THE SEALS BLOW AROUND 70 THOUSAND MILES AND THE ENGINE IS USELESS. MAZDA REPLACED MY ENGINE IN 2011. HOWEVER - IT DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE STILL SHUTS DOWN IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WHEN YOU ARE COMING TO A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN THE ENGINE WILL JUST SHUT OFF. IT HAS ALSO SHUT OFF WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PASS IN THE LEFT LANE WHILE ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT ALSO HAS SOMETHING CALLED A HOT NON-START - THIS MEANS - IT WILL NOT START WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT. YOU HAVE TO WAIT 20 MINUTES FOR THE CAR TO COOL BEFORE IT CAN START. IF THERE IS NO EMERGENCY LANE WHEN YOUR CAR SHUTS DOWN - YOU ARE IN TROUBLE AND IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION,. I HAVE BEEN STUCK NUMEROUS TIMES IN TRAFFIC AND THEN THE CAR UNABLE TO START. ALSO AS A RESULT OF THIS HOT NON-START- YOU HAVE TO FUEL YOUR CAR WITH IT RUNNING OR YOU WILL HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT AT THE GAS PUMP FOR 20 MINUTES BEFORE IT CAN START. THIS HAS OCCURRED BEFORE THEY REPLACED MY ENGINE FROM 2009 THRU 2011 AND NOW WITH A NEW ENGINE FROM 2012 THRU 2015 THEY ALSO NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR FRAUD. I LEASED MY CAR FOR 3 YEARS. I THEN PURCHASED IT AND FINANCED IT FOR 5 YEARS IN 2008. MAZDA KNEW THESE ENGINES WERE FLAWED - BUT THEY WERE STILL SELLING THEM TO PEOPLE WHEN THIS ENGINE ISSUE HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 2005. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. ALSO - THE APEX SEALS CAN BLOW WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE WHICH MEANS THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC AS WELL. I AM NOT ALONE - SEARCH MAZDA RX8 ENGINE ISSUES ON GOOGLE - EVERYONE HAS THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10785176

Incident

Oct 14, 2015

Mileage

123,000 mi

OIL COOLER COUPLING SEVERELY ROTTED TO THE POINT OF FAILURE (HOSES LOOKED FINE JUST THE COUPLING AREAS). WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER PARTS AND MAZDA HAS RECALLED IN CANADA (SPECIAL SERVICE #76), WHICH IS 30 MILES FROM MY HOME BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME IN THE STATES. REPAIR COST IS OVER $1300 FOR NEW LINES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10627632

Incident

Aug 15, 2014

Mileage

98,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10513429

Incident

May 24, 2013

Mileage

91,239 mi

THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET IN MY 2005 MAZDA RX-8 HAS BROKEN AND AS A RESULT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE GEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10508397

Incident

Apr 15, 2013

I WENT TO START MY RX8 AND IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED AAA TO HAVE IT JUMPED, THINKING IT WAS A BATTERY PROBLEM. THE AAA EMPLOYEE SENT TO JUMP THE CAR COULD NOT JUMP IT AND I HAD TO TOW IT TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY. MY PERSONAL MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT WAS A SPECIFIC PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE THAT WAS COVERED BY AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY" MAZDA ISSUED BECAUSE THE 2005 RX8S HAD SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. INSTEAD OF DOING A RECALL, MAZDA DOES EXTENDED WARRANTIES. THEY DID THE SAME THING WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET, WHICH I HAD TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO TAKE CARE OF IT AT NO COST TO ME. THEY ALWAYS WANT TO CHARGE, EVEN WHEN IT IS SOMETHING COVERED BY A WARRANTY. SO, MY HUSBAND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEARBY DEALERSHIP. AUTOMATICALLY, THEY TELL US WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE BATTERY BECAUSE THEY NEED TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. BATTERY $185 WITH LABOR AND $150 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEN, WE ARE TOLD THAT ONLY IF THEY ARE ABLE TO PROVE THAT IT WAS A SPECIFIC PROBLEM COVERED IN THE WARRANTY THAT MAZDA WOULD COVER IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. IF THEY FIND IT IS NOT THAT SPECIFIC PART, WE WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I WAS TOLD BY MY PERSONAL MECHANIC IT WAS THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE WHICH IS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, BUT OF COURSE, MAZDA WANTS TO DO THEIR OWN TESTS. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $4,000 WHEN A QUICK ONLINE SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SPECIFIC CAR. I THINK MAZDA SHOULD HAVE THEIR FEET HELD TO THE FIRE AND DO RIGHT BY THEIR CUSTOMER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10498181

Incident

Feb 1, 2013

Mileage

49,814 mi

VEHICLE ENGINE LOSES POWER AND STALLS AFTER DRIVING AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE IN HOT WEATHER. FAILURE SYMPTOMS ARE MOST NOTICEABLE AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND WILL PRESENT AS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWED BY STALLING AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATES. MANUFACTURER HAS EXTENDED THE ENGINE WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES AND WILL DE-CARBON THE ENGINE AND REPLACE SPARK PLUGS WHEN REPORTED. HOWEVER, THIS SOLUTION IS NOT A PERMANENT REPAIR, AND SYMPTOMS RETURN UPON DRIVING WITHIN TWELVE MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10425221

Incident

Jul 4, 2007

Mileage

25,000 mi

THE ROTARY ENGINE RX8 (MY 2005) CONTINUES TO HAVE STARTING PROBLEMS. I HAVE JUST OVER 100,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. I'VE REPLACED THE STARTER THREE TIMES NOW, THE SPARK PLUGS AT LEAST TWICE, THREE BATTERIES. IT IS AN UNRELIABLE VEHICLE AND HAS HAD TO BE TOWED SIX TIMES NOW. OBVIOUSLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THAT YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR STALLS IF OR WHEN YOU CAN RESTART THE VEHICLE. *KB

NHTSA ID

10413399

Incident

Jul 15, 2011

2005 RX-8 LEAKING OIL COOLER LINE FAULTS BREAKS CAR VEERED OFF THE ROAD ONTO RIGHT SIDE GRASS UNDER HEAVY BREAKING DUE TO SUDDENLY SLOWING TRAFFIC. NORMALLY, CAR BREAKS VERY WELL, LINEARLY, AND STRAIGHT. AFTER CHECKING WHAT CAUSED THIS, I FOUND THE ENTIRE LEFT UNDERSIDE SPRAYED WITH ENGINE OIL. OIL CAME FROM RUSTED ENGINE COOLER LINES LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL. ABOUT A 10 SECOND ENGINE RUN SHOWED A STREAM OF OIL SPRAYING TOWARDS THE TIRE THROUGH A CRACK IN THE RUSTED COOLING LINE. UNDERBODY, LEFT FRONT TIRE, AND BREAKS WERE COVERED WITH OIL. THERE WAS NO COLLISION ONLY BECAUSE THE AREA WHERE CAR WAS PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE HAD NO OBSTACLES. LUCKY ME! CAR IS OBVIOUSLY NOT DRIVABLE AS ENGINE OIL IS VISIBLY LEAKING AND BREAKS ARE COMPROMISED WITH GREASY OIL RESIDUE. APPARENTLY CANADA HAS A RECALL FOR THESE FAULTY COOLING LINES - 'RX-8 OIL COOLER HOSE ' SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM (SSP) 76' ' SEEMS UTTERLY APPROPRIATE AS IN AN UNLUCKY SITUATION THIS COULD TURN OUT FATAL! *TT

NHTSA ID

10413105

Incident

Jul 15, 2011

Mileage

35,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THE EHICLE STALLED WHEN THE RPMS INCREASED TO APPROXIMATELY 1000. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. SEVERAL DEALERS WERE NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA ID

10408445

Incident

May 2, 2011

Mileage

62,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS AND TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR INSPECTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,206 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID

10407758

Incident

May 13, 2011

Mileage

55,000 mi

I HAVE A 2005 MAZDA RX8, AT 104,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE THE COMPRESSION WENT OUT. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 100,000 MILES. I NOTICED OTHER RX8 OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD A MAZDA RX7 WHICH HAD OVER 170,000 MILES BEFORE THE ENGINE GAVE UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10396784

Incident

Mar 19, 2011

Mileage

104,241 mi

I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 2005 MAZDA RX-8. STARTING WITH COLD AIR COMING FROM HEATER. NOW THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS MY CAR NEEDS A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND A NEW STARTER ACCORDING TO THE MAZDA GUYS. IF IT'S NOT ONE THING IT'S ANOTHER WITH THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10374986

Incident

Jan 2, 2011

Mileage

46,000 mi

OIL COOLER METAL HOSES HAVE CORRODED DUE TO ROAD SALT AND DRIVING IN SNOWY AREAS (MASSACHUSETTS). THERE IS A RECALL IN CANADA (SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM 76) FOR THE MAZDA RX8 DUE TO OIL COOLER LINES GETTING CORRODED. WEATHER IN THE NORTHERN STATES OF UNITED STATES IS SIMILAR - I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS ALSO NOT A PROBLEM FOR US AND THERE IS NO RECALL IN THE USA. THE REST OF THE CAR SEEMS CORROSION FREE AND THE CAR WAS WASHED EVERY WEEK IN THE WINTER AND ABOUT ONCE A MONTH IN THE SUMMER, SPECIFICALLY TO GET RID OF ROAD SALT. DEALER CHARGE WITH PARTS AND LABOR TO REPLACE THE OIL LINES IS $2100 !! CAR HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT AND IS A 2005 MODEL. MY GUESS IS THE OIL COOLER LINES WERE MADE OF A BAD MATERIAL IF THEY ARE CORRODING SO EASILY WHILE NOTHING ELSE CORRODES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10366792

Incident

Nov 16, 2010

Mileage

68,000 mi

MY 2005 RX8 CONTINUALLY LEAKED OIL TO THE POINT OF THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT COMING ON. SINCE RX8'S CONSUME OIL IN THE COMBUSTION PROCESS, AT FIRST THIS SEEMED SOMEWHAT NORMAL. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF ADDING OIL ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT COME BACK ON, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC BROUGHT ME OUT TO THE CAR TO SHOW ME THAT THE OIL COOLING LINES HAD BEEN RUSTED OUT AND AS HE PUT IT "WERE SPRAYING OIL". ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT MAZDA USED PARTS THAT DON'T RESIST CORROSION, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE LINES WERE LITERALLY SPRAYING OIL AND HAD THE POTENTIAL TO SPRAY OIL ONTO THE WHEELS/BRAKES CREATING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. MAZDA IS NOW CHARGING AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T BE OCCURRING IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS EXACT PROBLEM HAS LED TO A RECALL IN CANADA, BUT MAZDA CLAIMS THERE AREN'T ENOUGH OCCURRENCES IN THE USA. THAT DOES NOT SIT WELL WITH OWNERS WHO COMMONLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED ON THE INTERNET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10363885

Incident

Nov 3, 2010

Mileage

66,600 mi

MY 2005 MAZDA RX8 IS LEAKING OIL FAST. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME MY OIL COOLER HOSES ARE RUSTED OUT. IT WILL BE $1000.00 TO GET THIS FIXED. MAZDA ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS, BUT THEY SAY MY VIN# DOES NOT QUALIFY. I THINK THIS IS WRONG AND IF CARS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. I AM LEAVING A TRAIL OF OIL EVERYWHERE I GO AND COULD RUN OUT OF OIL EVEN WITH REFILLING AND CHECKING IT EVERYDAY. THIS CARE WAS BOUGHT IN CHICAGO AFTER BEING A DEMO DEALER CARE IN MINNESOTA SO IT HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO A LOT OF ROAD SALT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10363422

Incident

Oct 27, 2010

Mileage

65,000 mi

2005 MAZDA RX-8. CONSUMER STATES ROUGH RUNNING, STALLING AND FLOODING. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO START. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS CARBON IN THE ENGINE AND PERFORMED IT A COMPRESSION TEST. IT BARELY PASSED THE TEST. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WERE A LOT OF DEFECTS IN MAZDA RX-8 ENGINES AND THAT HE WOULD PROBABLY NEED A NEW ENGINE IN THE FUTURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND DECARBED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINUED TO IDLE ROUGHLY, STALL AND FLOOD SINCE THE FIRST VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP. SIX MONTHS LATER WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO START THE VEHICLE TO WARM IT UP, THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE DECARBED AGAIN AND THE COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10316516

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

Mileage

30,000 mi

A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS PURCHASED FROM A MAZDA DEALER IN MAYAGUEZ, PUERTO RICO ON AUGUST 29, 2009. THE SAME WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE, A 2005 MAZDA RX-8 SHINKA MODEL, ONE WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE SINCE WE HAD TO WAIT FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THIS PART AND A NEW SET OF SPARK PLUGS THAT WAS ALSO PURCHASED AT A PRICE OF $200.00. THE CAR WAS NOT IN USE UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2009. ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 THE CAR HAD A FAILURE AND I COULD SEE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE CAR AND THE CAR TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I COULD SMELL BURNT PLASTIC AND SAW MELTED PLASTIC COMING BELOW THE CAR. THE DAY ALL THIS HAPPENED, IT WAS RAINING SO THE CAR WAS PROTECTED FROM A FIRE DUE TO THE RAIN. I GOT PICTURES OF SOME OF THE MELTED PARTS. AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT THE HEAT PRODUCED BY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BURNED THE NEW SPARK PLUGS, THE SPARK PLUGS CABLES, THE MODULES AND THAT THERE WAS ASH ON THE SYSTEM THAT NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THEY DO NOT WANT TO REPLACE ALL THE PARTS THAT BURNED AT THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER SINCE MY CAR GUARANTEE WAS NO LONGER VALID. THEY DID NOT MAKE ANY EFFORTS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM KNOWING THAT ALL THE DAMAGES WERE DUE TO THE FAULTY CONDITION OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THEY WILL ONLY PROVIDE A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER ($1500.00 COST) BUT I HAVE TO PAY ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT FOR THE REST OF THE DAMAGE. I KNEW THAT ANOTHER CLIENT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON THE SAME MODEL OF CAR AND THAT THE PART WAS ALSO SUPPLIED BY AUTOLAND. I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. MAZDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGES PRODUCED BY THE FAILURE OF THEIR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. *TR UDATED 01/13/10. *JB

NHTSA ID

10286190

Incident

Sep 24, 2009

I OWN A 2005 MAZDA RX8 WITH 35,000 MILES ON THE CAR. IT HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP RECENTLY FOR A ROUGH IDLE AND HARD START PROBLEM. AFTER MUCH COSTLY INVESTIGATION (COSTLY TO ME 590$), IT WAS FOUND THAT MY RENESIS ENGINE IS LOSING COMPRESSION AND COULD POSSIBLY FAIL AT ANY MOMENT. AFTER CONTACTING CORPORATE HQ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THE DEALERSHIP TESTED THE ENGINE WHICH PASSED BY A MINIMAL PERCENT, JUST ENOUGH NOT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER SOME PERSONAL RESEARCH ON THIS MATTER, I'VE FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHER RX8 OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH LITTLE OR NO HELP FROM MAZDA OTHER THAN REPLACING THE DAMAGED ENGINE WITH THE SAME MODEL OF FAULTY ENGINE. REPORTS FROM OWNERS OF ENGINES DYING IN THE MIDDLE OF DANGEROUS A INTERSECTIONS AND SUCH ARE VERY UNSETTLING BEING AN OWNER MYSELF HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN OWNERS THAT ARE NOW ON THEIR SECOND AND THIRD ENGINES AS WELL WITH SEEMINGLY NO END TO THE REPAIRS. IN MY CASE, THE DEALERSHIP GUARANTEED THAT MY ENGINE WOULD FAIL WITHIN SIX MONTHS SO TO "BE CAREFUL" AND "KEEP AND EYE ON IT". THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THESE ENGINES AND I THINK THEY ARE UNSAFE. MAZDA HAS ADDED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO THESE ENGINES FOR UP TO 100,000 MILES BUT THAT DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THESE ENGINES FAILING WHILE IN MOTION OR IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. IT ONLY REPLACES ONE BURNT OUT BOMB WITH A BOMB WITH A NEW FUSE. I SERIOUSLY THINK THIS SHOULD FALL UNDER THE "LEMON-LAW" AND I WOULD LIKE MORE TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT SEEMS RX8 OWNERS ARE BEING LEFT WITHOUT OPTIONS HERE EXCEPT TO MAKE LEMONADE FROM THEIR 30,000$ LEMON. ME INCLUDED.*TR

NHTSA ID

10278965

Incident

Jul 22, 2009

Mileage

35,367 mi

2005 MAZDA RX8 QUITS RUNNING AND WILL NOT RESTART -REMOVED SPARK PLUGS CLEANED AND STARTED-QUIT BEFORE GOT HOME SAME PROBLEM. DON'T KILL ENGINE UNLESS ABOVE 3000 RPM OR ENGINE IS WARM. ENGINE QUIT REPLACED SPARK COIL QUIT BEFORE GOT HOME WAS TOLD CATALYTIC CONVERTER DEFECTIVE AND WILL DAMAGE MUFFLER. CAR WAS TOWED EACH TIME TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP. NOW THEY CLAIM NEEDS NEW ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10278134

Incident

May 5, 2009

Mileage

26,000 mi

I HAVE A MAZDA RX8 2005. IT REPEATEDLY STALLS AND HAS NEEDED A NEW ENGINE TWICE IN LESS THAN A YEAR. MAZDA COVERED THE FIRST ENGINE BUT IS NOW REFUSING THE SECOND. I AM AWARE THAT THESE PARTICULAR VEHICLES HAVE MANY PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275316

Incident

Jun 23, 2009

Mileage

46,000 mi