RoadVitals

2005 Mazda RX-8 Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest Jun 18, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 162 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Mazda RX-8 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jun 18, 2021

The steering wheel sometimes its hard to control sometimes its normal and when going fast the steering is so loose like there's a gaps that you need your two hands on the steering all time and the weels Weigel at high speed 60mph. its hard drive the car on the freeway And everyday use i already spend $2800 at the dealership get fix but never get fix The car no accident to be like that. Car has 80k mileage

NHTSA ID
11421371
Incident
Jun 18, 2021
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 11, 2019

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET BREAKS AT THE SPOTWELDS WHICH ALSO BREAKS THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AND LUKILY THIS BROKE WHILE STARTING THE CAR

NHTSA ID
11267976
Incident
Oct 10, 2019
Mileage
110,200 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 7, 2018

CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKEN UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. I WENT TO PUSH THE CLUTCH IN TO DOWNSHIFT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO OVER TAKE A SLOWER VEHICLE AND IT SNAPPED WITH AN AUDIBLE "POP" AND I COULDNT SHIFT INTO THE LOWER GEAR AND MY RPMS, WENT TO IDLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. HAD IT BROKEN AT A DIFFERENT TIME, I COULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED INTO A CERTAIN GEAR AND HA TO BREAK FAST OR CRASH RISKING THE LIVES OF MY OCCUPANTS AND THE OCCUPANTS OF ANOTHER VEHICLE

NHTSA ID
11109969
Incident
Jul 3, 2018
Mileage
150,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 21, 2016
1 injury reported

DRIVING MY MAZDA RX8 LAST NIGHT ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY SHIFTING FROM FIFTH TO SIXTH GEAR THE CLUTCH PEDAL GAVE WAY AND DOING 65MPH AND STUCK ITSELF UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND HIT THE E BRAKE TO STOP. LUCKY IM NOT DEAD.

NHTSA ID
10886296
Incident
Jul 21, 2016
Mileage
95,003 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 22, 2014

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
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jul 2, 2014

CLUTCH BRACKET SNAPPED WHILE AT STOP SIGN. UNABLE TO GET CAR INTO GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10607825
Incident
Jun 27, 2014
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel systemPowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed May 4, 2014

AS I'M DRIVING MY CLUTCH PEDAL GETS STUCK WHEN IT HITS THE FLOOR AND WOULDN'T UP BACK UP ON ITS OWN AND I WOULD HAVE TO USE MY FOOT TO TAP IT UNDER TO GO BACK UP. CLUTCH PEDAL SEEMS TO BE LEAKING OIL ALSO. ALSO AT TIMES WHEN I'M WANTING TO CHANGE GEARS THE SHIFT KNOB WOULD GRIND GEARS. IF I'M GOING AT A FAST SPEED IT OFTEN KEEPS ME FROM SHIFTING TO FIFTH GEAR AND I WOULD HAVE TO JUMP TO SIXTH INSTEAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10586448
Incident
Apr 19, 2014
Mileage
82,480 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 14, 2014

I WAS ON MY WAY TO BUY SOME FOOD SUPPLIES FOR WEEKEND. I WAS LOOKING FOR A PARKING LOT AT LOW SPEED, SO WHEN I STEPPED ONTO THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO PUT BACK TO NEUTRAL AND PARKED SUDDENLY I HEARD A CRACK. AT THAT TIME I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS UNTIL 30 MINUTES OF SHOPPING LATER, I STARTED THE ENGINE AND FELT A LITTLE ODD ABOUT THE PEDAL CLUTCH. THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS FUNCTION A LITTLE ODD WHEN I STEPPED INTO THE PEDAL, I FELT LIKE IT DIDN'T RELEASE COMPLETELY. FORTUNATELY, I MADE A THE WAY HOME AND CHECKED. WHEN I GOT HOME AND IT SNAPPED OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10559965
Incident
Jan 10, 2014
Mileage
94,950 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 12, 2014

AS I WAS SHIFTING INTO 4TH GEAR, MY CLUTCH PEDAL MAD AN ODD LOUD "CRACKING" SOUNDS AND EVER SINCE THEN, MY PEDAL IS VERY LOOSE AND HAS A LOT OF PLAY AND ENGAGES VERY LOW TO THE FLOOR. IT ALSO HAS VERY LITTLE PRESSURE NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10559485
Incident
Jan 1, 2014
Mileage
124,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 10, 2013

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

NHTSA ID
10542902
Incident
Sep 10, 2013
Mileage
99,700 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 6, 2013

THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT ALLOW A SHIFT INTO GEAR, CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10510756
Incident
May 5, 2013
Mileage
164,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 16, 2013

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
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 3, 2013

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

NHTSA ID
10505472
Incident
Mar 31, 2013
Mileage
106,800 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 1, 2012

**RESUBMIT-DIDN'T GO THROUGH** I WAS DRIVING APPROX 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND FELT A KICK/JOLT AND HAD A LOSS OF POWER. MY SPEED WENT DOWN10-15 MPH AND ALTHOUGH I TRIED TO ACCELERATE IT WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TRIED TO EXIT BUT CAR REFUSED TO GO INTO GEAR. EVERY TIME I FORCED IT INTO GEAR, THE CAR WOULD CONSTANTLY STALL AND DIE. I HAD THE IGNITION COIL AND SPARK PLUG REPLACED BUT NOW THE CLUTCH JUST SINKS TO THE FLOOR. I'VE TRIED TO PUMP THE CLUTCH TO GET IT INTO GEAR BUT THIS IS QUITE DANGEROUS ON THE ROAD. MY VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE CONTROLLING ITS SPEED SINCE THERE'S A LAG SWITCHING FROM 3RD TO 4TH, 5TH TO 6TH SINCE I HAVE TO PUMP MY SUNKEN CLUTCH SEVERAL TIMES AND FIDDLE WITH THE SHIFTER TO ACTUALLY KICK MY CAR INTO THE NEXT GEAR. MY CAR IS NOW OVER 100K MILES AND JUST READ ABOUT THE MAZDA RX8 CLUTCH PEDAL RECALL ONLINE. THIS MALFUNCTION/SAFETY ISSUE WAS NEVER ANNOUNCED PROFESSIONALLY BY MY DEALER. MAZDA HAD NO PROBLEMS CONTACTING ME VIA PHONE, EMAIL ,MAIL REGARDING BILLS BUT FOR SOME REASON FAILED TO GIVE ME A NOTICE REGARDING THIS DEFECT. I'VE BEEN ADVISED THAT REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE EXPENSIVE AND SINCE MY CAR ALTHOUGH LESS THAN 8 YEARS OLD HAS PASSED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BASED ON MILEAGE, I'LL BE STUCK DRIVING THIS CAR WITHOUT PROPER REPAIRS? I FEEL MAZDA SHOULD'VE CONTACTED ALL RX8 OWNERS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER ANY FUTURE DISASTERS. WOULD THERE BE ANY CHANCE TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL BASED ON MILEAGE OVER 120K? I CAN'T AFFORD TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR AT THIS MOMENT BUT NEED TO STILL COMMUTE TO WORK WITHOUT PAYING FOR REPAIRS THAT WOULD COST ME AN ARM AND A LEG AT THE DEALER? IF THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE, I WOULD FEEL MORE SAFE HAVING AN AUTHORIZED DEALER INSPECT THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN A CHEAP AUTO SHOP THAT ISN'T FULLY AWARE OF SPECIFIC DETAILS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10463900
Incident
May 15, 2012
Mileage
124,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 31, 2012

FAILURE OF CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY. A PLASTIC PLATE CRACKED AND CAUSED AN IRRITATING PLASTIC BINDING NOISE, EVER TIME I RELEASED THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THIS APPARENTLY HAPPENS A LOT, SOMETIMES IT IS FIXABLE BUT IN MY CASE I HAD TO REPLACE MY ENTIRE ASSEMBLY, AS I WAS TOLD IF IT COMPLETELY CRACKED I WOULD LOSE THE FUNCTION OF MY CLUTCH PEDAL. FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER LOCK ACTUATOR. I HAVE READ MANY ACCOUNTS OF THIS PART FAILING. USUALLY BLAMED ON HOT OR COLD CLAIMANT, HOWEVER MINE JUST FAILED EARLIER THIS WEEK, WITH WEATHER IN THE MID 40'S. JUST FROM THE AMOUNT OF POSTINGS I FOUND WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO ME IT NEEDS TO BE REPORTED. *TT

NHTSA ID
10446055
Incident
Jan 17, 2012
Mileage
51,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 6, 2012

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND CHANGING GEARS NORMALLY THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC BREAKAGE CAUSING THE CARS TRANSMISSION TO BECOME INOPERABLE. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE DAMAGED TO BE FORCED INTO NEUTRAL TO COME TO A STOP. CLUTCH PEDAL HAD ALREADY PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED IN 2009 AFTER IDENTICAL INCIDENT OCCURRED. MAZDA NORTH AMERICA HAS REFUSED TO HONOR A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT FOR THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10442729
Incident
Jan 5, 2012
Mileage
105,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Jun 10, 2011

ON MY MAZDA 2005 RX8 THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NOW I'M UNABLE TO PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE. AT THIS POINT, IT'S BARELY DRIVABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10405824
Incident
Jun 9, 2011
Mileage
70,263 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 10, 2011

MY RX8 2005 HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH. IT SOME HOW BROKE AND NOW I CHANGE CHANGE INTO GEAR. MY CAR ONLY HAVE 46XXX MILE ON IT SO ITS SHOULDNT BE BREAKING AND ALSO I READ A LOT OF SITE SAYING OTHER RX8 OWNER ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10395416
Incident
Apr 10, 2011
Mileage
46,221 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 10, 2010

2 DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT THE CLUTCH MADE A CLICKING SOUND. I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW NO PROBLEM. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR BECAUSE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAD GAVE WAY. I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND GET IT INTO 1ST AND HAD TO DRIVE HOME IN 1ST GEAR. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING THROUGH FORUMS ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY FREQUENT OCCURRENCE. I ALSO GOT A TICKET FOR FAILURE TO YIELD AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT 350.00 DOLLARS. I CALLED MAZDA AND THEY EVEN TOLD ME IT WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. IM WORKING ON THE ISSUE NOW BUT MAZDA WANTS 1150.00 DOLLARS TO FIX A "COMMON" PROBLEM. ITS COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS. IVE COUNTED OVER 150 DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BUT JUST GOT IT FIXED ON MAZDA FORUMS AND OTHER AUTO FORUMS. MANY OF THEM CAUSED ACCIDENTS AS WELL. I JUST DONT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE AND THEY GET KILLED BECAUSE OF IT.. IT WAS THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10348430
Incident
Aug 8, 2010
Mileage
83,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 2, 2010

I HAD JUST BACKED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY ON TO A SIDE STREET ABOUT TO PULL ON TO A MAIN HIGHWAY, I HAD PUT MY CAR INTO FIRST GEAR AND IT DID SO FINE AND I WAS ACCELERATING AND WENT TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR AND WENT TO PUSH IN MY CLUTCH AND I COULD NOT FIND IT FOR A SECOND IT WAS STUCK AND PUSHED SLIGHTLY BEHIND MY BRAKE, SO I JUST PULLED MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I HAD SOME BREAKING BUT NOT FULL BRAKING. I FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET HAD FAILED, A SPOT WELD ON THE FRAME HAD BROKE AND CAUSED MY CLUTCH TO MOVE FREELY, THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE, I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW PART OUT OF MY POCKET ALTHOUGH I WAS DOING RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THIS HAS HAPPENED ALOT ON MAZDA RX8'S. *TR

NHTSA ID
10334186
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
73,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 18, 2009

MY CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2005 MAZDA RX8 SNAPPED WHILE CHANGING GEARS (3-4) ON THE FREEWAY. LAST MONTH THERE WERE NOISES COMING FROM THE CLUTCH PEDAL [SQUEAKING] AND AFTER THE PEDAL SNAPPED THE PEDAL DOES NOT FULLY POP BACK ALL THE WAY UP. IN ORDER TO GET THE PEDAL IN THE RIGHT POSITION I HAVE TO GET MY FOOT UNDER THE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING IN ORDER TO PULL THE PEDAL UP IN THE RIGHT POSITION. [EVERY TIME I SWITCH GEARS] IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE [WHICH WAS THE WEAK WELDS ON THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY SNAPPED] I HAVE TO GET IT REWELDED AND ADD EXTRA SUPPORT WELDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10288885
Incident
Oct 18, 2009
Mileage
45,321 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .