2004 Mazda RX-8 Complaint Log

THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. THIS IS AN APPARENTLY KNOWN ISSUE WITH MAZDA AS SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN CLUB SITES AND THERE ARE EVEN VIDEOS ON THIS ISSUE ON YOUTUBE. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF YOU CANNOT EXIT A VEHICLE QUICKLY AFTER AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE PEOPLE COULD DIE. SOMEONE ALREADY MENTIONED THIS ISSUE BACK IN 2010 AND FROM HOW I READ HIS INFORMATION NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE WITH THESE DOORS NOT BEING ABOUT TO UNLOCK AND OPEN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

ABOUT A MONTH AGO, MY POWER STEERING MOTOR ON MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 WENT OUT (APPARENTLY IT HAS NO PUMP, IT'S ALL ELECTRICAL). IT GOES IN AND OUT WHEN I CRANK IT UP AT DIFFERENT TIMES, MOSTLY OUT MORE THAN IN, BUT ANYWAY, IT GOT TO WHERE IT DID IT ALL THE TIME. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND BEFORE HE COULD FIX IT, THE STARTER WENT OUT, AND IT WOULDN'T EVEN CRANK! SO WE REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE POWER STEERING, AND THE NIGHT I PICKED IT UP THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ON AND STILL DIDN'T WORK, EVEN WITH A NEW POWER STEERING MOTOR! IT GOES IN AND OUT, SO IT MUST HAVE WORKED WITH MY MECHANIC. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS MAZDA? EVERYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG ON THIS CAR DOES. MAZDA DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO MAKE THEIR CARS. THIS MODEL HAS ABOUT FIVE RECALLS AS IT IS, WHY IS THE POWER STEERING NOT ONE OF THESE? AT THE DEALERSHIP, A NEW MOTOR IS $1800 DOLLARS. AT THAT AMOUNT, THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL CONSIDERING IT TO BE SUCH A SMALL PROBLEM WITH SUCH AN EXPENSIVE PART THAT CAN BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE ON ALL OF THE RX-8 FORUMS THAT I'VE READ, THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. THIS COULD GET SOMEBODY KILLED, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE HAVE MAZDA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. ALSO, ON THE FORUMS THE STARTER IS A 2004 RX-8-WIDE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE BALL JOINTS SEPARATED AND FRACTURED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V325000 (SUSPENSION). THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PENDING THE MANUFACTURER'S APPROVAL FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V345000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

MY PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD OVER THE AIRBAG IS CRACKED REALLY BAD LIKE YOU CAN SEE THE AIR BAG I AM AFRAID TO HAVE ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT I FEEL LIKE IT IS GOING TO SET THE AIR BAG OFF FOR NO REASON THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME ITS GOING TO COST AROUND 700.00 TO FIX I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. *TR

FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COVER CRACKED AND EXPOSED.

VEHICLE HAD STRONG SMELL OF RAW GASOLINE FUMES IN THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. UPON REMOVING THE REAR SEAT TO ACCESS THE FUEL PUMP FOR INSPECTION, A POOL OF GASOLINE WAS FOUND AROUND THE FUEL PUMP AND SURROUNDING AREA TO INCLUDE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR THE PUMP. IT APPEARS THE LEAK OCCURS FROM A FAULTY PLASTIC NIPPLE ON THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY THAT CONNECTS THE PUMP TO THE MAIN FUEL LINE. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH UNCOVERED THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT WITH THE MAZDA RX8. THE FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE IS IMMENSE. I WOULD RECOMMEND A FURTHER REVIEW BY THE NHTSA TO ASSESS THE SEVERITY AND SPECTRUM OF THE FUEL PUMP ISSUE IN THE MAZDA RX8. *TR

FOR SOME REASON THE POWER STEERING START WORKING INTERMITTENT, NOW IT IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. MAY CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE HARD TO MANIPULATE. MY LIFE IS IN DANGER. *TR

POWER STEERING WAS LOST MID-TURN, HAD TO WRESTLE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE TURN. FORUM SEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT MANY OTHER RX-8 OWNERS ARE HAVING STEERING ISSUES AND INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING LOSS. IN THE WORST OCCURRENCES, THE WHEEL BECOMES LOCKED TO ONE SIDE. USER-BASE HAS RESEARCHED AND FOUND SENSOR ISSUES THAT MAZDA MAY WANT TO ADDRESS. *TR

CAR EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE RECEIVED PROPER CARE AND OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES. CERTIFIED MAZDA MECHANIC DETERMINED THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY APEX SEALS. BECAUSE OF THIS THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST ENGINE POWER AND COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. WAS REQUIRED TO BUY NEW ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME.

RUSTED OIL COOLER LINES AND FITTINGS ON MY RX8 DRIVEN IN OHIO WHERE ROAD SALTING IS PREVALENT IN SNOW MONTHS. FILING THIS COMPLAINT SINCE THERE IS A RECALL ISSUED FOR MY SAME MODEL YEAR IN CANADA (SPECIAL PROGRAM 76) FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE DUE TO SNOW AND SALT. MODIFIED LINES ARE AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS ISSUE BUT MAZDA IS NOT EXTENDING RECALL COVERAGE TO U.S. REPAIR COST AT DEALER ABOVE $1K. *TR

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHEN I WAS TURNING ON TO THE HIGH WAY. MAKING IT STIFF AND HARD TO TURN. CLUTCH PEDDLE COLLAPSED MAKING IT HAD TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE CLUTCH RATIO IS OFF, *TR

RX-8 CRACKED PASSENGER DASHBOARD. CRACKED IN THE OUTLINE OF THE FAULTY AIRBAG SHAPE. I AM TAKING IN FOR RECALL OF AIRBAG BUT AM REQUESTING DASH COVER REPLACEMENT AS IT IS CLEARLY CAUSED BY AIRBAG LEAKAGE/FAULT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BECAME INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING BUT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. NO DETAILS OF THE REPAIRS WERE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROX. 50,000. UPDATED 05/03/16*LJ *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPORADICALLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85000.

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.

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

HORRIBLE IN 2004 YEARS OF THIS VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT POPPED UP SUDDENLY FOR NO APPERANT REASON. *TR

THE ELECTRICAL ASSIST POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. SOMETIME, WHEN STARTING THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING WORKS FINE. OTHER TIMES, IT WILL NOT WORK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION AND FUEL RELATED COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED AND WAS DAMAGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

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

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.

I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 5/14/2013 AFTER A WEEK OR SO IT STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND MISFIRING , POPPING NOISE, TRANSMISSION WARMS UP. THE GEAR THAT I HOLD AND SHIFT JUST WARMS UP ALL THE TIME IT FEELS LIKE IT MIGHT FIRE UP. THEN I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I TOOK IT TO MAZDA MECHANIC THEY CHARGED AROUND 900$. THEN IT DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING I WENT ANOTHER ONE AND THEY TOLD ME LOSS COMPRESSION IT WAS 115 THAT TIME. I KEPT DRIVING IT AND THEY SAID I NEED TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION TOO.. I PAID THIS CAR 6500. AND NOW IT S ALL BAD. AND APPARENTLY I NEED TO BUY NEW ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE IT WILL COST ME ABOUT 6000$ .NOW ITS ON 129,000MILES. *TR

DASH BOARD NO PASSENGER SIDE WHERE AIR BAG IS FOR ABOUT THE LAST 2 YEARS DASH STARTED CRACKING IN THE SHAPE OF A H EVERY SUMMER WHEN ITS HOT THE DASH LOOKS LIKE ITS GOT A BOW IN IT LIKE THE AIRBAG IS GOING TO JUST POP OUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE EACH YEAR NOW DEALER SAID NO RECALL BUT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY WITHOUT A CRASH OCCURRING MANY RX-8 OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS CRACKING WHERE AIR BAGS ARE IN PASSENGER SIDE BUT MAZDA WANT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE ISSUE UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED FROM THESE DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS ON THE RX8. *TR

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

POWER STEERING JERKS AND SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO WHILE SETTING STILL STEERING WHEEL DID A COMPLETE 360. *TR

NOTICEABLE OIL LEAK, SCATTERED ALL OVER WHERE THE VEHICLE IS NORMALLY PARKED AS WELL AS ALL OVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNDERBODY. OIL LEVEL DROPS APPROXIMATELY 1 US QUART PER 2-3 DAYS, DRIVEN ONLY LIGHTLY TO AND FROM PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. 10 MILES A DAY TOPS. DIAGNOSED BY INDEPENDENT ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC AS SUBSTANTIAL LEAK FROM THE OIL COOLER LINES, DUE TO RUST AND EXTREME CORROSION. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN IN A HARSH CLIMATE, AND GENERALLY NOT IN SNOW OR ICE. I SEE A RECALL FOR THIS IN SOME COUNTRIES, BUT NOT THE UNITED STATES, DESPITE BEING SUBJECTED TO THE SAME ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

LOST POWER STEERING. CAR WOULD STILL TURN WITH HEAVY EFFORT. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO ELECTRONIC ASSIST. *TR

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

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

POWER STEERING FAILED. THIS MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER VEHICLE, MAKING DRIVING DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH PANEL THAT IS ABOVE THE AIR BAG CRACKS; WHICH CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG AND CAUSE INJURY TO INDIVIDUAL (POSSIBLY PREVENT DEPLOYMENT OR CREATE DASH PIECES THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY). THIS IS HAPPENING TO MULTIPLE RX-8'S (GO TO RX-8 CLUB)! SINCE THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH MOST IF NOT ALL RX8'S IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY MAZDA. *TR

POWERS STEERING FAILED. *TR

2004 MAZDA RX8. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL DEFECTS IN THE VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ABOUT A YEAR AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS STARTED FILLING UP WITH WATER. ALSO, THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WITH NO WARNING. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, HE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TWO OXYGEN SENSORS. AFTER THE OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED, THE STALLING CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE DEALER, WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE CENTER CONSOLE OVERHEATED TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS UNABLE TO BE TOUCHED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COVER WAS BULGING AND COULD CRACK AT ANY MOMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,010.

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET MOUNTED TO THE FIRE WALL CRACKED ON BROKE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE UNIT CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO BE UNUSABLE AND UNABLE FOR ANY FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS TO BE ENGAGED. LUCKILY I WAS PULLING OFF THE ROAD INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT USE OF THE CLUTCH. THIS IS DANGEROUS BEYOND BELIEF AND IS PRESENTLY COVERED BY MAZDA UNDER AN 8 YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY EXTENSION PLAN BUT THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATED SAFETY RECALL REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE OR YEAR. THE FACTORY PART IS MADE OF TIN AS BEST I CAN TELL AND CAN BE BENT AND DEFORMED WITH BARE HANDS AT THE POINT WHERE ITS BOLTED TO THE FIREWALL, A CRITICAL MOUNTING POINT AS EVIDENCED BY THE GROWING NUMBER OF CASES FOR THIS EXACT DEFECT. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO PURCHASE THE PART AT MY OWN EXPENSE BUT DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO SINCE THIS IS SUCH A BASIC SAFETY DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE DEADLY RESULTS TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER INNOCENT DRIVERS IN THE VICINITY OF THE AFFECTED MAZDA RX8. *TR

I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALER FOR MY RX8'S POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. WHEN IT SHUT OFF TWICE OF THE MANY TIMES, IT PULLED MY CAR TO THE HARD RIGHT AND I ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE OF IT. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME THE FIRST TIME TO REPLACE THE BATTERY TERMINAL BECAUSE IT WAS LOOSING POWER TO THE STEERING UNIT. THEN MULTIPLE TIMES LATER, HUNDREDS MORE, THEY SAID THAT REPAIRING THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTORS WAS RECOMMENDED BY THEIR TECH LINE AND THEY SAID THAT MAY NOT BE THE LAST THING NEEDED. FIRST OF ALL, THE DEALERSHIP, HERITAGE MAZDA OF LUTHERVILLE, MD, SEEM TO BE WORKING HARD ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS TRULY IS A TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUE AND ITS COSTING ME HUNDREDS IN A SHOT IN THE DARK TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY MATTER, EVEN MIKE WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADDED THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. ON THE RX8 CLUB WEBSITE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME POWER STEERING FAILURE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND SMELLED GASOLINE FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE OIL PAN, THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD SEIZE AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO VEER ABNORMALLY TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO MOVE OFF THE ROADWAY AND RESET THE POWER STEERING ASSIST THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE BATTERY TERMINAL HAD FAILED. AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY TERMINAL, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY THEN ADVISED THAT THEY WERE INSPECTING THE WIRING HARNESS BEING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,500.... UPDATED 12/14/12 *BF UPDATED 12/19/2012 *JS

THE ENGINE OIL COOLER HOSES DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK WHICH WAS CAUSED BY CORROSION TO THE METALLIC PARTS OF THE ASSEMBLY. *TR

AT A STOP LIGHT, I DEPRESSED MY CLUTCH PEDAL. I HEARD AN AUDIBLE SNAP AND THE CLUTCH BECAME UNUSABLE. *TR

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

I JUMPED INTO MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 AFTER WORK STARTED IT UP AND WENT TO DRIVE AND NOTICED IT WAS REALLY HARD TO TURN AND I LOOKED AND NOTICED THAT A LIGHT THAT WAS A STEERING WHEEL WITH AN EXCLAMATION MARK NEXT TO IT SO I DROVE IT HOME NOT EVEN A MILE AWAY AND READ ABOUT IT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT IT HAPPENS A LOT. PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER VERY VERY SOON. *TR

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET INDICATES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR MAZDA YET THERE ARE NO RECALLS TO FIX FAULTY ENGINEERING. THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW LEAKS ONTO THE CONNECTORS FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING CAUSING CORROSION AND SPORADIC CONNECTIONS. *TR

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

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

STEERING TORQUE SENSOR THAT SOMETIMES FAILS TO PROPERLY REGISTER DRIVER STEERING INPUT, CAUSING THE SYSTEM TO REMOVE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) ASSISTANCE. *TR

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.