2005 Mazda RX-8 Complaint Log

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

IT WAS ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON. WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A POTHOLE ON THE ROAD THAT I DIDN'T SEE. I JUMPED INTO THE POTHOLE AND GOT OUT AND CONTINUE DRIVING FOR A 2ND MAKING A TURN I THAN REALIZED MY STEERING WAS LOCKED I COULDN'T TURN MY CAR. MY ENGINE WAS ON AND MY CAR STILL MOVING AT A PACE. I STEP ON MY BRAKES TRIED TO TURN TO A NEAREST PARKING NEARBY FORCING A TURN AND MY STEERING JUST COULDN'T . LUCKILY WITH A STIFF TURN INTO A PARKING I STOPPED MY CAR AND THAN TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND PULLED THE KEY OUT. ONCE I DID THAT THE STEERING WAS RELEASED. I DID GO ON TO THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL BUT REALIZED SOMEONE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID THIS CAN HAPPEN AGAIN ON A HIGHWAY AND COULD BE DEADLY. *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAXDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELT WAS INSERTED INTO THE REAR SEAT RECEIVER BY A TEN YEAR OLD CHILD. THE CHILD BECAME TRAPPED IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE HARNESS WAS REMOVED FROM THE DOOR SO THAT HE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER HIS BODY OUT OF THE SEAT BELT AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

I WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND I WAS ABOUT TO SHIFT INTO THIRD BUT I HEARD A POP AND IT WOULD NOT GET INTO GEAR. MY PEDAL STAYED DEPRESSED AND WOULD ONLY COME UP IF I KICKED IT FROM BEHIND. I DID HEAR A FEW CREAKS WHEN I RELEASED THE CLUTCH THE DAY BEFORE AND JUST THOUGHT IT NEEDED OIL. TURNS OUT THE LEFT SPOT WELD BROKE AND THE BRACKET CRACKED ON THE LEFT SIDE. *TR

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

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

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

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

STEERING WAS JERKING AND NOW POWER STEERING HAS STOP. *TR

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

THE CLUTCH PEDAL PEDAL ASSEMBLY BROKE LOOSE AND WENT SIDEWAYS UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. *JS

**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

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

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

CAR HAD ISSUE STEERING TO THE RIGHT FOR APROX. 5 MILES, WHEN OFF HIGHWAY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED AT 35 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. HAD TO BE DRIVEN TO DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED. *TR

MY SECOND INCIDENT ON THE SAME VEHICLE/PART. I PREVIOUSLY HAD THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN MY MAZDA RX-8 REPLACED BECAUSE OF A BROKEN BRACKET. THE REPLACEMENT WAS AN IDENTICAL PART WITH NO REDESIGNS. APPROXIMATELY 16 MONTHS LATER IT BROKE YET AGAIN. SAME CONDITIONS, DRIVING ON THE ROAD, SUDDEN LOSS OF RESISTANCE AND CRUNCHING SOUND FROM PEDAL, UNABLE TO SHIFT PROPERLY. INSPECTING THE VEHICLE AFTER PARKING REVEALED THAT THE EXACT SAME SPOT WELD BROKE, LEAVING THE BRACKET TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL AND NOT PROVIDING LEVERAGE FOR THE CLUTCH PISTON INTO THE MASTER CYLINDER. *TT

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

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

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

ON FOR SAID DATE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, DECREASED POWER NOTED THEN ENGINE SHUT OFF. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. EIGHT HOURS LATER RESTARTED THE CAR, DROVE 50 FEET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THIS TIME THE CARE HAD NO POWER. MAZDA DEALER WHO SERVICED THE CAR REPORTED NEEDED COILS AND SPARK PLUGS. ON JUNE 9TH WHEN STARTING THE CAR THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING WAS NOTED TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED THE LIGHT AND STEERING WHERE NORMAL AGAIN. MAZDA MECHANIC COULD NOT BE DEFINITIVE WITH THE DIAGNOSIS, PROBABLE B1342-EPS CONTROL MODULE. I WAS TOLD TAKE THE CAR AND IF PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN BRING IT IN. ON JUNE 13TH WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND AGAIN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DROVE TO THE MAZDA DEALER, LEFT THE CAR RUNNING UNTIL MECHANIC COULD VISUALIZE THE SITUATION, AGAIN WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE LIGHT WAS OUT, AND POWER STEERING NORMAL. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AGAIN WITH THE ONLY ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM WAS THAT OF SIMILAR CONCERNS INVOLVING THE N-03 CONNECTOR POOR CRIMPS-TERMINALS TO WIRES. THIS WAS THE TECH LINE REPORT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. *TR

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.

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.

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

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

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

2005 MAZDA RX8; EXCESSIVE SQUEAKING NOISE FROM CLUTCH PEDAL UPON ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT AND FEELS LOOSE. *TR

MOST MODELS OF THE 2005 RX-8 ARE EQUIPPED WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. IN ORDER TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS, THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE A "CUTOFF" THAT PREVENT BLINDING ONCOMING DRIVERS, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS REQUIRED BY LAW. THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE AN AUTOLEVELING FUNCTION WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO LEVEL THE HEADLIGHTS AT THE PROPER HEIGHT DEPENDENT ON THE POSITION OF THE CAR'S SUSPENSION. THE HEADLIGHT LEVELERS ARE CONTROLLED BY TWO SENSORS, ONE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT AND ONE ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL HUB, CONNECTED TO THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THESE SENSORS WHICH CAUSES THE HEADLIGHT LEVELERS TO MALFUNCTION, AIMING THE HEADLIGHTS EITHER TOO LOW (WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IN THE RX-8) OR TOO HIGH (WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BY BLINDING ONCOMING TRAFFIC). THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LOCATED BENEATH THE CAR AT EACH SENSOR THAT MOISTURE CAN GET INSIDE, CAUSING CORROSION. THIS CAUSES THE SENSORS TO FAIL AND THE HEADLIGHTS WILL AUTO-AIM THEMSELVES IN ANY ORIENTATION, AND THIS CANNOT BE OVERRIDDEN...I KNOW, I HAVE TRIED REPEATEDLY TO MANUALLY RE-AIM THEM MYSELF. MANUALLY RESETTING THE HEADLIGHTS WILL ONLY CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO MIS-AIM THEMSELVES AGAIN WHEN THE CAR IS RESTARTED AND THE SENSORS RETURN FAULTY SIGNALS. CURRENTLY, MY HEADLIGHTS ARE AIMED FAR TOO HIGH FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND I ROUTINELY GET "FLASHED" BY OTHER DRIVERS. DRIVING MY CAR AT NIGHT IS UNSAFE FOR MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS DUE TO THIS DEFECT. AS PREVIOUSLY NOTED, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THERE HAVE BEEN APPARENTLY ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT THAT MAZDA HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THIS DEFECT, AND THE LEVELERS HAVE BEEN RE-ENGINEERED TO USE MORE HEAVY-DUTY CONNECTORS. I WOULD URGE THE NHTSA TO EVALUATE THIS ISSUE AND COMPEL MAZDA TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT ASAP. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION! LINK TO TECHNICAL BULLETIN: HTTP://WWW.FINISHLINEPERFORMANCE.COM/PDF/RX8/BULLETIN/09-008-07-1729A.PDF. *TR

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

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

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

DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN AN EXTREMELY LOUD POP SOUNDED RESEMBLING A BACKFIRE OR THE EXPLOSION OF AN AEROSOL CAN. AFTER PULLING BACK INTO THE SPACE, A FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE NOISE REVEALED A MALFUNCTION WITH THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG. THE DOOR PANEL HAS BEEN KNOCKED ASKEW RESULTING IN A BACK DOOR THAT WILL NOT OPEN. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS JERKED TIGHT AND REMAINS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. HAD A PASSENGER BEEN SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT, THE TIGHTENING OF THE BELT UPON THE MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY. THE OTHER AIRBAGS ARE OF GREAT CONCERN AT THIS POINT BECAUSE IF THERE IS ANOTHER MALFUNCTION WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION ON THE ROAD, SERIOUS INJURY WOULD OCCUR. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT CONTINUES TO EITHER BLINK OR REMAIN CONSTANTLY LIT. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT YET BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THE DEALER AS I'M GUESSING IT WILL BE VERY COSTLY TO FIX. *TR

IDENTICAL TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE09045 MY CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY FAILED. CLUTCH UN-USABLE. 1. NO WARNING 2 CLUTCH PEDAL GOES LIMP, FALLS TO THE FLOOR UNUSABLE 3. CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND MASTERCYLINDER REPLACED(DUE TO BENT ROD CAUSED BY FAILURE). *TR

OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS OR SO THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2005 MAZDA RX-8 HAD BEEN MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE WHENEVER DEPRESSED. THE NOISE SUBSIDED AFTER A FEW HOURS OF DRIVING. HOWEVER, THIS PAST MONDAY (8/30/2010), WHEN I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT I HEARD A SOFT CRACK. I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHERE SHIFTING FROM 2 TO 3RD I HEARD AN EVEN LARGER SNAP AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD TO CUT ACROSS A FEW LANES OF TRAFFIC AND SAFELY MANAGED TO GET TO A GAS STATION. THE CAR WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS AND THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

CLUTCH DOSENT COME BACK ALL THE WAY UP. *TR

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

WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY 7/14/2010, THE CLUTCH BRACKET ON MY 2005 MAZDA RX-8 SNAPPED, RENDERING THE CLUTCH PEDAL INOPERABLE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT ONLY BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT AND I WAS ABLE TO DISENGAGE GEAR AND SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. *TR

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

CLUTCH PEDAL IN MY 2005 RX8 BROKE WHILE DRIVING, LEAVING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT GEARS. IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE AMONG RX8 DRIVERS, BUT MAZDA HAS SO FAR REFUSED TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 MAZDA RX-8 HOME, AND AFTER A NORMAL DRIVE HOME WITH NO ISSUES, I WAS GOING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND NEAR MY HOUSE AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR, THE CLUTCH WOULDN'T RELEASE AND I COULDN'T CHANGE GEARS. HAD THIS HAPPENED A DOZEN SHIFTS EARLIER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN A HIGHWAY MERGE, AND MY SAFETY SERIOUSLY ENDANGERED. UPON INSPECTION WHEN I MANAGED TO BABY THE CAR IN 1ST GEAR HOME, THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAD BROKEN AT THE BRACKET. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD A CLUTCH PEDAL BREAK. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND FULLY EXPECT REPLACEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE, BUT BASED ON WHAT I'VE READ, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, DESPITE MY EXTENDED BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. *TR

I DRIVE A 2005 MAZDA RX-8 MT. IT HAS AROUND 73K MILES. THE CLUTCH STARTED SQUEAKING COUPLE OF DAYS BACK AND YESTERDAY WHEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN I ENGAGED THE CLUTCH AND I HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND. I COULD NOT ENGAGE THE GEAR LATER AND HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED. I TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE AND I AM TOLD THAT THE CLUTCH BRACKET IS BROKEN. *TR

I WENT TO MOVE MY DRIVERS SIDE SUN-VISOR TO BLOCK THE SUN AND IT SPLIT AND PARTIALLY CAME APART HITTING MY HEAD AND CUTTING MY SKIN. MORE URGENTLY, IT BLOCKED MY VIEW OF THE ROAD AND I HAD TROUBLE MOVING IT OUT OF THE WAY. FOR SEVERAL LONG SECONDS, I WAS TRAVELING 65 MILES PER HOUR, FIGHTING WITH THE VISOR, UNABLE TO ROTATE IT OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE IT WAS BROKEN, WITH NO FORWARD VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO MOVE IT TO THE SIDE AND HOLD IT THERE WITH MY LEFT HAND WHILE I TRAVELED TO MY DESTINATION. ONCE I ARRIVED I REMOVED IT WITH A SCREW DRIVER. UPON INSPECTION OF THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR, IT IS STARTING TO SPLIT ALSO. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN. THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR AND THE CLUTCH TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THE ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS $390.00. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,400. UPDATED 06/08/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/28/10

WHILE DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON I-75 IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN MY 2005 MAZDA RX-8 SUDDENLY MADE A CRACKING SOUND AND FELL TO THE FLOOR. THE CLUTCH REMAINED ABOUT 1" FROM THE FLOOR, ALLOWING MINIMAL DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION, SUFFICIENT TO ALLOW ME TO RETURN THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BROKEN CLUTCH PEDAL, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE MASTER CYLINDER. THERE HAD BEEN SOME CREAKING AT THE TOP OF THE RETURN OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL OVER THE PAST 2-3 WEEKS.

1. DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 50 MPH EXITING OFF A LONG OFF RAMP. 2. CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE. PUSHED CLUTCH IN AND HEARD A LOUD "CRACK!". BARELY GOT THE CAR INTO FIRST GEAR AND INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE IT WAS DOA AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE PEDAL WAS BENT AND NEARLY STUCK BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL. 3. NO REPAIR. DEALER ASKING $595 TO REPAIR. I CAN'T AFFORD IT (I AM UNEMPLOYED AND COULDN'T FIND A SINGLE JOB IN A YEAR AND A HALF). *TR

WHILE DRIVING A 2005 MAZDA RX8 I LOST CONTROL AFTER SHIFTING FROM 5 TO 4TH GEAR. THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK IN AND MOVED SLIGHTLY RIGHT NEAR THE BREAK PEDAL AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THIS SURPRISED ME WHICH CAUSED ME TO RUN OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED A TOW COMPANY TO TRANSPORT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT USED WITH 58000 MILES ON IT. THEY SAID THE CLUTCH HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR 1400 DOLLARS. AT THE TIME I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY SO I ASKED FOR IT TO BE TOWED BACK TO A LOCAL GARAGE. MY LOCAL GARAGE FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLE BROKE AWAY FROM THE MOUNTING PLATE. THIS IS A PART THAT YOU WOULD NOT EXPECT TO BREAK. ALL INDICATIONS POINT TO A FAULTY WELD. THE METAL RIPPED FROM THE POINT OF A SPOT WELD. THIS SPOT WELD MAY HAVE WEAKENED WHAT IS RELATIVELY THIN METAL FOR THIS USE. I HAD A LOCAL GARAGE REPLACE THE PART FOR 500 DOLLARS WITH PARTS AND LABOR. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE ORIGINAL GUARANTEE BUT MAZDA REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE COST BECAUSE IT WAS NOT REPAIRED BY MAZDA. ALL I WANTED WAS THE COST OF THE PART. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I HAVE A SAFETY CONCERN IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) AROUND 30 DAYS AGO I HEARD A "POP" SOUND WHEN I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL OF MY 2005 MAZDA RX-8. IT FELT A LITTLE SOFTER AFTER THE "POP" SOUND. I THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD BROKEN BUT COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING AND THE CLUTCH SEEMED TO WORK OK. HOWEVER, OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS, IT BECAME HARDER AND HARDER TO GET THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE. ON FEBRUARY 23, 2010, I BROUGHT MY 2005 MAZDA RX-8 TO CONGRESSIONAL MAZDA IN ROCKVILLE, MD TO HAVE MY CLUTCH INSPECTED. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE QUOTE WAS OVER $500 SO I SAID I WOULD BRING THE CAR BACK IN WHEN I HAD THE MONEY. HOWEVER, WHEN I DROVE AWAY I COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR AND THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE BACK TO THE DEALER IN 1ST GEAR AND ASKED THEM TO ORDER THE PART AND REPLACE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET. WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, THE CAR SHIFTED FINE. I HAVE THE BROKEN CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND I CAN SEE CLEARLY THAT THE METAL ON ONE SIDE OF THE MOUNTING BOLT HAS TORN APART MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FULLY ENGAGE THE CLUTCH. THAT MUST HAVE BEEN THE "POP" SOUND I HEARD. I HAVE 77,000 MILES ON MY RX-8. I DRIVE THE CAR TO WORK, NOT ON COMPETITIVE OR CHALLENGING TRACKS OR COURSES. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT MAZDA USED POOR QUALITY METAL AND/OR POOR QUALITY SPOT WELDS IN CONSTRUCTING THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY ON THE 2005 RX-8 AND I REQUEST THAT NHTSA EVALUATE IF THERE IS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING QUALITY OF THAT PART. I HAVE THE OLD CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET AND CAN SEND IT TO NHTSA FOR INSPECTION. I BELIEVE MAZDA NEEDS TO RECALL THE CARS AND REPLACE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH A BETTER CONSTRUCTED SYSTEM. THE REPLACEMENT CLUTCH ASSEMBLY I RECEIVED HAS THE SAME POOR QUALITY METAL AND SPOT WELDS AS THE ORIGINAL PART. MAZDA DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ADDRESSING THIS POTENTIALITY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION. [XXX] *TR

I OWN A 2005 MAZDA RX8 WITH 30K MILES. I NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN APPLYING MY CLUTCH PEDAL APPROX A MONTH AGO. THE OTHER EVENING WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL ONTO A BUSY ROAD THE CLUTCH MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN I APPLIED THE CLUTCH AND I WAS UNABLE TO PUT IT INTO GEAR. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO ROLL BACK TO A SAFE PLACE AND WAIT FOR A TOW. MAZDA INFORMED ME THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM & I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I'VE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HAD I BEEN ABLE TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC AND IT BROKE, I WOULD NOT OF BEEN ABLE TO SHIFT WHICH WOULD HAVE LEFT ME IN A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT MAZDA IS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THIS PART W/O A CHARGE. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *TR

MY CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY MAZDA RX 8 BROKE AT 80,000 MILES. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM. *DT