2004 Mazda RX-8 complaints

I PURCHASED A 2004 MAZDA RX-8 IN MAY 2004. IN NOV 2005, THE FIRST COLD DAY, THE ENGINE FLOODED. THE SAME WEEKEND I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MAZDA WARNING ME OF THE PROBLEM AND TO BRING IT IN FOR A RECALL. I WAS ADVISED TO LET THE CAR WARM UP BEFORE DURING IT OFF. I MADE UP A WARNING SIGN FOR THE ATTENDANTS AT THE PARKING LOT, SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS FLOODED TWO TIMES AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIMES; AIRPORT PARKING LOT AFTER LONG LONG FLIGHTS. I AM PRETTY UPSET ABOUT MAZDA'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS THIS PROBLEM. A LETTER TO MAZDA RESULTED IN THEM SENDING ME INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO "DE-CHOKE" THE ENGINE WHICH CAN AND HAS KILLED THE BATTERY AND HAS NEVER WORKED. THIS IS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH MAZDA AND MY LAST. I AM THE OWNER OF THE CAR AND I AM EMBARRASSED ABOUT THE WHOLE THING. I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MAZDA CAN LEAVE THEIR CUSTOMERS LITERALLY, "OUT IN THE COLD". *NM

I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH 2004. DURING THE TIME SPAN OF JULY 2004-OCTOBER 2005 THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPT. FOR FAILURE TO START AND ENGINE FAILURE DURING DRIVING THE CAR. OCTOBER 5, 2005 THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO PICK UP THE CAR THAT IT WAS FIXED. I WENT AND PICKED UP THE CAR AND STARTED HOME IN THE CAR THE CAR QUIT RUNNING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MILES PER HOUR AND MYSELF AND TWO CHILDREN WERE ALMOST HIT BY TWO BIG TRUCKS. *JB

1. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE 80F OR HIGHER. AIR CONDITIONER ON SEEMS TO CONTRIBUTE. POSSIBLY ALTITUDE IS A FACTOR. MUCH WORSE IN CITY DRIVING 2. CAR LOOSES POWER, ESPECIALLY AT TAKE OFF. I HAVE PULLED OUT ONTO THE FREEWAY AND TAKEN >1 MILE TO GET UP TO 50 MPH 3. MAZDA HAVE DOWNLOADED SOFTWARE PATCHES TWICE - NO IMPROVEMENT

I OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX8. I HAVE 24,700+ MILES & NO PROBLEMS UNTIL NOW. 8 MONTHS AGO, I CAME TO MARIN, CA. TO WORK ON CONTRACT. AS THIS CONTRACT IS LONG TERM , I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION. 2 MONTHS LATER, I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE ODOR OF CLUTCH BURN, RARELY & WITH NO REASON. I WAS DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE, SO I MADE AN APPT. WITH MARIN MAZDA. THIS WAS WHEN I MET JOHN LAUSTER, MARIN MAZDA'S SVC. MGR. DURING MY 1ST VISIT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM, AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS OPERATING. 3 MONTHS LATER, I EXPERIENCED IT AGAIN AND BROUGHT IT IN. AGAIN, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. ON SEPT. 20 '05, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO SLIP A LITTLE, & WITHIN 20 MINUTES THE SLIPPAGE WAS TO THE POINT WHERE I COULDN'T DRIVE IT WITHOUT POSSIBLY DAMAGING THE TRANS. I CALLED MARIN SERVICE TO BRING IT IN, & TOWED TO THE DEALER. JOHN CALLED ME FRIDAY STATING THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE CLUTCH, BEARINGS, FLYWHEEL, & THAT MY TRANSMISSION WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, SO COST WOULD BE PASSED TO ME. $1300.00. HE PUT IN FOR APPEAL TO THE FACTORY REP FOR COVERAGE DUE TO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES & TOLD ME HE WOULD CALL ME BACK WITH THE DECISION. I CONTACTED MAZDA USA- I WENT THROUGH THE MOTIONS, THINKING THAT THEY WOULD COVER IT AS THE PROBLEM WAS OBVIOUS & RELATED TO A RECENT RECALL INVOLVING THERMAL DAMAGE. I GOT THE CALL FROM JOHN. HE STATED THE FACTORY REP CLAIMED IT AS "NORMAL WEAR" & MAZDA WOULD NOT COVER IT. I TOLD JOHN THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT UP 6 MONTHS AGO. HE STATED MAZDA HAD

CONSUMER CONCERNS REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT GIVEN BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR VEHICLE INSPECTION REGARDING THE FUEL TANK AND FRONT LOWER ARM BALL JOINTS RECALLS.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 3305G ON THE FUEL TANK. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT THEY WHERE NOT ABLE TO GIVE HER AN APPOINTMENT UNTIL TWO WEEKS LATER. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT SINCE THE RECALLED COMPONENT COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE THAT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE REPAIRED IT IMMEDIATELY. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AND HITTING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP , AND IF PRESSING THE RESUME BUTTON ,THE CAR WILL ACTUALLY SET ITSELF 5 MPH MORE THAN WHAT ORIGINALLY HAD THE SPEED SET FOR. ONCE THE CAR GOES TO 5 MPH OVER THE SPEED THE CAR WAS SET FOR THE CAR WILL ACT AS IF IT WAS TRYING TO MAKE ITSELF GO BACK DOWN TO THE SPEED THAT WAS ORIGINALLY SET ,AND THE VEHICLE WILL JERK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THURSDAY TO SEE IF THEY COULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THIS PROBLEM STOP IS TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND RESET IT AND THEN IT WILL STOP. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WILL HAPPEN AT ABOUT 60% OF THE TIME THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET. ALSO, THE ENGINE FAN WILL STAY ON ALL THE TIME. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEREFORE , IT CANNOT BE FIXED AT THIS TIME. THE ELECTRIC FAN WILL ACTUALLY STAY ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THEN BY TURNING THE IGNITION BACK ON AND OFF IT THE VEHICLE WILL STOP RUNNING. THIS MOSTLY OCCURS IF THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. *AK

AROUND THE MIDDLE OF JUNE I STARTED NOTICING STRANGE BEHAVIOR IN THE PERFORMANCE OF MY ENGINE IN MY MAZDA RX-8. WHILE MAINTAINING A HIGHWAY SPEED OF ROUGHLY 65MPH I WOULD HEAR A RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE, LIKE MARBLES BOUNCING AROUND INSIDE. THIS WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER IN ANY GEAR. AT NO TIME DID THE TEMP GAUGE NOTIFY ME OF OVERHEATING. THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY WHEN I EASED OFF THE GAS TO A DANGEROUSLY SLOW HIGHWAY SPEED. ONCE GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE, BUT WITH NOTICEABLY REDUCED PERFORMANCE. AFTER THE THIRD OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM IN MID JULY, I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR A DIAGNOSIS. WHILE EXPLAINING THE PROBLEMS TO ONE OF THE SERVICEMEN, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL TANK OF WHICH I WAS UNAWARE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE ENGINE PROBLEM I DESCRIBED WAS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT THEY JUST STARTED HEARING ABOUT ON MANY OF THE RX-8''S, AND THERE WAS NO KNOWN FIX. HE MENTIONED THAT MY CAR COULD BE THERE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, NOT THE ONE DAY I WAS EXPECTING, AND THAT THERE WERE A LARGE NUMBER OF CARS WITH THE SAME ''MYSTERY'' ENGINE PROBLEM, AND THAT ONE CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN THERE FOR 35 DAYS. THIS CONCERNED ME, BUT I WAS ASSURED THAT MAZDA ENGINEERS WERE WORKING ON A FIX SO IT WOULDN''T BE A LONG WAIT ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM SANDRA, MY SERVICE REP, INFORMING ME THAT MY CAR WAS READY. SHE TOLD ME THAT THE KNOCKING I WAS HEARING IN THE ENGINE IS DUE TO USING THE WRONG GAS. I TOLD HER THA

WHILE DRIVING, THE CENTER CONSOLE GETS EXTREMELY HOT. THE AREA BEHIND THE SHIFTER AND ALSO INSIDE THE CUPHOLDERS ARE EFFECTED. I LEFT MY WATCH IN THE CUPHOLDER AND WHEN I GRABBED IT WHEN I WAS GETING OUT OF THE CAR, IT WAS SCALDING HOT. MAYBE THAT WOULD BE GOOD IN THE WINTER TO KEEP MY COFFEE WARM, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY ABNORMAL.

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.

I BOUGHT AN RX-8 LAST YEAR, AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE SINCE THE DAY I BROUGHT IT HOME. THE ENGINE LIGHT AND TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE HAVE BEEN RANDOMLY GOING ON AND OFF FOR A YEAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS, NONE OF WHICH COULD FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE EVEN REPLACED TIRES BECAUSE I COULDNT TELL THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE WAS SHOWING A PROBLEM, DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS GOING ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. MORE RECENTLY MY CAR DIED ON ME IN THE LEFT LANE OF I95 IN SOUTH FLORIDA, AS I USED THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR DECELERATED FOR NO REASON THEN DIED. IT WAS TOWED BACK TO A LOCAL DEALER WHEN IT WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER 5 DAYS SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAID THE CAR WAS FINE. SHORTLY AFTER PICKING UP MY CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE INDICATORS WERE NO LONGER RANDOMLY LIGHTING UP. (I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS WEIRD SINCE THE DEALER SAID THEY DIDNT DO ANYTHING TO THE CAR) JUST THIS PAST FRIDAY, THE CAR DIED AGAIN THIS TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR INTERSECTION IN SOUTH FLORIDA. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER LOCAL DEALER WHO CALLED ME TODAY TO TELL ME THAT THEY ONCE AGAIN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR COULD BE PICKED UP. THIS IS NOW A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MYSELF, MY PASSENGERS AND ANY OTHER CARS IN THE VICINITY WHEN MY CAR DIES. WHAT IS MAZDA GOING TO DO WHEN I HAVE A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR GET KILLED BECAUSE THEY CREATED A CRAPPY CAR?

MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 WAS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER OF 2003. SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE, THE ENGINE HAS MADE LOUD KNOCKING NOISES ON ACCELERATION AND OTHER UNACCEPTABLE NOISES WHEN IN IDLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON NUMEROUS TIMES, AND ON CHECKING THE CAR ON AT LEAST 5 OCCASIONS, THE MAZDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE ONLY MINOR REPAIRS OR DONE NOTHING AT ALL. THIS PROBLEM HAS WORSENED OVER TIME AND RECENTLY THE CAR STALLED AT A BUSY HIGHWAY INTERSECTION AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR 20 MINUTES - THIS WAS A HIGHLY DANGEROUS SITUATION NOT ONLY FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS DRIVING AND STRANDED IN THE CAR WITH VEHICLES SPEEDING BY AND BARELY MISSING HITTING HER, BUT FOR THOSE VEHICLES APPROACHING FROM BEHIND. MAZDA SUDDENLY DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE OIL PUMP - SPECIFICALLY "CODE P209 POST CATALYST FUEL PUMP TRIM TOO LEAN." THIS CODE HAS COME UP ON THE DIAGNOSTIC PREVIOUSLY, WITHOUT REPAIR. THE CAR IS NOW JUST OVER 50,000 MILES AND THEREFORE, MAZDA REFUSES TO HONOR THE WARRANTY - DESPITE THE ON-GOING NATURE OF THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE MAZDA HAS ACTED FRAUDULENTLY IN THIS MANNER. THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE NEAR THE TIME OF THE PURCHASE DATE, FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, AND WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY, SUDDENLY ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND REFUSE TO PAY. IN ADDITION, I WAS INFORMED BY MAZDA THAT THE FUEL PUMP WHICH IS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM IS ON BACKORDER WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND UNAVAILABLE. I HAVE TO WONDER IF THE DEMAND IS EXCEEDING THE SUPPLY OF THIS

2004 MAZDA RX-8 FAILED TO START TWICE DUE TO THE ENGINE FLOODING.*MR *NM

THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED ALL THE TIME IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND THE VEHICLE DID A NINETY DEGREE TURN ON THE ROAD. THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE DEALER FOUND NO DEFECTS. *AK *SC

THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAINT IN 3 MONTHS REGARDING MY NEW 2004 MAZDA RX-8. IN DECEMBER 2004, IT WOULD NOT CRANK DUE TO THE ENGINE COOLANT PROBLEM. SUPPOSEDLY, THIS ISSUE WAS TAKEN CARE OF FOR THE SECOND TIME. NOW, TODAY, 3/21/05, THE CAR SITTING IN THE GARAGE WITH 55 DEGREE WEATHER WILL NOT CRANK AGAIN. I WOULD ADVICE ANYONE INTERESTING IN PURCHASING THIS CAR - DON'T. AFTER TALKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AS WELL AS THE MAZDA CORPORATION - I GET NO WHERE EXCEPT TO SAY THEY WILL SEND A BOOK TO TELL ME THE CORRECT WAY TO CRANK IT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING DIFFERENT VEHICLES FOR 26 YEARS - I DON'T NEED A BOOK TELLING ME THIS.*AK

MAZDA 2004 RX-8 FLOODED AND FAILED TO START TWICE, EACH TIME IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED WITH NEW PLUGS AND UPDATE PCM. *BF *SC

FAILURE TO START IN COLD WEATHER. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATLEY 45 MILES, SHUT OFF, PARKED IN THE GARAGE. CAR SAT FOR APPROXIMATELY 24 HOURS, CAR WOULD NOT RESTART, ELECTRICAL APPEARS TO BE IN ORDER. MAZDA TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AND NOTED THE BRAKES WERE FROZEN, CAR WAS FORCEFULLY LOADED ONTO TOW TRUCK. DEALER INSISTS THE PROBLEM IS COMMON AN UPDATE WAS PERFORMED, SPARK PLUGS REPLACED. ONE WEEK LATER THE CAR AGAIN IS NOT STARTING AND IS IN THE DEALERSHIP UNKNOWN TIME OF REPAIR. INCIDENTS REPORTED TO MAZDA AWAITING RESPONSE. *AK

PURCHASED RX8 04/28/04, HAS HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON NEARLY WHOLE TIME OF OWNERSHIP, AFTER 3 TRIPS TO THE DEALER AT 50 MILES ONE WAY, WERE FINALLY TOLD THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD. HAD TO SPECIAL ORDER SO HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK FOR THE 4TH TIME TO GET FIXED. I DON'T SEE HOW A CATALYTIC CONVERTER COULD BE BAD ON A BRAND NEW CAR. *AK

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A MAZDA RX8 6 SPEED (5/11/04). THIS CAR HAS HAD MORE PROBLEMS THAN I CAN EXPLAIN IN A SHORT MESSAGE. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IT WOULDN'T START ONE MORNING. I LATER GOT IT STARTED AND TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER. THEY DID A FLASH UPDATE ON MY PCM AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE AFTER THAT. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY TRANSMISSION. I WAS ON VACATION IN CARLISLE, AR WHEN THE CAR BROKE DOWN THE FIRST TIME (8/9/2004). MY CAR WAS TOWED IN TO NORTH POINT MAZDA IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK, THEN GOT TOWED TO CRAIN MAZDA IN LITTLE ROCK, WITHOUT EVEN INFORMING ME. AFTER REPLACING APPROXIMATELY 87 PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION, I GOT MY CAR BACK 40 DAYS LATER (9/18/2004). IMMEDIATELY AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE I KNEW IT WASNT RIGHT. IT WAS MAKING NOISES, WOULDNT SHIFT IN TO 2ND, 3RD OR REVERSE WITHOUT GRINDING. I TOOK MY CAR TO TOWN NORTH MAZDA IN RICHARDSON AS SOON AS I GOT A CHANCE (9/27/2004). I WAS TOLD "2ND AND 3RD GEARS ARE FRIED" AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH. AFTER REPLACING THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION I GOT THE CAR BACK 11 DAYS LATER (10/7/2004). I KNEW THE CAR STILL HAD A PROBLEM SO I SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE CAR TAKEN BACK IN ON 10/12/2004. I DROVE ABOUT 2 MILES FROM THE HOUSE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER WHEN IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THE CAR STILL TO THIS DAY REMAINS IN THE SHOP AGAIN. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS FOR 58 DAYS SINCE 8/9/2004. I GOT A CALL ON 10/20/04 FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT HAS MY CAR. THEY TOLD

I BOUGHT THE 2004 RX8 USED. IT ONLY HAD 16,000 MILES BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD BROKE THE REAR DEFROST BUTTON AND THE DEALER SENT ME A NEW ONE IN THE MAIL. I HAVE REMOVER A MILLION INTERIORS AND STEREOS BEFORE SO I WAS DOING IT MYSELF. IN ORDER TO PUT THE NEW CONTROLS IN YOU HAVE TO SLIDE OUT THE ENTIRE FACE PLATE WHICH CONNECTS TO THE RADIO, CD PLAYER, AND AIR CONTROLS. ONCE I PUT IT BACK IN AND HOOKED EVERYTHING BACK CORRECTLY, IT WOULD NOT WORK. I HAVE REMOVED IT SEVERAL TIMES AND THE ENTIRE CONTROL PANEL DOES NOT WORK. ALL THE PRONGS ARE GOOD THE FUSES IN THE CAR ARE ALL GOOD BUT IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. THE BLOWER MOTOR, THE ASHTRAY LIGHT AND THE SEAT WARMERS ALL WORK BUT THE SCREEN THAT DISPLAYS THE TIME OF DAY, THE OUTSIDE TEMP AND ALL THE RADIO AND AIR EQUIPMENT STILL DOESN'T LIGHT UP. I JUST WONDER IF THE RADIO HAS GONE INTO ANTI-THEFT MODE AND SHUT DOWN. I USED TO OWN AN ACURA AND IT CAME WITH A CODE TO PUNCH IN IF YOUR RADIO EVER SHUT DOWN. I JUST WANT IT FIXED. ANY SUGGESTIONS??*AK

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOED ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB *NM

THE DRIVERS SUN VISOR BROKE WHEN PUT DOWN AND THE RESULT WAS A VISOR HANGING DOWN IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS TO TOTALLY BLOCK HER VISION. FORTUNATELY CAR WAS NOT IN A TURN OR STOPPING FOR TRAFFIC AS THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. THIS WAS A SUDDEN AND DISCONCERTING FAILURE. OTHER SUCH FAILURES HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON THE WWW.RX8CLUB.COM WEBSITE. I RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO CALLED THE MANUFACTURES REPRESENTATIVE WHO REFUSED TO REPLACE THE VISOR EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS 5800 MILES ON IT AND IS ONLY 11 MONTHS OLD AND COVERED UNDER A 4 YEAR WARRANTY. I SUGGEST STRONGLY THAT A RECALL BE MADE ON THE VISORS BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED DUE TO LOST OF VISION. ALSO I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR SAFELY BECAUSE OF THE VISOR HANGING DOWN. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN 10068252 ALSO.*AK

VEH. BEING OPERATED ON THE NJ TURNPIKE AT 65 MPH WHEN CLUTCH FAILED. TOWED TO DEALER AT OWN EXPENSE. DEALER STATED FAILURE DUE TO ABUSE, BECAUSE OF TIRE WEAR. ADVISED TWO DAYS LATER THAT STARTER CRACIKED AND BELL HOUSING HAD HOLE FROM CLUTCH BREAKING APART. FAILED TO WARRANTY, COST$2,700.00 PARTS IN MY POSSESSION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH FAILED. DEALER INDICATED THE CLUTCH WAS MISUSED. *NM

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR CRACKED AND SEPARATED FROM POST. IT WAS HANGING AND WOULD NOT STAY UP, OUT OF FIELD OF VISION. THE DEALER REMOVED THE VISOR WHILE WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART. AFTER STARTING THE CAR LATER THE SAME DAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CENTRAL DISPLAY AND DOOR LOCKS DID NOT WORK. WHILE DROPPING OFF PASSENGER BEFORE RETURNING TO THE DEALER, PASSENGER FOLDED DOWN PASSENGER-SIDE SUN VISOR, WHICH ALSO CRACKED AND SEPARATED FROM THE POST. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER, WHO IS TRYING TO SAY THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND HAS CALLED MAZDA REP TO EXAMINE BUT IS KEEPING MY CAR. SEVERAL REPORTS OF THIS ON EDMUNDS AND OTHER AUTO CONSUMER SITES. I MERELY WANT VISORS REPLACED AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIXED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

I PURCHASED MY AUTOMATIC RX8 IN LATE JAN. 2004. AS I WRITE THIS, I HAVE AVERAGED 14.3 MPG WITH MIXED DRIVING CONDITIONS (CITY AND HIGHWAY) DURING MY FIRST 3000 MILES. MY WORST TANKFUL WAS 12.3 MPG. MAZDA NORTH AMERICA REFUSES TO ADDRESS MY ISSUE, WHICH IS: MY FUEL ECONOMY IS WELL BELOW THE ESTIMATED FUEL ECONOMY ON THE STICKER. EITHER THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY RX8 OR MAZDA HAS INTENTIONALLY MISREPRESENTED THE FUEL ECONOMY OF THE RX8.

THE DUMMY PEDAL ON THE LEFT HAS A DESIGN FLAW WHICH ENABLES HIGH HEELS TO BE TRAPPED BETWEEN THE PEDAL AND THE FLOORBOARD. MY FOOT HAS BEEN TRAPPED FORCING ME TO STALL THE CAR AND PULL OVER FIVE LANES ON THE FREEWAY AND OFF THE ROAD TO REMOVE MY FOOT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT MAZDA DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE! THIS WILL AFFECT WOMEN WHO WEAR HIGH HEELS AND DRIVE A STANDARD MAZDA RX-8.*AK

THERE IS CONTAMINATION IN THE OIL. SO MUCH SO THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHECK THE OIL. I'VE GONE 3000 MILES AND NEVER BEEN ABLE TO CHECK THE OIL. EVEN AFTER WIPING THE DIPSTICK, SIMPLY PUTTING IT BACK RECOATS THE DIPSTICK, SO THAT THE OIL LEVEL CANNOT BE READ. THE DEALER SIMPLY CHANGED THE OIL, BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, BUT WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALL LETTERS TO MAZDA-USA ARE IGNORED. WHY DOES MAZDA IGNORE SUCH A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS HAZARD? THIS COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IF THE ENGINE WERE TO SEIZE ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF LACK OF OIL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND IT HIT A POLE. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BROKE. *AK

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

IF THE CAR STALLS AFTER A COLD START, IT IS EITHER VERY DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTART. USING THE PROCEDURE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR THIS SITUATION WILL WORK, IF THE BATTERY DOES NOT FAIL FIRST. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE, ONCE THE CAR WAS TOWED. THE SECOND TIME, THE BATTERY DIED WHILE ATTEMPTING A RESTART PER THE OWNERS MANUAL, BUT THE CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE AND I RECHARGED THE BATTERY AND EVENTUALLY GOT THE CAR STARTED.*AK

I BOUGHT MY CAR AROUND THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2003. IN THE FIRST MONTH I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES FOR REPAIR. THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ENGINE. APPARENTLY ONE OF THE ROTORS WAS NOT FIRING CAUSING A RAW FUEL SMELL TO ENTER THE CAR THROUGH THE VENTILATION. WITH ONLY 2000 MILES, THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AFTER THE THIRD VISIT. TWO MONTHS HAVE PASSED AND AFTER THREE DAYS OF NO DRIVING, THE CAR WILL NO LONGER START. *JB

THE RX8 ENGINE HAS A TENDENCY TO FLOOD IF THE CAR IS MOVED OR DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE AND SHUT OFF COLD. IN MOST INCIDENCES THE CAR MUST THEN BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. ALTHOUGH MAZDA ACKNOWLEDGES THE ISSUE, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DISCLOSED PRIOR TO PURCHASE AND IS NOT ADDRESSED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. MOST RECENT INCIDENT IS RELATED TO GASOLINE IN THE OIL AFTER SEVERAL DIFFILCULT STARTS. THERE WERE 2 PREVIOUS FLOODING INCIDENTS.*AK

RX8S MUST BE TOWED IF THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF OR STALLED WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. I WASHED MY CAR AND THEN PULLED THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE AND WAXED IT. THE NEXT DAY IT WOULD NOT START. NO WHERE IN THE MANUAL DOES IT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE FLOODING ISSUE, EXCEPT HOW TO "UNFLOOD" IT. PROCEDURE DOES NOT WORK. DEALERSHIP NEVER TOLD ME THIS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH THEY FLOOD ALL THE TIME WHEN THEY ARE MOVED OFF OF THE TRAILER. VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I CANNOT WITH A GOOD CONSCIENCE SELL THIS CAR TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL. I COULD BE SUED, IF SOMETHING TERRIBLY BAD HAPPENED AND I KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP HAS "PROPOSED TO HELP" BY MAKING A PROFIT ON ME BUYING THE NEW CAR AND THEN BUYING IT BACK AT WHOSALE PRICE. THE CAR HAS 4000 MILES ON IT. A 2004 AUTOMOBILE SHOULD NEVER LEAVE ITS OWNER STRANDED, PERIOD. THE CAR ALSO CONSISTENTLY GETS ONLY 15 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE NEEDS TO BE ANOTHER ROUND OF BUYBACKS FROM MAZDA, BUT UNFORTUNATELY I BOUGHT THIS CAR AFTER THE FIRST ROUND WAS COMPLETE.

MAZDA RX-8, PURCHASED DEC 24TH, 2003.F THE VEHICLE 'STALLS' WHEN COLD, THE ENGINE BECOME NON-RESTARTABLE (EVEN FOLLOWING THE MANIF'S DEFLOODING PROCEDURE) AND NEEDS TO BE RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE "FIXED". CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AT RAIL-ROAD TRACKS, INTERSECTIONS, AND EXTREEM CONDITIONS (SUCH AS DRIVING FAR FROM HOME EG. CAMPING, AND MOUNTAIN DRIVING).*AK

ALTHOUGH I FOLLOWED THE OWNER'S MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS, THE ENGINE FLOODED AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE (1.5 MILES) AND TURNED OFF. ENGINE WAS FLOODED WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER. SAID TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEW MAZDA RX8S. TEMPATURE WAS 19. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 6 DAYS IN VERY COLD WEATHER. THIS WOULD BE AREAL SAFETY ISSUE IF IT HAPPENS IN A REMOTE AREA.*AK

MAZDA RX-8 , 2500MILES HAS TWICE FAILED TO START AFTER SITTING IN GARAGE FOR 7-10 DAYS. MAINLY A BATTERY PROBLEM MAYBE???*AK

MAZDA RX-8 WITH LESS THAN 3000 MILES HAS TWICE SHUT OFF AND FAILED TO START. MAJOR PROBLEM WITH FUEL DELIVERY AND/OR SPARK IGNITION SYSTEM. *AK

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

DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS HAVE POOR SEALING AGAINST ROAD NOISE & WIND. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WIND NOISE BECOMES HIGHLY INTRUSIVE ON MY VEHICLE THROUGH THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE SAME APPLIES TO THE PASSENGER'S DOOR. *LA

MY BRAND NEW 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE'S BRAKE FAILED AT 300 MILES, AFTER ONLY 4 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP. BOTH ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. *LA