2004 Mazda RX-8 complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY TURNED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL WAS CURVED AND FRACTURED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED STRONG EXHAUST FUMES IN THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REMAIN IN POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO MAKE THE VEHICLE REMAIN IN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 05V325000 (SUSPENSION) AND 05V317000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

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

I WAS SLOWING DOWN AT AN INTERSECTION AND PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SLOW DOWN. WHEN I DID THIS THE CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT AT THIS POINT. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT I WAS ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE SO I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR AND GET ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME, BUT I WAS STALLED IN TRAFFIC UNTIL I DID GET THE SPEED I NEEDED TO GET INTO GEAR. *TR

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT THEN WENT OUT. *TR

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BROKE AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY. *TR

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

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND WHEN I WANTED TO TAKE MY EXIT I NOTICED THAT MY POWER STEERING (ASSISTED STEERING) GAVE OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PRECONDITION THAT IT WAS FAILING. THE STEERING WAS REALLY HEAVY AND ALMOST MADE ME CRASH INTO A DIVIDER, WHICH REALLY SCARED ME. I THEN HAD TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY HOME WITH OUT ANY POWER STEERING. I HAVE THUS SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS AT THE MECHANIC SO THEY CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE COMPUTER MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE POWER STEERING AND IT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC DIRECTED ME HERE TO FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE THEY SAID IT IS A COMMON FAULT IN THIS CAR AND SHOULD BE BROUGHT UP TO MAZDA'S ATTENTION. *TR

MAZDA RX-8 PASSENGER AIRBAG DASH COVER CRACKS OVER TIME THUS EXPOSING AIRBAG I SEE THIS AS A DEFINITE EYESORE NOT TO MENTION HOW DANGEROUS IT IS HAVING AN EXPOSED AIRBAG. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE HAVING MY KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I FEEL AS IF IT WILL INFLATE AT ANY MOMENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT, OR THAT I CAN PAY $500-$600 TO HAVE THEM REPLACE IT.

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

CAR TURNS LEFT WAY TOO EASY. ALSO CAR WILL PULL LEFT REALLY HARD AND JERK OUT OF MY HANDS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER, THE MOTOR FLOODED WHICH CAUSED THE STARTER TO FAIL. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

IN EARLY 2012 I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHUDDER AS I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. AFTER A THE INITIAL WHEEL TURN THE PROBLEM WOULD DISAPPEAR UNTIL THE NEXT DAY, OR WEEK. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE TO THE POINT THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED ALL TOGETHER FOR 3 MONTHS IN LATE 2013. INEXPLICABLY THE POWER STEERING RETURNED IN EARLY 2014, BUT IF THE TEMPERATURE WAS COLD THE STEERING WAS VERY HEAVY FOR A FEW DEGREES OF TURNING AND THEN THE CAR WOULD SENSE I HAD TURNED THE WHEEL A FEW DEGREES AND WOULD THEN ASSIST TOO MUCH AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK IN THAT DIRECTION. AS THE YEAR PROGRESSED THE PROBLEM CHANGED TO A CONSTANT SHAKE BACK AND FORTH WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE WOULD HAPPEN AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 0-10MPH AND ONLY WHEN EITHER INITIATING A TURN OR WHILE UNWINDING THE WHEEL FROM A TURN. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, AS THE TEMPERATURE HAS FALLEN AGAIN, WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT AND ENTERING A GRADUAL CURVE IN THE ROAD (TRAVELLING AT ANY SPEED) THE WHEEL WILL NOT GIVE POWER STEERING ASSIST AND THE WHEEL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN (COMPARED TO IF POWER ASSIST WAS WORKING CORRECTLY) AND THEN AFTER A COUPLE OF DEGREES THE ASSIST WILL JUMP IN AND THE CAR QUICKLY OVER CORRECTS AND VEHICLE VEERS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE STEER NECESSITATING IMMEDIATE CORRECTION IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THERE APPEAR TO BE MANY COMPLAINTS FROM A LOYAL MAZDA FAN BASE ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE, AND HOW S

I TYPICALLY DRIVE MY RX8 LIKE IT SHOULD, ONE DAY I COME HOME PARK MY CAR PER USUAL. NEXT MORNING I GO TO TURN ON MY CAR, THE DSC LIGHT STAYED ON, THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT, THEN ON MY WAY TO WORK, I WAS DRIVING CAUSALLY, THEN WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, MY STEERING BECAME VERY HEAVY AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN, MY POWER STEERING HAD WENT OUT. AFTER DEALING WITH ABOUT 2 FULL DAYS AT THE DEALERSHIP, SPENDING THOUSANDS, STILL NO POWER STEERING, AND I'M NOT CREDITED ANY PORTION OF WHAT I PAID TO GET FIXED AND ITS STILL NOT FIXED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND A RECALL MUST BE DONE IMMEDIATELY BEFORE PEOPLE SERIOUSLY GET INJURED, INJURE OTHERS, OR EVEN DIE. THIS IS ALL POSSIBLE, IF I DIDN'T HAVE BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL, AN ACCIDENT MOST DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE. *TR

MAZDA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE REPRESENTATIVE AND RECALL COORDINATOR: THIS IS AT LEAST THE 5TH TIME I HAVE CONTACTED MAZDAUSA REGARDING THE FAULTY AIR BAGS ISSUE AFFECTING MY 2004 RX-8. YOUR ORGANIZATION'S BOILER PLATE RESPONSES THAT I HAVE RECEIVED ARE UNACCEPTABLE. I EXPECT THIS ISSUE TO BE FULLY ADDRESSED AND MY AFFECTED AIR BAGS TO BE REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE FIRST REGISTERED IN CA, A HOT AND HUMID STATE. THROUGHOUT THE LAST 10 YEARS, MY CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND GARAGED IN MANY STATES ACROSS THE NATION THAT ARE HOT AND/OR HUMID, INCLUDING NEW YORK AND NEVADA. MY CAR IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, AIR BAGS NOT WITHSTANDING, AND I EXPECT TO OPERATE IT FOR MANY MORE YEARS. HOWEVER, I WILL NOT CONTINUALLY DRIVE A CAR WITH DEFECTIVE AND LETHAL AIR BAGS. IT HAS BEEN WIDELY KNOWN THAT TAKATA HAS BEEN AWARE OF THEIR AIR BAG DEFECTS SINCE 2001. CONTINUED DENIAL BY MAZDAUSA TO ADD MY VEHICLE TO ITS CURRENT AIR BAG RECALL CAMPAIGN IS VERY TROUBLESOME. AIR BAG EQUIPMENT ARE DESIGNED TO SAVE LIVES, NOT END OR MAIM THEM. I FEET THERE SHOULD BE NO DISCRIMINATION OF VEHICLES IN MAZDA'S PERCEIVED GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF ITS AIR BAG RECALL. ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES ON THE LIST AS PROVIDED BY THE NHTSA WEBSITE, AT ALL GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS, MUST BE INCLUDED IMMEDIATELY. THIS CONCERN HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE NHTSA. I EXPECT IMMEDIATE ACTION ON YOUR PART TO CORRECT THIS BLATANTLY INCOMPLETE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. *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

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

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 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

ON 2/9/12 MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 WAS BROUGHT IN FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT AS PART OF A RECALL. SINCE THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGING AT DIFFERENT PLACES OR STICKING TO THE FLOOR. ON 3/30/12 THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO DICK EDWARDS MANHATTAN FOR "...WHEN CLUTCH IS ENGAGED THERE IS A FUNNY NOISE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION & THERE IS A VIBRATION." IT WAS MISDIAGNOSED AND NOT FIXED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 6/26/12 BECAUSE "WHEN USING CLUTCH THAT THE FIRST HALF OF THE PEDAL IS EMPTY AND THE SECOND HALF ENGAGES BUT IF YOU TRY TO SHIFT IN THE MIDDLE IT WILL GET STUCK AND NOT COME OUT." IT WAS MISDIAGNOSED & NOT FIXED. ON 10/26/12 IT WAS TAKEN TO OVERLAND PARK MAZDA & IT WAS FOUND THAT "CLUTCH WAS STICKING TO THE GROUND AND TRACED TO THE MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDER..." IT WAS MISDIAGNOSED & NOT FIXED. ON 11/9/12 THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO OVERLAND PARK MAZDA TO "BLEED CLUTCH AND ADJUST FREE PLAY FROM CLUTCH PEDAL PUSH ROD TO MAKE CLUTCH PEDAL MORE RESPONSIVE." THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT FIXED. IN 8/13 I BOUGHT THE CAR IN KANSAS CITY, MO. SINCE THEN I HAD THE CLUTCH DIAGNOSED AT RICK'S PERFORMANCE IN CALIFORNIA WHO FOUND "PLAY IN THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT - THE FLYWHEEL IS MOVING BACK AND FORTH OVER 1/2 INCH" & CONCLUDED THAT THE ENGINE REPLACED IN THE RECALL ON 2/9/12 AT DICK EDWARDS MANHATTAN WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT A PART HAD BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE ENGINE DURING ASSEMBLY. I TOOK THE CAR TO KEN HARVEY'S DUBLIN MAZDA IN DUBLIN, CA AND THEY CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS BY RICK'S P

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

ELECTRICALLY ASSISTED POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL IT NO LONGER WORKS AT ALL. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I FOUND THIS FACT BY JOINING THE RX8 CLUB WEBSITE. MULTIPLE OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS OBVIOUS THAT IT IS CAUSED BY POORLY ENGINEERED/MANUFACTURED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS. SOME OWNERS HAVE GONE AS FAR AS REPLACING THE WIRE HARNESS ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RECUR. MAKING THE PROBLEM WORSE IS THAT THE MAZDA WEBSITE HAS NO MECHANISM TO REPORT THE PROBLEM TO THE MANUFACTURER. CURRENTLY THE ONLY TIME THE POWER STEERING IF FUNCTIONAL IS ONLY FOR SHORT PERIODS AFTER THE CARE HAS BEEN THROUGH A CAR WASH AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE HAS BECOME WET, AND THEN IT IS ONLY FUNCTIONAL UNTIL THE UNDERCARRIAGE DRIES OUT. *JS

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.

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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

WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO "STICK" OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW DAYS, STEERING WENT FROM WORKING TO NOT WORKING AT ALL. STEERING MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND HASN'T GONE OFF SINCE. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (ALTHOUGH IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE EPS MODULE AND TO REPLACE IT WOULD BE ~$1100. PURCHASED THE MODULE AND THAT WASN'T THE ISSUE THEY REALIZED. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM AT A COST OF $4000! WHAT A JOKE. WHY SHOULD I PAY ANYTHING FOR AN OBVIOUS DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY. I'VE READ TOO MANY POSTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND MAZDA IS TURNING A DEAF EAR. THIS COMPANY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR EVEN ALLOWING SUCH AN ISSUE TO LEAVE THE FACTORY, BUT EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT, YOU SHOULD BE IMMEDIATE TO CORRECT IT, BUT YOU AREN'T. I GUESS THAT IT WILL TAKE FOR SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I TAKE A CHANCE ON DRIVING MY CAR ALONG THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE WHEN I COME TO A CURVE, THE STEERING CAN FREEZE AND I HAVE TO WRESTLE THE CAR AROUND THE TURN. A DANGEROUS SITUATION. MAZDA, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS OBVIOUS FLAW IN THIS VEHICLE, AMONGST MANY OTHER FLAWS. AN ISSUE WITH STEERING SHOULD BE A NON-ISSUE. ARE YOU SERIOUS MAZDA? A LOT OF OWNERS CAN'T EVEN STEER THEIR VEHICLE WITHOUT CREATING A SWEAT. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED IN YOUR SEEMINGLY LACK OF CONCERN WITH THIS MATTER. *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.

POWER STEERING FAILS DUE TO FAULTY POWER STEERING HARNESS CONNECTIONS. THIS FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 65 MPH. (VERY DANGEROUS). THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH RX-8 OWNERS. POWER STEERING CONNECTORS ARE SITUATED DIRECTLY UNDER COOLANT FLUID RESERVOIR TANK OVERFLOW HOSE. IF COOLANT LEAKS ON THESE CONNECTORS IT FOULS THE CONNECTION RESULTING IN POWER STEERING LOSS. INSUFFICIENT SOLDERING OF THESE CONNECTORS TO THE CONNECTION HOUSING BY THE MANUFACTURER IS ALSO TO BLAME. THIS HARNESS HAS BEEN REVISED 3 TIMES BY MAZDA IN HOPES OF CORRECTING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTIONING PART. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SENT TO ALL MAZDA OWNERS TO HAVE THE FAULTY POWER STEERING HARNESS F151-67-SHOB AND F151-67-SHOC REPLACED WITH THE MOST RECENT REVISED PART F151-67-SHOD FREE OF CHARGE AND COST OF LABOR. *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

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 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 C

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

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

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

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

POWERS STEERING FAILED. *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.