2004 Mazda RX-8 complaints

NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE09045 AS INDICATED IN THE ABOVE COMPLAINT, MY CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SNAPPED THIS WHILE DRIVING. I DEPRESSED THE PEDAL, HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE PEDAL BECAME PERMANENTLY DEPRESSED WITH THE LACK OF ABILITY TO ENGAGE GEARS IN A SAFE MANNER. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THIS IS A NORMAL WEAR ISSUE AND I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN HARD FOR THE PERIOD THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. I WAS ABLE TO FORCIBLY SHIFT GEARS AND MAKE IT HOME AFTER THE INCIDENT. THIS SEEMS LIKE AM EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ANY DRIVER IF THE CLUTCH WERE TO MOVE UNKNOWINGLY BEHIND THE BRAKE AND HINDER THE ABILITY TO STOP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM OVERHEATED AND CAUSED UNKNOWN WIRES TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

EVERYTHING STARTED FINE. WHILE DRIVING MY CLUTCH PEDAL FAILED ON ME AND I WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. CLUTCH PEDAL STICKS TO THE GROUND AND THE GEARS GET STUCK AND I HAVE TO RIP THEM OUT. IT HAPPENED ONCE, BECAUSE NOW THE CAR IS INOPERABLE. TO CORRECT THE FAILURE I'M GOING TO REPLACE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY AND POSSIBLY AN NEW CLUTCH ALTOGETHER. *TR

THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET IN MY RX8 CRACKED. I WAS IN CITY TRAFFIC WHEN I HEARD A SNAP AND MY CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME MUCH LOOSER. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER I HEARD ANOTHER SNAP AND COULD BARELY SHIFT MY CAR AT ALL. IT CAUSED ME TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. UNABLE TO MOVE OR START MY CAR. *TR

I SLOWED TO LET THE CAR INFRONT TURN. WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN, A BIG CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT THE EXHAUST AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IN THE CLUTCH AND COAST INTO A FIRE DEPARTMENT. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR ONCE STOPPED BUT IT WOULDN'T RESTART. I COULD SMELL OIL COMING FROM THE CAR WHILE TRYING TO START IT WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE OIL SEAL IS BLOWN. ONCE TOWED TO PEARSON MAZDA, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDED TWO COILS AND SPARK PLUGS. ONCE THOSE WHERE REPLACED, THE CAR STILL DIDN'T RUN CORRECTLY SO A COMPRESSION TEST WAS DONE IN WHICH IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE IS NO COMPRESSION ON THE REAR ROTOR AND THE MOTOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. ON FRIDAY THE FOURTH, THREE DAYS AFTER THE INITIAL INCIDENT, I WAS TOLD THAT MAZDA WOULDN'T COVER THE MOTOR UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS HOLLOWED OUT. NOW ANYONE THAT KNOWS ABOUT CARS KNOWS THAT A HOLLOWED CAT WON'T CAUSE AN OIL SEAL TO GO ON A MOTOR. IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MANY PLACES ON THE INTERNET WERE THESE MOTORS LAST AS LITTLE AS 20,000 MILES AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED. MAZDA DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. IT HAS NOW BEEN TWO WEEKS AND MAZDA STILL HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY MANY CALLS TO GET THIS REVERSED. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AFTER A FUEL FILLUP GO OFF AFTER DRIVEN PROBLEM STARTED LATE 2005 EARLY 2006 IN AND OUT OF SHOP CLEARED CODES REPLACED FUEL CAP, UPPER INTAKE, VACUUM PUMP, LATE 2007 THEY CLEARED CODES CLAIMED TO HAVE TIGHTENED A LOOSE CAP, AND STATED IF IT CAME BACK ON WILL NEED FUURTHER DIAGNOSES AT ADDITIONAL COST. I HAVE 8 INVOICES RANGING FROM PROGRAMMING PCM CLEARING CODES ONE FROM 2006 PRINTED ON THE INVOICE, CUSTOMER STATES CAME BACK ON SAME NIGHT SEEMS TO COME ON AFTER FILLUP. THAT WAS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 40,000 MILES. NOW THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY, AND IT WONT PASS STATE INSPECTION. NOW ITS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A FUEL SENDING UNIT COSTING OVER $600.00 THE PART IS ORDERED AND I INFORMED THEM THAT I WANTED ALL OLD REPLACED PARTS. *TR

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO HAVE VERY LITTLE RESISTANCE WHEN PUSHING IN THE PEDAL ON FRIDAY MAY 28TH, 2010, WHICH LEAD ME TO BELIEVE I WAS GOING TO NEED TO BUY A NEW CLUTCH FOR MY VEHICLE SOON. THE PREVIOUS DAYS THOUGH, THE PEDAL WAS FUNCTIONING PERFECTLY FINE, AND THERE WAS NO SLIPPING OR PROBLEMS SHIFTING GEARS. THE NEXT DAY, ON THE 29TH, AFTER ABOUT 5 - 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING, THE PEDAL BECAME COMPLETELY NONRESPONSIVE AND COULD NOT BE DISENGAGED ONCE IT WAS PRESSED INTO THE FLOOR. I HAD TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED. UPON A $100 INSPECTION BY A LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP, THE CLUTCH AND RELATED COMPONENTS (MASTER, SLAVE, PRESSURE PLATE, FLYWHEEL, BEARINGS, ETC) WERE FINE, BUT THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CLUTCH SYSTEM, BUT I WAS CHARGED FOR A BRAND NEW CLUTCH PEDAL, AND I FEEL THE ORIGINAL WAS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE SIMPLY FAILED AS IT HAD FOR NO REASON. *TR

MY CLUTCH ASSEMBLY ON MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 JUST SNAPPED TODAY AS I WAS DRIVING. ITS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT CAN BE FOUND IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE09045. *TR

2004 MAZDA RX-8 PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR SLIPPED AT THE SEAMS AND DROPPED AND WOULD NOT STAY BACK UP. THIS IMPAIRED MY VISION WHILE DRIVING MAKING SEEING OUT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR THROUGH THE FRONT MINIMAL. I HAD TO HOLD IT UP WHILE MAKING TURNS OR CROSSING ROADS WITH TRAFFIC ARRIVING FROM THE RIGHT. I COULD NOT REPAIR THE VISOR AND HAD TO REMOVE IT IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SAFELY. *TR

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SNAPPED ON MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 FOR A SECOND TIME YESTERDAY. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT WHEN IT BREAKS, THE CLUTCH PEDAL ITSELF CAN MOVE HORIZONTALLY AND GET LODGED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL CAUSING THE DRIVER NOT TO BE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE'S POST AFTER POST IN DIFFERENT FORUMS AROUND THE NET THAT DESCRIBING THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE (EX. HTTP://WWW.RX8CLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=178486&HIGHLIGHT=CLUTCH+PEDAL). SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THESE PEDALS BEFORE WE HAVE ANOTHER TOYOTA TYPE OF INCIDENT ON OUR HANDS. *TR

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE MAZDA RX8S(2004) CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY CRACKS THUS CAUSING THE CAR TO BE UNDRIVABLE. *TR

NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK TONIGHT AND WHEN I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO SHIFT I HEARD A LOUD SNAP. CAR WAS STILL DRIVABLE BUT THE CLUTCH PEDAL FELT LOOSE AND THERE WAS PLAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. WHEN HOME DISCOVERED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET HAD BROKEN ON ONE SIDE AND WAS NOT HOLDING THE PEDAL SECURELY IN PLACE. NO REPAIR DONE YET TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CAR IS NOT IN USE AT THIS POINT DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN DECREASING IN SPEED WITHOUT WARNING AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,483 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

2004 MAZDA RX-8 CLUTCH BRACKET SNAPPED OFF WHILE DRIVING ON 3RD GEAR NOT LETTING ME TO CHANGE GEARS AT ALL. CAR WAS UNABLE TO OPERATE. THANK GOD I WAS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA BECAUSE IF I WAS ON A FREEWAY, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE DANGEROUS. A CLUTCH PEDAL SHOULD NOT BREAK UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE AND IT CLEARLY SHOWS A DEFECT ON THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CERTAIN PARTS. *TR

THE CLUTCH PEDAL OF THE VEHICLE HAD STARTED SQUEAKING WHILE BEING USED AND STARTED MOVING LATERALLY LEFT AND RIGHT. WHILE DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE WAS LOCKED INTO 2ND GEAR AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO CHANGE GEARS. I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE HOME IN 2ND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROMERO MAZDA AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAD SNAPPED. THIS IS WHY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS AND WAS LOCKED INTO 2ND GEAR. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE REP HE TOLD ME THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET. *TR

IM PRETTY BUMMED OUT, IM AN OWNER OF AN 04 MAZDA RX8 AND ABOUT A MONTH OR SO THE HEART (ENGINE) OF THE CAR SUDDENLY GAVE OUT, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND THE NEWS THEY GAVE ME WAS THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE, THEY ASKED ME FOR MAINTENANCE RECORDS WHICH I COULDN'T PROVIDE THEM WITH BECAUSE I DO THE TUNE UPS MYSELF, THEY WANT RECEIPTS BUT LETS BE HONEST ITS HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF THEM, SO THEY SAID NO RECORDS NO RECEIPTS IT WILL COST YOU OVER 3K TO GET THE JOB DONE. I SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS AND RECALLS ONLINE FOR THIS VEHICLE AND KNOW THAT MINE FALLS IN THAT CATEGORY ALSO. I HAVE WITNESSES THAT SEE ME DO MY OILCHANGES AND STORE EMPLOYEES THAT KNOW I BUY TUNE UP PRODUCTS FROM THERE STORE. WHAT CAN I DO TO FIGHT FOR MY RIGHTS? *TR

VERY COMMON PROBLEM. CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET SNAPPED MAKING CLUTCH ALL BUT INOPERABLE. CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE AND IT WAS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX A POORLY DESIGNED BRACKET. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 TO WORK, EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL SUDDENLY MY CLUTCH PEDAL MADE A *SNAP* NOISE AS I PRESSED TO GET IT OUT OF GEAR. THE CLUTCH PEDAL WENT LOOSE INBACK OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO FREE THE CLUTCH PEDAL BACK UP, BUT I WASN'T ABLE TO PUT IT INTO ANY GEAR. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND VISUALLY INSPECTED THE CLUTCH PEDAL. SOON AFTER I HAD MY CAR TOWED. I FOUND OUT IT WAS A FAULTY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET. IT IS MADE OF WEAK METAL AND HAS SINGLE SPOT WELDS HOLDING IT TOGETHER. I AM HAVING THE CLUTCH BRACKET TAKEN OUT, RE-WELDED TO MAKE IT MUCH STRONGER THEN ORIGINALLY, THEN REPLACED IN THE CAR. I CAME ACROSS AN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PART ONLINE, BUT IT IS OUT OF MY BUDGET. *TR

OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX8 AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BROKE WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE READ OF EVIDENCE ONLINE THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS PART IS A DEFECT BY THE MANUFACTURER. I TOOK MY CAR TO PAUL MILLER FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WOULD BE NEEDED TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT WAS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. THE COST TOTAL IS $440.98 THIS SEEMS RIDICULOUS SINCE I HAVE READ THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO EXERT TOO MUCH FORCE ON THE PEDAL. THE RESISTANCE IS DETERMINED BY THE CLUTCH, NOT THE DRIVER. I THINK THEIR ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN RX8'S AND EXPERIENCE THIS SAME PROBLEM. HOW CAN IT BE THAT WITH ALL THE ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE THAT I HAVE REAL ONLINE ALONE THAT A RECALL HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN ISSUED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, APPROACHING A TURN AND SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, THE CLUTCH PEDAL FRACTURED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE CLUTCH SO THAT IT WOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER IT WOULD RAIN, WATER WOULD LEAK INTO THE PASSENGERS SIDE TAIL LIGHT. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY RESISTANT TO APPLIED PRESSURE OR WOULD SPORADICALLY LUNGE FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT OFFER A REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,500 THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, DUE TO IT NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY IN 1ST AND GEAR. UPDATED 07/06/10.*JB UPDATED 07/08/10 *BF UPDATED 07/09/10.*JB

FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS, THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY CAR HAS SQUEAKED AND GROANED WHEN DEPRESSED. THIS WOULD NOT BE CONSISTENT, AND VERY HARD TO DIAGNOSE. TODAY, WHILE DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE TOWARDS WORK (I LIVE AND WORK ON A MILITARY BASE), A METALLIC "POP" CAME FROM MY CLUTCH PEDAL WHILE BEING DEPRESSED AND NO LONGER DISENGAGED THE CLUTCH. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS IT WAS "RUSH HOUR." I QUICKLY NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THAT MY CLUTCH PEDAL WAS ALMOST TOUCHING MY BRAKE AS I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN! ALSO, IF I HAD STOPPED MOVING AT ANY POINT, I AND MY CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED AS I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET MY CAR BACK INTO GEAR. UPON INSPECTION AT HOME, IT APPEARS A WELD ON THE RIGHT SIDE THAT HOLDS THE CLUTCH PEDAL MOUNT TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR HAS COME COMPLETELY LOOSE MAKING THE PEDAL LEAN LEFT. THERE ALSO APPEARS TO POSSIBLY BE ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL SPRING AS IT NO LONGER RETURNS THE PEDAL TO THE FULLY DEPRESSED POSITION, AND INSTEAD DEFAULTS TO 3 INCHES DEPRESSED OR FULL UPRIGHT DEPRESSED. THIS FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT SHIFT; HE HAD TO BE ASSISTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE SUN VISOR ALSO BROKE TWICE; THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE SUN VISOR FAILURE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,728. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,400.

CLUTCH BRACKET BROKE IN TRAFFIC WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL ITALIAN ROADS. NEARLY CAUSED TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. CAR RENDERED UNUSABLE. *TR

CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHILE DRIVING. RESTRICTS VEHICLE FROM BEING ABLE TO GO INTO GEAR. PEDAL WILL NOT COMPRESS ALL THE WAY. *TR

MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 CLUTCH PEDAL SNAP OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME... *TR

2004 MAZDA RX-8, UNDER 45K MILES. DRIVEN ON A 78 DEGREE DAY FOR 2 HOUR TRIP. STOPPED TO REFUEL AND 30 MIN SHOPPING. GET INTO CAR ONTO HIGHWAY WHERE I NEED MY ENGINE'S SPEED TO ACCELERATE ONTO HIGHWAY. I FEELS LIKE HALF THE POWER IS GONE. IT REMINDS ME OF VAPOR LOCK, IT'S GASPING FOR FUEL OR SPARK. THIS HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED MANY TIMES BEFORE AND NEARLY DANGEROUS WHEN IN BUSY TRAFFIC, AS HAD TO PULL OVER TO BIRM. I KNOW DEALER REPLACED COIL PACKS ONCE OR TWICE SO FAR...ALONG WITH PLUGS. THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS CAR I EVER OWNED. THE MOST RE-CALLED CAR I'VE EVER KNOWN OF. RIGHT NOW IT'S RUNNING FINE, MATTER OF FACT HAS POWER TO SPARE AS COMPARED TO IT'S 'WHIMPING OUT SYNDROME ". THERE MUST BE A CORPORATE SOLUTION FROM MAZDA TO ME. I AM READY FOR A LAWYER. *TR

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY ON 2004 MAZDA RX-8 HAS SPOT WELDS THAT HOLD THE ASSEMBLY TOGETHER. ONE OF THE SPOT WELDS FAILED ON MY CAR, CAUSING LATERAL MOVEMENT IN THE PEDAL, AND METAL FATIGUE (RIPPING) AROUND ONE OF THE MOUNTING BOLTS. THE CLUTCH MOVEMENT WAS ALSO AFFECTED. PUSHING THE PEDAL DOWN, IT WAS LOOSE ABOUT HALF OF THE NORMAL MOVEMENT OF THE PEDAL. ONLY THE SECOND HALF OF PEDAL MOVEMENT OPERATED THE CLUTCH SEPARATION. IT APPEARED THAT OVER TIME THE MOUNTING BRACKET OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED CAUSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO COME OFF OF THE FIREWALL. DOING A INTERNET SEARCH ON "RX8 CLUTCH PEDAL" REVEALED MANY OTHER TIMES OF THIS HAPPENING AND MAZDA NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE REPORTED MY INSTANCE TO MAZDA'S CUSTOMER SUPPORT. *TR

I HAVE OWNED A 2004 MAZDA RX7 SINCE OCT 07 SINCE THEN THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED AT 26,000 MILES 2 SET OF COILS SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, SENSORS, TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR RESERVOIR JUST FOR STARTERS. NOW THE CAR IS STALLING AT LOW RPM'S OR WHEN IT GETS HOT LEAVING ME STRANDED IN INTERSECTIONS AND ON BUSY FREEWAYS. MAZDA HAS A BULLETIN OUT ON THIS CAR BUT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE THEY WILL NOT RECALL THE CAR. I BEG TO DIFFER!! BEING STRANDED IN AN INTERSECTION OR ON A BUSY HIGHWAY INCREASES MY ODDS GREATLY THAT I AM GOING TO BE HIT BY ANOTHER CAR AND POSSIBLY KILLED. THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME TYPE OF GOVERNMENT BODY OUT THERE THAT CAN ENFORCE THESE MANY CLAIMS OF ENGINE FAILURE AGAINST MAZDA AND THERE ROTARY ENGINE BECAUSE THE LATEST DIAGNOSIS IS THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AGAIN!! PLEASE HELP! *TR

CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE WHEN SHIFTING TO 4TH GEAR AND DISENGAGING CLUTCH. TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD SNAP WHEN I RELEASED THE CLUTCH. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RE-ENGAGE THE CLUTCH, THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT LATERAL MOVEMENT AND LITTLE TO NO PRESSURE. HAD TO PULL OVER AND COAST TO A GRINDING HALT IN GEAR. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, COMING TO A STOP WHILE IN GEAR ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WOULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, HE ENGAGED THE CLUTCH AND THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED AND HE HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,800. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,600. UPDATED 06/08/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AND OBSTRUCTED HIS VISION. UPDATED 08/11/10

2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BROKE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THE CLUTCH WILL NOT ENGAGE THE REVERSE GEAR AND BARELY ENGAGES IN THE FORWARD GEARS. THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER IS CLAIMING THAT IT IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE EVEN THIS IS A COMMON OCCURANCE FOR THE MODEL. THE OLD DEFECTIVE PART IS AVAILABLE.

2004 MAZDA RX8 MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH BRACKET SNAPPED OFF WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT, RESULTING IN FAILURE TO SHIFT GEAR. *CN

CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET SNAPPED AND CANNOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. GOT STUCK IN A STOP LIGHT UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR IMMEDIATELY...WHEN I WAS ABLE TO (AFTER 1MIN OF TRYING TO GET INTO GEAR), I COULDN'T GET OUT OF IT IMMEDIATELY (TOOK 15SECS)...VERY DANGEROUS CONSIDERING IF I WAS ON A HIGHWAY AND GOT STUCK IN GEAR WHILE EXITING...LUCKILY I WASN'T

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY MAZDA RX-8 2004 MODEL IS MAKING A STRANGE NOISE EVERYTIME I STEP ON IT. THE CLUTCH DOESN'T FEEL LIKE ITS WORKING RIGHT, AND MYT BREAK SNAP ANYTIME SOON JUST LIKE WHAT ALREADY HAPPEND TO LOTS OF RX-8'S.

2004 MAZDA RX8 MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH 64500 MILES. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN NORMALLY ON THE WAY TO WORK WHEN DURING A SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR THE CLUTCH BRACKET BROKE IN HALF ON THE OUTSIDE PORTION OF THE CAR, WHICH CAUSED THE PEDAL TO SHIFT OVER TOWARDS THE BRAKE MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAR IS NOW IS UNABLE TO MOVE BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE PUT INTO GEAR OR DRIVEN SAFELY. THIS IS A PERMANENT FAILURE UNTIL IT IS FIXED. THE CLUTCH BRAKET MUST BE REMOVED AND WELDED OR A ENTIRE PIECE ORDERED AND REASSEMBLED WITH THE EXISTING COMPONENTS FOR AN ESTIMATED PRICE OF ALMOST $500.

I HAVE A 2004 MAZDA RX8 MANUAL WITH 59,000 MILES. THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET ATTACHED TO THE FIREWALL SNAPPED WHILE I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE GEAR IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. I ENDED UP WITH ALMOST NO CLUTCH AT ALL. I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BRACKET BROKEN INTO PIECES. A NEW CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE INSTALLED TO REPLACE THE BROKEN ONE.

I OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX8 AND HAVE NEVER HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH A CAR IN MY LIFE. SHORTLY AFTER BUYING IT, IT WOULD NOT START, HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER, THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 8 TIMES NOW BECAUSE IT STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR WHEN TAKING OFF. IT HAS SAT ALL WINTER DUE TO NOT STARTING. MY HAD SWEAT JUST THINKING ABOUT DRIVING THIS CAR AND I WILL ONLY TAKE BACK ROADS, ONE NEAR MISS ON THE HIGHWAY WAS ENOUGH FOR ME TO STAY OFF AND STAY ON BACK ROADS, AT LEAST THEN I HAVE SOME CHANCE OF GETTING IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SO MANY TIMES I HAVE LOST COUNT ALTHOUGH I HAVE ALL OF THE REPAIR ORDERS. THEY DID REPLACE THE ENGINE, BUT IT STILL RUNS ROUGH, NOW THE ENGINE LITE IS ON AGAIN!!!! THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE TO DRIVE AND I CAN NOT TRADE IT IN BECAUSE ALL THE DEALERS KNOW ABOUT THE CAR AND WILL NOT GIVE ME EVEN ONE HALF OF WHAT I PAID FOR IT. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR FOR SO MANY REASONS AND CAN NOT BELIEVE THE CAR ITSELF HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. THEY SHOULD BUY THEM ALL BACK FOR WHAT WE PAID FOR THEM MINE WAS $23,000. WHY AREN'T YOU DOING WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO TOYOTA??????? I AM GOING TO DIE IN THIS CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ASK FOR APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE, WELL I HAVE ABOUT 20 OF THEM AND YOU ONLY ALLOW ONE. *TR

I OWN A MAZDA RX8-2004. SINCE PURCHASE IT HAS ALWAYS IDLED ROUGH. ON OCCASION THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START, SUPPOSEDLY FLOODED. NOW JUST YESTERDAY IT WAS IDLING ROUGH AGAIN BUT WHILE MERGING ON TO THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE CUT OFF IN AN INSTANT. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT DID RESTART. I'M AFRAID TO HAVE MY FAMILY IN THIS CAR ANYMORE. THERE ARE KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE ROTARY ENGINE AND FAILURE IT A BIG PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE ENGINE BEFORE BUT PASSED THE MAZDA "TESTS" AND WAS NEVER REPLACED. IT'S BEEN DOCUMENTED BY THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS. THIS ENGINE FAILURE IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE TOYOTA GAS PEDAL PROBLEM THAT IS PUTTING CONSUMERS LIVES AT RISK. THIS PROBLEM IS THE REVERSE, YOU COULD BE CHANGING LANES AND LOOSE ALL POWER AND GET RUN OVER BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. WHY ARE THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE BEING IGNORED? IS IT BECAUSE IT'S ONLY ONE MAZDA MODEL AND IT DOESN'T HAVE THAT MANY CARS ON THE ROAD? THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON AND A DANGER TO DRIVE. I CANNOT BELIEVE MORE DEATHS HAVE NOT OCCURRED AND MAZDA IS ALLOWED TO SWEEP THIS UNDER THE CARPET. I WOULD GET RID OF THIS CAR BUT ALL CAR DEALERS KNOW THE DEAL WITH IT AND WON'T GIVE YOU A PENNY FOR IT THUS I NEED TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS DEATH TRAP. PLEASE HELP US HELPLESS CONSUMERS. MAZDA SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN WITH THE PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8. I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE SEPTEMBER 2003 AND IT HAS HAD COUNTLESS ISSUES, PARTS REPLACED AND FAILURES. THE INCIDENT I EXPERIENCED LAST NIGHT PUT ME OVER THE EDGE AND ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE. MY RX-8, WHICH WAS JUST AT THE DEALER 2 WEEKS AGO, HAD AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION WHILE I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN MASSACHUSETTS. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE WENT FROM APPROX 50MPH TO 10MPH IN A MATTER OF A FEW SECONDS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT INJURING MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE; HOWEVER, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. EVERY SINGLE PART IN MY RX-8 HAS BEEN REPLACED EXCEPT FOR THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND ENGINE. I HAVE DISHED OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ALREADY AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY HAZARD TO THOSE OF US DRIVING THE VEHICLE, BUT IT IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD TO THOSE AROUND US. HAD THE CAR BEHIND ME NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION MY VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUSED A DEADLY CAR CRASH IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I HAVE CONTACTED NUMEROUS DEALERSHIPS, THE BBB, AND AM NOW LOOKING INTO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. MAZDA NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE MY CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2003, BBB WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CASE, HOWEVER I HAVE 57 PAGES OF DETAILED REPAIRS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO THIS VEHICLE SINCE I OWNED IT, WHICH I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO SEND TO YOU. TONS OF PEOPLE ONLINE HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES; JUST FR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 AND WITHOUT SYMPTOM, MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE. SUBSEQUENTLY, I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT MY VEHICLE INTO GEAR. I WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, UNABLE TO PULL OVER TO CLEAR TRAFFIC. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO WESTCOTT MAZDA AND THEY REPLACED THE BRACKET FOR ME. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE, BUT I DO HAVE THE RECEIPTS FOR THE TOWING AND THE REPLACEMENT BRACKET FROM WESTCOTT MAZDA. *TR

1. ABOUT 2 HOURS OF CITY DRIVING. 2. WHILE DRIVING OUR MAZDA RX-8, THE CLUTCH PEDAL SUDDENLY DEVELOPED EXCESSIVE FREE PLAY AND THE CLUTCH WAS HARD TO DISENGAGE. AFTER PARKING THE CAR AND LETTING IT COOL FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE CLUTCH PEDAL RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE SYMPTOMS WERE EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN MAZDA TSB # 05-004/06 'MANUAL TRANSMISSION - CLUTCH HARD TO DISENGAGE'. THIS TSB DESCRIBES A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHERE ETHANOL USED IN THE CLUTCH RELEASE CYLINDER BOOT CAN VAPORIZE AND INCREASE PRESSURE WITHIN THE BOOT, WHICH THEN CAUSES THE PISTON TO BE PUSHED BACK INTO THE RELEASE CYLINDER BODY. AS A RESULT, A GAP APPEARS BETWEEN THE PISTON AND THE PUSH ROD, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE FREE PLAY AND THE CLUTCH HARD TO DISENGAGE. THE TSB SAYS THAT THE ETHANOL CAN VAPORIZE 'AT HOT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES OR APPROX. 85 F.' THIS IS SURPRISING, BECAUSE, 85 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT IS A VERY NORMAL TEMPERATURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE TSB SAYS THAT A MASS PRODUCTION CHANGE WAS MADE SINCE WE BOUGHT OUR CAR AND THAT ETHANOL IS NO LONGER USED DURING THE MANUFACTURE OF THE CLUTCH RELEASE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. THE TSB RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF THE AFFECTED PART. THIS SITUATION IS OBVIOUSLY VERY DANGEROUS. WHEN THE CLUTCH BECOMES HARD TO DISENGAGE, THE CAR CAN'T BE DRIVEN SAFELY. WE LIVE IN A CROWDED, URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND MUST BE ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS OR PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL VERY QUICKLY. 3. MAZDA REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE CLUTCH RELEASE CYLINDER BECAUSE OUR CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE WHILE SHIFTING GEARS IN 2004 MAZDA RX 8. CLUTCH PEDAL MOVES SIDE TO SIDE NOW, AND SEEMS LIKELY TO INTERFERE WITH BRAKING. ALSO MAKES SHIFTING GEARS MORE DIFFICULT. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) JUNE 4 2009 THE CLUTCH PEDAL BEGIN HARD TO PUSH. WEEKS LATER ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. MAZDA DEALER SAID IS JUST THE PUMP. THEY PUT SOME OIL. JUST 2 DAYS AFTER THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. WORSE AND WORSE EVERYDAY. THEN I JUST PARKED MY CAR. MAZDA DEALER DIDN'T FIND AN SOLUTION. FINALLY AFTER SEVERAL CALLS I GOT TIRED OF IT AND I DECIDED TO SEE FOR MYSELF UNDER THE DASH. I DISCOVERED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL METALLIC BASE WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED/BROKEN. THEY SAID NO GUARANTEE WILL COVER THAT. THEY SAID THAT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY AND ASKED ME ABOUT MY DRIVING. SO, FINALLY IN SEPTEMBER 26 / 2009 ALEXANDRIA MAZDA DEALER REPLACED THE WHOLE PIECE AND I PAID FOR THAT. THEY CHARGED ME: $520.78. ( FE05-41-300C ) CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BROKEN. I HAVE THE INVOICE. THEY KEPT THE BROKEN PIECE WITH THEM. MONTHS AFTER THIS INCIDENT I FOUND IN INTERNET THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME PIECE WITH THE SAME CAR MODEL. WHAT IS GOING ON ? I FEEL THAT IS NOT FAIR TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT MY FAULT. VIN [XXX] MAZDA RX8 - 2004 PART: FE05-41-300C - $263.28 LABOR : $257.50 TOTAL: $520.78 *TR

DEFECTIVE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY;ALLOWS WATER/RAIN TO ENTER ASSEMBLY SECONDARY TO DEFECTIVE TAIL LIGHT GASKET WHICH DEGRADES WITH AGE. 2004 MAZDA RX-8. CONSUMER OBSERVED TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY RETAINING WATER AFTER A RAIN EVENT. CONSUMER RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MAZDA ISSUED A "SERVICE RECALL" TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE GASKET IN THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE RECALL NOTICE BECAUSE, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THE RECALL WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. MY QUESTION TO YOU, NHTSA, IS WHY, WHEN A SERVICE RECALL INDICATES THAT WATER IN THE TAIL LIGHT COULD RESULT A SHORT, OR, THE TAIL LIGHTS NO LONGER WORKING, IS THIS A SERVICE RECALL AND NOT A "SAFETY RECALL?" IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF I WERE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP AND AT 2AM, ENCOUNTERED A SEVRE WINTER THUNDER STORM - RAIN AND SLEET - AND MY TAIL LIGHTS ACCUMULATED WATER, AND SHORTED OUT, THAT THIS IS NOT, ACCORDING TO YOUR AGENCY, A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT A SERVICE RECALL, WHICH IS NOT VALID UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THE PROBLEM IS A DEFECTIVE GASKET - WHICH DEGRADES OVER-TIME, AND WHEN IT FAILS, RESULTS IN THE FAILURE OF THE TAIL LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE, IS NOT CLASSIFIED AS SAFETY ISSUE BY YOUR DEPARTMENT; I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU PROVIDE ME WITH THE DOCUMENTATION (AUTHORITY) THAT PERMITS AN AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER TO CLASSIFY THE POSSIBILE FAILURE OF THE VEHICLES TAIL LIGHTS AS A "SERVICE RECALL," AND NOT A SAFETY (ISSUE) RECALL. I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD FORWARD MY

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY DOING POSTED 55 MPH, GO DO DOWNSHIFT FROM 6TH TO 5TH GEAR BECAUSE I WAS EXITING AND WHEN I DEPRESSED MY CLUTCH PEDAL IT SNAPPED OFF CAUSING MY TO NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF GEAR. I HAD TO VEER OFF THE ROAD KILL THE ENGINE AND WAIT FOR AAA TO COME TOW ME TO A LOCAL REPAIR. THIS IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF I WERE IN TOWN OR RESIDENTIAL AREA COULD OF BEEN TROUBLE. *TR

CLUTCH BRACKET ON MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 BROKE MAKING THE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE PROPERLY. *TR

I OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX-8 AND WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN THE MANUAL CLUTCH PEDAL SHIFTED FROM ITS NORMAL POSITION SO FAR THAT IT GOT STUCK UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT HOME BUT WHEN LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM, I NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BRACKET HAD BROKEN, ALLOWING THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO MOVE UNDER THE BRAKE. I DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND THAT APPROXIMATELY 40 OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS BRACKET BREAKING IN THE SAME PLACE ON THE 2004-2008 RX-8. *TR

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS DURING A LIGHT SHIFT MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET SNAPPED. THE PEDAL IS NOW LOOSE AND MOVES EASILY FROM SIDE TO SIDE ONLY WORKING IF PUSHED ON THE CORRECT WAY. IT HAS BEEN SQUEAKING FOR A FEW MONTHS AND SUDDENLY ON AN EASY DRIVE IT JUST SNAPPED. THE PEDAL AND ASSEMBLY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABUSED OR MODIFIED IN ANY WAY NOR HAS THE CAR BEEN DRIVEN PARTICULARLY HARD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 02/26/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. UPDATED 06/10/10.*JB