2004 Mazda RX-8 complaints

I BOUGHT MY 2004 RX-8 USED WITH 48,000 MILES ON IT. ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH, ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT OR SITTING AT AN IDLE. WAS TOLD I HAD A COMPRESSION VARIANCE IN THE ENGINE AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. UNDISCLOSED TO ME AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE WAS THE FACT THAT THIS CAR HAD ALREADY HAD THE ENGINE REPLACE PREVIOUSLY. I NOW HAVE A CAR THAT IS ON ITS 3RD ENGINE IN 52,000 MILES. *TR

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE ON 12/5/06 AT RUSSEL MAZDA IN CATONSVILLE, MD. VERY SATISFIED WITH THE LOOK OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVING NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE THE VEHICLE I MADE MY DECISION TO PURCHASE. SEVERAL OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS OWN MAZDA?S AND BELIEVE IN YOUR VEHICLES BUT NONE OWN THE RX-8. ON 1/4/07, AFTER MOVING A SHORT DISTANCE TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULDN?T RESTART 5 MINUTES LATER. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO RUSSEL MAZDA IN CATONSVILLE FOR SERVICE. DEALER STATES ?NO START CONDITION. CAR TOWED IN. CUSTOMER HEARS A WHINING SOUND FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN TRYING TO STAR ENGINE. ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER, ?POSSIBLE STARTER?. CAR FLOODED, DE-FLOODED CAR AS PER BULLETIN #01-048/06XXB479R1//.3 ? PROCEDURE ?A? ONLY. AFTER BELIEVING THIS PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED, I ASSUMED EVERYTHING WAS OK. TO NO AVAIL, ON APRIL 4, 2008, DUE TO AN EMERGENCY, ONCE AGAIN I HAD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE A SHORT DISTANCE. AFTER PARKING VEHICLE AT HOME FOR 2 DAYS DURING A SHORT ILLNESS, I WENT TO START VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK VEHICLE WOULDN?T START. ?DE-JAVU?! I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED TO START VEHICLE AGAIN. AFTER THAT, I HAD TO CALL OUT OF WORK ADVISING THEM OF CAR TROUBLE. I THEN WAITED 4 HOURS TO TRY STARTING AGAIN, STILL NO START. I CALLED THE CASTLE FORD/MAZDA IN BELTSVILLE WHO ADVISED ME TO TOW VEHICLE IN. ONCE UNIT ARRIVED, AFTER ONE WEEK OF WAITING FOR RESULTS OF DIAGNOSIS, VEHICLE WAS FLOODED AGAIN. THE DEALER GAVE ME AN INITIAL REPAIR ESTIMATE OF $850.00. I WAS ABLE TO HAVE THEM LOWER THAT

CLUTCH PEDAL SUPPORT BRACKET FAILED. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MAZDA RX 8. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 11,000 MILES DUE TO LOW COMPRESSION AND OTHER ISSUES. 10,000 MILES LATER I AM GETTING THE SAME SYMPTOMS IN THE NEW ENGINE. MY DEALER IS GREAT, BUT THE CAR IS A LEMON. *TR

MY MAZDA RX-8 HAS STALLED MANY TIMES WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHILE GOING ON TRIPS ON THE INTERSTATE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD LOSE POWER AND STALLS AND I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND START IT AGAIN WHICH IT WOULD TAKE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD START. I HAVE HAD MY MAZDA TOWED FROM MY HOUSE TO THE DEALER BEC IT WOULD NOT START AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS FLOODED. NOW IT WON'T START AGAIN AND IT IS REALLY FRUSTRATING AND STARTING TO WORRY ME HOW DANGEROUS IT IS DRIVING MY MAZDA. I HAVE HAD MY MAZDA FOR A YEAR NOW AND THE ONLY TIME I DRIVE IT IS WHEN I GO ON A LONG TRIP OR TO GO SHOPPING AND MOSTLY ON WEEKENDS OR AFTER I GET OFF FROM WORK. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS RESOLVE SO THAT I WON'T GET HURT OR SOMEBODY ELSE WILL GET HURT BEC OF THIS. I UNDERSTAND THAT MAZDA RX-8 HAD A RECALL ON FUEL SYSTEM I JUST WONDER IF THIS WAS TAKEN CARE OF FOR THIS CAR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE CAR IS FINE AND TO MAKE SURE TO WARM IT UP BEFORE YOU SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN ,I HAVE DONE THAT AND NOW MY MAZDA WILL NOT START AGAIN. *TR

CLUTCH PEDAL STARTED SQUEAKING, CLUTCH PEDAL BRACE BROKE AND CAR WON'T GO INTO GEAR AT ALL, ORDERING A NEW CLUTCH PEDAL. *TR

MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE AT THE WELDS WITH 60K MILES ON MY CAR. MY CAR IS BONE STOCK. *TR

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2004 RX8. MY ENGINE FLOODS REGULARLY, I AM AFRAID TO VALET MY CAR DUE TO THIS CONSTANT PROBLEM. MY DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR FAILED, I HAD TO REPLACE OUT OF POCKET, NOW THE DEALER IS SAYING MY CAR HAS LOW COMPRESSION AND SUGGEST I TRADE IT IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THEY DO NOT WANT TO REPLACE MY ENGINE AS I AM OVER THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST MAZDA. *TR

THE HEATER CONTROL UNITS ARE FAILING ON MAZDA RX8. WHEN DRIVING THE AIR GOES HOT TO COLD BACK AND FORTH. IF YOU MOVE THE KNOB BACK AND FORTH YOU CAN GET YOUR HEAT BACK. I HAVE HAD WINDOWS FOG UP BECAUSE THE HEAT HAS GONE OUT. I HAVE CONTACTED MAZDA AND THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THIS AFFECTS. IF YOU DO A SEARCH ON RX8CLUB.COM YOU WILL SEE ALL THE FAILURES. *TR

VEHICLE'S CLUTCH BRACKET ASSEMBLY BROKE AT TWO SEPARATE WELD POINTS MAKING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS, 07, I BEGAN NOTICING A VERY LOUD SQUEAK UPON DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. IN RESEARCHING THIS, IT APPEARS THAT THIS WAS SYMPTOMATIC OF THE FIRST WELD SPOT FAILING. I BEGAN NOTICING AN INABILITY TO PULL THE CAR OUT OF GEAR. THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT BUDGE, EVEN WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THIS PROBLEM WAS MOST SEVERE AT VEHICLE START UP. UPON STARTING THE CAR, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO ANY GEAR. TO MAKE THE CAR DRIVABLE, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE STARTED WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL DEPRESSED, AND THE CAR ALREADY IN 1ST GEAR (WITH THE VEHICLE OFF, IT WAS VERY SIMPLE TO GET THE CAR INTO ANY GEAR). I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER TWO DAYS AFTER THE PROBLEM BEGAN. THEY ADVISED ME THAT MY PROBLEM SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS DUE TO FAILURE IN THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. I HAD ADVISED THEM THAT I HAD READ ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH BRACKET, AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL ALIGNMENT. I QUESTIONED WHETHER I HAD TOO MUCH FREE PLAY, AND NOT ENOUGH CLUTCH STROKE. THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR THE DAY AND ADVISED ME BY PHONE THAT THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM WAS FULLY FUNCTIONAL. MY CLUTCH PEDAL ALIGNMENT WAS OFF AND THEY MADE ADJUSTMENTS. WITH REGARDS TO THE NOISE I WAS HEARING UPON DEPRESSING THE PEDAL, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. UPON RECEIVING MY CAR, ALL THE PROBLEMS APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN RESOLVED. THE NOISE WAS GONE, THE CAR WAS SHIFTING LIKE IT HAS SINCE OWNIN

DRIVING ON HIWAY AT 65MPH I WAS PUSHING IN CLUTCH PETAL TO CHANGE GEARS AND HEARD LOUD POP COME FROM CLUTCH PETAL. I WAS STILL ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS BUT AFTER INSPECTING THE PETAL THE MOUNTING BRACKET ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD BROKE OFF AND THE PETAL BENDS TO THE RIGHT SIDE. *CN

CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKEN TWICE! THE CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, SO I TOOK IT TO MAZDA AND THEY FIXED IT. ABOUT A MONTH LATER, IT BROKE AGAIN. I HEARD THE TELL SIGNS BECAUSE IT STARTED SQUEAKING AGAIN AS IT DID THE FIRST TIME AND NOW ITS SQUEAKING AGAIN! *TR

1) CAR OFTEN STALLS/WON'T START 2) ENGINE CRANKS AND WON'T START/ HAD TO TAKE IT TO A SHOP MANY TIMES 3) DEALER SAYS "ENGINE FLOODED" AND REPAIRED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ROTARY ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY, BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEFORE STARTING AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. THE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,200.

2004. *TR

AC AND GENERAL CABIN TEMPERATURE PROBLEMS. I AM HAVING A COMBINATION OF PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATING AND COOLING OF THE CAR. IN THE SUMMER WHEN IT IS VERY HOT THERE IS A NOTICEABLE "PULSING" OR ON/OFF SYMPTOM OF THE COLD AIR GENERATED BY THE AC. I TIMED IT AND VERY COLD AIR COMES OUT OF THE VENT FOR ABOUT 30 - 45 SECONDS. THEN IT IS FOLLOWED BY ABOUT THE SAME DURATION OF REGULAR AIR (THE AC SEEMS TO SHUT OFF) SO ON HOT DAYS YOU GET A PULSE OF COLD FOLLOWED UP BY A PULSE OF WARM AIR. THE EFFECT IS THAT THE CABIN HEATS UP AND THE AC CANNOT KEEP UP WITH IT. IT THE WINTER WHEN IT IS COLD OUT THERE IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE. IT SEEMS THAT THE VENTS ARE ALLOWING OUTSIDE AIR TO GET INTO THE MIXTURE. IN THE WINTER ICE COLD AIR IS BEING MIXED IN WITH THE HEAT WHICH HAS THE SAME EFFECT WHERE THE HEATER CANNOT KEEP UP WITH HEATING THE CABIN OF THE CAR. THERE IS ALSO AN ANNOYING FEATURE ON THE DEFROSTER. YOU CANNOT DEFROST THE WINDOW WITH INSIDE AIR AS SOON AS YOU TURN ON THE DEFROSTER IT FLIPS THE OUTSIDE AIR VENT OPEN. SO WHEN IT IS VERY COLD YOU HAVE TO CHOSE BETWEEN SEEING OUT THE WIND SHIELD AND FREEZING OR HEAT THE CABIN AND THE WIND SHIELD FOGS UP. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN THREE TIMES AND HAVE SINCE GAVE UP. THE TECH'S OBVIOUSLY CANNOT OR WILL NOT FIX IT. THE TECH ACTUALLY HAD A THERMOMETER IN THE VENT OF THE CAR AND OF COURSE THE CAR IS INSIDE THE GARAGE IN THE SHADE. SO HE POPS IN THE THERMOMETER AND COMES BACK AND CHECKS IT A - OK. I GAVE THEM A DETAILED DESCRIPTION, DO YOU THINK THEY T

PURCHASED USED VEHICLE IN APRIL 2007, FIRST INCIDENT 8/14/2007 ENGINE STALLED (ENGINE INTERNAL FAILURE) AT 45,107 MILES ENGINE REPLACED BY MAZDA DEALERSHIP. SECOND INCIDENT SEPTEMBER 2007 POWER STEERING GOES OUT (POOR CONNECTION ON ENGINE ROOM HARNESS) CONNECTION FIXED STEERING GEAR REPLACED; THIRD INCIDENT OCTOBER 2007, STEERING PROBLEM (STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR MALFUNCTION) BROKEN WIRE REPAIRED--LEARNED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED 15 TIMES PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. *JB

I OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX8 WITH 67,900 MILES. THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF AN INTERNAL FAULT FAILURE. I AM BEING CHARGED 8,500 TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH A 3 YEAR OLD CAR WITH MID MILEAGE NEEDING AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I AM A TEACHER AND DON'T HAVE THE SALARY TO REPLACE A CAR EVERY 3 YEARS OR AT 67,900 MILES. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5 AND 70 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTARY ENGINE, STARTER, FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, AND THE BATTERY, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

I HAVE A 2004 MAZDA RX8 WHICH I PURCHASED NEW ON OCTOBER 13, 2005. THE CAR HAS 21,420 MILES ON IT ... ALL 'BABIED' AS I'M 52 YEARS OLD ... AND ALL SERVICE HAS BEEN DONE BY THE DEALER. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY PLUS I HAVE A HIGH-PRICED EXTENDED WARRANTY ON TOP OF IT! TWO DAYS AGO I NOTICED THE CLUTCH WAS SLIPPING SO I CALLED MY DEALER. THEY WANTED ME TO WAIT A WEEK TO BRING IT IN; I DECIDED IT WOULDN'T BE MOVING ON IT'S OWN IN A WEEK AND DROPPED BY THE DEALER THE SAME DAY. TODAY THEY PHONED ME TO SAY THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACING. FURTHER, THIS WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNDER EITHER THE FACTORY WARRANTY OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY; INSTEAD, I WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE $1480.00 REPLACEMENT COST! A CAR WITH ONLY 21K MILES ON IT THAT HAS BABIED SINCE DAY ONE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING CLUTCH PROBLEMS (I'VE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS) NOT SHOULD I BE LIABLE FOR THIS EXORBITANT COST! UPON SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THE PARTS I NEED ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE DEALER; THEREFORE, I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE OPTION OF HAVING SOMEONE ELSE DOING THE REPAIRS WITHOUT PAYING AN ASTRONOMICAL FEE FOR A THROW-OUT BEARING AND PLATE ($497.00)! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE STALLING OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. ON JUNE 24, 2007, THE DEALER REPLACED THE COIL, HOWEVER, IT FAILED TO WORK AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE. THIS ALSO DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE COIL A SECOND TIME AND THE DEALER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE ENGINE APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AGO. THE ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND A VALID VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 36,000.

I PURCHASED MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 IN MARCH 2005 AND PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON DID NOT START UNTIL APRIL 2006. AT THAT TIME THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 26,000 MILES ON IT (I HAVE A LONG COMMUTE 90% OF WHICH IS FREEWAY). THE FIRST SEVERAL TIMES BACK TO THE DEALER MINOR THINGS WERE ADJUSTED OR CLEANED SUCH AS THE SPARK PLUGS AND A SMALL VALVE A KIT TO A BUTTERFLY VALVE IN A CARBURETOR ENGINE. EVENTUALLY THE VALVE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE LIGHT STILL CAME BACK ON. IN FACT, ON ONE OCCASION THE CAR WAS PULLED OUT OF THE SHOP DOORS PRONOUNCED FIXED AND UPON MY STARTING IT AGAIN THE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. EVENTUALLY MAZDA APPROVED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BE REPLACED, WHICH IT WAS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS STAYED OFF SINCE THAT REPLACEMENT (ABOUT 3-MONTHS) , BUT OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE ARISEN. FIRST, EITHER THE INTAKE OR EXHAUST HEADS WERE NOT SEALED CORRECTLY SINCE THE ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING THROUGH THE DASH. THIS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT BUT NEVER PROPERLY REPAIRED. NOW, AS OF AUGUST 3, 2007 THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS WHERE WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE CAR SHUTS DOWN. THE NEEDLES IN THE DIALS ON THE DASH BOUNCE WILDLY BACK AND FORTH WHILE A CLICKING SOUND IS COMING FROM THE FUSE BOX IN THE ENGINE. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CAR IS BACK IN FOR IT'S 10TH VISIT TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN CLEVELAND. I HAVE STARTED THE BUY BACK PROCEDURE WITH MAZDA. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

ENGINE FAILURE, PURCHASED CAR 3/11/2006, A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THE CAR STARTED IDLING ROUGHLY, THEN STALLING, THE COMPUTER MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE ENGINE ONCE, I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION, THE LAST INCIDENT HAPPENED LAST WEEK 7/29/2007, I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE PULLING OUT INTO THE PASSING LANE AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER BUT DID NOT STALL MY HEAD WAS SLAMMED FORWARD ALMOST HITTING THE STIRRING WHEEL AND A FEW SECONDS LATER SHOT OFF LIKE A ROCKET SLAMMING MY HEAD BACK AGAINST THE DRIVERS SEAT, CAUSING MY NECK TO WHIP LASH I HAVE HAD A BAD HEADACHE SINCE, AND I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A BIG DIESEL TRUCK. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN GETTING THE OIL AND TIRES CHANGED, AND ALSO GETTING CHECKED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY ARE SAYING THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING ON THE ROAD TEST. WELL IT HAPPENS TO ME QUITE OFTEN WHEN I GO TO PASS SOMEONE ON THE INTERSTATE, IT HESITATES BEFORE IT KICKS IN AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. I AM PAYING FOR A CAR THAT SPENDS MORE TIME IN THE SHOP THAN OUT. I BOUGHT IT 3/11/06 IT STAYED IN THE SHOP ALMOST CONTINUALLY UNTIL 7/18/2006, AND I WAS MAKING PAYMENTS. NOW IT IS STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN WITH THE ROUGH IDLE AND HESITATION. I AM GETTING TO THE POINT THAT I WANT MY MONEY BACK AND I'LL GIVE THEM THE CAR BACK. I AM GETTING TO SCARED TO DRIVE IT. NOW I FIND OUT TODAY ABOUT OTHER RECALLS THE CONTROL ARM I WAS NOT AWARE OF, I GUESS THAT IS WHY MY CAR IS STARTING TO PULL HARD TO THE RIGHT, NOW I HAVE TO HAVE THAT TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE

THE REAR PASSENGER TAIL LAMP ON THE 2004 MAZDA RX-8 IS KNOWN TO COLLECT WATER INSIDE THE LAMP, SOMETIMES AS MUCH AS 2 INCHES OR MORE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MAZDA AND THEY WILL REPLACE THE LAMP ONLY IN UNDER WARRANTY. BUT ACCORDING TO THE MAZDA DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE, WATER IN A TAIL LAMP IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO PASS THE ANNUAL TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY INSPECTION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, ALTHOUGH IT IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE LAMP WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY MAZDA SINCE MY VEHICLE MILEAGE EXCEEDS THE WARRANTY. IF IT IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THEIR INSPECTION PROCEDURES AND IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT BY MAZDA, I BELIEVE THAT MAZDA OWNS THE RESPONSIBILITY IN REPLACING THE TAIL LAMP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE A RECALL NOTICE PRESENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. SINCE THAT TIME, HIS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER, EXCESSIVE AIR CONSUMPTION, AND POOR MILEAGE. THE # OF CYLINDERS IS 0 BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS A ROTARY ENGINE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 71,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

ON 1/26/07 I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE LATEST RECALL REPAIR AND A TUNE UP, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS THE POWER LOSS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. PRIOR TO THIS, THE CAR WAS STALLING, LOSING POWER AND HAVING TO DOWN SHIFT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ITS SPEED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, AND LITTLE POWER WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE TUNE UP INCLUDED REPLACING THE SPARK PLUGS, AIR FILTER, AND OIL CHANGE, IN ADDITION TO THE RECALL WORK. THE CAR SEEMED TO RUN FINE AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETE, BUT LASTED ONLY ABOUT A WEEK. THE CAR EXHIBITS THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH POWER LOSS AGAIN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHO SAID MY SPARK PLUG WIRES ARE NOW THE CULPRIT, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE OKAY A COUPLE WEEKS PRIOR. SAID THE SPARK PLUG WIRES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, WHICH IS OKAY, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE CAUSE SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE CAR. MY CAR IS ALMOST OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM. *NM

PROBLEMS WITH ROTARY ENGINE STARTING. USUALLY HAPPENS AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW 25 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. POOR IGNITION SYSTEM FOR COLDER WEATHER. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH IT EACH WINTER I HAVE OWNED THE CAR(2004 TO PRESENT DAY). A TRIP TO THE DEALER HAS BEEN NECESSARY EACH TIME AND WHILE THE WARRANTY IS STILL VALID, THIS IS AN INCONVENIENCE BUT IT'S AFTER THE EXPIRATION IS WHEN I WORRY. A RECALL WAS NOTED AND REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED THE FALL OF 2006 BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED YESTERDAY. THIS RECALL INCLUDED SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT, BATTERY REPLACEMENT, STARTER MOTOR REPLACEMENT, AND REPROGRAMMING THE ONBOARD COMPUTER CHIP FOR IGNITION CHANGES. THE NEW STARTER MOTOR MADE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO STARTING TIME BUT DIDN'T CHANGE IT'S CONDITION IN COLDER WEATHER. THE MAZDA DEALER HAS BEEN LITTLE HELP IN RESOLVING THE SITUATION. THEIR REMEDY HAS BEEN JUST TREATING THE SYMPTOMS AND NOT FIGURING ON A SOLUTION TO THE IGNITION PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THAT "THESE CARS DO NOT LIKE COLD WEATHER" AND "THESE CARS DO NOT LIKE SHORT TRIPS". I WOULD FIGURE THAT IF A COMBUSTION MOTOR CANNOT START IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 25 DEGREES F, THEN THEY SHOULD OFFER A BETTER CAR/MOTOR REPLACEMENT. *NM

ENGINE FAILURE, AFTER DRIVING SHORT DISTANCES ENGINE DOES NOT ALWAYS WANT TO RESTART; DURING TIMES OF SITTING IN TRAFFIC, CAR WILL IDLE ROUGHLY AND SPUTTER, SOMETIMES DIE AND WON'T IMMEDIATELY RESTART; CAR HAS DIED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START OUT INTO TRAFFIC; TRANSMISSION DOESN'T CHANGE GEARS PROPERLY... I HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE FEB. 04 AND IT HAS BEEN SERVICED OVER A DOZEN TIMES FOR ENGINE FAILURE AND TRANSMISSION ISSUES ALONE. IT HAS HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION, LINKAGE, GEAR BOX, STARTER, BATTERY, AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY PUTTING IN THE 2ND REPLACEMENT ENGINE. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY THESE CARS HAVE SO MUCH TROUBLE, BUT I WOULDN'T HAVE ANOTHER ONE IF IT WAS GIVEN TO ME. *NM

PURCHASED A 2004 MAZDA RX8 DURING MAY 2004. AUG. 2004 THE CAR WAS IN FOR A RECALL ON HARD START/ LACK OF POWER ISSUES. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR 24 DAYS AND HAS REQUIRED 8 TRIPS TO THE SERVICE DEPT. FOR ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PCM WAS SHIPPED TO MAZDA USA FOR A REPROGRAM. THIS SOLUTION DID NOT WORK AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE POWER LOSS, HESITATION, ROUGH IDLE, AND CEL LIGHT PROBLEMS. INITIALLY, I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A HIGH SPEED LEAN OUT CONDITION. ACTUALLY, THIS VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE ENGINE FROM THE DAY IT WAS PURCHASED. THIS IS CONFIRMED BY THE FACT MAZDA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON ALL RX8 ROTARY ENGINES AND THERE IS A RECALL ON ALL ROTARY ENGINES FOR TESTING TO SEE IF THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACEMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS FIX MAY OR MAY NOT WORK. OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ENGINE REPLACEMENTS. MY CAR HAS STARTED TO EXHIBIT THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT LED TO THE FIRST REPLACEMENT. ALSO, THE ENGINES ARE REMANUFACTURED FURTHER REDUCING THE RESALE VALUE OF THE CAR. THE TREATMENT FROM THE DEALER AND MAZDA USA CUSTOMER MEDIATION IS ACTUALLY "CUSTOMER NO SERVICE" AND A DISGRACE. IN A PRESS RELEASE RX8 OWNERS WERE GUARANTEED "WHITE GLOVE TREATMENT". IT APPEARS THAT THE ONLY REMEDY SEEMS TO AN ATTORNEY AND/OR THE LEMON LAW. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PERFORMING GENERAL MAINTENANCE, THE BRAKES WERE OBSERVED TO BE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKES WERE CORRODED DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ROTORS WERE CORRODED. UPDATED 11/30/06. *JB

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH EXCESSIVE HEAT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAR LOSES OR LACKS POWER. CAR HAS DIED MANY TIMES. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TWICE TO DEALER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER FOR SERVICE OVER 7 TIMES. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 32000 MILES. TODAY: 2 NOV 2006. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I PICKED UP CAR YESTERDAY FROM DEALER AFTER BEING REPAIRED FROM SIMILAR (POWER) PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR TOO MANY TIMES. *NM

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUN VISOR CAN CRACK/BREAK AND OBSTRUCT VISION WHILE DRIVING. *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR HAS BROKEN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 3 MONTHS. THE TOP SEAM SPLITS RENDERING THE VISOR COMPLETELY UNUSABLE. IT LOOSELY HANGS DIRECTLY IN THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SIGHT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *JB

I OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX-8 AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL RANDOM BREAK-DOWNS & THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. HALF THE TIME, MY CAR IS JUST PARKED AND WILL NOT START UP EVEN AFTER SITTING FOR AWHILE. MAZDA HAS REPLACED THE ENTIRE ENGINE, BATTERY, AND COILS. I WAS WITHOUT MY CAR FOR 22 DAYS. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND 11 OTHER MAZDA RX-8 OWNERS WITH THE EXACT PROBLEMS. SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE ROTARY ENGINE. I WROTE MAZDA CONSUMER COMPLIANCE AND GAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION RELATED TO MY CAR AND THEY OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND GUARANTEED MY CAR WAS FULLY REPAIRED. THEY SENT ME A CONTRACT FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND BASICALLY SIGNING THE WARRANTY EXCLUDES ME TO EVER SEEK ANY MONETARY OR JUSTIFICATION FROM MAZDA AGAIN ON THIS VEHICLE. I DID NOT SIGN THE CONTRACT. I PICKED UP MY CAR AND 6 DAYS LATER MY CAR WOULD NOT START (SAME AS BEFORE). I TOWED IT BACK TO THE DEALER, WITHIN 2 DAYS THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT MY UNDERCARRIAGE WAS COMPLETELY TORN APART AND I MUST OF RAN OVER SOMETHING VERY RECENTLY AND IT WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY ARE NOW CHARGING ME $250 FOR A REPLACEMENT OXYGEN SENSOR. I CAN CARE LESS ABOUT THE $250, IT'S JUST OBVIOUS THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THEIR ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE BY DESIGN. I AM SURE MY VIN # IS FLAGGED AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF THE LETTER I WROTE TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THE LETTER WAS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM BEFORE I SEEK LEGAL COUNCIL. I GUESS NOW THEY ARE IMPLYING THAT I AM PURPOSELY HARMING MY VEHICLE, WHICH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, AND THE ENGINE LOST ALL PICKUP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO SPECIFICALLY DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED.

SUN VISOR SPLITS IN MIDDLE WHEN FOLDED DOWN ON HOT DAYS AND BLOCKS WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. SUN VISOR IS ELECTRICALLY WIRED AND HANGS FROM WIRE OBSCURING MOST OF WINDSHIELD ON DRIVERS SIDE. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED SUNVISOR SEVERAL TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. ON INTERNET COMMUNITY MANY IF NOT ALL OTHER USERS REPORT THAT THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THEM. HTTP://WWW.RX8CLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=12572. *NM

I BOUGHT MY RX8 IN AUGUST OF 2004. AFTER THE FIRST 16000 MILES I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. IT STARTED OUT WITH CHATTERING COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN THE CAR WAS BEING ACCELERATED. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER DURING ACCELERATION. I FIRST TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON 1/09/06. THE DEALER PERFORMED RECALL 3305G AND TOLD ME THIS WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS SOME IMPROVEMENT BUT LOSS OF POWER WAS STILL OCCURRING. IN THE MORNING OF 4/17/06 CAR WOULD NOT START. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND CAR WAS TOWED FOR REPAIR. DEALER ATTRIBUTED PROBLEM TO POWER TRAIN MODULE (REFLASHING). ON 5/23/06 CAR WAS AGAIN IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, DEALER PERFORMED COMPUTER CHANGES. ON 5/25/06 THE CAR WENT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME THE PCM MODULE WAS REMOVED AND SENT OUT FOR REPAIR. ON 6/19/06 CAR EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEMS (VIBRATION, STALLING AND LOSS OF POWER). THIS TIME I INFORMED THE DEALER THAT I NEEDED THE CAR FULLY REPAIRED OR REPLACED. I CALLED MAZDA AND STARTED A COMPLAINT FILE (#107953120). CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND I AM DRIVING A RENTAL PAID FOR BY THE DEALER. *JB

I PURCHASED MY 2004 RX-8 IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, 8/19/03. MY FIRST PROBLEMS OCCURRED 2/18/04, PCM AND COOLANT PROBLEMS. ON 3/29/04, I BEGAN HAVING RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I ALSO TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEMS ON 4/12/04, 3/3/06, 3/31/06, 4/3/06 AND 4/5/06. ON 7/19/04, I TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE BECAUSE THE DRIVER''S-SIDE SUN VISOR FELL APART. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN ON 7/29/04, FOR MORE SUN VISOR PROBLEMS. IT IS STILL LOOSE. I TOOK MY CAR FOR RECALL SERVICES ON 1116/04 AND 9/1/05. ON 7/1/05, I TOOK IN MY CAR AS IT WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGHLY AND DYING. ON 8/9/05, I AGAIN TOOK IN MY CAR FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEMS AND THE FACT THAT IT WAS CONTINUING TO IDLE ROUGHLY AND DIE. I TOOK IN MY CAR ON 9/1/05, BECAUSE IT WAS STILL IDLING VERY ROUGHLY AND DYING. ON THAT OCCASION I WAS ALMOST ''T-BONED'' BY ANOTHER CAR THAT MANAGED TO SWERVE AT THE LAST MOMENT. DURING THIS 22-DAY-LONG SERVICE VISIT, AT 27,534 MILES, MY ENGINE WAS REPLACED. I TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE ON 5/22/06, BECAUSE MY CAR WAS IDLING VERY ROUGHLY AND DIED 3 TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY. EACH TIME I NARROWLY AVOIDED BEING REAR-ENDED BY TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. THIS VISIT LASTED 10 DAYS. ON 6/12/06, MY CAR BEGAN IDLING VERY ROUGHLY AND DIED 4 TIMES. AGAIN I NARROWLY AVOIDED BEING HIT BY TRAFFIC. ON 6/13/06, I TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE, WHERE IT REMAINS, AS OF 6/16/06. ON THIS SITE FOR 2004 RX-8'S ALONE, THERE ARE 9 OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE. WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR, I CONSTANTLY FEAR THE NEXT INSTANCE

MAZDA RX-8'S HAVE SEVERAL DOCUMENTED CASES OF WHAT THE DEALERSHIPS REFER TO AS "EXPLODING CLUTCHES". IT SEEMS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT CAUSES THE CLUTCHES TO FAIL PREMATURELY (5-20K MILES) LOCKING THE TRANSMISSION IN GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A FEW INDIVIDUALS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHERE THE INABILITY TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE FATAL. MAZDA AND ITS DEALERS HAVE IGNORED CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MATTER. I'M HAVE COMPILED AND CONTINUE TO COMPILE DOCUMENTATION INDICATING THAT THIS IS FAR FROM A FEW ISOLATED EVENTS. *JB

I HAVE GONE INTO MY DEALERSHIP ON MORE THAN 6 TIMES DUE TO MY 2004 RX-8 AIR CONDITIONING NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE A CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR, AND IN THE SUMMER TIME TEMPERATURES CAN REACH 105 OUTSIDE, AND MUCH HOTTER INSIDE MY CAR. MY AIR CONDITIONER FAILS TO WORK. EACH AND EVERY TIME I'VE TAKEN IT IN, IT HAS BEEN ON A DAY WHEN IT'S NOT THAT HOT OUTSIDE, AND THE TECH. SAYS THE OUT PUT OF THE A/C IS UP TO PAR. IT'S NOT TRUE CONSIDERING I'M DRIVING, AND SWEAT IS POURING DOWN MY FACE, AND MY BACK STICKS TO MY LEATHER SEATS. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN STATED THAT BY PUTTING IN A NEW A/C IT WOULD DO NO GOOD...THAT MAZDA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ALL OF THE A/C AND A NEW ONE WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE IS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING CONSIDERING THIS IS A NEW CAR. THIS IS A BIG ENOUGH PROBLEM THAT I WILL NEVER PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN, AND I TELL ANYONE WHO ASKS NOT TO PURCHASE ONE AS WELL. WHAT GOOD IS A CAR IF IT WON'T COOL DOWN??*JB

3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF 2004 RX-8 BATTERY AND SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TS ONE SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWICE AND HAD TO BE CHARGED THREE TIMES. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED TO ALLEVIATE STALLING. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, 02 SENSOR, AMPLIFIER AND STARTER WERE ALSO REPLACED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS AND NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE ENGINE VIBRATES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DISCOVERED TWO MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. THE REPAIR PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO RESOLVE AN ON-GOING ENGINE STARTUP /VEHICLE STALL PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 RX-8. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 15,000+ MILES AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR SHORT, DAILY RUNS TO WORK AND RECREATIONAL DRIVES. THE ROTARY ENGINE HAS A REQUIRED ENGINE WARM-UP PROCEDURE BEFORE SHUTTING IT OFF. A DEFLOODING PROCEDURE IS ALSO REQUIRED IF ENGINE FAILS TO START IN THE MANUFACTURERS MANUAL. MAZDA HAS ALREADY HAD A RECALL ON THE FUEL SYSTEM COMPUTER WITH UPDATE SOFTWARE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FROM MY GARAGE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THIS DONE BECAUSE OF A NONSTART SITUATION. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE CORRECTED BY THEM ALTHOUGH A STALLING WHILE A RED LIGHTS OR NO STARTUP AFTER REFUELING AT GAS STATIONS PROBLEMS RECURRED. THE CAR AGAIN HAD TO BE TOWED FROM MY GARAGE TO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED FOR THE NONSTART-UP ISSUE. A REPLACEMENT OF BATTERY, ALTENATOR AND SPARK PLUGS WERE DONE. THE PROBLEM SEEMINGLY CLEARED FOR HALF THE DAY UNTIL A TRIP FOR FUEL CAUSED ANOTHER NONSTART INCIDENCE(STUCK AT THE PUMP) IN A $34,000 CAR! IT FINALLY RESTARTED AFTER 10 MIN AND WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE DEALER THE NEXT AFTERNOON WHERE THE PROBLEM THEN RECURRED IN THEIR GARAGE. THE DEALER HAS NOW TOLD ME I MUST WAIT LONGER AFTER THE MANUFACTURER'S REQUIRED ENGINE WARM-UP TIME TO SHUT OFF THE CAR AND NOT TO RESTART ENGINE IN SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. IS THIS INSANE OR WHAT! THIS EXPLANATION DIDN'T FLY WITH ME, SO THE CAR HAS BEEN NOW RECHECKED AND OK'D TO DRIVE AGAIN BY THEIR TECHNICIANS WITH NO CHANG

MAZDA RX 8 FAILED TO START. SECOND TIME SENT TO DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS HAD CAR FOR 5 DAYS WAITING FOR A BATTER FOR MY CAR. *JB

2004 MAZDA RX 8 HAS MANY DESIGN DEFECTS, BATTERY WAS REPLACED, SPARK PLUGS AND OIL FILTER WAS REPLACED 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. *TS THE STARTED WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING IN TRAFFIC AND WAS TAKING MULTIPLE TIMES TO TRY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES OF THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED, THE DEALERSHIP DECIDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS STILL NOT STARTING SMOOTHLY. THE DASH LIGHTS WERE BLINKING ON AND OFF AND THE HEAT WAS NOT WORKING. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, 02 SENSOR, AND A/C AMPLIFIER. THE HEATER CONTROL SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE SUN VISOR WAS REPLACED. *JB

MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING THE 2004 MAZDA RX-8 I HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AT NIGHT IN A LEFT TURN SITUATION. THE RX-8 TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. MY SON EMPHATICALLY STATES THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. HE WAS OF COURSE CITED FOR FAILING TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY. IT WAS THE SECOND TIME HE HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE. HE IS AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER, WITH OVER 11 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE DESIGN AND POSITION OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR IN THE RX-8 MAY HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT. THE LOW HEADROOM IN THE RX-8 PLACES THE LARGE REARVIEW MIRROR AT THE LEVEL OF THE DRIVER'S EYES. MY EXPERIENCE IN THE MONTH THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE IS THAT THE MIRROR TENDS TO OBSCURE THE DRIVER'S VIEW TO THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, MORE THAN IS TYPICALLY THE CASE IN OTHER VEHICLES. THIS IS TRUER FOR TALLER DRIVERS. IN THE CASE DESCRIBED ABOVE, THE DRIVER WAS 6' 2" TALL. FOR SOMEONE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE VEHICLE, THE TENDENCY OF THE MIRROR TO SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY MAY NOT BE IMMEDIATELY APPARENT. *NM

HI, I WANT TO REPORT A CONTROL ARM FAILURE ON MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 THAT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT AND MINOR INJURY. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON DECEMBER 7 IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND AFTER COMPLETING A RIGHT HAND TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, I WAS ACCELERATING AWAY WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM SEPARATED AT THE BALL JOINT RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. THE CAR SPUN AROUND AND WENT OVER A 10" CURB WITH ALL FOUR WHEELS AND STRUCK A HIGHWAY SIGN. I SUFFERED A JAMMED RIGHT THUMB AND HYPER-EXTENDED RIGHT SHOULDER, WITH NO MEDICAL ATTENTION NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BOB MOORE MAZDA IN EDMOND OKLAHOMA WHERE IT REMAINS WITH PARTS ON BACK ORDER. INTERESTINGLY THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN TO THE DEALER ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 15 AND THE INSPECTION RECALL ON THE CONTROL ARMS WAS PERFORMED. I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE REPLACEMENT OF ALL SUSPECT CONTROL ARMS AND NOT JUST AN "INSPECTION. *JB

PERFORATION - 2004 RX-8. THE CAR IS SHOWING BUBBLING RUST UNDERNEATH PAINT, ABOVE PASSENGER DOOR. THE DEALER SAYS THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNTIL RUST GOES THROUGH THE PAINT TO THE OUTSIDE. GREAT POLICY FOR ALMOST NEW CAR! *NM

I RECEIVED 2 SAFETY RECALL NOTICES ON MY RX8. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I LEASED THE VEHICLE AND I THOUGHT THEY CORRECTED AND/OR INSPECTED THE PROBLEM. OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 60 DAYS, THE SERVICE I HAVE RECEIVED HAS BEEN UNSATISFACTORY AND I HAVE BEEN LEAD TO BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER MAY NOT HAVE ADDRESSED THE SAFETY RECALL ISSUES. (CRACKED BALL JOINT AND HEAT INSULATION). I HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM AND I THINK THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, TO THE POINT THEY WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS WILL INEVITABLY CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO LOSE VALUE. *JB