2004 MAZDA RX-8 Complaints

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 FROM AUTOMOTIVE.COM THERE ARE 30+ EMAIL ADDRESSES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO MINE. PLEASE HELP US GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS FAULTY ENGINE AND MAKE MAZDA OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKES. PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE IN DANGER AND THIS IS NEITHER ACCEPTABLE NOR ETHICAL. PS- AN EMPLOYEE OF NHTSA HAS BEEN CONTACTED PRIOR REGARDING THIS SITUATION. HER NAME IS [XXX] AND HER CONTACT INFORMATION IS [XXX]EXT #: [XXX]. I RECEIVED THIS FROM THE AUTOMOTIVE.COM FORUM. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FO

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

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

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

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 (THIS) INQUIRY TO MR. LAHOOD'S OFFICE BECAUSE HE RECENTLY IDICATED BEFOR A CONGRESSIONAL THAT HE TAKES, AND CONSIDERS EVERY INQUIRY TO HIS DEPARTMENT SERIOUSLY.

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

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

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