2004 MAZDA RX-8 Complaints

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALLS ECT. LAST NIGHT I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND STARTED TO LEAVE, BACKING OUT OF PARKING LOT AND THE THROTTLE STARTED TO SURGE. I STOP TURNED IT OFF AND IT STOPPED. I PULLED OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN SHIFTED INTO 2ND GEAR THE THROTTLE STUCK AND WAS RACING BETWEEN 3500 AND 4000 RPMS. I PUT THE CLUTCH IN AND IT PEGGED OUT ON THE RPM GAUGE, I MANAGED TO NOT HIT ANYONE OR ANYTHING AND PULLED OFF HIGHWAY CALLED MAZDA FOR ASSISTANCE, I SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND STARTED IT BACK UP AFTER A FEW MIN TO SEE IF IT RESET ITSELF, STARTED IT BACK UP AND IT JUST SURGED AND STUCK BETWEEN 3000 AND 4000 RPMS. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS AND FRANKLY I WAS VERY LUCKY. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY INPUT OR INQUIRY ON THIS MATTER, NEEDLESS TO SAY I DON'T TRUST MY CAR ANYMORE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CLUTCH PEDAL BEGAN SQUEAKING. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACE FAILED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR AT ALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS BENT, NOT BROKEN AND THEY COULD REPLACE OR WELD THE PART. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 37,700.

DRIVERS SIDE OIL COOLER LINES HAVE METAL SECTION AND CONNECTOR AS THEY PASS FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO WHEEL WELL. THIS METAL SECTION HAS CORRODED THROUGH AND PRODUCED A HOLE IN THE METAL OIL LINE ALLOWING ENGINE OIL TO BE SPRAYED ONTO BRAKE SYSTEM, FRONT TIRE AND RIM, AND CONSEQUENTLY UNDER REAR TIRE TRACK. THIS RESULTED IN HARD PULLING TO RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) UNDER STIFF BRAKING, SKIPPING AND LOSS OF TRACTION OF FRONT LEFT (DRIVERS) TIRE DUE TO OIL SOAKED CONDITION AND LOSS OF TRACTION OF LEFT REAR TIRE FROM TRACKING IN OIL PATTERN. MAZDA CANADA HAS ISSUED SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM (SSP 76) FOR THIS ISSUE. MAZDA EUROPE HAS INITIATED A SIMILAR PROGRAM, THERE IS NO US RECALL OR SSP AS OF THIS DATE. SSP REPLACES EFFECTED PARTS AND PROVIDES FOR REDESIGNED WHEEL WELL LINER TO PROTECT OIL FITTINGS FROM CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS AND WATER. *TR

DRIVING HOME WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD IN THE ONCOMING LANE. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 TIMES BEFORE WITH NO INDICATION FROM THE DEALER AS TO THE CAUSE OR SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO REPORTS ON THE INTERNET MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE INDICATED THAT AROUND 28,000 MILES THE ENGINE WAS REPLACE DUE TO LACK OF COMPRESSION. *TR

2004 MAZDA RX8 WITH WATER MIXING IN WITH THE OIL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MECHANIC STATED THAT WATER IN THE OIL WAS NORMAL AND HOW THE VEHICLE VENTED. THERE WAS RED ANTIFREEZE IN THE VEHICLE AND GREEN ANTIFREEZE SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED. *KB THE DIP STICK WAS COVERED IN A HARD, CRYSTALLIZED, ORANGE/WHITE SUBSTANCE. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STEAM EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE THERMOSTAT HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE WRONG ANTI-FREEZE HAD BEEN USED, THERE MAY BE FUTURE COOLING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB

I HAVE A 2004 MAZDA RX8 WITH ONLY 51,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I RECENTLY, WITHIN THE LAST MONTH OR TWO, NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE PEDAL AREA. I THOUGHT I JUST NEED SOME LUBE OR WD40 DOWN THERE TO STOP THE NOISE. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE! YESTERDAY, WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, I GO TO ENGAGE THE CLUTCH TO PUT INTO FIRST GEAR AND TAKE OFF, AND I HEAR A POP. I COULDN'T GO ANYWHERE, I COULDN'T GET THE CAR IN GEAR OR MOVE AT ALL. SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT. WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A HUGE INTERSECTION I AM IN A STATIONARY POSITION WHILE CARS ARE PASSING ME. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE SOMEONE STOP AND HELP ME PUSH THE CAR DOWN THE STREET, WHERE A LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP WAS. MAZDA TECH'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND TELL ME MY CLUTCH BRACKET IS BROKE! I THEN PROCEEDED TO ASK THEM TO SEE IT FOR MYSELF BECAUSE I COULDN'T BELIEVE A CAR WITH SO LITTLE MILES ON IT COULD HAVE THIS HAPPEN. IT WAS TRUE, I SAW FOR MYSELF THAT IT HAS SNAPPED OFF AND WAS NOT STABLE. NOW I HAVE TO PAY NEARLY 700 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THIS FAULTY PART! THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY MATTER FOR THE MAZDA RX8 AND THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY MAZDA AND FIXED IMMEDIATELY! I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE AT A STAND STILL WHILE IN THE CAR AND TO FIND SOMEONE TO HELP ME OFF THE ROAD. THIS MAY NOT BE THE CASE FOR OTHERS IF MAZDA DOES NOT FIX THIS FAULTY PART. I WILL BE CONTACTING MAZDA CORP AS WELL, BUT COULD PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION AND TRY TO HAVE MAZDA ADDRESS THIS ASAP. THANK YOU! *TR

I BOUGHT A 2004 MAZDA RX8 BRAND NEW IN EARLY 2005 FROM THE DEALER. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN FOR REPAIR OVER 10 TIMES. THEY HAVE TRIED TO FIX IT EACH TIME. THEY EVEN HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AFTER ONLY 23,000 MILES. NOW LOOKS LIKE I WILL NEED ANOTHER ENGINE. THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS RECALLS ON IT. IT HAS STALLED ON ME BEFORE BUT THE OTHER DAY IT ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE. IT STALLED DUE TO HOT WEATHER WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC. I NEARLY HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FIND THAT IT HAS YET MORE RECALLS ON IT FOR SAME PROBLEM OF STALLING. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CAR. I READ ON DIFFERENT FORUMS OF ALL THE HORROR STORIES OTHERS ARE HAVING WITH SAME PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIPS ARE TRYING TO SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM OR THAT ITS SOMETHING WE DID AND TRY TO CHARGE US TO REPAIR THEIR DEFECTS. SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED. I NOW FIND OUT THAT NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE IT IN ON TRADE FOR FAIR VALUE. MAZDA SOLD THIS CAR BEFORE IT WAS READY FOR PRODUCTION AND THEY SHOULD BUY IT BACK AT FAIR VALUE. THEY NEED TO GET THEM OFF THE ROAD BEFORE ITS TO LATE. PLEASE HELP PUT PRESSURE ON THEM TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. *TR

THE 2004 RX8 HAS INTERNAL SEALS FAIL PREMATURELY. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO "BLOW" BY A LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN ONE OF THE TWO ROTOR CHAMBERS. THE PROBLEM BEING THE CAR WITH STILL RUN WITH HALF POWER. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO FIND HELP OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE ROTOR THAT IS NOT WORKING IS DUMPING GAS INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. BY THE TIME I PARKED, I COULD SMELL BURNING FIBER AND PLASTIC AND THE EXHAUST SHOT OUT SEVERAL LARGE CHUNKS OF RED HOT CERAMIC MATERIAL. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BRIGHT ORANGE AND THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF MY CAR IS MELTED. LOOKING ON INTERNET UNDER "2004 RX 8 ENGINE FAILURE" I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER STORIES WITH SIMILAR RESULTS BUT WORSE. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE FUEL TANK COULD EXPLODE WITH SUCH HEAT SO NEAR IF YOU CONTINUED TO DRIVE. THIS HAPPENS ANYWHERE FROM 12,000 MILES TO 100,000 MILES AND BEYOND. MAZDA KNOWS OF THE ENGINE DEFECT AND HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE MOTOR AS OF MAY 2008. MY CAR IS AT HANCOCK MAZDA IN DALLAS. THEY SAID DAMAGE AMOUNTED TO $9,500.00 FROM HEAT. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS (SINCE DECEMBER 2007) I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE CAR WOULD START, IT WOULD NOT "CATCH" AND FIRE UP. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS A PROBLEM PARTICULAR TO THE 2004 RX-8 (NO OTHER YEAR OF THIS MODEL HAS THIS PROBLEM). THEY SAID THE ENGINE GETS FLOODED IF THE CAR ISN'T RUN "HOT" FOR AT LEAST 1/2 HOUR (LIKE IT CAN HAPPEN IF I JUST RUN TO THE GROCERY STORE AND BACK). THEY SAID THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 RX-8. IF THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL TO REPAIR IT? IT COSTS ME OVER $150 EACH TIME IT HAS TO GO IN, NOT TO MENTION LOST HOURS AT WORK BECAUSE MY CAR WON'T START. *TR

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