2004 MAZDA RX-8 Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

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

Mileage: 110,000

2004 MAZDA RX8. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL DEFECTS IN THE VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ABOUT A YEAR AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS STARTED FILLING UP WITH WATER. ALSO, THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WITH NO WARNING. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, HE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TWO OXYGEN SENSORS. AFTER THE OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED, THE STALLING CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE DEALER, WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE.

2004 MAZDA RX8. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL DEFECTS IN THE VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ABOUT A YEAR AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS STARTED FILLING UP WITH WATER. ALSO, THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WITH NO WARNING. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, HE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TWO OXYGEN SENSORS. AFTER THE OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED, THE STALLING CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE DEALER, WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5-10 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE COOLANT WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE DIAGNOSIS FROM BOTH WAS THAT THE ENGINE WAS FLOODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

Mileage: 139,000

THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO AN ENGINE RECALL, AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALER INFORMED ME OF LARGE OIL LEAKS. LEAKS ARE VISIBLE AND ARE COVERING PARTS OF THE WHEELS AND JOINTS WITH OIL. MAZDA HAS ADMITTED TO THIS DEFECT IN CANADA (FIELD ACTION NUMBER 142-36) AND ARE PROVIDING CANADIAN CUSTOMERS WITH A RECALL ON THIS FAULTY AND DANGEROUS PART BUT US CUSTOMERS HAVE YET TO RECEIVE SUCH TREATMENT. MY CAR IS A 2004 MODEL AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH ISSUES. THIS IS A HAZARD TO BOTH MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD DUE TO THE AMOUNTS OF OIL THAT THE CAR IS LEAKING DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING AND BAD DESIGN. THE MAZDA DEALERSHIPS ARE CHARGING CUSTOMER AN UPWARD OF 1,600 DOLLARS TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE WHICH SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE TO BEGIN WITH IF THIS CAR WAS DESIGNED IN A RELIABLE WAY. *TR

VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW,2004. I HAVE EVERY OIL CHANGE, EVERY 2,900-3,000 MILES AND VEHICLE IS PERFECTLY MAINTAINED BY THE DEALERSHIP ( HARRELSON MAZDA -CHARLOTTE,NC ). ONCE 30,000 MILES WERE PUT ON THE VEHICLE, ENGINE BEGAN TO FAIL ( STOPPED AT RED LIGHTS, STOPPED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY,ETC.). AFTER ABOUT 5 RETURN VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP TECHNICIANS, MY ENGINE WAS FINALLY 'REPLACED' UNDER WARRANTY. NOW MY NEW ENGINE HAS FAILED AGAIN AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES FOR THE SAME REASON AS ORIGINALLY: MAZDA SPECIFICALLY ADVISES 10W-20 OIL IN THIS VEHICLE. BUT THIS IS ONLY TO SATISFY U.S. EPA STANDARDS. EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, MAZDA STRICTLY ADVISES 10W-30 OIL, BECAUSE ANYTHING LESS WILL ALLOW ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND FAIL. I WAS NEVER WARNED THIS. I WAS NEVER ADVISED THIS. I SERVICED VEHICLE BY EVERY RECOMMENDATION OF MAZDA, THE OWNERS MANUAL, AND MY MAZDA AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP/TECHNICIANS. MY SAFETY HAS BEEN PLACED IN JEOPARDY, SOLELY AT THE FAULT OF MAZDA, FOR NOT NOTIFYING BUYERS THAT THE ENGINE HAD INCORRECT MAINTENANCE SPECIFICATIONS,ETC. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ANYTIME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, RECEIPTS OF SERVICE,MAINTENANCE, AND TECHNICIAN TESTIMONY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 28,000

ENGINE STALLS AND LACK OF POWER. DEALER KEEPS SAYING ITS FINE. CANNOT EVEN DRIVE ANYMORE. IT STARTED WITH NOT STARTING THEN AFTER GETTING IT STARTED HESITATION AND LACK OF POWER KEPT GETTING WORSE. BECAME UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE OIL COOLER LINE CONNECTORS ARE CORRODED SO BADLY AT 7 YEARS OF AGE THAT IT'S LITERALLY SPEWING OIL WHILST THE CAR IS RUNNING. I'VE DRIVEN CARS THAT WERE 15+ YEARS OLD WITH NO SUCH ISSUES. NOT ONLY IS THIS A MECHANICAL CONCERN, BUT IT COATS THE TIRES IN OIL, AND LEAVES TRACTION ON THEM ALMOST NIL. MAZDA CANADA HAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, YET, MAZDA USA HAS DONE NOTHING, EXCEPT FOR QUOTE PEOPLE ANYWHERE FROM 1800-2100 DOLLARS TO HAVE THESE LINES REPLACED. I THINK IT'S A COMPLETE DISGRACE TO AN OTHERWISE VERY RELIABLE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 149,000

I NOTICED A SMALL OIL LEAK COMING FROM BELOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE OIL COOLER. UPON TAKING THIS APART, I SAW THAT THE OIL LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE OIL COOLER HOSE AND THE OIL COOLER HOSE FITTINGS WERE VERY RUSTED. I ORDERED THE PART TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE, COSTING ME $350. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE PART YET AND WILL BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR ONE WEEK. I HAVE READ UP ON THIS PROBLEM, AND I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL AFFECTING MY MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR THAT MY CAR WAS BUILT, BUT ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO RESIDE IN CANADA. MAZDA USA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 60,300

ENGINE FAILURE, LOSS OF POWER, MULTIPLE EPISODES. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

THE FAULTY OIL INJECTOR RELEASES EXCESS OIL AND AS A RESULT DROWNS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND SPARK PLUGS. BECAUSE OF THIS THE CAR EATS THROUGH SPARK PLUGS AND WHEN RUNNING AT A LOW RPM THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN WHICH HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE MAZDA PUT OUT A RECALL (4206F) TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND PERHAPS EVEN THE ENGINE. MY CAR WAS TESTED AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT IT FALLS WITHIN THE RECALL. MAZDA HEADQUARTERS ISN'T HONORING THE RECALL OR THE DEALER'S FINDINGS AND IS SAYING THAT IT IS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE AND WILL THEREFORE NOT REPLACE OR REPAIR ANYTHING. *TR

Mileage: 97,000

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM REQUESTING DOT START AN INVESTIGATION SIMILAR TO TOYOTA' S REGARDING THE ENGINE FLOODING OF THE 2004 MAZDA RX8 *TGW THE CONSUMER STATE THE DEALER HAD HIS VEHICLE FOR 10 DAYS. AFTER 10 DAYS OF UNSUCCESSFULLY TRYING TO DIAGNOSE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, THEIR FINAL SOLUTION WAS TO FLUSH AND CLEAN THE ENGINE IN HOPING TO COVER-UP THE UNRESOLVED MECHANICAL ISSUE. IN DOING SO, THEY ONLY MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE. *JB

I BOUGHT MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 AT 52,000 MILES. AT 65,000 MILES I WAS ON MY WAY BACK FROM MALIBU WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ROADSIDE SERVICE TOWED MY CAR TO THE NEAREST MAZDA DEALER IN THOUSAND OAKS. THERE THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR NEEDED TO HAVE THE COILS AND SPARK PLUGS REPLACED COSTING $880. AFTER THEY FINISHED THE JOB, I WENT BACK TO PICK UP MY CAR FROM THE LOT. I TURN MY CAR ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON YET AGAIN, WASTING MY 2 HR. TRIP. AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSIS THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY WIRING HARNESS, OXYGEN SENSOR, RADIATOR SENSOR, AND FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALL THIS COSTING AROUND $2600 WHICH AMOUNTS MY TOTAL EXPENSES TO APPROXIMATELY $3500. AFTER CHECKING FOR RECALLS ON MY CAR ON NHTSA, I FOUND A RECALL FOR ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEMS WHICH, IF NOT FIXED, RESULTED IN ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE RIGHT NOW. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE 100,000 MILES OR 10 YEAR ENGINE WARRANTY. WHEN I NOTIFIED THE DEALER ABOUT THE RECALLS AND THE WARRANTY, THEY REFUSED TO OFFER ME ANY HELP, STATING THAT MY CAR HAD ALREADY HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED AND THAT THE WARRANTY ONLY SPECIFICALLY COVERED THE 1.3 RENESIS ROTARY ENGINE AND NOT ITS RELATED COMPONENTS. THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEMS THEY CAUSED BY SELLING A FAULTY PRODUCT. WHEN THE DEALER COULDN'T OFFER ME ANY HELP I DECIDED TO CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO HELP ME IN ANY WAY. THE PRICE THAT THEY ARE DEMANDING IS RIDICULOUS AS WELL SEEING AS HOW A BRAND NEW MOTOR COSTS $2200 AND WITH LABOR WOULD AMOUNT CLOSE TO WHAT I NOW HAVE TO PAY. SINCE MAZDA REMAINS FIRMLY RESOLVED ON THE ISSUE, I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO HELPLESSLY PAY THE MONEY THAT THEY ASK FOR. MY LAST RESORT IS TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT TO NHTSA AND HOPE THAT YOU MAY HELP ME RETRIEVE THE MONEY THAT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO ME AND TO FORCE MAZDA TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LEMON PRODUCT THAT THEY ARE SELLING. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE BURNED DUE TO NEGLECT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 03/31/11*LJ UPDATED 12/28/2011 *LN

Mileage: 94,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ENGINE WAS EXHIBITING A DECREASE IN POWER AND WAS SPORADICALLY SLOW TO START. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOW COMPRESSION AND WOULD NEED A MOTOR REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER DENIED THE REPAIR UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD CONSULT WITH THE DEALER AND CONTACT HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,130.

Mileage: 99,130

OIL COOLER LINES IN FRONT OF VEHICLE RUSTED OUT AFTER 60K MILES. OIL LEAKED ONTO TIRES/BRAKES. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE STOPPED WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER SEVERAL REPEATED ATTEMPTS, HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE LACKED POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED (REPAIR DETAILS WERE NOT GIVEN). THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND PROGRESSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000. UPDATED 01/13/11*BF UPDATED 01/24/11

I OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. I NOTICED THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK IT TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. THE OIL HOSE WAS BADLY CORRODED AND RUSTED, CAUSING IT TO LEAK OIL ONTO THE TIRES, BRAKES, AND ROAD. THE OIL HOSE AND GASKETS HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW PARTS, COSTING OVER $600.00. MAZDA CANADA HAS RE-CALLED THE OIL HOSES ON THE RX-8 IN CANADA BECAUSE ROAD SALT WAS TENDING TO CAUSE CORROSION OF THE OIL HOSE. HOWEVER, MAZDA USA REFUSES TO RE-CALL. *TR

Mileage: 65,595

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE LOST ENGINE COMPRESSION IN TRAFFIC. ALMOST WAS REARENDED. *TR

Mileage: 119,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE SHUTTER VALVE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,820.

Mileage: 74,800

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER ON THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF SMOKE WAS ALSO BELLOWING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT RAW GAS WAS BEING DUMPED INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH CAUSED A FIRE TO OCCUR IN THE WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WHO STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE DEALER CALLED THE MAZDA DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE TO DISCUSS THE FAILURE AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. MAZDA FILED CASE NUMBER 130341420 REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 43,358.

Mileage: 43,358

I OWN A MAZDA RX8 AND I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT, I WOULD COME TO A STOP AND IT WILL STALL, CAN'T START IT BACK UP AND HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE SHOP. I WILL DRIVE IT TO THE STORE AND COME BACK OUT TO LEAVE AND IT WILL NOT START, HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED. HAVE HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED ONE TIME ALREADY AND IT STILL HAS ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS. I CAN NOT DRIVE IT NOW BECAUSE IT IS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WILL NOT START IT HAS BEEN IN THIS CONDITION FOR ALMOST A MONTH. MAZDA MOST OF THE TIME SAYS THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND AS SOON AS I LEAVE MY CAR WOULD BREAK DOWN ON THE WAY HOME. IF YOU GO TO THE WEB SITE HTTP://FORUMS.AUTOMOTIVE.COM/70/6305605/MAZDA/RX-8-LAWSUIT/PAGE4.HTML YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS CAR IS JUST A DEATH TRAP AND SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THAT I AM. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I AM NOT A WEALTHY PERSON AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF LIKE THIS. I PAID $23,000 FOR THIS CAR AND IT IS COSTING ME AN ARM AND A LEG TO KEEP IT RUNNING. I DO NOT OWN ANOTHER CAR. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 ONLY HAS 53,000 MILES ON IT AND IS AGAIN IN THE SHOP DUE TO MANUFACTURER-RELATED ENGINE FAILURE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR I'VE BEEN LEFT STRANDED IN HAZARDOUS CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE OF ENGINE FAILURE. I'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING FAILURE AND LOSS OF ENGINE COMPRESSION/ENGINE MISFIRES WHILE DRIVING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. AS A RESULT, I'M BECOMING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY, AS WELL AS FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS WHO OWN/OPERATE THIS TYPE OF MAZDA VEHICLE. PLEASE CONSIDER ORGANIZING A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST MAZDA TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR PUTTING MANY VALUABLE LIVES AT RISK. *TR

Mileage: 40,833

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.

Mileage: 72,000

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

Mileage: 95,000

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.

Mileage: 67,483

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

Mileage: 70,000

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

Mileage: 43,123

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

Mileage: 103,000

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

Mileage: 45,000

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

Mileage: 47,000

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

2004 MAZDA RX8 HAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE EXTERNAL OIL COOLER. THE PIPE THAT TRANSPORTS OIL FROM THE ENGINE TO THE COOLER AND BACK IS EXPOSED AND SUBJECT TO CORROSION FROM ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE, IN PARTICULAR THE ALUMINUM REINFORCING MATERIAL IN THE PIPE IS VULNERABLE TO ROAD SALT. THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO MAZDA. IN CANADA THEY HAVE ISSUED FIELD ACTION NUMBER 142-36, WHICH IS A RECALL IN WHICH THEY REPLACE THESE PIPES WITH A REDESIGNED PART THAT IS LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS DEFECT. THEY HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO EXTEND THIS RECALL TO THE US BECAUSE (QUOTING FROM THE RECALL DOCUMENT): "THE MAZDA RX-8 IS SOLD IN THE U.S., HOWEVER THROUGH REVIEW OF FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED, THERE IS VERY LITTLE EVIDENCE OF THIS CONDITION IN THE U.S. MAZDA HAS CONCLUDED THAT NO FIELD ACTION IS REQUIRED IN THE U.S. MARKET AT THIS TIME." THE REASON I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT IN MY CASE, THE PIPE PERFORATED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, SPRAYING A LARGE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL AT HIGH PRESSURE INTO THE INTERNAL ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND ONTO THE ROAD BEHIND ME. HAD I NOT KILLED THE IGNITION ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, I BELIEVE THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE VOIDED ALL OF ITS OIL ONTO THE ROAD. I BELIEVE THIS EXPOSED THOSE DRIVING BEHIND ME TO HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS, AND COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT (ALTHOUGH NONE OCCURRED IN THIS CASE). AGAIN QUOTING FROM THE CANADIAN RECALL DOCUMENT: "THE SMALL AMOUNT OF POTENTIAL OIL SEEPAGE WILL BE EVIDENCED TO THE CUSTOMER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND IS NOT BELIEVED TO PRESENT ANY RISK TO SAFETY." CLEARLY I DO NOT AGREE WITH THEIR ASSESSMENT HERE! *TR

Mileage: 62,724

MY MAZDA RX8 HAS BEEN BURNING OIL SINCE IT WAS NEW. I DON"T HAVE IT ANYMORE. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE AGAINST MAZDA CORPORATION? *TR

Mileage: 5,647

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A NO-START CONDITION. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AS 59,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

Mileage: 59,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. HE STATED THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START AND THAT WHILE DRIVING IT FAILED TO OPERATE AT MINIMAL SPEED. HE ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE MIDDLE INTERIOR CONSOLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN PERTAINING TO THE SAME FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS WERE MADE WITH THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CONTACT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT STATED THE PART WAS REPROGRAMMED BUT NOT REPLACED AS RELAYED TO HIM BY THE MANUFACTURER. NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 101,000.

Mileage: 101,000

I NOTICED MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 ONTO THE DRIVEWAY OF A FRIEND'S LANDLORD'S DRIVEWAY. I DROVE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL COOLER LINES HAD CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1200. MAZDA DOES NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY BUT HAS ISSUED A RECALL IN CANADA FOR THIS VERY ISSUE BUT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT IN THE U.S.A. LEAKS CAN BE FAIRLY SLOW AND UNNOTICEABLE FOR QUITE A WHILE AND COAT THE WHEELS AND BRAKES WITH OIL, CAUSING LOSS OF HANDLING AND TROUBLE BRAKING. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE OIL LINES CONNECTING THE ENGINE TO THE OIL COOLER RUPTURED SENDING OIL SPEWING ALL OVER THE TIRES AND BRAKES. THE ENGINE LOST 100% OF IT'S OIL AND CONTROLLING THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT. THIS PROBLEM IS REPORTEDLY DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE OIL LINES IN COLD CLIMATES WHERE SALT IS OFTEN ON THE ROAD. IN CANADA, THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE ONE IN THE US AS WELL. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

IN JUNE OF 2005, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS INFORMING ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAD AN INHERENT SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNING THE ENGINE AMONG OTHER THINGS. I TOOK THE CAR FOR A CHECK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR CHECKED OUT FINE. IN AUGUST 2006, MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR BECAUSE THE INHERENT DEFECT DOES NOT NECESSARILY SHOW UP IMMEDIATELY BUT MAY SHOW UP MUCH LATER. IN MY CASE IT SHOWED UP IN JUNE OF 2008. THE CAR STARTED RUNNING HOT, THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE CAR WOULD IDLE HIGH AT A STOP LIGHT. ONCE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, THE COOLING FAN WOULD CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MAZDA DEALER WHO STATED THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE INVOICE INDICATED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS AUTHORIZED AMONG OTHER THINGS. AFTER THAT INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE RAN ALRIGHT UP UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST 2009 WHEN THE SAME ISSUES REAPPEARED. SUPPOSEDLY, THEY INSTALLED AN NEW ENGINE BUT APPARENTLY THAT WAS NOT TRUE. ON AUGUST 16, 2009, I DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR THE GIVE ME ANOTHER CAR. THIS CAR HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I WANT MAZDA TO GIVE ME ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE I JUST DON'T TRUST DRIVING THE ONE WITH THE DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 26,625

I HAVE A 2004 MAZDA RX8 AND I BOUGHT IT 4 MONTHS AGO IT HAS 48500 AND IT KEEPS STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IT GETS HOT AND WILL TURN OFF WHILE RUNNING . IF I STOP AT A LIGHT IT WILL TURN OFF. IT HAS BEEN SENT TO 2 DIFFERENT MAZDA PLACES BEEN PUT ON MACHINES AFTER MACHINE SENT TO 2 SHOP AND CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION AND NO BODY KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT EVEN THE MAZDA DEALER THE DEALER PUT A NEW CONVERTER AND SAID IT WAS FIXED BUT,ITS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWO MORE TIMES NOW THE WARRANTY IS OUT AND THEY THINK IT MIGHT BE, BECAUSE ITS NOT WARMED UP IN THE MORNING ,BUT DO NOT GUARANTEE IT YAH RIGHT I LIVE IN TEXAS. WELL IF THE MAZDA DEALER DON'T KNOW WHO DOES? THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ,I COULD HAVE A BAD WRECK BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM .PLEASE TELL ME WHO TO CONTACT. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING 40-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAITED 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT CAN SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,206 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE ENGINE, THE MOTOR WOULD KICK, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT STOP. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THE REPAIR ONLY LASTED ONE WEEK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MAZDA DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A FLOODING ISSUE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR FREE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A MONTH LATER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE OUTER GRIP ON THE FLY WHEEL WAS LOOSE. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ENGINE STILL WOULD NOT START. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

Mileage: 40,000

2004 MAZDA RX8 IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME RECALL PROBLEM AS THE 2005-08 MAZDA RX8. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO AN EVAPORATOR LEAK. *JB

2004 MAZDA RX8 IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME RECALL PROBLEM AS THE 2005-08 MAZDA RX8. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO AN EVAPORATOR LEAK. *JB

I'VE BEEN HAVING A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS WHERE MY SAFETY HAS BEEN IN DANGER BECAUSE MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. LAST TIME HAPPENED IN A MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED IN CURVY UPHILL ROADS AND HIGHWAYS, WHERE I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. I AM MORE THAN CONCERNED BECAUSE ITS NOT JUST MY SAFETY BUT THE ONES TRAVELING WITH ME AND THE ONES THAT NOT. MAZDA HAS ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE OF THE 2004 RX-8, BUT IN THE DEALERSHIP THEY ALWAYS MAKE SOMETHING UP NOT TO CHECK IT UNDER WARRANTY. I NEED YOUR INTERVENTION TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND ABOUT THE RECALL IN THIS WEBSITE. I HAVE LOST MONEY, AND TIME BUT NOT WILLING TO RISK MY LIFE. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT STEPS TO TAKE ACTION, BECAUSE ALL THEY DO IS DENY THAT'S ITS WARRANTY RELATED EVEN WHEN THEY KNOW ABOUT THE RECALLS THAT RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM, ALL THEY DO IS SELL YOU SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION COILS (WHICH THEY SAY IS THE CAUSE AND NEVER SOLVES ANYTHING BUT THEIR SALES). THIS HAS TO STOP. ITS NOT FAIR TO PAY SO MUCH FOR A 2004 CAR AND GET BACK SUCH A NIGHTMARE. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO KNOW IF I CAN GET A REMEDY UNDER FEDERAL LAWS OF TRANSPORTATION SAFETY. THIS IS SERIOUS. *TR

Mileage: 65,200

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH AND WENT TO SHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR INTO 4TH GEAR WHEN I FELT A "POP" AT WHICH POINT MY CLUTCH FELL TO THE FLOOR AND I NO LONGER HAD ANY ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF ONTO THE NEXT EXIT RAMP AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED MAZDA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHO TOWED THE CAR TO MAZDA BEDFORD. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CLUTCH WAS "BLOWN" AND NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. THE MAZDA FORUM IS FULL OF SIMILAR EPISODES AND I WAS ENCOURAGED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. *TR

Mileage: 56,200

MAZDA HAS REPLACED THE ENGINE IN MY 2004 RX8 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 700 MILES. THEY KEEP SAYING BAD ROTARY ENGINE BUT THIS IS TERRIBLE. HOW MANY MORE ENGINES WILL IT TAKE??? *TR

Mileage: 38,000

I'M VERY UPSET, I BOUGH MY CAR RX8 2004 ON JANUARY 2009 FROM A MAZDA DEALER AND MY CAR JUST DIED 3 MONTH AFTER BUYING THE CAR, THEY WON'T REPLACE MY ENGINE BECAUSE OF AND AFTERMARKET HEADERS. NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT AFTERMARKET PARTS WILL VOID THE WARRANTY OF THE CAR BUT THE FIRST MONTH I BOUGHT THE CAR WENT TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES AND I HAVE THE RECORD OF THAT, THE KNEW THE CAR WAS DAMAGE AND THEY NEVER REPLACE MY ENGINE NOW THAT I PUT MY HEADERS AND THEY SAW THEM THEY DON'T WANT TO REPLACE IT AND PRETTY MUCH I LOST 13K ON A CAR THAT LAST ME ONLY 3 MONTH AND I'M STILL PAYING THE CAR A MONTH I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO REPAIR THE CAR JUST BECAUSE THEY KNOWING THAT THIS CARS HAVE PROBLEMS AND STILL DON'T WANT TO HELP IF I DON'T HAVE CAR I PROBABLY CAN LOSE MY JOB AND TRUST ME I DON'T WANT THAT BUT I CAN EVEN BUY A NOTHER CAR BECAUSE I'M STILL PAYING THIS CAR I NEED MY CAR FIX AND I WANT SOMEONE TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS, I WILL REALLY WANT TO REPORTS THIS ISSUE TO THE LOCAL NEWS PAPERS AND LET EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT THIS PLEASE HELP ME HERE I CAN AFFORD TO LOSE MY JOB MY WIFE DOESN'T WORK AND MY SON IS ONLY 2Y AND 5 MONTH PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME...!!!! *TR

Mileage: 55,000

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THE SUBSTANDARD PERFORMANCE OF A CAR THAT WILL SOON BE KNOW AS THE LIVING COFFIN. THE MAZDA RX8 IS IN MY OPINION A DEATH TRAP. WHILE IN HOUSTON , MY CAR WAS ALWAYS IN THE SHOP BECAUSE IT WOULD STOP ON ME IN BUSY TRAFFIC. NOW I AM IN AUSTIN AND THE CAR STARTED STALLING AGAIN. WHAT DOES MAZDA DO TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM, THEY SENT OUT A DVD, THAT TELLS YOU HOW TO START THE CAR WHEN IT STOPS. WHILE, I WAS IN DALLAS, I MET PEOPLE ON LINE THAT ALSO HAVE THESE MAZDA RX8'S. THEY TOO ARE DISGUSTED. THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE, AND WILL STOP ON YOU AT THE DROP OF A HAT. MAZDA HAS BEEN SECRETLY REPLACING ENGINES, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WARRANTY IS NOW AT 100,000 MILES. NOW THE CATCH: YOU TAKE THE CAR IN AND WHAT YOU THOUGHT WOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY ENDS UP COSTING YOU MONEY. I HAVE 70,000 MILES ON MY 2004 RX8, AND IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. I HAVE ALSO TALKED TO PEOPLE, THAT ARE UPSIDE DOWN, AND THEN OTHER DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THIS CRAP OF A CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED YOUR AGENCY ONCE BEFORE, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, MY NEXT COURSE OF ACTION IS A COMPLAINT WITH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. ALL I NEED IS A EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SOMEONE IN YOUR AGENCY, AND I WILL HAVE MANY STORIES. TODAY, MY CAR STOPPED JUST AS I CROSSED LAKE TRAVIS, AND AGAIN AS I ATTEMPTED TO CLIME A HILL. WE RX8 OWNERS NEED HELP. YOU PEOPLE ONLY REACT ONLY AFTER SOMEONE HAS DIED. IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS, AND MAZDA IS DOING NOTHING. I NEED HELP AND I NEED IT NOW. *TR

Mileage: 71,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FAILURE WITH THE ENGINE ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. SHE ALSO NOTICED A BURNT, RUBBERY SMELL COMING FROM THE PASSENGER CONSOLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY STATED THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW MOTOR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FIRST MOTOR IN JULY OF 2008 DURING HER THIRD VISIT. THE CONTACT NOTED THAT THE DEALER WOULD ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE ISSUE, BUT SHE WAS NEVER ABLE TO DRIVE HOME SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT A FAILURE OCCURRING. SHE WAS RECENTLY INFORMED THAT A SECOND NEW MOTOR WOULD BE NEEDED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND A MECHANIC STATED THAT FUEL FLOODED THE ENGINE AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED. IN ADDITION, IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT CONDENSATION WAS PRESENT AND A VACUUM NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED, WHICH WOULD PREVENT WATER INTERFERENCE. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE EXTERIOR LIGHTING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE WATER ENTRY. FINALLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING FAILED, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED THE TIRE TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. UPDATED 020209 *BF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS WORN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FRONT AND REAR COILS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 02/03/09. *JB

Mileage: 32,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE GEARS LOST POWER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE FLUID ISSUES AND HAVE THE SPARK PLUGS CHANGED, BUT THE FAILURES PERSIST. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

Mileage: 40,000

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS. CALLED DEALER WHO ADVISED BRINGING IT IN. ON WAY TO DEALERSHIP, APPROX. 4 MILES, CAR BEGAN TO MISFIRE, PRODUCING SMOKE FROM EXHAUST PIPES. BY THE TIME I PULLED INTO THE DEALERSHIP, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM EVERY AREA OF UNDERSIDE OF CAR, AS WELL AS INTERIOR. WIFE FOLLOWING SAID FLAMES WERE COMING FROM BOTH EXHAUST PIPES. CAR ONLY HAS 37,000 MILES, AND ALL DEALER SERVICING WERE DONE SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. AFTER 2 WEEKS OF CONTACT WITH HOME OFFICE, MAZDA HAS AGREED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS OF EXHAUST SYSTEM, BUT I AM LIABLE FOR PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO CAR WHICH INCLUDES MELTED CARPETING, SPARK PLUGS, ETC. WAS TOLD BOTH COILS WERE THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 37,250

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A CREAKING NOISE WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A TEAR LINE CRACK IN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM IN THE SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN 2005 FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V325000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT) AND THE MANUFACTURER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. HE BELIEVES THAT THE COMPONENT THAT WAS USED TO PREVIOUSLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS FAULTY; THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WOULD RANDOMLY ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A RUPTURED OIL COOLING LINE. DURING THE REPAIR, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE OIL PAN WAS PERFORATED AND LEAKING OIL. THE OIL PAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE OIL COOLING LINE WAS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS ALL CAUSED BY RUST. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO FIND A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE, BUT BELIEVED IT SHOULD HAVE ALSO BEEN RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

Mileage: 8,000

MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT OUT TWICE IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR. MY PERSONAL MECHANICS SAID TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THAT BLOGS ON LINE SAID THE ENGINE WOULD LOOSE COMPRESSION AND THE ENGINE WOULD GO OUT COMPLETELY. I READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THAT VERY SAME THING. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AGAIN. I SAID WHAT ABOUT THE LOW COMPRESSION AND ENGINE FAILURE DOWN THE ROAD. AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT WHAT THE 100K WARRANTY IS FOR. I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT THEY SHOULD BUY THE CAR BACK FROM ME. IT IS NOT DEPENDABLE. IT IS AT MAZDA CITY OF ORANGE PARK, FL. PHONE # 904-7790600. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 I HAD A REPLACE ENGINE ON MY CAR AND THE CAR HAD A ENGINE FLOODED BEFORE AND NOW LAST NIGHT DOESN'T WANT 2 START AND THERE'S ARE A FEW RECALLS FOR THIS CAR AND I WANT 2 TAKE ACTIONS WITH MAZDA. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 I HAD A REPLACE ENGINE ON MY CAR AND THE CAR HAD A ENGINE FLOODED BEFORE AND NOW LAST NIGHT DOESN'T WANT 2 START AND THERE'S ARE A FEW RECALLS FOR THIS CAR AND I WANT 2 TAKE ACTIONS WITH MAZDA. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

OWNER OF AN 2004 RX-8. THE VEHICLE HAD 8,000 MILES AT TIME OF PURCHASE. WITHIN 2,000 MILES OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. MAZDA REPLACED THE SENSOR SYSTEM. THEY STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME UNPROGRAMMED WHILE DRIVING? THE CAR WAS WORKED ON AT PREBEL MAZDA IN GEORGIA. MY CAR NOW HAS 26,000 MILES. I TAKE VERY PARTICULAR CAR WITH THE MAINTENANCE OF THE CAR. LAST FRIDAY NIGHT, I SHUT MY CAR OFF AND IT WOULDN'T RESTART. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT MOST ALL RX-8 MAZDA'S HAVE THIS SIMILAR ISSUE. I AM CURRENTLY PAYING OUT OF POCKET, TO HAVE TEST RUN TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A BIG CHANCE THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NEED IT'S ENGINE REPLACED. DUE TO A RECALL "COMPRESSION" ISSUE BY MAZDA. I AM VERY UPSET THAT I HAVE A VEHICLE WITH MAJOR MANUFACTURER DEFAULTS. *TR

Mileage: 26,000

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

Mileage: 112,000

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

Mileage: 28,512

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 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

Mileage: 78,900

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

Mileage: 105,000

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

Mileage: 49,000

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 AMOUNT TO $650.00. MY TRUST IN MAZDA?S PRODUCTS HAS TRULY BEEN TARNISHED. *TR

Mileage: 38,632

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 AMOUNT TO $650.00. MY TRUST IN MAZDA?S PRODUCTS HAS TRULY BEEN TARNISHED. *TR

Mileage: 38,632

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

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

Mileage: 20,000

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.

Mileage: 48,000

2004. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

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

Mileage: 45,107

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

Mileage: 67,900

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.

Mileage: 10

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.

Mileage: 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

Mileage: 26,000

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.

Mileage: 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 MOVED 350 MILES AWAY AND I CAN'T LEAVE UNTIL MY CAR GETS FIXED AND OUT OF THE SHOP, THIS IS STARTING TO BE BULL!!! SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING I HAVE A FRIEND WHO ALSO HAS AN RX8 WE PURCHASED OURS ON THE SAME DAY AND SHE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND HERS IS A 2006 WHERE MINE IS A 2004, SO MAZDA HASN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM.*JB

Mileage: 16,000

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.

Mileage: 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

Mileage: 34,000

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

Mileage: 15,000

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

Mileage: 9,700

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

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 IS ABSURD. I HEARD THAT THERE WAS A NEW RECALL FOR THE MAZDA RX-8 COMING OUT SOON BUT THEY ARE WAITING FOR NHTSA TO APPROVE IT. I AM HOPING IT'S FOR MAZDA TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAD SUCH A RECALL FOR THIS SAME VEHICLE IN THE PAST DUE TO FALSE ADVERTISING OF THE HORSE POWER OF THIS VEHICLE. IT'S UNSAFE TO HAVE YOUR CAR RANDOMLY DIE ON YOU. I JUST HOPE SOMETHING GETS ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET HURT WHILE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *JB

Mileage: 23,900

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.

Mileage: 19,000

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

Mileage: 16,000

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 WHEN THE CAR WILL DIE. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE ESCAPED SERIOUS INJURY AND SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THIS POINT. HOWEVER, I AM CERTAIN THAT SHOULD THIS PROBLEM CONTINUE, AS IT SURELY WILL, THAT I WILL NOT CONTINUE TO BE SO FORTUNATE. DESPITE ALL MY COMPLAINTS MAZDA CONTINUES TO DO NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THEY NEED TO BUY BACK MY VEHICLE, AS IT IS QUITE OBVIOUSLY IRREPARABLE. *NM

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.

Mileage: 21,000

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 CHANGES MADE. THEY WISHED ME "GOOD LUCK!" *NM

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

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

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

Mileage: 16,400

I PURCHASED A 2004 MAZDA RX-8 IN MAY 2004. IN NOV 2005, THE FIRST COLD DAY, THE ENGINE FLOODED. THE SAME WEEKEND I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MAZDA WARNING ME OF THE PROBLEM AND TO BRING IT IN FOR A RECALL. I WAS ADVISED TO LET THE CAR WARM UP BEFORE DURING IT OFF. I MADE UP A WARNING SIGN FOR THE ATTENDANTS AT THE PARKING LOT, SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS FLOODED TWO TIMES AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIMES; AIRPORT PARKING LOT AFTER LONG LONG FLIGHTS. I AM PRETTY UPSET ABOUT MAZDA'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS THIS PROBLEM. A LETTER TO MAZDA RESULTED IN THEM SENDING ME INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO "DE-CHOKE" THE ENGINE WHICH CAN AND HAS KILLED THE BATTERY AND HAS NEVER WORKED. THIS IS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH MAZDA AND MY LAST. I AM THE OWNER OF THE CAR AND I AM EMBARRASSED ABOUT THE WHOLE THING. I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MAZDA CAN LEAVE THEIR CUSTOMERS LITERALLY, "OUT IN THE COLD". *NM

Mileage: 8,000

I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH 2004. DURING THE TIME SPAN OF JULY 2004-OCTOBER 2005 THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPT. FOR FAILURE TO START AND ENGINE FAILURE DURING DRIVING THE CAR. OCTOBER 5, 2005 THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO PICK UP THE CAR THAT IT WAS FIXED. I WENT AND PICKED UP THE CAR AND STARTED HOME IN THE CAR THE CAR QUIT RUNNING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MILES PER HOUR AND MYSELF AND TWO CHILDREN WERE ALMOST HIT BY TWO BIG TRUCKS. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AND HITTING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP , AND IF PRESSING THE RESUME BUTTON ,THE CAR WILL ACTUALLY SET ITSELF 5 MPH MORE THAN WHAT ORIGINALLY HAD THE SPEED SET FOR. ONCE THE CAR GOES TO 5 MPH OVER THE SPEED THE CAR WAS SET FOR THE CAR WILL ACT AS IF IT WAS TRYING TO MAKE ITSELF GO BACK DOWN TO THE SPEED THAT WAS ORIGINALLY SET ,AND THE VEHICLE WILL JERK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THURSDAY TO SEE IF THEY COULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THIS PROBLEM STOP IS TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND RESET IT AND THEN IT WILL STOP. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WILL HAPPEN AT ABOUT 60% OF THE TIME THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET. ALSO, THE ENGINE FAN WILL STAY ON ALL THE TIME. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEREFORE , IT CANNOT BE FIXED AT THIS TIME. THE ELECTRIC FAN WILL ACTUALLY STAY ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THEN BY TURNING THE IGNITION BACK ON AND OFF IT THE VEHICLE WILL STOP RUNNING. THIS MOSTLY OCCURS IF THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. *AK

AROUND THE MIDDLE OF JUNE I STARTED NOTICING STRANGE BEHAVIOR IN THE PERFORMANCE OF MY ENGINE IN MY MAZDA RX-8. WHILE MAINTAINING A HIGHWAY SPEED OF ROUGHLY 65MPH I WOULD HEAR A RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE, LIKE MARBLES BOUNCING AROUND INSIDE. THIS WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER IN ANY GEAR. AT NO TIME DID THE TEMP GAUGE NOTIFY ME OF OVERHEATING. THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY WHEN I EASED OFF THE GAS TO A DANGEROUSLY SLOW HIGHWAY SPEED. ONCE GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE, BUT WITH NOTICEABLY REDUCED PERFORMANCE. AFTER THE THIRD OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM IN MID JULY, I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR A DIAGNOSIS. WHILE EXPLAINING THE PROBLEMS TO ONE OF THE SERVICEMEN, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL TANK OF WHICH I WAS UNAWARE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE ENGINE PROBLEM I DESCRIBED WAS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT THEY JUST STARTED HEARING ABOUT ON MANY OF THE RX-8''S, AND THERE WAS NO KNOWN FIX. HE MENTIONED THAT MY CAR COULD BE THERE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, NOT THE ONE DAY I WAS EXPECTING, AND THAT THERE WERE A LARGE NUMBER OF CARS WITH THE SAME ''MYSTERY'' ENGINE PROBLEM, AND THAT ONE CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN THERE FOR 35 DAYS. THIS CONCERNED ME, BUT I WAS ASSURED THAT MAZDA ENGINEERS WERE WORKING ON A FIX SO IT WOULDN''T BE A LONG WAIT ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM SANDRA, MY SERVICE REP, INFORMING ME THAT MY CAR WAS READY. SHE TOLD ME THAT THE KNOCKING I WAS HEARING IN THE ENGINE IS DUE TO USING THE WRONG GAS. I TOLD HER THAT I HAVE ALWAYS USED 93 OCTANE AND NOTHING LOWER, AND THAT THE NOISE WAS NOT THE REGULAR KNOCKING YOU GET FROM BAD GAS. SHE TOLD ME SHE WOULD HAVE TO CALL MAZDA CORP BACK TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MY PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY SHE CALLED ME BACK AND TOLD ME THAT MAZDA WAS GOING TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. FROM WHAT SHE TOLD ME, NO ONE REALLY KNEW WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM, BUT THAT REPLACING THE ENGINE SHOULD FIX IT. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WOULDN''T BE READY FOR ''A COUPLE OF WEEKS''.

Mileage: 11,950

I JUST BOUGHT A 2004 MAZDA RX8 AND A PIECE OF ROAD DEBRIS HIT MY AC CONDENSER CAUSING ALL THE FREON TO LEAK OUT. THIS HAPPENED DUE TO THE GAPING HOLE IN THE FRONT AIR DAM OF MY VEHICLE. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN TEXAS WHERE TEMPS CAN CLIMB WELL OVER 100 DEGREES. (HIGHER INSIDE THE CAR) I WORRY MY 3YR OLD SON IS AT RISK OF HEAT STROKE OR WORSE FROM THE TEMPS. MAZDA WILL NOT COVER THIS IN THEIR WARRANTY YET THEY DO NOTHING TO PROTECT THE HIGHLY VULNERABLE CONDENSER, OIL COOLER, AND RADIATOR FROM BEING PELTED FROM ROAD DEBRIS. AS A MATTER OF FACT THE AIR DAM IS SO POORLY DESIGNED THAT IT ACTUALLY FUNNELS ROCKS INTO THE AC CONDENSER ITSELF. I AM NOW WORRIED THAT A PIECE OF ''ROAD DEBRIS'' MAY HIT MY OIL COOLER AND SPILL OIL ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT CONSIDERED SAFE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. MANY PEOPLE ONLINE I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THE SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED, ''WE SEE CARS IN HERE FOR THIS ALL THE TIME''. THE TOTAL REPAIR COST IS OVER 800$. EVEN HAVING TO PAY MY DEDUCTIBLE IS ASKING A LOT FOR THIS TYPE OF ''MALFUNCTION''. MAZDA ADVERTISES THIS CAR AS A 4-DOOR COUPE AND SELLS THE CAR ON ITS ''PRACTICALITY''. HOW PRACTICAL IS IT TO HAVE ''ROAD DEBRIS'' DESTROY YOUR AC A WEEK AFTER PURCHASE? I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM INGRAM PARK AUTO CENTER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, TX. FROM A GENTLEMAN NAMED JUAN LEON. THEY WERE OF NO HELP IN THE MATTER.

Mileage: 29,000

MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 WAS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER OF 2003. SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE, THE ENGINE HAS MADE LOUD KNOCKING NOISES ON ACCELERATION AND OTHER UNACCEPTABLE NOISES WHEN IN IDLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON NUMEROUS TIMES, AND ON CHECKING THE CAR ON AT LEAST 5 OCCASIONS, THE MAZDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE ONLY MINOR REPAIRS OR DONE NOTHING AT ALL. THIS PROBLEM HAS WORSENED OVER TIME AND RECENTLY THE CAR STALLED AT A BUSY HIGHWAY INTERSECTION AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR 20 MINUTES - THIS WAS A HIGHLY DANGEROUS SITUATION NOT ONLY FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS DRIVING AND STRANDED IN THE CAR WITH VEHICLES SPEEDING BY AND BARELY MISSING HITTING HER, BUT FOR THOSE VEHICLES APPROACHING FROM BEHIND. MAZDA SUDDENLY DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE OIL PUMP - SPECIFICALLY "CODE P209 POST CATALYST FUEL PUMP TRIM TOO LEAN." THIS CODE HAS COME UP ON THE DIAGNOSTIC PREVIOUSLY, WITHOUT REPAIR. THE CAR IS NOW JUST OVER 50,000 MILES AND THEREFORE, MAZDA REFUSES TO HONOR THE WARRANTY - DESPITE THE ON-GOING NATURE OF THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE MAZDA HAS ACTED FRAUDULENTLY IN THIS MANNER. THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE NEAR THE TIME OF THE PURCHASE DATE, FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, AND WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY, SUDDENLY ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND REFUSE TO PAY. IN ADDITION, I WAS INFORMED BY MAZDA THAT THE FUEL PUMP WHICH IS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM IS ON BACKORDER WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND UNAVAILABLE. I HAVE TO WONDER IF THE DEMAND IS EXCEEDING THE SUPPLY OF THIS PARTICULAR FUEL PUMP BECAUSE AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF RX8 OWNERS ARE ALSO BEING AFFECTED BY THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM

2004 MAZDA RX-8 FAILED TO START TWICE DUE TO THE ENGINE FLOODING.*MR *NM

THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAINT IN 3 MONTHS REGARDING MY NEW 2004 MAZDA RX-8. IN DECEMBER 2004, IT WOULD NOT CRANK DUE TO THE ENGINE COOLANT PROBLEM. SUPPOSEDLY, THIS ISSUE WAS TAKEN CARE OF FOR THE SECOND TIME. NOW, TODAY, 3/21/05, THE CAR SITTING IN THE GARAGE WITH 55 DEGREE WEATHER WILL NOT CRANK AGAIN. I WOULD ADVICE ANYONE INTERESTING IN PURCHASING THIS CAR - DON'T. AFTER TALKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AS WELL AS THE MAZDA CORPORATION - I GET NO WHERE EXCEPT TO SAY THEY WILL SEND A BOOK TO TELL ME THE CORRECT WAY TO CRANK IT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING DIFFERENT VEHICLES FOR 26 YEARS - I DON'T NEED A BOOK TELLING ME THIS.*AK

FAILURE TO START IN COLD WEATHER. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATLEY 45 MILES, SHUT OFF, PARKED IN THE GARAGE. CAR SAT FOR APPROXIMATELY 24 HOURS, CAR WOULD NOT RESTART, ELECTRICAL APPEARS TO BE IN ORDER. MAZDA TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AND NOTED THE BRAKES WERE FROZEN, CAR WAS FORCEFULLY LOADED ONTO TOW TRUCK. DEALER INSISTS THE PROBLEM IS COMMON AN UPDATE WAS PERFORMED, SPARK PLUGS REPLACED. ONE WEEK LATER THE CAR AGAIN IS NOT STARTING AND IS IN THE DEALERSHIP UNKNOWN TIME OF REPAIR. INCIDENTS REPORTED TO MAZDA AWAITING RESPONSE. *AK

Mileage: 3,800

PURCHASED RX8 04/28/04, HAS HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON NEARLY WHOLE TIME OF OWNERSHIP, AFTER 3 TRIPS TO THE DEALER AT 50 MILES ONE WAY, WERE FINALLY TOLD THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD. HAD TO SPECIAL ORDER SO HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK FOR THE 4TH TIME TO GET FIXED. I DON'T SEE HOW A CATALYTIC CONVERTER COULD BE BAD ON A BRAND NEW CAR. *AK

Mileage: 1,000

I PURCHASED MY AUTOMATIC RX8 IN LATE JAN. 2004. AS I WRITE THIS, I HAVE AVERAGED 14.3 MPG WITH MIXED DRIVING CONDITIONS (CITY AND HIGHWAY) DURING MY FIRST 3000 MILES. MY WORST TANKFUL WAS 12.3 MPG. MAZDA NORTH AMERICA REFUSES TO ADDRESS MY ISSUE, WHICH IS: MY FUEL ECONOMY IS WELL BELOW THE ESTIMATED FUEL ECONOMY ON THE STICKER. EITHER THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY RX8 OR MAZDA HAS INTENTIONALLY MISREPRESENTED THE FUEL ECONOMY OF THE RX8.

THERE IS CONTAMINATION IN THE OIL. SO MUCH SO THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHECK THE OIL. I'VE GONE 3000 MILES AND NEVER BEEN ABLE TO CHECK THE OIL. EVEN AFTER WIPING THE DIPSTICK, SIMPLY PUTTING IT BACK RECOATS THE DIPSTICK, SO THAT THE OIL LEVEL CANNOT BE READ. THE DEALER SIMPLY CHANGED THE OIL, BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, BUT WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALL LETTERS TO MAZDA-USA ARE IGNORED. WHY DOES MAZDA IGNORE SUCH A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS HAZARD? THIS COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IF THE ENGINE WERE TO SEIZE ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF LACK OF OIL. *AK

IF THE CAR STALLS AFTER A COLD START, IT IS EITHER VERY DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTART. USING THE PROCEDURE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR THIS SITUATION WILL WORK, IF THE BATTERY DOES NOT FAIL FIRST. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE, ONCE THE CAR WAS TOWED. THE SECOND TIME, THE BATTERY DIED WHILE ATTEMPTING A RESTART PER THE OWNERS MANUAL, BUT THE CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE AND I RECHARGED THE BATTERY AND EVENTUALLY GOT THE CAR STARTED.*AK

Mileage: 5,700

I BOUGHT MY CAR AROUND THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2003. IN THE FIRST MONTH I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES FOR REPAIR. THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ENGINE. APPARENTLY ONE OF THE ROTORS WAS NOT FIRING CAUSING A RAW FUEL SMELL TO ENTER THE CAR THROUGH THE VENTILATION. WITH ONLY 2000 MILES, THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AFTER THE THIRD VISIT. TWO MONTHS HAVE PASSED AND AFTER THREE DAYS OF NO DRIVING, THE CAR WILL NO LONGER START. *JB

Mileage: 6,646

MAZDA RX-8, PURCHASED DEC 24TH, 2003.F THE VEHICLE 'STALLS' WHEN COLD, THE ENGINE BECOME NON-RESTARTABLE (EVEN FOLLOWING THE MANIF'S DEFLOODING PROCEDURE) AND NEEDS TO BE RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE "FIXED". CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AT RAIL-ROAD TRACKS, INTERSECTIONS, AND EXTREEM CONDITIONS (SUCH AS DRIVING FAR FROM HOME EG. CAMPING, AND MOUNTAIN DRIVING).*AK

Mileage: 900

ALTHOUGH I FOLLOWED THE OWNER'S MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS, THE ENGINE FLOODED AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE (1.5 MILES) AND TURNED OFF. ENGINE WAS FLOODED WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER. SAID TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEW MAZDA RX8S. TEMPATURE WAS 19. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 6 DAYS IN VERY COLD WEATHER. THIS WOULD BE AREAL SAFETY ISSUE IF IT HAPPENS IN A REMOTE AREA.*AK

Mileage: 942