2004 MAZDA RX-8 Power Train Problems

CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD

Mileage: 140,000

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND CAME TO A STOP LIGHT, ENGAGED THE CLUTCH HEARD A POP AND HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET INTO GEAR SINCE.I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED CAUSE THE COUCH WOULDN'T DISENGAGE TO BUT IT IN GREAT CAUSE THE BRACKET HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY.

Mileage: 109,369

AS I PRESSED MY CARS CLUTCH TO CHANGE GEARS (6 SPEED MANUAL ) WHILE DRIVING ON MY REGULAR SUNDAY DRIVE IN A CITY STREET, I HEARD AND FELT A VERY LOUD EXPLOSION AND NOISES OF METAL PIECES EJECTING FROM UNDER MY CAR. I WAS IN THE 60KM/H ZONE SO WAS NOT SPEEDING OR GOING FAST SUCH AS ON A FREEWAY ETC. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY WHILE ROLLING AS THE ENGINE HAD BEEN DISABLED IN THE EXPLOSION. I COULD FEEL MY LEFT FOOT WAS IN EXTREME PAIN. MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I FEARED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN UP. MY CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED REGULARLY WITH NO MODIFICATIONS. WHAT I DISCOVERED WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD DETONATED, THE GEARBOX BELL HOUSING WAS TORN APART (GOT PICTURES TO PROVE IT) AND I FOUND PARTS OF THE CLUTCH IN MANY TINY PIECES ALL OVER THE ROADS. THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED BY MAZDA 30,000KMS AGO AND AT A MAZDA DEALERSHIP USING OEM CLUTCH KIT. THE FORCE OF THE GEARBOX EXPLOSION WAS SO GREAT THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL IMPACTED MY LEFT FOOT AND SHATTERED THE BONES OF THE LEFT FOOT IN PIECES (YES I WAS WEARING THICK SOLED SNEAKERS) AND CAUSED SEVERE TRAUMA TO MY FOOT IN GENERAL. AT THE HOSPITAL, THE SURGEONS WORDS WERE " IT LOOKS REALLY BAD". I WAS OPERATED ON AND TITANIUM PLATES AND 4 SCREWS WERE INSERTED TO TRY TO HOLD MY SHATTERED BONES IN PLACE. 8 MONTHS AND A LOT OF HOSPITAL VISITS LATER, I AM STILL RECOVERING FROM THE DAY. I HAD FURTHER SURGERY FEW WEEKS AGO TO PERFORM A BONE GRAFT BECAUSE ONE BREAK WASN'T HEALING. I HAVE APPROACHED MAZDA REGIONAL HEAD OFFICE. INITIALLY MAZDA CONTACTED ME VIA PHONE ASKING FOR DETAILS OF THE CRASH. I SENT THEM PHOTOS VIA EMAIL. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM SINCE. I THEN ALSO CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY PROMISED TO RING BACK AND THEY TOO, HAVE STOPPED. IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT TO FIND A LAWYER WHO CAN SEE THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM, THAT A VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BLOW UP, OR CATCH FIRE ETC NO MATTER WHAT AGE IT IS. HELP!

Mileage: 112,000

VEHICLE IN MOTION (3RD GEAR). SLOWED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. DEPRESSED CLUTCH PEDAL TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. PEDAL STAYED ON FLOOR. I PULLED IT UP WITH MY FOOT AND ATTEMPTED TO PUMP IT IN AN EFFORT TO BUILD PRESSURE. WITH CLUTCH DEPRESSED VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO GEAR UNLESS PUMPED MULTIPLE TIMES, THEN CLUTCH WOULD ENGAGE LESS THAN 2 INCHES OF TRAVEL FROM FLOOR. PEDAL MOVES BACK AND FORTH SIDE WAYS AS WELL..

Mileage: 82,976

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I WENT TO SLOW DOWN AT A LIGHT AND WHEN I PRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE I HEARD A POP AND MY CLUTCH FELT LIKE IT WAS SHIFTING TO THE SIDE AND IT BARELY CUTS OFF ENOUGH TO COME OUT OF GEAR. I INSPECTED THE THE ASSEMBLY BY LOOKING UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AND I FOUND THAT A WELD HAD SNAPPED.

Mileage: 111,000

"TAKATA RECALL" MY POWER STERING GOES OUT ALL THE TIME DOESNT MATTER IF IM SITTING STILL OR IM GOING DOWN THE HIGH WAY. IT DOES EVENTUALLY COME BACK ON BUT DOES GO BACK OFF. IT ALSO WILL CAUSE MY STERING WHEEL TO JURK LEFT AND RIGHT BY ITSELF CAUSE ME TO SWERVE IN AN OUT OF LANES. IT GOT TO THE POINT NOW WHERE I HAVE THE POWER STERING UNPLUGGED SO THAT IT DOESNT JERK MY WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. I JUST NEED TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL THAT WILL PAY TO FIX THIS CAUSE ITS GETTING DANGEROUS. PLEASE CONTACT BACK WITH ANY INFO

Mileage: 140,000

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BROKE WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE VEHICLE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CARD 21 MONTHS AGO IT WAS BROKEN. I HAD IT REPLACED BY A MECHANIC WITH AN OEM REPLACEMENT AND IT HAS NOW OCCURRED AGAIN BUT IN A DIFFERENT POSITION.

Mileage: 72,000

THE CLUTCH PEDAL (ALREADY A KNOWN PROBLEM BY MAZDA, BUT NO RECALL HAS YET BEEN ANNOUNCED) CRACKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING LAST YEAR. I WAS ON HWY 13 IN MINNESOTA AND BARELY GOT CONTROL OF MY SPEED (WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAINTAIN USE OF THE CLUTCH) IT SAT UNTIL I COULD GET IT REPAIRED, THE SAME PEDAL IS NOW CRAKING IN ANOTHER SPOT, WORKING ON GETTING IT REPAIRED BEFORE IT BREAKS AGAIN, THIS TIME WILL REINFORCE IT.

Mileage: 102,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS STARTED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS ACTIVATED AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET SNAPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

I WAS SLOWING DOWN AT AN INTERSECTION AND PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SLOW DOWN. WHEN I DID THIS THE CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT AT THIS POINT. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT I WAS ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE SO I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR AND GET ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME, BUT I WAS STALLED IN TRAFFIC UNTIL I DID GET THE SPEED I NEEDED TO GET INTO GEAR. *TR

Mileage: 103,800

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BROKE AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 5/14/2013 AFTER A WEEK OR SO IT STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND MISFIRING , POPPING NOISE, TRANSMISSION WARMS UP. THE GEAR THAT I HOLD AND SHIFT JUST WARMS UP ALL THE TIME IT FEELS LIKE IT MIGHT FIRE UP. THEN I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I TOOK IT TO MAZDA MECHANIC THEY CHARGED AROUND 900$. THEN IT DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING I WENT ANOTHER ONE AND THEY TOLD ME LOSS COMPRESSION IT WAS 115 THAT TIME. I KEPT DRIVING IT AND THEY SAID I NEED TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION TOO.. I PAID THIS CAR 6500. AND NOW IT S ALL BAD. AND APPARENTLY I NEED TO BUY NEW ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE IT WILL COST ME ABOUT 6000$ .NOW ITS ON 129,000MILES. *TR

Mileage: 108,000

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHEN I WAS TURNING ON TO THE HIGH WAY. MAKING IT STIFF AND HARD TO TURN. CLUTCH PEDDLE COLLAPSED MAKING IT HAD TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE CLUTCH RATIO IS OFF, *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BECAME INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING BUT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

Mileage: 61,000

WAS DRIVING NORMAL CONDITIONS DOWN A 35 MPH ROAD WHEN I WENT TO UPSHIFT GEARS AND DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET CRACKED AND POPPED OFF DUE TO POOR QUALITY AND BAD ENGINEERING, IN MY OPINION. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT THROUGH LOSS OF CONTROL. I WAS NOT ABUSING THE VEHICLE/ HAVE NOT ABUSED THE VEHICLE.. THIS ITEM SHOULD NOT BREAK IN THE MANNER IT DID. *JB

Mileage: 91,000

WHILE SHIFTING FROM 4TH TO 5TH GEAR, I HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND COME FROM THE CLUTCH PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY THE INABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PRESSURE COMING FROM THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET HAD SNAPPED, CAUSING THE PEDAL TO MOVE AT AN ANGLE AND THE PUSH ROD THAT LEADS FROM THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER PUNCTURED THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER CAUSING IT TO FAIL. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

2004 MAZDA RX-8 TOURING WITH 6-SPEED MANUAL HAS A BROKEN CLUTCH PEDAL. THE ALUMINUM CLUTCH PEDAL WEAVES LEFT AND RIGHT. IT IS ON THE VERGE OF SNAPPING IN HALF. PLACED THE CAR AT JAX AUTOMOTIVE WHILE I PURCHASE A NEW OEM CLUTCH PEDAL WITH REINFORCED BRACKETS FROM RACE ROOTS. *TR

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET MOUNTED TO THE FIRE WALL CRACKED ON BROKE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE UNIT CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO BE UNUSABLE AND UNABLE FOR ANY FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS TO BE ENGAGED. LUCKILY I WAS PULLING OFF THE ROAD INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT USE OF THE CLUTCH. THIS IS DANGEROUS BEYOND BELIEF AND IS PRESENTLY COVERED BY MAZDA UNDER AN 8 YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY EXTENSION PLAN BUT THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATED SAFETY RECALL REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE OR YEAR. THE FACTORY PART IS MADE OF TIN AS BEST I CAN TELL AND CAN BE BENT AND DEFORMED WITH BARE HANDS AT THE POINT WHERE ITS BOLTED TO THE FIREWALL, A CRITICAL MOUNTING POINT AS EVIDENCED BY THE GROWING NUMBER OF CASES FOR THIS EXACT DEFECT. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO PURCHASE THE PART AT MY OWN EXPENSE BUT DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO SINCE THIS IS SUCH A BASIC SAFETY DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE DEADLY RESULTS TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER INNOCENT DRIVERS IN THE VICINITY OF THE AFFECTED MAZDA RX8. *TR

Mileage: 104,500

AT A STOP LIGHT, I DEPRESSED MY CLUTCH PEDAL. I HEARD AN AUDIBLE SNAP AND THE CLUTCH BECAME UNUSABLE. *TR

Mileage: 111,301

CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY FAILURE. CAUSING THE PEDAL TO SHIFT INWARD TOWARDS THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

MY CLUTCH PEDAL WAS ALREADY REPLACED AT 101,000 MILES BY ANOTHER DEALER PART BY MAZDA THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE UPDATED BY MAZDA BECAUSE OF SO MANY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKETS IN THE RX8'S ALWAYS BREAKING. MAZDA EVEN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY OVER 100,000 MILES BECAUSE IT WAS BECOMING SO COMMON. THE SO CALLED UPDATED ONE THEY REPLACED, BROKE AGAIN, AND IT WAS NEW WHEN IT WAS PUT IN. IT LASTED 50K MILES AND THAT'S ALL. IM GOING ON MY 3RD CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND MAZDA WILL ONLY COVER THE FIRST BREAKAGE. I CALLED MAZDA CORPORATE AND THEY SAID THAT THE REPLACEMENT CLUTCH ONLY CARRIES A PART WARRANTY OF 30,000 MILES. AND THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. CLUTCH PEDALS IN EVERY OTHER CAR ON THE MARKET LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR. AND IM GOING ON 3 IN THIS CAR ALONE. MAZDA WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE PUT AN UPDATED CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY IN MY CAR AND THEY DIDN'T. GIVEN, THE WORK WAS DONE AT FIRESTONE BECAUSE MY CAR WAS THE CLOSEST TO THAT PLACE BECAUSE IT WAS UNDRIVABLE. BUT EVEN IF IT WAS DONE AT MAZDA THEY STILL WOULD HAVE GIVEN ME THE SAME CRAPPY WARRANTY. MAZDA SAYS THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY COVERS THE FIRST CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. THE FIRST ONE LASTED LONGER THAN THE SECOND ONE! AND THE SECOND ONE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE BETTER. COME TO FIND OUT. THE MAZDA DEALER THAT SOLD FIRESTONE THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, SOLD THEM THE OLD MODEL ONE AND CHARGED ME NEW PRICING! MY COMPLAINT TO YOU IS THAT SINCE ALL OF THESE RX8 OWNERS ARE BREAKING THEIR CLUTCH STILL. MAZDA IS NOT HOLDING ONTO THEIR PROMISE TO FIX CLUTCH PEDAL ISSUES. IS THERE ANY WAY YOU GUYS CAN FORCE MAZDA TO COVER THE NEWER PEDALS THAT BREAK TOO? I MEAN THIS WHOLE THING IS RIDICULOUS. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO SHIFT UP A GEAR THE CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED. I CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION INTO FIRST AND UP, BUT I CANNOT GET IT INTO REVERSE. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. MY CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED THE FIRST TIME AND IT WAS COVERED BY A RECALL DUE TO THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET FAILING. I HAD IT REPLACED ON 11-11-08. THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED ON 4-10-12. LUCKILY, I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH TO GO WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, HEARD A POP, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET SNAPPED AGAIN. I CONTACTED THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD IT REPLACED THE 1ST TIME. THEY STATED IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED AND THE RECALL HAD JUST RECENTLY EXPIRED. NOW, I KNOW THE CAR IS OUT OF MANUFACTURER WARRANTY, BUT THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS WELDED METAL BREAKING. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THIS HAPPENED WHEN YOU WENT TO CHANGE GEARS AND YOUR CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SNAPS? ALL OF THE SUDDEN NO ACCELERATION DANGEROUS. *TR

Mileage: 115,100

CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING. PREVENTED CAR FROM GOING INTO GEAR AND WAS LEFT STRANDED. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

MY HUSBAND DROVE ME TO THE GROCERY STORE AND WE HEARD A LOUD POP. THE CAR BARELY WENT INTO FIRST GEAR AND STARTED GRINDING WHEN IT WENT INTO SECOND. WE BARELY MADE IT HOME!! IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF US TURNING INTO OUR ROAD AND WE ALMOST GOT HIT. WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT AFTER WE( LUCKILY) MADE IT HOME. THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL MOVED AND ANGLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN DEPRESSED AND WENT BACK TO REGULAR POSITION WHEN WE LET GO OF IT. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

MY CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN CREAKING NOW AND SHAKING NOW FOR QUITE SOME TIME. ORIGINALLY (A YEAR OR SO AGO) WHEN I ASKED TO RECEIVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT FROM MAZDA THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT "BAD" ENOUGH BUT WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WAIT FOR IT TO FAIL ON THE ROAD SO I HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT REPLACED AND A TOW TRUCK? I HAVE A 2004 AND THE WARRANTY FOR EVERYTHING IS NOW OVER BASED ON TIME. *TT

Mileage: 66,000

THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS STARTING TO SQUEAK A LOT AND WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL. HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T FAIL WHILE I AM DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 97,000

AS MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME MY CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. I COULDN'T SHIFT GEARS SO I HAD TO COAST TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. *TR

Mileage: 82,326

1. CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WOULD MAKE POP NOISE WHEN BEING DEPRESSED AND RELEASED. 2. CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET TO FIREWALL SNAPPED CAUSING CLUTCH PEDAL TO NOT RETURN. COULD NOT CHANGE GEARS OR STOP WITH CAR ON. 3.HAD TO REPLACE WITH FACTORY PEDAL (THE SAME PEDAL THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM). *TR

Mileage: 88,168

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 STARTED MAKING A NOTICEABLE SQUEAKING NOISE CONSTANTLY FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS. AT ONE POINT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AROUND 50 MPH, IT MADE A LOUD CRACKING SOUND AND I NOTICED THE CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME IMMEDIATELY LOOSE WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE GEARS. IT CAUSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO STOP WORKING AND THUS IMPEDING MY ABILITY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND CONTROL ITS SPEED. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS FAILURE COULD OF CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED AND/OR ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

Mileage: 69,850

I OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX8 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I HAD MY CLUTCH PEDAL BREAK WHILE DRIVING. I ORIGINALLY THOUGH OF IT AS AN ISOLATED CASE DUE TO A BAD COMPONENT. I HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED AT MY OWN COST BUT THIS PART HAS BROKEN AGAIN TODAY. WHILE SEARCHING FOR COMMON ISSUES I HAVE FOUND QUITE A FEW OTHER PEOPLE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS PART BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD BUT THIS CAME WITH NO WARNING. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSY STREET OR THE HIGHWAY IT MAY HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT ISSUE. THIS PART SEEMS TO BE OF VERY POOR QUALITY AS IT HAS BROKEN FROM THE SAME PLACE AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 83,023

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH HE DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE BEFORE STOPPING THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM THE STOP POSITION HE REALIZED THAT HE HAD TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER FOR IT TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HER RESIDENCE WHERE HE NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAD DETACHED FROM ITS HINGE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE, AND IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 51,500.

Mileage: 51,500

MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8'S CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET HAS BROKEN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP FOR SOME CLUTCH PROBLEMS I HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH THE CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING OR DISENGAGING PROPERLY AND THE FIRST THING THEY LOOKED AT WAS MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET. IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS IS WHAT WAS CAUSING ALL OF MY PROBLEMS. THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL BROKE ALONG THE WELDS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE TECH TOLD ME IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 04 RX-8'S AND IT IS USUALLY MISDIAGNOSED AS A CLUTCH FAILURE. THIS IS A REALLY BIG PROBLEM AS THE BRACKET BRAKING CAUSES THE CLUTCH TO NOT FULLY ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE WHICH LEADS TO PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE AND CAN ALSO BE AS EXTREME AS THE CLUTCH PEDAL COMPLETELY BREAKING OFF AND OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I HAD TO HAVE MY CLUTCH REPLACED AS WELL DUE TO THE EXTRA WEAR CAUSE BY NOT FULLY ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING. MY CAR HAS EVEN STALLED IN INTERSECTIONS AFTER A LIGHT TURNS GREEN BECAUSE THE CLUTCH WOULD FULLY ENGAGE TO SHIFT INTO 1ST PROPERLY. *TR

MY 2004 MAZDA, HAS 60K MILES ON IT. ALREADY HAVE HAD ENGINE FAILURE, LEAVING ME STRANDED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE HEAT SHIELD AND SENSORS. NOW MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET IS APPARENTLY BROKEN, IT STARTED OFF SQUEAKING LOUDLY AND EMBARRASSINGLY. SOUNDED LIKE IT NEEDED SOME WD40 OR SOMETHING, ALSO LEANING INWARD TOWARD THE BRAKE, CAUSING ME TO SOMETIMES INADVERTENTLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE ALONG WITH THE CLUTCH. IT SOON AFTER COMPLETELY BROKE, DEPRESSING NEARLY TO THE FLOOR AND LEAVING ME STRANDED ONCE AGAIN ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I KNOW I'M NOT DRIVING A BMW/AUDI/MERCEDES ETC. BUT I'M ALSO NOT DRIVING A KIA, YET MY ROOMMATES KIA HAS FAR LESS PROBLEMS AND ISN'T LEFT WITHOUT A CAR NEARLY AS OFTEN AS I AM. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE AS I PUSHED THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN AND TURNED THE KEY IT STARTED BUT WHEN I RELEASED THE PEDAL IT STAYED HALF WAY DOWN AND MOVED TOWARDS THE RIGHT, RESULTING IN POOR SHIFT QUALITY AND A WEAK CLUTCH. *TR

Mileage: 53,223

I WAS PULLING OUT ON A MAIN STRETCH OF ROAD WITH BUSY TRAFFIC AS I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH ON MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BROKE AND I COULD NOT GET THE CAR INTO GEAR. I PAID 400+ DOLLARS TO GET THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND RAN FOR ABOUT 20,000 MILES AND NOW THE TRANNY WILL NOT ENGAGE AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY STAR MAKING NOISE WHEN YOU DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH. CAUSING THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY BROKE AND MAKE DON'T ENGAGE . *TR

Mileage: 75,899

ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 5TH @ APPROX 5:30PM, I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD. DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL BEFORE SHIFTING GEARS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PEDAL WAS FULLY DEPRESSED, I HEARD SOMETHING BREAK. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FROM THAT MOMENT ON, I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY MYSELF, I HAD FOUND THAT THE METAL BRACKET WHICH SECURES THE CLUTCH PEDAL, HAD SPLIT/CRACKED. THIS MADE THE CLUTCH PEDAL LOOSE AND IT WAS NO LONGER IN PROPER ALIGNMENT (WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CLUTCH PEDAL WITH MY FOOT OR HAND LATERALLY A FEW INCHES.) DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS FAILURE, I WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN GEAR (EVEN WITH CLUTCH PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED).....THIS MADE THE CAR INOPERABLE. THE ENGINE WOULD START WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY DEPRESSED AND THE IGNITION TURNED TO THE START POSITION, BUT THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO ANY GEAR. *TR

Mileage: 39,000

I OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. AS I WAS TURNING RIGHT IN SECOND GEAR, I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THEN HEARD A LOUD SNAP. THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS NOW VERY LOOSE AND NOT WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER STRUCTURALLY SOUND. WHEN I GOT HOME, I NOTICED THAT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET HAD SNAPPED. THIS HAS CAUSED THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO EASILY MOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 73,400

WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT I PRESSED MY CLUTCH PEDAL AND I HEAR A POP. THE CLUTCH NOW IS LOOSE AND I'M NOT ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. AFTER WHILE I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO 1ST GEAR. THE SHOP DISCOVERED THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET SNAPPED. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SNAPPED OFF AT ONE OF THE WELD POINTS. THE WELDS ARE TOO WEAK AND THE METAL IS TOO THIN. THIS IS HAPPENING TO EVERYONE WHO OWNS AN RX8. MY CAR IS A 2004 WITH 56K MILES. I AM AN OLDER MALE AND MY CAR IS DRIVEN VERY SENSIBLY AND WITH NO ABUSE. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE MAZDA IS REQUIRED TO RECALL AND PROPERLY UPGRADE THESE CLUTCH PEDALS. I HAD TWO SMALL KIDS IN THE CAR AND THANKFULLY WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF HARMS WAY WHEN THE PEDAL SNAPPED. *TR

Mileage: 56,565

DURING A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, I TRIED TO ENGAGE INTO 1ST GEAR, STEPPING ON THE CLUTCH AS USUAL, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD A LOUD "POP" COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CLUTCH, AND ALSO FELT THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAS DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AND I COULD NOT ENGAGE INTO ANY GEAR, I PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO FORCE IT INTO 1ST GEAR AND MANAGE TO DRIVE HOME, THE PART HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED AS IT WAS JUST HAPPENED ON AUG 20 AROUND 11:00 PM. *TR

Mileage: 68,300

I WAS DRIVING MY FRIENDS 2004 MAZDA RX-8 WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STOPPED AND INTO NEUTRAL. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET WAS FOUND DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 43,000

1. NORMAL DAILY DRIVING RESULTED IN CLUTCH FAILURE. 2. HEARD A "POP" WHILE DEPRESSING CLUTCH PEDAL AND CLUTCH BECAME "SPONGY". SINCE THEN IT AS CONSTANTLY OCCURRED AND NOW THE CLUTCH WILL NOT RELEASE. IT HAS ALSO BEEN DIFFICULT TO GET THE SHIFTER INTO GEAR. CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET HAS COME APART AT ONE OF THE WELDS. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH A REINFORCED ONE TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 41,000

I HAVE A MAZDA RX-8 2004 I DISCOVERED THAT MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM FIREWALL AND HAS CAUSED A SAFETY ISSUE AS SUCH IF IM DECELERATING I CANNOT TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR THUS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OPPOSITE FOR ACCELERATING AND THE INABILITY TO GO INTO ANY GEAR OR REVERSE. IM IN THE MILITARY AND UPON MY SUPERIORS ORDERS AM NO LONGER ALLOWED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL REPAIR WHICH IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION. THIS IS NOT PART OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE. *TR

Mileage: 47,000

FOR A WEEK OR SO PRIOR TO FAILURE, I HEARD A SQUEAK COMING FROM THE CLUTCH. HAD CAR IN TO CHANGE TIRES, MECHANIC NOTED CLUTCH PEDAL WAS SOFT AND ADVISED I HAVE IT LOOKED AT THE NEXT DAY. ON THE WAY HOME CLUTCH PEDAL KICKED OVER TO THE RIGHT AND I WASN'T ABLE TO ENGAGE CLUTCH & SHIFT,STUCK IN 2ND GEAR. LUCKY FOR ME I DIDN'T GET IN A COLLISION, WAS ROLLING THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION, WAS ABLE TO GET TO A PARKING LOT AND STALLED AND STOPPED THE CAR. RESET CLUTCH PEDAL RED GREENED IT AND LIMPED IT HOME TILL I HAD IT FIXED A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. *TR

Mileage: 112,000

CLUTCH PEDAL BROKEN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. ASSEMBLY SNAPPED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *TR

Mileage: 63,500

UPON NORMAL CLUTCH OPERATION WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD SNAP WAS HEARD AND THEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL STOPPED FUNCTIONING CAUSING ME TO BE UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. ONCE STOPPED, THE CAR WOULD START AGAIN BUT THE CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR. THE PEDAL WAS NOW MOVING TOWARDS THE RIGHT WHEN STEPPED ON. UPON INSPECTION IT APPEARS THAT PART OF THE PEDAL BRACKET HAD SNAPPED AND CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO MALFUNCTION. I HAD TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND PUT IT IN FIRST GEAR, THEN RESTART THE CAR IN ORDER TO DRIVE IT. I GOT IT HOME SAFE AND THEN TOWED IT TO THE NEAREST MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND SPENT $310 ON A NEW CLUTCH PEDAL. IF I WAS ON A BUSY ROAD I WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE THE BAD PART IF YOU WANT IT FOR INSPECTION! *TR

Mileage: 95,300

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAS BROKEN CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO BE COMPLETELY DEPRESSED FOR THE CLUTCH TO ENGAGE. THIS HAPPENED AFTER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE REPAIR CONSISTED OF INSTALLATION OF A NEW ASSEMBLY. IF THE ASSEMBLY FAILED WHEN BROKEN THE CAR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE PUT IN GEAR RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 78,200

MAZDA 2004 RX-8. CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET SNAPPED. LUCKILY I WAS STARTING THE CAR WHEN IT BROKE. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS MOVING, I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SLOW DOWN SINCE THE CLUTCH PEDAL NOW MOVES SIDEWAYS AND CAN INTERFERE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR

Mileage: 73,450

THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

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

2004 MAZDA RX8 MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET HAS RIPPED AT THE UPPER OUTBOARD BOLT TO FIREWALL. THE CLUTCH PEDAL RETURN SPRING INBOARD RETAINER CLIP HAS BROKEN OFF,OUTBOARD CLIP IS INTACT BUT HAS MULTIPLE FRACTURES. THE RETURN SPRING HAS WORN INTO THE BRACKET ABOUT 7 MM. VEHICLE OWNER STATED THERE WAS A SNAP LIKE NOISE AND THE PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE LOST ITS ABILITY TO SHIFT. I HAVE VERIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR.. UNLESS YOU HAVE IT IN FIRST WHEN TRYING TO START IT. EVEN WITH CLUTCH PRESSED IN, THE STARTER WILL FORCE THE VEHICLE FORWARD. THE BRACKET TO FIREWALL TEAR IS ABOUT 3 INCHES LONG. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

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

Mileage: 61,247

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

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

Mileage: 79,000

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

Mileage: 66,872

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

Mileage: 87,000

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

Mileage: 81,000

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

Mileage: 33,000

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

Mileage: 98,500

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

Mileage: 52,800

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

Mileage: 57,503

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

Mileage: 55,000

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

Mileage: 90,800

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

Mileage: 60,000

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

Mileage: 34,500

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

Mileage: 52,425

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

Mileage: 37,728

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

Mileage: 37,000

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

Mileage: 49,000

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

Mileage: 79,000

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

Mileage: 47,000

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

Mileage: 79,540

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

Mileage: 37,600

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

Mileage: 72,000

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

Mileage: 74,060

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

Mileage: 64,000

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

Mileage: 59,000

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

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

Mileage: 46,000

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

Mileage: 32,997

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

Mileage: 78,000

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

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

Mileage: 59,548

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

Mileage: 59,548

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

Mileage: 48,000

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

Mileage: 70,000

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

Mileage: 93,050

REGULAR DRIVING LEAD THE CAR A 2004 MAZDA RX-8 6 SPEED CLUTCH PEDAL TO LITERALLY BREAK AT 3 OF THE SPOT WELDS, DISABLING THE ABILITY TO PUSH THE CLUTCH IN. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR HOME AS IT HAPPENED DOWN THE STREET. IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY DURING A EMERGENCY DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN GOD KNOWS WHAT COULD HAPPEN. I WENT TO THE LOCAL EXHAUST SHOP AND HAD THEM DO A SOLID BEAD ALL AROUND THE MOUNTING BRACKET FIXING THE ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO SNAP OFF IT JUST DOES. *TR

Mileage: 115,506

CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET SNAPPED WHILE SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TAKEN TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP, WHO INSISTED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRACKET. HAD BEEN MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. PEDAL BECAME LOOSE ON THE HORIZONTAL AXIS (E.G. COULD BE MOVED LEFT OR RIGHT WITH LITTLE PRESSURE. COULD STILL BE SHIFTED WITH CAREFUL APPLICATION OF PRESSURE, BUT NOT SAFE FOR CONTINUED DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 67,745

1. THE EVENTS WERE MOST LIKELY COLD WEATHER, ALABAMA HAS HAD AN UNUSUALLY COLD WINTER DURING THE 2009-2010 PERIOD. 2. THE CLUTCH HAS BROKEN. THE WELD THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE HAS BROKEN. 3. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH BRACKET DUE TO ITS BREAKING. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MAZDA RX 8 HOME FROM WORK WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CLUTCH PEDAL DROPPED AND MY CAR WOULD NOT SWITCH GEARS, LUCKILY I COASTED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME MY ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS DESTROYED TO NOTHING AND MY CLUTCH PEDAL WAS BENT, DUE TO BROKEN BRACKET ON CLUTCH PEDAL. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DUE TO A PART THAT WASN'T A WEAR AND TEAR PART. TOTAL COST IS $1490. *TR

Mileage: 62,500

DURING THE COURSE OF MY MORNING COMMUTE TO WORK THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO A SAFE LOCATION BY USE OF "REV MATCHING" SHIFTING AS DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD NO LONGER ENGAGE THE CLUTCH AND THE PEDAL NO LONGER RETURNED TO THE PROPER POSITION. THE ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED, REWELDED, AND REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 57,633

I FEEL GRINDING WHEN I SHIFT FROM 1 GEAR TO 2. SOMETIMES IS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT TO THE 2 AND 3 GEAR. I BLEED THE CLUTCH LINE, CHANGED TRANSMISSION OIL. IT IS WEIRD BECAUSE THE CAR HAS LOW MILEAGE. *TR

Mileage: 37,000

DIVING AT 50 MPH AND MY CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE, MOVING SIDE TO SIDE AND UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. I WAS 3 MILES FROM A MAZDA DEALER AND GOT THERE. WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART IN STOCK (IN DEMAND, OF COURSE) AND I HAD TO PAY $25.00 FOR OVER NIGHT SHIPPING TO GET MY CAR FIXED THE NEXT DAY. I WAS GIVEN MY OLD PETAL AND BROKEN PART AND PAID $470 FOR THE FIX. AFTER REVIEWING THIS PROBLEM ON-LINE I SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2004-2008 RX-8'S FROM 20,000-70,000 MILES. HAD MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR AT THE TIME, THIS WOULD BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT LETTER. PLEASE RECALL THIS CAR AND CORRECT THIS ON GOING DANGEROUS , LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. MAZDA MECHANIC'S KNOW ALL TO WELL ABOUT THIS, WHY DOESN'T THE PUBLIC. WHY DON'T YOU. *TR

Mileage: 79,000

2004 MAZDA RX8 CLUTCH BRACKET BROKE. MY WIFE JUST GAVE BIRTH AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN USING THE RX8, MUCH CAUSE SHE CAN'T DRIVE, BUT I WANTED TO START IT UP AND TAKE IT OUT FOR A TRIP TO THE STORE BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR A WEEK. WHEN I WENT TO START IT, THE CLUTCH JUST FELT LIKE IT SNAPPED. THE BRACKET SNAPPED IN HALF ON THE LEFT SIDE. WOW THANK GOD THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE MY WIFE WAS PREGNANT OR WHAT ABOUT WITH MY SON IN THE CAR. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY MAZDA. I AM SURE THAT WE HAVE THE DRIVER EXPERIENCE AND GOOD ENOUGH DRIVING SKILLS TO HAVE SAFELY AVOIDED DISASTER, BUT I AM VERY HAPPY THAT IT HAPPENED ON JUST A NORMAL STARTUP RATHER THEN AT 70 MPH IN HEAVY ATLANTA TRAFFIC. *TR

Mileage: 84,041

THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN THE MAZDA RX8 BEGAN CREAKING DURING USE. AFTER INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE ONLINE, I LEARNED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AMONG MAZDA RX8 OWNERS AND THAT CONTINUED USE OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD LEAD TO FAILURE WITH THE CREAKING BEING A SIGN THAT THE PEDAL IS PREMATURELY WEARING. SINCE MAZDA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT AND OFFER A RECALL, I REMOVED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND HAD THE MOUNTING BRACKET REWELDED. I'VE ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE METAL USED FOR THE BRACKET IS INCREDIBLY THIN AND THAT THE SPOT WELDS MADE AT THE FACTORY BY MAZDA ARE WHOLLY INSUFFICIENT TO KEEP THE BRACKET FROM MOVING UNDER STRESS, LEADING TO PERMANENT FAILURE WHEN IT BREAKS. *TR

Mileage: 477,775

I WAS DRIVING MY MAZDA RX8 AT 35MPH DOWN A CITY STREET AT NIGHT. I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO SHIFT GEARS. THERE WAS AN EXTREMELY LOUD POP, THEN THE CLUTCH DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE IT INTO GEAR TO GET IT HOME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL BENT/COLLAPSED, AND THE CLUTCH BURNED OUT. UP TO THIS POINT THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF CLUTCH WEAR, NO SLIPPAGE OF THE CLUTCH, EVERYTHING OPERATED NORMALLY. I HAVE HAD EVERY SERVICE COMPLETED ON THE CAR, AND HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOR A MAJOR REPAIR ONLY 3 MONTHS (OR LESS) AGO. THE CLUTCH PEDAL SHOULD NOT HAVE BENT, AND WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH. AGAIN, UP TO THIS POINT THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF CLUTCH WEAR, THE CAR WAS OPERATING FINE. I CAN PROVIDE ALL SERVICE RECORDS FOR THE VEHICLE. THIS EXACT PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED SEVERAL TIMES ON RX-8 CLUB THREADS, AND MATCHES IDENTICAL TO THIS VERY THREAD: HTTP://WWW.RX8CLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=132912 AND HTTP://WWW.RX8CLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=182412&HIGHLIGHT=CLUTCH+BRACKET THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT HAD I BEEN TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED OR HAD THE CLUTCH PEDAL FOLDED UNDERNEATH THE BREAK PEDAL. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO FOLD UNDER THE PRESSURE OF MY FOOT, MUCH LESS UNDER NORMAL CLUTCH OPERATING CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE I WAS JUST SHIFTING GEARS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A DEADLY ACCIDENT! THE DAMAGES TO THE CAR INCURRED AS OF TODAY ARE APPROXIMATELY $1900 BEFORE TAXES. NORMAL CLUTCH DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN INDICATED BY SLIPPAGE OF THE CLUTCH DISC AGAINST THE PRESSURE PLATE. THIS SORT OF DAMAGE COULD HAVE ALSO SEIZED THE ENGINE HAD THE PRESSURE PLATE DECONSTRUCTED IN THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE PROPERTY DAMAGE I CLAIM IN THIS WAS THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE ITSELF, NOT ANYONE ELSE'S PROPERTY. THE COSTS FOR REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR ARE OUTLANDISH AND UPSETTING. I WILL PROVIDE ANY DOCUMENTATION ON REQUEST, AS WELL AS PICTURES. *TR

Mileage: 80,100

CLUTCH PEDAL IS HAS BEGUN TO MAKE CREAKING SOUNDS AND FEELS LOOSE WHEN FULLY DEPRESSED. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE PEDAL BREAKING AND SNAPPING AND I SUSPECT THIS IS LEADING UP THAT THE POINT THAT IT ULTIMATELY DOES BREAK. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, ATTEMPT TO CHANGE INTO 3RD GEAR AND MY CLUTCH PEDAL DROPPED RIGHT TO THE FLOOR, WHICH CAUSED MY CAR TO JERK INTO THE NEXT LANE AS I WASN'T EXPECTING MY FOOT TO HAVE FREEFALL. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, I FOUND THAT MY CLUTCH PEDAL MOUNT HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE ASSEMBLY CAUSING MY CLUTCH TO BE UNABLE TO DISENGAGE ENTIRELY. THE ASSEMBLY WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED OR WELDED TO RETURN TO REGULAR FUNCTIONALITY. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAULTY DESIGN. WHILE DRIVING AND SHIFTING GEARS (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SNAPS, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. THE THIN METAL TEARS AWAY FROM AROUND ONE OF THE BOLTS THAT HOLDS THE ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL. THIS IS HAPPENING ON OTHER RX-8'S OF PEOPLE I ASSOCIATE WITH TO THE POINT THAT WELDING UP THE OLD BRACKET IS BECOMING COMMON. MAZDA HAS NOT COME UP WITH A STRONGER ASSEMBLY SINCE THEY INTRODUCED THE RX-8 IN 2004. THE ALTERNATIVES TO CORRECT THE ISSUE (OUT OF WARRANTY) IS TO: (A) PURCHASE A NEW ONE FROM MAZDA. (B ) HAVE YOUR OLD ASSEMBLY WELDED OR PURCHASE A REMANUFACTURED WELDED ONE. (C) PURCHASE A BRACKET THAT ADDS SUPPORT TO THE ASSEMBLY I DID BOTH B & C, WELDED AND ADDED SUPPORT. *TR

Mileage: 100,203

2004 MAZDA RX8 CLUTCH LEVER BRACKET BROKEN. SHIFTED CAR FROM 3RD TO 4TH HEARD A LOUD SNAP AND THE PEDAL DID NOT FEEL RIGHT. I WAS VERY CLOSE TO HOME SO I MADE IT BUT WAS HARD TO SHIFT. FOUND THE LEVER BRACKET TO BE BROKEN AND CRACKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *TR

Mileage: 88,000

CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2004 RX8 BROKE AND CAUSED ME TO ALMOST GET IN ACCIDENT WHEN THE CAR WOULD NOT RELEASE OUT OF 4 GEAR. THE CLUTCH SHIFTED TOWARDS MY BREAK PEDAL AND IT ALMOST MADE ME WRECK. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

I OWN A MAZDA RX-8 2004 MODEL AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE ON APPROX 10/31/09. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL I NEEDED TO CHANGE GEARS BUT I REALIZED THAT MY CLUTCH WAS GETTING STUCK BEHIND MY BRAKE PEDAL AND THAT I COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. I SLOWED DOWN AND AFTER TUGGING AND TUGGING I WAS ABLE TO SWITCH GEARS. I STOPPED THE CAR TO CALL MY FRIENDS THINKING IT WAS A BAD CLUTCH BUT NO ONE COULD GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND SPENT 200 DOLLARS GETTING IT TOWED AND ANOTHER 180 TO GET IT FIXED. THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET. ITS MADE OUT OF MATERIAL SO FLIMSY THAT IT HAD SNAPPED FROM THE WELDS. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND AFTER DOING MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I FOR ONE DON'T WANT TO EVER BE STUCK O THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSTATE AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 68,081

1. CLUTCH PEDAL FELT ABOUT A 1/2" LOW (AS IF HYDRAULIC FLUID HAD AN AIR POCKET AND NEEDED BLEEDING) ABOUT TWO BLOCKS BEFORE FAILURE. 2. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT BEHIND 3 CARS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, SHIFTED INTO FIRST WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN; ACCELERATED VERY SLOWLY AND TRIED SHIFTING TO SECOND GEAR BUT THE PEDAL MADE A SNAPPING SOUND AND WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN FIRST UNTIL I LET THE CAR ROLL BACK A LITTLE AND GOT IT IN NEUTRAL. I WAS STUCK IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND THERE WAS GRIDLOCK, LOTS OF HONKING AND YELLING AND A FEW CARS CAME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING ACCIDENTS. I PUSHED MY CAR TO THE EDGE OF THE INTERSECTION AND WAITED FOR THE TOW TRUCK. THE TOW TRUCK HAD TO HAVE SMALLER PICKUP BROUGHT IN TO WINCH MY CAR OUT OF THE INTERSECTION BECAUSE HE SAID IT WAS UNSAFE TO SET UP THE TOW RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. 3. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND AFTER INSPECTION HE SAID IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN TO A NEW PEDAL FROM MAZDA. HE WAS SURPRISED IT LASTED FOR 60K MILES. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I ORDERED A REINFORCED CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY FROM HERE: HTTP://WWW.FLUIDMOTORSPORTS.COM/P-188-TRANSMISSION-AND-ACCESSORIES.ASPX TURNS OUT HERE ARE THREE AFTERMARKET COMPANIES MANUFACTURING REINFORCEMENTS, MAZSPORT, BHR AND RACE ROOTS; EACH HAS THEIR OWN DESIGN AND THEY ARE SELLING HUNDREDS OF THEM BECAUSE ALL THE PEDALS FAIL IN 40 - 80K MILES. *TR

Mileage: 63,000

THE BRACKET FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, THE CLUTCH WOULD SQUEAK A LITTLE BIT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. I NOTICED THAT THE BRACKET WAS LOOSE ONCE, SO I TIGHTENED THE BOLT ON IT, BUT THAT DIDN'T CHANGE THE SQUEAKING. LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THE WHOLE BRACKET WAS ABOUT TO FAIL! I TOOK A CLOSE LOOK AT THE BROKEN BRACKET, AND IT APPEARS THAT A WELD BROKE. IT OCCURRED ONE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK. AS I DOWNSHIFTED FROM THIRD TO SECOND GEAR, I HEARD A 'CRACK' AND THEN MY CLUTCH WOULDN'T WORK PROPERLY. I LOOKED DOWN, AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS NEXT TO (AND TOUCHING) THE BRAKE PEDAL (IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT CLOSE). I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO SHIFT. NOW, I CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AS THE CLUTCH WILL NOT ENGAGE WITH THE BROKEN BRACKET. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IN CASES LIKE MINE WHEN IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ON MY MAZDA RX-8 SNAPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND SINCE THEN HAVE HAD A LOT OF DIFFICULTY SWITCHING GEARS WHILE DRIVING. I LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE LIKE THIS EVEN THOUGH THE PEDAL AT TIMES BECAME STUCK BENEATH THE BREAK PEDAL. I HIRED AN MOBILE MECHANIC TO REWELD THE PEDAL BRACKET ALTHOUGH JUST YESTERDAY IT SNAPPED AGAIN. MY VEHICLE IS A MAZDA 2004 RX-8 AND THERE IS NOT A SINGLE DEALERSHIP I HAVE FOUND THAT WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

1. NO EVENTS, JUST DRIVING 2.CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED OFF NOT ALLOWING ME TO CHANGE GEARS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 3. SINCE MAZDA DIDN'T WANT TO COVER IT, I HAD IT REWELDED MYSELF. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

CLUTCH BRACKET FAILURE; (1) OF THE 3 WELDING POINTS FAILED, CAUSING THE BRACKET TO SEPARATE AT THE WELD, BENDING, AND SEPARATING THE PLATE INTO 2 PIECES, MAKING SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF GEARS DIFFICULT DURING OPERATION. THE SERVICE REP. AT GAINESVILLE MAZDA LAUGHED AT ME WHEN I ASKED IF THEY WOULD GIVE ME A DISCOUNT ON A NEW BRACKET. GAINESVILLE MAZDA IS AT 2600 N MAIN STREET GAINESVILLE, FL 32609 (352) 505-9459. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 11:15 IN THE NIGHT, I WAS ON MY WAY BACK FROM A LATE NIGHT FOOD RUN AT MCDONALD'S. THE DISTANCE FROM MY RESIDENCE TO MCDONALD'S IS APPROXIMATELY 2.2 MILES. AS I APPROACHED A STOP SIGN, ONE (1) BLOCK AWAY FROM MY RESIDENCE, I DEPRESSED MY CLUTCH PEDAL IN ORDER TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND THAT IS WHEN I HEARD A LOUD CLATTERY CLANG. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE CLUTCH PEDAL FELT EXTREMELY SOFT AND I FOUND IT VERY HARD TO CHANGE GEARS. BEING THAT I WAS SO CLOSE TO HOME I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO FURTHER EXAMINE AND EVALUATE WHAT EXACTLY HAD HAPPENED. HENCE, I IGNORED IT PARKED MY CAR AND WENT INSIDE. THE NEXT MORNING ON MY REGULAR ROUTINE I STARTED MY CAR TO GO TO SCHOOL, AGAIN THE CLUTCH FELT EXTREMELY SOFT AND MUSHY. TRIED TO PUT THE GEARS IN REVERSE BUT FAILED. THIS IS WHEN I FINALLY REALIZED THAT SOMETHING WAS DEFINITELY WRONG. MY FIRST INCLINATION WAS THAT THE CLUTCH DISC THAT HAD WORN, BUT AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET HAD BROKEN.*TR

Mileage: 52,562

I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, START ENGAGING THE CLUTCH TO GO INTO FIRST GEAR AND I HEAR A CRACK. I AM IN FIRST GEAR AND AS I AM ABOUT TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR I AM UNABLE TO DO SO. I NOTICE THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAS NO PRESSURE AND IT IS NEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL. FROM HERE ON I WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. SO AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I SEE THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL IS BROKEN AND CAN EASILY MOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. I AM JUST GLAD THAT I WAS ON THE STREET BECAUSE I WAS ON MY WAY TO CATCH THE FREEWAY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAS TO BE FIXED, SOMETHING BAD COULD HAVE HAPPENED AND TO THINK I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY FOR LONG TRIPS IS VERY SCARY. *TR

Mileage: 48,469

I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICE MY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. I HAD TO SHUT OFF THE CAR TO GET IT IN REVERSE. I THEN TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID MY SLAVE CYLINDER WAS OUT. SO THEY REPLACED IT. LATER I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL TELLING MY CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET WAS ALSO BROKE. WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN THE RESULT IN MY SLAVE CYLINDER TO FAIL. THE BRACKET WAS BROKE ON THE LEFT BOTTOM BOLT PATTERN THAT CONNECTS TO THE FIRING WALL. I AM GLAD THIS DID NOT HAPPEN OR COMPLETELY BRAKE OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING FOR THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A POSSIBLE FATAL ACCIDENT. I AM PUTTING IN FOR THIS BECAUSE APPARENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS BRACKET BRAKE. IT SEEMS TO BE ON THE SAME SIDE AS EVERYONE ELSE IS DESCRIBING. AS THE PEDAL BRAKES IT LEANS OR BRAKES TO THE RIGHT WHICH HEADS TOWARDS THE BRAKE PEDAL ITSELF. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

I WAS DRIVING 1200 MILES FROM HOME DOING ABOUT 45 MPH ON THE LOCAL ROADS, AND MY CLUTCH PEDAL STARTED FEELING FUNNY, MAYBE A LITTLE LOOSE. THEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AS I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS AND CHECKED IT OUT. THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET HAD FAILED AND I CALLED UP THE DEALERSHIP AS IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY OFFERED TO REPLACE IT AT MY COST ($600) AT WHICH THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT SO I SHOULDN'T BE LIABLE FOR SUCH DAMAGES, EVEN AFTER 59,000 MILES. AND ESPECIALLY AFTER SEEING THAT SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM, IT POSES A HUGE SAFETY RISK. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT BACK HOME, SHIFTING PERFECTLY TO MATCH REVS BUT WAS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO START. SOMETIMES THE PEDAL WOULD BE PUSHED SO FAR BACK THAT IT WOULD RUN BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT WORRIED ME SO MUCH THAT I MIGHT HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED SO FAR TO GET SOMEONE TO FIX IT. BUT THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM! *TR

Mileage: 59,000

MY CLUTCH PEDAL BEGAN SQUEAKING ABOUT 4,000 MILES AGO. JUST YESTERDAY, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I DOWNSHIFTED INTO 4TH GEAR AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS SO I HAD TO STAY IN 5TH UNTIL I COULD SAFELY PULL OF AT AN EXIT. *TR

Mileage: 82,000

2004 MAZDA RX-8 CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE OFF DURING NORMAL DRIVING. NO CORRECTIVE ACTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN YET MAZDA REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER THERE NEW EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 65,017

1) NOTHING JUST DRIVING IT 2) FAULTY CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SNAPPED RENDERING THE CLUTCH USELESS. 3) NOT YET CORRECTED. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET OF THE MAZDA RX-8 IS PRONE TO SNAPPING AND BREAKING DURING NORMAL USE. MAZDA CONSIDERS THIS ITEM TO BE A "WEAR ITEM" DESPITE THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS THAT A BREAKAGE COULD POSE. A BROKEN CLUTCH PEDAL COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO A CRASH WITH FATALITIES IF THE DRIVER CAN NO LONGER PULL THE CAR OUT OF GEAR OR SHIFT GEARS. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO MY CASE WERE NORMAL. I WAS DRIVING AS I DO REGULARLY IN THE CITY AND THE PEDAL SNAPPED WITHOUT WARNING. IN MY CASE I WAS STILL ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS AND WAS CLOSE ENOUGH THAT I COULD DRIVE HOME. NOTHING HAS YET BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WHICH MAZDA WAS ASKING $415.00 FOR TO REPLACE. *TR

Mileage: 102,286

DRIVING 2004 MAZDA RX/8 UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE. THE BRACKET BROKE AT A WELD POINT AND THROUGH A BOLT CONNECTION CAUSING THE PEDAL TO SHIFT TO THE RIGHT. IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, BUT COULD HAVE IF I WERE IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION WHEN DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 97,945

CLUTCH PEDAL IN 2004 RX8 FAILING/BREAKING AT A LIGHT ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. *TR

Mileage: 106,000

CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BREAKING LOOSE CAUSING CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT TO BE STUCK IN CURRENT POSITION. THIS IS A RISK I AM MONITORING DAILY ON MY CAR FOR WHEN THE EVENT FAILS UNTIL EITHER A: I HAVE MONEY TO WELD THE WEAK SPOTWELD TO PREVENT FAILURE. B. MAZDA ADMINISTERS A RECALL TO REPLACE FAULTY PIECE WITH A STABLE PART. MY CONCERN THOUGH BEING PART OF THE RX8FORUM MAKES IT LOOK LIKE IT'S AN EXPONENTIAL ISSUE. IN OPPOSITE RETROSPECT, THIS COULD BE A MORE BROADER ISSUE OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF RX-8 SOLDS THAT JUST HASN'T HAD A FATALITY YET. THE FAILING PART CAN BE FORCED TO FAILURE I BELIEVE BY ADMINISTERING REPEATED USE REPLICATING DAILY WEAR. I DON'T LOOK FORWARD TO MY DAY THIS HAPPENS, HENCE I'M FILING THIS FORM REQUESTING INVESTIGATION FOR POTENTIAL RECALL.*TR

COMPLAINT IS TO MAZDA USA FOR THEIR WEAK CLUTCH PEDAL WELDS. I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY RX8 (2004) SINCE SEPTEMBER 2007 AND THE FIRST TIME IT SNAPPED WAS IN 2008 LATE SUMMER. I GOT IT REWELDED AT A LOCAL SHOP AND AFTER ABOUT 9 MONTHS THE BRACKET BROKE IN HALF, BROKE RIGHT THROUGH THE WELDS AND CRACKED THE METAL. SO I BOUGHT A NEW BRACKET AND AN AFTERMARKET REINFORCEMENT BRACKET FOR ABOUT 450$ WHICH SHOULD ALL BE COVERED BY MAZDA. *TR

Mileage: 62,080

CLUTCH PEDAL STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD OF MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8. EVERYTIME I SWITCHED GEARS IT SQUEAKED UNTIL IT SNAPPED AND CAR STALLED. CONSEQUENCE IS THAT I COULDN'T DRIVE MY CAR ANYMORE AND HAD TO TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY ACCORDING TO PAPERWORK. *TR

Mileage: 63,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CLUTCH PEDAL DETACHED FROM THE MOUNTS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE IN OR OUT OF GEAR AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000.

Mileage: 85,000

CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE WHILE SHIFTING GEARS ON FREEWAY. COULD BARELY GET CAR INTO AND OUT OF GEAR TO REMOVE CAR FROM TRAFFIC AND SAFELY IN PARKING LOT. *TR

Mileage: 71,300

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY AS I SHIFTED GEARS THE BRACKET KEEPING MY CLUTCH PEDAL TOGETHER BROKE...HAD TO DRIVE REALLY SLOW BECAUSE DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL CAUSES IT TO ALMOST GO INTO THE BRAKE PEDAL...PEDAL KEEPS SHIFTING TO THE RIGHT...THERE SEEMS TO ME A DESIGN FLAW AS MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REPORTING THIS AND ON THE RX8CLUB.COM WEBSITE...THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED BECAUSE IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY...AND IT SEEMS LIKE MAZDA IS NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, HAVING PEOPLE PAY ALMOST 400 OR MORE TO REPLACE AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW...PICTURES OF THE BROKEN BRACKET HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY MY MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE...PLEASE CONTACT MAZDA AND HAVE THEM ISSUE A RECALL OF SOME SORT...HOPEFULLY THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT...BECAUSE I KNOW I ALMOST DID , BUT WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GAIN CONTROL.. *TR

ONLY A PARTIAL FAILURE OCCURRED, BUT HAD I NOT TAKEN PREVENTIVE MEASURES, A FULL FAILURE WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE OCCURRED. NOTICED BIZARRE SQUEAKING FROM CLUTCH PEDAL UNDER NORMAL USE. REMOVED PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND NOTICED METAL HAD TORN HALFWAY THROUGH ON BRACKET. HAD USE CONTINUED, METAL WOULD HAVE TORN COMPLETELY THROUGH, RENDERING THE CLUTCH PEDAL USELESS WITHOUT REPAIR. HAD A FULL FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A CAR ACCIDENT, ENDANGERING LIFE AND PROPERTY. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, I HAD THE CLUTCH BRACKET SEAM-WELDED IN THE EXISTING PROBLEM AREA AND IN ALL POTENTIAL PROBLEM AREAS. *TR

Mileage: 39,500

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 THE CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED AND WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WOULDN'T COME BACK UP. I WAS NOT ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BUT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY AND TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. AFTER INSPECTING THE CLUTCH PEDAL I DETERMINED THAT A WELD JOINT ON THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE CLUTCH PEDAL COMPLETE BROKE OFF. CLEARLY THIS IS THE RESULT OF POOR DESIGN, POOR WELDS AND POOR METAL THICKNESS. MAZDA CLAIMS THIS PART IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY SO I PROCEEDED TO REMOVE THE BRACKET AND REPAIR THE WELDS MYSELF. FROM WHAT I'VE READ ON THE FORUMS THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AND I WOULD THINK IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS. MAZDA WANTS OVER $500 TO MAKE THE REPAIR WHICH IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

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

THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE WHILE DRIVING, RENDERING ME UNABLE TO SHIFT I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE CAR, BUT ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

DURING NORMAL DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CLUTCH BRACKET OF MY MAZDA RX-8 SNAPPED DURING SHIFTING AND THE CLUTCH BECAME INOPERABLE. THIS MADE CHANGING GEARS IMPOSSIBLE AND CAUSED A SERIOUS HAZARD. APPARENTLY, THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS THE USAGE OF WEAK MATERIALS AND POOR QUALITY SPOT WELDS. UPON SOME INVESTIGATION, IT TURNS OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION THREAD SHOWS: HTTP://WWW.RX8CLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=132912 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE CLUTCH BRACKET WAS REPLACED. IT IS APPARENTLY ALSO POSSIBLE TO WELD THE BROKEN PARTS OR TO INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. I DID NOT KEEP THE BROKEN (REPLACED) BRACKET, SO THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

Mileage: 14,300

CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET WELD BROKE OFF, WHEN DRIVING. UNABLE TO SHIFT IN OR OUT OF GEARS AND CAR NEEDS TO BE TOW. *TR

Mileage: 77,000

CLUTCH BRACKET BREAKS OFF WHILE SWITCHING GEARS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY @ 60 MPH HAPPENS TO A LOT OF MAZDA RX8S 2004-2008. *TR

Mileage: 69,600

ONE NIGHT WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK I TRIED TO REVERSE OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AND MY CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. AFTER TRYING OVER AND OVER THE CLUTCH FINALLY ENGAGED AND I WAS ABLE TO BACK OUT. A FEW BLOCKS LATER I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT TRYING TO GET THE CAR INTO FIRST GEAR AND SAME THING HAPPENED. I FINALLY GOT HOME AND TOOK A LOOK UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SIDE DASH AND LOOKED UP TO SEE ONE OF THE WELDS ON THE CLUTCH PLATE HOLDING THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN PLACE HAD BROKEN. I AM WAITING TO SEE IF A FRIEND WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL WELDER CAN RE-WELD IT BECAUSE THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE I LIVE DOES NOT WELD ANYTHING AND WILL ONLY REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT, WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME SOMEWHAT LOOSE AND START MAKING LOUD SQUEAKING NOISES ON MY MAZDA 2004 RX-8 6SP MANUAL WITH APPROX ~37K MILES. CLUTCH BRACKET ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN MARCH 2007. NOW AT 50K MILES I HAVE SIMILAR SYMPTOMS AGAIN! *TR

Mileage: 37,000

I HAVE BEEN READING ARTICLES ON THE RX8CLUB WEBSITE REGARDING CLUTCH PEDAL BREAKING. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO GET CLUTCH REPLACED AND ON THE WAY INTO REPAIR SHOP, CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, TO HAVE CLUTCH AND CLUTCH PEDAL REPAIRED. *TR

Mileage: 83,000

I WAS LUCKILY PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN AND PRESSED THE CLUTCH AND HEARD A LOUD SNAP. I THEN PUT IT IN FIRST GEAR, WENT TO SHIFT TO SECOND AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS GONE. I PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT AND FOUND THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS EXTREMELY ANGRY AFTERWARDS REALIZING HOW DANGEROUS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN. WHAT IF I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND COULD NOT FIND THE CLUTCH?? I AM ALSO UPSET THAT MAZDA TOLD ME THAT I YES ME! HAD TO PAY $470 TO GET THIS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN FIXED. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS EVER, NO MATTER HOW OLD A CAR IS THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN!!! I CANNOT AFFORD $470 TO FIX THINGS LIKE THIS THAT SHOULD NEVER BREAK. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER AS I HAVE FOUND ON RX8CLUB.COM THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS CAR!! UNACCEPTABLE!~ *TR

Mileage: 43,000

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

Mileage: 44,000

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.

Mileage: 37,700

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

Mileage: 50,100

CLUTCH PEDAL SUPPORT BRACKET FAILED. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

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

Mileage: 40,136

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

Mileage: 60,000

VEHICLE'S CLUTCH BRACKET ASSEMBLY BROKE AT TWO SEPARATE WELD POINTS MAKING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS, 07, I BEGAN NOTICING A VERY LOUD SQUEAK UPON DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. IN RESEARCHING THIS, IT APPEARS THAT THIS WAS SYMPTOMATIC OF THE FIRST WELD SPOT FAILING. I BEGAN NOTICING AN INABILITY TO PULL THE CAR OUT OF GEAR. THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT BUDGE, EVEN WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THIS PROBLEM WAS MOST SEVERE AT VEHICLE START UP. UPON STARTING THE CAR, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO ANY GEAR. TO MAKE THE CAR DRIVABLE, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE STARTED WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL DEPRESSED, AND THE CAR ALREADY IN 1ST GEAR (WITH THE VEHICLE OFF, IT WAS VERY SIMPLE TO GET THE CAR INTO ANY GEAR). I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER TWO DAYS AFTER THE PROBLEM BEGAN. THEY ADVISED ME THAT MY PROBLEM SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS DUE TO FAILURE IN THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. I HAD ADVISED THEM THAT I HAD READ ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH BRACKET, AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL ALIGNMENT. I QUESTIONED WHETHER I HAD TOO MUCH FREE PLAY, AND NOT ENOUGH CLUTCH STROKE. THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR THE DAY AND ADVISED ME BY PHONE THAT THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM WAS FULLY FUNCTIONAL. MY CLUTCH PEDAL ALIGNMENT WAS OFF AND THEY MADE ADJUSTMENTS. WITH REGARDS TO THE NOISE I WAS HEARING UPON DEPRESSING THE PEDAL, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. UPON RECEIVING MY CAR, ALL THE PROBLEMS APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN RESOLVED. THE NOISE WAS GONE, THE CAR WAS SHIFTING LIKE IT HAS SINCE OWNING THE CAR. A NIGHT LATER, LESS THAN 20 MILES LATER, UPON MAKING A SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, I HEARD A VERY LOUD SNAP AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL DISAPPEARED FROM BENEATH MY FOOT. THE CLUTCH BRACKET HAD SNAPPED (A BREAKAGE AT A SECOND WELD SPOT) AND NOW WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE CAR. THE CAR RETURNED TO HAVING THE SAME DIFFICULTIES WITH REGARDS TO SHIFTING. MAZDA WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR AS A SAFETY DEFECT, INSISTING THAT IT WAS DRIVING ABUSE AND NOT A DESIGN FLAW. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

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

Mileage: 67,127

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

Mileage: 43,545

2004. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

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

Mileage: 21,420

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

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

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

Mileage: 16,279

I OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX8. I HAVE 24,700+ MILES & NO PROBLEMS UNTIL NOW. 8 MONTHS AGO, I CAME TO MARIN, CA. TO WORK ON CONTRACT. AS THIS CONTRACT IS LONG TERM , I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION. 2 MONTHS LATER, I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE ODOR OF CLUTCH BURN, RARELY & WITH NO REASON. I WAS DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE, SO I MADE AN APPT. WITH MARIN MAZDA. THIS WAS WHEN I MET JOHN LAUSTER, MARIN MAZDA'S SVC. MGR. DURING MY 1ST VISIT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM, AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS OPERATING. 3 MONTHS LATER, I EXPERIENCED IT AGAIN AND BROUGHT IT IN. AGAIN, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. ON SEPT. 20 '05, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO SLIP A LITTLE, & WITHIN 20 MINUTES THE SLIPPAGE WAS TO THE POINT WHERE I COULDN'T DRIVE IT WITHOUT POSSIBLY DAMAGING THE TRANS. I CALLED MARIN SERVICE TO BRING IT IN, & TOWED TO THE DEALER. JOHN CALLED ME FRIDAY STATING THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE CLUTCH, BEARINGS, FLYWHEEL, & THAT MY TRANSMISSION WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, SO COST WOULD BE PASSED TO ME. $1300.00. HE PUT IN FOR APPEAL TO THE FACTORY REP FOR COVERAGE DUE TO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES & TOLD ME HE WOULD CALL ME BACK WITH THE DECISION. I CONTACTED MAZDA USA- I WENT THROUGH THE MOTIONS, THINKING THAT THEY WOULD COVER IT AS THE PROBLEM WAS OBVIOUS & RELATED TO A RECENT RECALL INVOLVING THERMAL DAMAGE. I GOT THE CALL FROM JOHN. HE STATED THE FACTORY REP CLAIMED IT AS "NORMAL WEAR" & MAZDA WOULD NOT COVER IT. I TOLD JOHN THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT UP 6 MONTHS AGO. HE STATED MAZDA HAD MADE ITS DECISION. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE- & WAS SHOCKED BY THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR EVENTS I FOUND WITH MAZDA PRODUCTS. ALL EXPERIENCED WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH INITIALLY- THE DEALER & MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS AN ITEM THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR, & PUSHED THE COST ON THE CONSUMER. I CALLED JOHN BACK. BUT HE WAS FIRM; MAZDA FACTORY REP'S DECISION WAS FINAL. *JB

Mileage: 247,000

I OWN A 2004 MAZDA RX8. I HAVE 24,700+ MILES & NO PROBLEMS UNTIL NOW. 8 MONTHS AGO, I CAME TO MARIN, CA. TO WORK ON CONTRACT. AS THIS CONTRACT IS LONG TERM , I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION. 2 MONTHS LATER, I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE ODOR OF CLUTCH BURN, RARELY & WITH NO REASON. I WAS DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE, SO I MADE AN APPT. WITH MARIN MAZDA. THIS WAS WHEN I MET JOHN LAUSTER, MARIN MAZDA'S SVC. MGR. DURING MY 1ST VISIT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM, AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS OPERATING. 3 MONTHS LATER, I EXPERIENCED IT AGAIN AND BROUGHT IT IN. AGAIN, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. ON SEPT. 20 '05, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO SLIP A LITTLE, & WITHIN 20 MINUTES THE SLIPPAGE WAS TO THE POINT WHERE I COULDN'T DRIVE IT WITHOUT POSSIBLY DAMAGING THE TRANS. I CALLED MARIN SERVICE TO BRING IT IN, & TOWED TO THE DEALER. JOHN CALLED ME FRIDAY STATING THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE CLUTCH, BEARINGS, FLYWHEEL, & THAT MY TRANSMISSION WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, SO COST WOULD BE PASSED TO ME. $1300.00. HE PUT IN FOR APPEAL TO THE FACTORY REP FOR COVERAGE DUE TO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES & TOLD ME HE WOULD CALL ME BACK WITH THE DECISION. I CONTACTED MAZDA USA- I WENT THROUGH THE MOTIONS, THINKING THAT THEY WOULD COVER IT AS THE PROBLEM WAS OBVIOUS & RELATED TO A RECENT RECALL INVOLVING THERMAL DAMAGE. I GOT THE CALL FROM JOHN. HE STATED THE FACTORY REP CLAIMED IT AS "NORMAL WEAR" & MAZDA WOULD NOT COVER IT. I TOLD JOHN THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT UP 6 MONTHS AGO. HE STATED MAZDA HAD MADE ITS DECISION. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE- & WAS SHOCKED BY THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR EVENTS I FOUND WITH MAZDA PRODUCTS. ALL EXPERIENCED WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH INITIALLY- THE DEALER & MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS AN ITEM THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR, & PUSHED THE COST ON THE CONSUMER. I CALLED JOHN BACK. BUT HE WAS FIRM; MAZDA FACTORY REP'S DECISION WAS FINAL. *JB

Mileage: 247,000

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A MAZDA RX8 6 SPEED (5/11/04). THIS CAR HAS HAD MORE PROBLEMS THAN I CAN EXPLAIN IN A SHORT MESSAGE. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IT WOULDN'T START ONE MORNING. I LATER GOT IT STARTED AND TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER. THEY DID A FLASH UPDATE ON MY PCM AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE AFTER THAT. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY TRANSMISSION. I WAS ON VACATION IN CARLISLE, AR WHEN THE CAR BROKE DOWN THE FIRST TIME (8/9/2004). MY CAR WAS TOWED IN TO NORTH POINT MAZDA IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK, THEN GOT TOWED TO CRAIN MAZDA IN LITTLE ROCK, WITHOUT EVEN INFORMING ME. AFTER REPLACING APPROXIMATELY 87 PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION, I GOT MY CAR BACK 40 DAYS LATER (9/18/2004). IMMEDIATELY AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE I KNEW IT WASNT RIGHT. IT WAS MAKING NOISES, WOULDNT SHIFT IN TO 2ND, 3RD OR REVERSE WITHOUT GRINDING. I TOOK MY CAR TO TOWN NORTH MAZDA IN RICHARDSON AS SOON AS I GOT A CHANCE (9/27/2004). I WAS TOLD "2ND AND 3RD GEARS ARE FRIED" AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH. AFTER REPLACING THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION I GOT THE CAR BACK 11 DAYS LATER (10/7/2004). I KNEW THE CAR STILL HAD A PROBLEM SO I SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE CAR TAKEN BACK IN ON 10/12/2004. I DROVE ABOUT 2 MILES FROM THE HOUSE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER WHEN IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THE CAR STILL TO THIS DAY REMAINS IN THE SHOP AGAIN. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS FOR 58 DAYS SINCE 8/9/2004. I GOT A CALL ON 10/20/04 FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT HAS MY CAR. THEY TOLD ME MAZDA DECLINES COVERAGE BECUASE OF NEGLECT OR ABUSE. I ABSOLUTELY "BABIED" THAT CAR BECAUSE I KNEW IT WASN'T RIGHT! ANY SUGGESTIONS?*AK

Mileage: 11,960

VEH. BEING OPERATED ON THE NJ TURNPIKE AT 65 MPH WHEN CLUTCH FAILED. TOWED TO DEALER AT OWN EXPENSE. DEALER STATED FAILURE DUE TO ABUSE, BECAUSE OF TIRE WEAR. ADVISED TWO DAYS LATER THAT STARTER CRACIKED AND BELL HOUSING HAD HOLE FROM CLUTCH BREAKING APART. FAILED TO WARRANTY, COST$2,700.00 PARTS IN MY POSSESSION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH FAILED. DEALER INDICATED THE CLUTCH WAS MISUSED. *NM