2004 MAZDA RX-8 Steering Problems

The electric power steering randomly pulls hard to one side while driving. There are brief spasms of forceful jerks each jerk is 1-2 seconds the series of jerks lasts 10-20 seconds and usually stops with power steering failure all while driving.

JULY 2017 WHEN I START THE CAR THE STEERING GEAR TURN TOO THE RIGHT ALL THE TIME. FEW MILE THE STEERING GET HARD AND START SHACKING BY IT SELF. NOW THE STEERING IS HARD WITH ABS AND CONTROL TRACTION LIGHT ON. I SEND IT TOO A MECANIC TOO CHECK THE WIRING AND RACK AND PINON AND THE MECANIC INDICATE THAT IS THE TORQUE SENSOR AND I HAVE TOO CHANGE THE RACK AND PINON.

STEERING TURN ALONE

Mileage: 15

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004, MAZDA RX8 THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MODULE FAILED, AND JERKED THE CAR AGGRESSIVELY TO THE LEFT INTO THE ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE FORCE WAS SO STRONG THAT IT CAUSED MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. FORTUNATELY, THERE WASN'T ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT THAT MOMENT ON THAT PARTICULAR STRETCH OF ROAD. WHEN REVIEWING THE MAZDA FORUM THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS THAT EXPERIENCED THE SAME LOSS OF CONTROL OR FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, MAZDA HAD POWER STEERING ASSIST RECALLS FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS, REF. MAZDA3/MAZDA5 POWER STEERING RECALL NOTIFICATION 6010H.

Mileage: 83,000

MY POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT FROM TIME TO TIME. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS DESIGN AND THE VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS.

Mileage: 127,000

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY,THE POWER STEERING OF THE VEHICLE FAILED SND 2 MADE IT EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER. I'VE HEARD OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT MAZDA HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT

Mileage: 152,500

ELECTRIC-ASSIST POWER STEERING, RANDOMLY IN THE PARKING LOT THE WHEEL WILL TURN ALL BY ITSELF, ONE WAY TURNS EASIER THAN THE OTHER, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE NO POWER STEERING AND OTHER TIMES YOUR STEERING WHEEL TURNS LIKE BUTTER, I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH A VERY WINDY AND DANGEROUS ROADS, I'VE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS FINALLY ONE MECHANIC JUST UNPLUG THE WIRING HARNESS SO THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. IT IS VERY SCARY TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY WITH A NEWBORN BABY. THERE ARE A LOT OF CARS ON THE ROAD WITH THIS ISSUE I KNOW 10 DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT HAVE SOME SORT OF POWER STEERING ISSUE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I'M SURPRISED THERE IS NOT A RECALL YET ON IT. I'VE HAD TWO FRIENDS THAT ARE CLOSE TO ME THAT HAVE THIS ISSUE AS WELL, ONE FRIEND WRECKED HIS CAR THE OTHER FRIEND SOLD IT I BELIEVE TO PICK-N-PULL SO IT WOULD NOT HURT ANYONE, PLEASE HELP AND MAYBE HELP SAVE A FEW LIVES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH YOU

Mileage: 81,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO THE RACK AND PINION OR AN ELECTRICAL FAULT WITH THE POWER STEERING. THE ELECTRIC CONNECTOR WAS REMOVED, CLEANED, DIELECTRIC GREASE WAS ADDED TO THE CONNECTOR, AND THE CONNECTOR WAS RE-INSTALLED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. KELLY MAZDA (1200 WYOMING AVE, SCRANTON, PA 18509, (570) 342-7831) WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 100,000

STEERING WHEEL VIOLENTLY SHAKES UPON TURNING AND NOW ON STRAIGHT-AWAY DRIVING. HAS BEEN SMELLING OF EXCESSIVE GAS FOR OVER 4 YEARS UPON START UP, DESPITE DEALER CORRECTING RECALL ISSUE WITH FUEL PUMP DISCHARGE PIPE.

Mileage: 138,000

MY POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED MY CAR. TOO HARD TO STEER MY CAR WHEN I DRIVE.

THE COOLANT OVERFLOW HOSE IS ABOVE POWER STEERING HARNESS. THE FLUID LEAKS ON THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING HARNESS CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTINUITY AND GROUND,CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT START UP AND WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS FAULTY ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING UNIT AND POWER STEERING MODULE WILL RESULT IN INJURY AND OR DEATH.

Mileage: 137,000

ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2016 I HAD STOPPED TO VACUUM OUT MY CAR AT A CAR WASH ON HIGHWAY 11 IN ATTALLA, AL. UPON LEAVING THE CAR WASH I TURNED LEFT ONTO PLEASANT VALLEY RD AT A SLOW SPEED IN FIRST GEAR. AS I WAS TURNING I SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR I HEAR A BREAKING NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL ABRUPTLY SPUN TO THE LEFT AS THE CAR WENT IN A DEEP DITCH FLIPPING ONTO ITS ROOF, THEN HITTING A SMALL CULVERT AND LANDING ON IT'S SIDE. AS I WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED, THE PASSENGER LOWER CONTROL HAD BROKEN AND THE BALL JOINT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CONTROL ARM.

Mileage: 100,051

MY POWER STEERING GOES IN AND OUT AS IT PLEASES; ONLY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO AND CUTS UP WHEN DRIVING AND HAD TO TURN OFF CAR TO MAKE IT WORK TO ONLY MAKE IT REPEAT AGAIN. DOES THIS ONLY WHEN DRIVING. AND NOT SAFE FOR ANYBODY WHO IS DEALING WITH THE NO POWERSTEERING ISSUES OR HAVE STEERING BUT WITH MANY FAULTS THAT CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS/DEATH MAZDA FIXED OTHERS BY WIRE TAPPING ALL DELETING THE POWERSTEERING CONNECTIONS. BUT ONLY HAVING THE ISSUE LATER DOWN THE ROAD THEY DID THIS AROUND FEBRUARY/MARCH OF LAST YEAR AND HAD IN AND OUT POWERSTEERING AFTER 3 MONTH OF THEIR REPAIR.

Mileage: 2,300

SYNOPSIS: POWER STEERING GOING CRAZY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. STARTING APPROX 2 YEARS AGO, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SHUDDER, OR JERK BACK AND FORTH, WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL (SOMEWHAT SHARPLY), FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER THE CAR WAS STARTED. THIS HAPPENED EXCLUSIVELY IN COLD WEATHER, AND AT LOW SPEEDS. ONCE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE BEHAVIOR WOULD CEASE. THE COLDER THE WEATHER, THE STRONGER THE JERKING (IT SEEMS). HOWEVER, A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE STEERING EXHIBITING THE "NORMAL" AMOUNT OF SHUDDER, AND THEN STOPPED AS USUAL. BUT A FEW MINUTES LATER WHEN I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY (AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS), IN RELATIVELY STRAIGHT LINE, THE STEERING SUDDENLY BEGAN VIOLENTLY JERKING BACK AND FORTH. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS WAS DISCONCERTING. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR USING BOTH HANDS (I AM A STRONG ATHLETIC MALE). THE EVENT LASTED ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS BEHAVIOR WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT A FEW YEARS AGO, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT THE SHUDDERING BEHAVIOR AT STARTUP. ONE SUCH THREAD (THERE ARE MANY) IS HERE: HTTPS://WWW.RX8CLUB.COM/SERIES-I-TROUBLE-SHOOTING-95/STEERING-WHEEL-SHAKES-MORNINGS-219210/ AND A VIDEO SHOWING THE BEHAVIOR IS HERE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=8XZSRXWTH8S&FEATURE=YOUTU.BE&T=1S ALL OF THE REPORTS INDICATE IT HAPPENS IN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES OF OPERATION, THEN THE STEERING IS FINE. SO I WAS NOT OVERLY CONCERNED. BUT THIS LAST EPISODE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WAS VERY SCARY, AND I THINK WARRANTS IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION. THANKS, RICK

Mileage: 85,000

MY ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING HAS BEEN ACTING LIKE IT IS SHORTING OUT. IT STARTED OFF AS SOMETHING THAT FELT WEIRD BUT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. AS I WOULD TURN AROUND A CORNER THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD FEEL LIKE IT WAS BOUNCING BACK OR FIGHTING BACK, YOU COULD FORCE IT PAST THE JOLTING BUT IT WOULD MAKE CORNING VERY AWKWARD AND CONCERNING. AT FIRST IT WOULD HAPPEN MAYBE EVERY FEW TIMES I DROVE BUT IT GOT MORE AND MORE TO EVERY TIME I DROVE THE CAR. I EVENTUALLY JUST UNPLUGGED THE POWER STEERING AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITHOUT IT SINCE.

Mileage: 108,000

"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

THERE HAS BEEN COUNTLESS TIMES WHERE I AM DRIVING AND MY STEERING JUST WANTS TO FAIL. OK SO NOW IT FAILS AND SOMETIMES, WITHOUT WARNING, JERKS MY WHEEL ONE DIRECTION. IF I AM NOT PAYING ATTENTION I COULD EASILY SIDESWIP ANOTHER CAR. IT HAS DONE IT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND I HAVE HIT THE CENTER MEDIUM BENDING MY RIM AND DESTROYING MY TIRE. I HAVE BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN NEVER GET IT WITH THE LIGHT ON. I HAVE PAID FOR TWO DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOS THE ISSUE. THE ONE TIME I GOT IT IN THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE THE LIGHT BUT ONCE THEY PLUGGED THEIR STUFF IN IT DISAPPEARED. THEY THEN SAID THE TERMINALS JUST NEEDED TO GET CLEANED CHARGING ME FOR THAT AND LESS THEN 1 DAY LATER THE ISSUE WAS BACK. SOMETIMES IT ALSO DOES JUST FAIL WHEN SITTING STATIONARY AS WELL AND THE WHEEL JUST STARTS TURNING ITSELF AND EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT COMES ON. PLEASE HELP IN FIXING THIS ISSUE.

Mileage: 124,000

I HAVE HAD MY ELECTRONICALY ASSISTED STEERING GO OUT ON ME AND POSE A SERIOUS RISK TO ME AND OTHERS WHILE I DRIVE. THIS WAS 1ST NOTICED WITH A SLIGHT SHUTTER OR KICKBACK WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, WHILE I DID NOTIFY THE DEALERSHIP; THEY TOLD ME THAT UNLESS THERE WAS A CODE THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. THIS WAS AFTER IT WAS ALREADY REPLACED WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED ONE. WHEN I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE TOW GUY EVEN STATED TO THE DEALER THAT THE STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON. BUT WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED AT THE DEALER THE LIGHT WAS NOT ON. I'VE HAD TO DRIVE THIS WAY FOR A WHILE NOW AND IT HAS BECOME WORSE TO WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND IS HARD TO TURN, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE 80% OF THE TIME I DRIVE.

Mileage: 140,000

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING HAS A CONNECTION DIRECTLY UNDER THE COOLANT OVERFLOW. COOLANT CAUSES THE CONNECTION TO GO BAD, ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS MY POWER STEERING WOULD COMPLETELY CUT OUT. ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE IN AN ACCIDEN. AND FROM WHAT I READ ONLINE IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. I DO BELIEVE THIS TO BE A HUGE SAFETY RISK.

Mileage: 90,000

TAKATA RECALL AFTER COMPLETING THE "INTERIM REPAIR" THE CARS POWER STEERING WILL INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING, OR PULL TO THE RIGHT ELECTRONICALLY AND FORCEFULLY WITH NO NOTICE, THIS IS A SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS, IN ADDITION TO THE CAR PULLING HARD RIGHT WITHOUT NOTICE, SOMETIMES WHILE CORRECTING FOR THE PULL THE POWER STEERING COMES ON WITHOUT NOTICE FORCING THE STEERING CORRECTION TO SWERVE LEFT. ALSO THE ABS AND TCL LIGHTS TURN ON AN OFF INTERMITTENTLY SINCE THE 'INTERIM REPAIR' . THE POWER-STEERING WILL GO IN AND OUT WHILE STOPPED, IN MOTION IN EITHER CITY OR HIGHWAY, AND WHILE GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE OR WHILE TURNING. ' THIS IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE

Mileage: 120,000

THIS INVOLVES THE ELECTRICALLY ASSISTED STEERING. WHILE HAVING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT COVERED THE PART THE DEALER KEPT SAYING THAT THERE WASN'T AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING, EVEN AFTER I HAD SHOWED THEM HOW TO MANUALLY DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE; AND THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE PAYING FOR IT BUT THE WARRANTY WOULD. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT KEEPS GETTING WORSE THE STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON AND THE ISSUE IS CONSTANT. WHETHER AT A STAND STILL, DRIVING, OR TURNING. THE WHEEL LITERALLY LOCKS UP AND REQUIRES YOU TO USE FORCE TO BRAKE IT FREE, WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY COUNTER ACT THE EXTREME BREAKING FORCE (ROTATIONAL) THAT YOU APPLIED SO YOU DON'T SIDE SWIPE ANOTHER CAR. (THIS IS NOT JUST FROM THE ELECTRICAL ASSIST NOT WORKING BUT THE RACK ITSELF) WHEN YOU DO COUNTER THE FORCE, NOW YOUR GOING THE OTHER WAY DEPENDING ON THE ORIGINAL FORCE. THIS CAN AND MAKES IT SEEM TO YOU AND OTHERS THAT YOU SNAPPING THE CAR, EXTREMELY QUICKLY IN YOUR LANE FOR NO REASON. BUT ALSO DUE TO THE FORCE AND SPEED MAKES THE CAR WANT TO BREAK TRACTION AND SPIN OUT. ANOTHER INSTANCE IS WHERE YOU HAVE LITTLE (STILL MANUAL) FORCE ON THE WHEEL AND THEN THE TEETH OF THE GEAR SEEM TO JUMP OR BOUNCE FROM 1 TO THE OTHER WHICH LEADS TO A QUICK SWAYING OF THE CAR NOT QUITE SNAPPING. AND FINALLY NOW AND RECENTLY THE ELECTRICAL ASSIST SEEMS TO BE KICKING IN AND ADDING MORE TURN TO THE WHEEL. SO WHEN YOU THINK YOU'VE FIXED THE SWAYING FORCES THE ELECTRICAL ASSIST ADDS MORE FORCE AND IT THROWS YOU OFF ON HOW MUCH OR LESS FORCE YOU HAVE TO USE SO THAT YOU DON'T TAKE OUT ANOTHER VEHICLE THESE KINDS OF THINGS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AND NEED TO BE FIXED, SO THAT NO ONE GETS HURT. I HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE INSTANCES NOT HITTING PPLS ALSO I AM UNABLE TO GET MY STATE INSPECTION OR A PROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE VEHICLE SO THIS IS PUTTING WEAR ON MY TIRES AND I AM UNABLE TO SELL THE VEHICLE

Mileage: 147,000

ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

Mileage: 105,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY TURNED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL WAS CURVED AND FRACTURED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 95,000

FOR SOME REASON THE POWER STEERING START WORKING INTERMITTENT, NOW IT IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. MAY CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE HARD TO MANIPULATE. MY LIFE IS IN DANGER. *TR

Mileage: 29,300

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT THEN WENT OUT. *TR

Mileage: 91,000

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND WHEN I WANTED TO TAKE MY EXIT I NOTICED THAT MY POWER STEERING (ASSISTED STEERING) GAVE OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PRECONDITION THAT IT WAS FAILING. THE STEERING WAS REALLY HEAVY AND ALMOST MADE ME CRASH INTO A DIVIDER, WHICH REALLY SCARED ME. I THEN HAD TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY HOME WITH OUT ANY POWER STEERING. I HAVE THUS SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS AT THE MECHANIC SO THEY CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE COMPUTER MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE POWER STEERING AND IT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC DIRECTED ME HERE TO FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE THEY SAID IT IS A COMMON FAULT IN THIS CAR AND SHOULD BE BROUGHT UP TO MAZDA'S ATTENTION. *TR

Mileage: 128,000

CAR TURNS LEFT WAY TOO EASY. ALSO CAR WILL PULL LEFT REALLY HARD AND JERK OUT OF MY HANDS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR

Mileage: 70,093

IN EARLY 2012 I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHUDDER AS I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. AFTER A THE INITIAL WHEEL TURN THE PROBLEM WOULD DISAPPEAR UNTIL THE NEXT DAY, OR WEEK. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE TO THE POINT THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED ALL TOGETHER FOR 3 MONTHS IN LATE 2013. INEXPLICABLY THE POWER STEERING RETURNED IN EARLY 2014, BUT IF THE TEMPERATURE WAS COLD THE STEERING WAS VERY HEAVY FOR A FEW DEGREES OF TURNING AND THEN THE CAR WOULD SENSE I HAD TURNED THE WHEEL A FEW DEGREES AND WOULD THEN ASSIST TOO MUCH AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK IN THAT DIRECTION. AS THE YEAR PROGRESSED THE PROBLEM CHANGED TO A CONSTANT SHAKE BACK AND FORTH WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE WOULD HAPPEN AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 0-10MPH AND ONLY WHEN EITHER INITIATING A TURN OR WHILE UNWINDING THE WHEEL FROM A TURN. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, AS THE TEMPERATURE HAS FALLEN AGAIN, WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT AND ENTERING A GRADUAL CURVE IN THE ROAD (TRAVELLING AT ANY SPEED) THE WHEEL WILL NOT GIVE POWER STEERING ASSIST AND THE WHEEL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN (COMPARED TO IF POWER ASSIST WAS WORKING CORRECTLY) AND THEN AFTER A COUPLE OF DEGREES THE ASSIST WILL JUMP IN AND THE CAR QUICKLY OVER CORRECTS AND VEHICLE VEERS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE STEER NECESSITATING IMMEDIATE CORRECTION IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THERE APPEAR TO BE MANY COMPLAINTS FROM A LOYAL MAZDA FAN BASE ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE, AND HOW SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE FROM MAZDA. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO EXACT FIX ISSUED, NOT EVEN A SERVICE BULLETIN.

Mileage: 95,000

I TYPICALLY DRIVE MY RX8 LIKE IT SHOULD, ONE DAY I COME HOME PARK MY CAR PER USUAL. NEXT MORNING I GO TO TURN ON MY CAR, THE DSC LIGHT STAYED ON, THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT, THEN ON MY WAY TO WORK, I WAS DRIVING CAUSALLY, THEN WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, MY STEERING BECAME VERY HEAVY AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN, MY POWER STEERING HAD WENT OUT. AFTER DEALING WITH ABOUT 2 FULL DAYS AT THE DEALERSHIP, SPENDING THOUSANDS, STILL NO POWER STEERING, AND I'M NOT CREDITED ANY PORTION OF WHAT I PAID TO GET FIXED AND ITS STILL NOT FIXED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND A RECALL MUST BE DONE IMMEDIATELY BEFORE PEOPLE SERIOUSLY GET INJURED, INJURE OTHERS, OR EVEN DIE. THIS IS ALL POSSIBLE, IF I DIDN'T HAVE BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL, AN ACCIDENT MOST DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

ABOUT A MONTH AGO, MY POWER STEERING MOTOR ON MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 WENT OUT (APPARENTLY IT HAS NO PUMP, IT'S ALL ELECTRICAL). IT GOES IN AND OUT WHEN I CRANK IT UP AT DIFFERENT TIMES, MOSTLY OUT MORE THAN IN, BUT ANYWAY, IT GOT TO WHERE IT DID IT ALL THE TIME. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND BEFORE HE COULD FIX IT, THE STARTER WENT OUT, AND IT WOULDN'T EVEN CRANK! SO WE REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE POWER STEERING, AND THE NIGHT I PICKED IT UP THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ON AND STILL DIDN'T WORK, EVEN WITH A NEW POWER STEERING MOTOR! IT GOES IN AND OUT, SO IT MUST HAVE WORKED WITH MY MECHANIC. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS MAZDA? EVERYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG ON THIS CAR DOES. MAZDA DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO MAKE THEIR CARS. THIS MODEL HAS ABOUT FIVE RECALLS AS IT IS, WHY IS THE POWER STEERING NOT ONE OF THESE? AT THE DEALERSHIP, A NEW MOTOR IS $1800 DOLLARS. AT THAT AMOUNT, THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL CONSIDERING IT TO BE SUCH A SMALL PROBLEM WITH SUCH AN EXPENSIVE PART THAT CAN BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE ON ALL OF THE RX-8 FORUMS THAT I'VE READ, THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. THIS COULD GET SOMEBODY KILLED, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE HAVE MAZDA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. ALSO, ON THE FORUMS THE STARTER IS A 2004 RX-8-WIDE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 100,074

STEERING TORQUE SENSOR THAT SOMETIMES FAILS TO PROPERLY REGISTER DRIVER STEERING INPUT, CAUSING THE SYSTEM TO REMOVE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) ASSISTANCE. *TR

Mileage: 6,500

POWER STEERING WAS LOST MID-TURN, HAD TO WRESTLE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE TURN. FORUM SEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT MANY OTHER RX-8 OWNERS ARE HAVING STEERING ISSUES AND INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING LOSS. IN THE WORST OCCURRENCES, THE WHEEL BECOMES LOCKED TO ONE SIDE. USER-BASE HAS RESEARCHED AND FOUND SENSOR ISSUES THAT MAZDA MAY WANT TO ADDRESS. *TR

Mileage: 102,000

ELECTRICALLY ASSISTED POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL IT NO LONGER WORKS AT ALL. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I FOUND THIS FACT BY JOINING THE RX8 CLUB WEBSITE. MULTIPLE OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS OBVIOUS THAT IT IS CAUSED BY POORLY ENGINEERED/MANUFACTURED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS. SOME OWNERS HAVE GONE AS FAR AS REPLACING THE WIRE HARNESS ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RECUR. MAKING THE PROBLEM WORSE IS THAT THE MAZDA WEBSITE HAS NO MECHANISM TO REPORT THE PROBLEM TO THE MANUFACTURER. CURRENTLY THE ONLY TIME THE POWER STEERING IF FUNCTIONAL IS ONLY FOR SHORT PERIODS AFTER THE CARE HAS BEEN THROUGH A CAR WASH AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE HAS BECOME WET, AND THEN IT IS ONLY FUNCTIONAL UNTIL THE UNDERCARRIAGE DRIES OUT. *JS

Mileage: 45,000

THE ELECTRICAL ASSIST POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. SOMETIME, WHEN STARTING THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING WORKS FINE. OTHER TIMES, IT WILL NOT WORK. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

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

POWER STEERING FAILED AND HAS MANY TIMES CAUSE ME COMING CLOSE IN HITTING THE CAR NEXT TO ME WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN BY ITSELF IN A FULL 360. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO OPEN MY HOOD AND SHAKE TO HARNESS WIRE. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED A LONG TIME AGO. *TR

Mileage: 84,000

WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO "STICK" OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW DAYS, STEERING WENT FROM WORKING TO NOT WORKING AT ALL. STEERING MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND HASN'T GONE OFF SINCE. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (ALTHOUGH IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE EPS MODULE AND TO REPLACE IT WOULD BE ~$1100. PURCHASED THE MODULE AND THAT WASN'T THE ISSUE THEY REALIZED. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM AT A COST OF $4000! WHAT A JOKE. WHY SHOULD I PAY ANYTHING FOR AN OBVIOUS DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY. I'VE READ TOO MANY POSTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND MAZDA IS TURNING A DEAF EAR. THIS COMPANY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR EVEN ALLOWING SUCH AN ISSUE TO LEAVE THE FACTORY, BUT EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT, YOU SHOULD BE IMMEDIATE TO CORRECT IT, BUT YOU AREN'T. I GUESS THAT IT WILL TAKE FOR SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I TAKE A CHANCE ON DRIVING MY CAR ALONG THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE WHEN I COME TO A CURVE, THE STEERING CAN FREEZE AND I HAVE TO WRESTLE THE CAR AROUND THE TURN. A DANGEROUS SITUATION. MAZDA, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS OBVIOUS FLAW IN THIS VEHICLE, AMONGST MANY OTHER FLAWS. AN ISSUE WITH STEERING SHOULD BE A NON-ISSUE. ARE YOU SERIOUS MAZDA? A LOT OF OWNERS CAN'T EVEN STEER THEIR VEHICLE WITHOUT CREATING A SWEAT. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED IN YOUR SEEMINGLY LACK OF CONCERN WITH THIS MATTER. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

POWER STEERING FAILS DUE TO FAULTY POWER STEERING HARNESS CONNECTIONS. THIS FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 65 MPH. (VERY DANGEROUS). THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH RX-8 OWNERS. POWER STEERING CONNECTORS ARE SITUATED DIRECTLY UNDER COOLANT FLUID RESERVOIR TANK OVERFLOW HOSE. IF COOLANT LEAKS ON THESE CONNECTORS IT FOULS THE CONNECTION RESULTING IN POWER STEERING LOSS. INSUFFICIENT SOLDERING OF THESE CONNECTORS TO THE CONNECTION HOUSING BY THE MANUFACTURER IS ALSO TO BLAME. THIS HARNESS HAS BEEN REVISED 3 TIMES BY MAZDA IN HOPES OF CORRECTING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTIONING PART. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SENT TO ALL MAZDA OWNERS TO HAVE THE FAULTY POWER STEERING HARNESS F151-67-SHOB AND F151-67-SHOC REPLACED WITH THE MOST RECENT REVISED PART F151-67-SHOD FREE OF CHARGE AND COST OF LABOR. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

DRIVER CAME UPON A DEER AND SLAMMED THE BRAKES, MISSING THE DEER. WHILE SLAMMING THE BRAKES THE FRONT END COLLAPSED UPON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAUSING SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE AND MAKING THE CAR INOPERABLE. THE FRONT END REQUIRED NEW LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM, STABILIZER BAR CONTROL LINK, NEW SHOCK/STRUT ASSEMBLY, NEW TIE RODS (INNER AND OUTER), NEW SWAY BAR LINK AND 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE ORIGINAL CAUSE OF THIS DAMAGE WAS A CRACK IN THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS THE SUBJECT OF RECALL # 36261. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL. UPON TALKING WITH MAZDA ([XXX]... FILE #[XXX]) ON MAY 14, 2013 I WAS INFORMED THAT WHILE THIS RECALL DID AFFECT OTHER RX8'S OF THE SAME YEAR, MY RX8 WAS NOT COVERED. I BELIEVE MY RX8 SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF RECALL #36261. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 98,065

POWER STEERING JERKS AND SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO WHILE SETTING STILL STEERING WHEEL DID A COMPLETE 360. *TR

Mileage: 84,000

LOST POWER STEERING. CAR WOULD STILL TURN WITH HEAVY EFFORT. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO ELECTRONIC ASSIST. *TR

Mileage: 69,850

POWER STEERING FAILED. THIS MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER VEHICLE, MAKING DRIVING DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

POWERS STEERING FAILED. *TR

Mileage: 129,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD SEIZE AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO VEER ABNORMALLY TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO MOVE OFF THE ROADWAY AND RESET THE POWER STEERING ASSIST THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE BATTERY TERMINAL HAD FAILED. AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY TERMINAL, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY THEN ADVISED THAT THEY WERE INSPECTING THE WIRING HARNESS BEING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,500.... UPDATED 12/14/12 *BF UPDATED 12/19/2012 *JS

Mileage: 92,000

I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALER FOR MY RX8'S POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. WHEN IT SHUT OFF TWICE OF THE MANY TIMES, IT PULLED MY CAR TO THE HARD RIGHT AND I ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE OF IT. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME THE FIRST TIME TO REPLACE THE BATTERY TERMINAL BECAUSE IT WAS LOOSING POWER TO THE STEERING UNIT. THEN MULTIPLE TIMES LATER, HUNDREDS MORE, THEY SAID THAT REPAIRING THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTORS WAS RECOMMENDED BY THEIR TECH LINE AND THEY SAID THAT MAY NOT BE THE LAST THING NEEDED. FIRST OF ALL, THE DEALERSHIP, HERITAGE MAZDA OF LUTHERVILLE, MD, SEEM TO BE WORKING HARD ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS TRULY IS A TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUE AND ITS COSTING ME HUNDREDS IN A SHOT IN THE DARK TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY MATTER, EVEN MIKE WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADDED THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. ON THE RX8 CLUB WEBSITE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME POWER STEERING FAILURE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 92,000

VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND IT IS HARD TO TURN RIGHT, SOMETIMES THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SHAKE REPEATEDLY AND SHAKE AND TURN LEFT BY ITSELF. I REPLACED THE STEERING HARNESS WITH A NEW ONE BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING FAIL TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE STEERING COLUMN WIRE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 09/26/12 *LJ UPDATED 09/27/2012 *JS

Mileage: 52,000

I JUMPED INTO MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 AFTER WORK STARTED IT UP AND WENT TO DRIVE AND NOTICED IT WAS REALLY HARD TO TURN AND I LOOKED AND NOTICED THAT A LIGHT THAT WAS A STEERING WHEEL WITH AN EXCLAMATION MARK NEXT TO IT SO I DROVE IT HOME NOT EVEN A MILE AWAY AND READ ABOUT IT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT IT HAPPENS A LOT. PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER VERY VERY SOON. *TR

Mileage: 110,589

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET INDICATES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR MAZDA YET THERE ARE NO RECALLS TO FIX FAULTY ENGINEERING. THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW LEAKS ONTO THE CONNECTORS FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING CAUSING CORROSION AND SPORADIC CONNECTIONS. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE CROSSED THE CENTER LANE CRASHING INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT CAUSING THAT VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE AIR BAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT DEPLOY AS THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED A CRUSHED PELVIS, TAIL BONE SHATTERED, AND THEIR URETHRA WAS SEVERED IN HALF. THE CONTACT STATED THE SIDE AIR BAG DID VERY LITTLE TO PROTECT THE DRIVER. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF A POLICE REPORT BEING FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE PRECEDING THE CONTACT. THE PRECEDING VEHICLE THEN SPUN INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DETACHED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES AND SUFFERED A CRUSHED PELVIS, SHATTERED TAIL BONE AND A SEVERED URETHRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID VERY LITTLE TO PROTECT THE DRIVER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

ON APRIL 3,2012 AT 10PM IN BUFFALO NY. I WAS DRIVING MY 04 RX8 AROUND A BEND AT 35MPH. I EXPERIENCED A JERK/TWITCH IN THE POWER STEERING. THE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON INSTANTLY I LOST THE STEERING SENDING ME INTO THE FRONT OF A STEEL DIVIDER OF A TRAIN BRIDGE. I WAS TAKEN TO ECMC BY AMBULANCE. I LUCKILY ONLY SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES TO MY BACK NECK RIBS HEAD AND SHOULDER. I AM NOT ONE TO SUE NOR AM I'M GOING TO PURSUE ANY LEGAL ACTION AGAINST MAZDA. I WILL SAY MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY MY CAR WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED $10,000 IN DAMAGE. I JUST THOUGHT ANYONE LOOKING TO BUY AN RX8 SHOULD READ ON NUMEROUS SITES THAT THIS MALFUNCTION IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM THAT MAZDA IS AWARE ABOUT BUT STILL DOES NOT WISH TO POST A TSB OR A RECALL. LOVE THE CAR BUT HAVE LOST FAITH IN MAZDA. SINCERELY UNHAPPY OWNER. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE EXITING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,100.

Mileage: 71,000

CAR WOULD LOOSE ITS POWER STEERING, NEVER ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

Mileage: 89,000

LOSS OF POWER STEERING. RESTART ENGINE OK. HAPPENED TWICE AGAIN SINCE THEN, SAME SOLUTION. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

POWER STEERING WENT OUT. COMES & GOES?? *TR

Mileage: 80,000

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED. THE MAZDA DEALER SAID THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE, HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT GUARANTEE CHANGING THE PART ( $1600 DOLLARS PARTS AND LABOR ) WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN THESE CARS. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 2010. *TR

Mileage: 37,968

FIRST INDICATIONS, THE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT UPON STARTING. USED ANOTHER CAR THAT DAY. NEXT DAY, NO WARNING LIGHT, HOWEVER, ON THE WAY HOME, THE STEERING ABRUPTLY MADE A *FULL* TURN TO THE RIGHT VERY QUICKLY (GOING ABOUT 30MPH ON A DIRT ROAD). I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE IT RAN OFF THE ROAD - NO FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH. SINCE THEN THE FAILURE LIGHT HAS APPEARED IN INCREASING FREQUENCY TO THE POINT IT IS MOSTLY ON. WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON, THE STEERING IS ESSENTIALLY MANUAL, BUT WORKABLE. THE WORST CASE IS WHEN IT IS OFF, AND SUDDENLY GOES INTO A FAILURE MODE WITHOUT *ANY* INDICATION (I.E. THE WARNING LIGHT STAYS OFF). IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, EVEN WHEN AT A FULL STOP AND THE WHEEL TURNS BY ITSELF TO THE RIGHT. PRETTY DISCONCERTING. THE FULL SYMPTOM DESCRIPTION IS THAT IT BECOMES EXTREMELY EASY TO TURN CLOCKWISE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. I'D RATHER IT WAS IN FAILURE MODE AND HARD TO STEER THAN INDICATING EVERYTHING IS FINE AND THEN SUDDENLY DECIDE IT WANTS TO GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION - ALWAYS TO THE RIGHT IN MY CASE. REVIEWING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE MAKES IT SEEM LIKE A FLAW IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OR PROBABLY THE SELECTED PART(S) MAZDA USED, BUT WORSE EVEN, THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT FAILURE MODES, ONE MAKING IT HARD TO STEER, BUT AT LEAST CONSISTENT, AND THE OTHER MODE LEAVING THE DRIVER GUESSING AS TO WHAT DIRECTION THE CAR WILL TRAVEL AND WHEN IT MAY DECIDE TO DO THAT. I'M HAVING IT REPAIRED AND WILL RETAIN THE FAILED COMPONENTS. WHEN IT DOES INDICATE FAILURE IT REMAINS THAT WAY UNTIL THE ENGINE IS SHUT DOWN. WHEN IT INDICATES EVERYTHING IS FINE, IT MAY FAIL ANYTIME, BUT NEVER INDICATES FAILURE. I'M SUBMITTING THIS IN HOPES THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT YET EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST CASE FOR ME WAS ON A DIRT ROAD - IF IT WAS ON A HIGHWAY ... OUCH. *TT

Mileage: 110,000

AS I TURNED ON MY CAR ONE TIME, THE POWER STEERING JUST DIDN'T COME ON. I THEN SHUT IT OFF, AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WORKED. AFTER THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THE POWER STEERING CEASED TO TURN ON AT ALL. IT WASN'T AS IF THE MOTOR FOR THE ELECTRIC STEERING WAS SLOWLY GOING OUT; IT WAS EITHER NIGHT OR DAY. *TR

Mileage: 108,522

MY MAZDA RX8 HAD POWER STEERING FAIL WHILE DRIVING MY CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL. SO NOT COOL. *TR

Mileage: 95,655

POWER STEERING ISSUES, FAILING, ELECTRICAL ISSUES WHERE COOLANT OVERFLOW IS LOCATED NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 58,000

MY ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING IS GOING IN AND OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MANY 2004 RX-8 OWNERS ARE DISCUSSING ONLINE AND IN FORUMS. DEALERS AND MECHANICS KNOW OF THE PROBLEM WITH CONNECTORS AND RACKS GOING BAD BUT MAZDA HAS REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE CHRONIC PROBLEM. IT IS DANGEROUS AND COSTLY, I AM ON MY SECOND REPAIR OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PUSH MAZDA TO STEP UP AND ADDRESS THIS GROWING AND CHRONIC PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 89,000

MY POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES OFF AND ON RANDOMLY. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON MY POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK, WHICH IN MOST CASES I AM ALREADY ON THE ROAD AND THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. THE POWER STEERING COMES AND GOES, SOMETIMES IT LAST FOR A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE IT TURNS OFF BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY ITS THE RACK, WHICH I SPENT OVER $1000 TO REPLACE AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE ABOUT 15 FRIENDS WITH THIS SAME CAR AND THEY HAVE ALL HAD THE SAME ISSUE. MAZDA NEEDS TO FIX THIS BEFORE A WRECK HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONES POWER STEERING GOES OFF WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING 70 MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE. *TR

I FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM IN MY STEERING WHILE DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THE STEERING FELT VERY LIGHT AND CRISP WHEN I WOULD TURN TO THE LEFT. WHEN I WOULD RETURN TO DEAD CENTER AND THEN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, THE STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF. THE NEXT DAY WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION" LIGHT WAS ON. POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED AT THAT TIME. UPON DOING RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2004 AND 2005 RX8'S. *KB

Mileage: 61,000

I FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM IN MY STEERING WHILE DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THE STEERING FELT VERY LIGHT AND CRISP WHEN I WOULD TURN TO THE LEFT. WHEN I WOULD RETURN TO DEAD CENTER AND THEN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, THE STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF. THE NEXT DAY WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION" LIGHT WAS ON. POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED AT THAT TIME. UPON DOING RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2004 AND 2005 RX8'S. *KB

Mileage: 61,000

I JUST GOT THE CAR BACK FROM DEALERSHIP THEY HAD TO PUT NEW MOTOR IN AT 67000 MILES REPLACED MOTOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER 3 COILS AND ALSO TOLD ME THEY HAD TO FLUSH IT OUT AS IT WAS FLOODED I DROVE LESS THAN 100 MILES AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT? NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THIS IS CRAZY!!!! COST ME OVER 1100.00 TO GET IT BACK AND DRIVE 2 TIMES AND NOW BROKE AGAIN THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF CRAP SHOULD HAVE DONE HOMEWORK ON IT BEFORE BUYING. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8, WHICH HAD APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES AT THE TIME, WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING IN ONE DIRECTION AND STEERING BECAME VERY LIGHT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. THIS PROBLEM DISAPPEARED THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE CAR, BUT REAPPEARED INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE POWER STEERING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. THIS WAS INTERMITTENT FOR A WHILE, AS WELL, BUT EVENTUALLY THE POWER STEERING CEASED TO FUNCTION ALTOGETHER. THESE FAILURES WERE ACCOMPANIED BY A POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT, WHICH REMAINS ILLUMINATED TO THIS DAY. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THE PHENOMENON, I WAS VERY STARTLED BY IT AND FEEL THAT, HAD THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT AN INOPPORTUNE MOMENT, IT COULD HAVE VERY WELL CONTRIBUTED TO AN ACCIDENT. *TT

Mileage: 60,000

POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

VEHICLE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY DECREASES TO THE POINT OF LITTLE OR NO POWER ASSIST. MOST COMMON ON STARTS AFTER A LONG VEHICLE SOAK. SECONDARY CONCERN IS THAT THE BATTERY FAILS RAPIDLY AND REPEATEDLY, AND VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC EN ROUTE TO DEALER TO INVESTIGATE POOR POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE. ROOT CAUSE REPORTED AS A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN VEHICLE. AMPERAGE REQUEST OF POWER STEERING SYSTEM IS SO GREAT THAT CAN OVERWHELM ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, RESULTING IN POOR/NO BATTERY CHARGING AND BELIEVED CAUSE OF ON-ROAD STALL. PER MANUFACTURER SERVICE, ONLY FIX IS REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE POWER STEERING RACK. REPAIR TO BE PERFORMED WEEK OF 5/20/11; OLD PARTS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. *TR

Mileage: 32,165

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

Mileage: 85,000

MY MAZDA RX8 IS HAVING POWER STEERING PROBLEMS, ONE TIME IT LOST POWER STEERING WHILE I WAS DRIVING... TO MOST PEOPLE, THIS WILL BE SOMETHING PRETTY SCARY AND VERY DANGEROUS IF THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. I WOULD RECOMMEND CHECKING THIS OUT, BECAUSE THIS IS DEFINITELY A LAWSUIT JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN... *TR

Mileage: 92,420

VEHICLE CAN TURN LEFT ON ITS OWN WITH A FAULTY POWER STEERING RACK AND/OR CONTROL MODULE. *TR

Mileage: 58,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND MAKING A TURN HE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE POWER STEERING WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

Mileage: 55,000

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 02/26/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. UPDATED 06/10/10.*JB

Mileage: 82,000

THIS IS REGARDING A 2004 MAZDA RX-8 WITH ABOUT 65,000 MILES. POWER STEERING ON CAR WORKS OK WHEN CAR FIRST STARTED. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES (AND USUALLY BY THE TIME I HIT THE HIGHWAY) THE CAR WILL JERK ITSELF TO THE LEFT AND BACK TO THE RIGHT VERY SHARPLY, ALMOST CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS. AFTER JERK, STEERING LIGHT WILL LIGHT ON DASHBOARD AND NO POWER STEERING ASSIST IS AVAILABLE. POWER STEERING HAS ALSO GONE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, ALSO ALMOST CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I FOUND OUT THROUGH RX8CLUB.COM THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, AND THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE UPWARD OF $2,000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF POWER STEERING ON 2004 MAZDA RX-8 WITH APPROXIMATELY 25K MILES OF USE. PREVIOUSLY, POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY BUT WOULD CORRECT ITSELF AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT. WE REQUESTED SERVICING OF THIS PROBLEM IN APRIL OF 2008 BUT IT DIDN'T SHOW UP IN THE COMPUTER SCAN OF THE CAR SO THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US TO BRING IT BACK WHILE THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING. HOWEVER, IT WASN'T POSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SAFELY WHILE THE FAILURE WAS OCCURRING AND IT WOULD CORRECT ITSELF ONCE THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND RESTARTED. VERY UNSAFE TO HAVE THE STEERING FAIL/SEIZE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN OPERATION. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL JULY 12, 2009 WHEN IT FAILED COMPLETELY. CAR IS CURRENTLY BACK IN THE DEALER SHOP WAITING FOR PARTS THAT CONTAIN A SENSOR THAT SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM TO BE SHIPPED FROM JAPAN. THE REPAIR WILL REQUIRE REMOVING AND REPLACING MOST OF THE STEERING SYSTEM AS THE PART CAN ONLY BE REPLACED AS AN ENTIRE UNIT. WE WERE INFORMED THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AS IT'S NOT A DEFECT AND OCCURS THROUGH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

FAILURE OF POWER STEERING ON 2004 MAZDA RX-8. POWER STEERING SHUTS DOWN INTERMITTENTLY DURING DRIVING. STEERING THEN PULLS TO THE RIGHT DURING DRIVING AND AT A STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL ROTATE ON IT'S OWN. DEALER HAS REPAIRED SUSPECTED SHORT IN WIRING HARNESS, CLEANED HARNESS GROUND CONNECTIONS, REPLACED A SENSOR IN THE POWER STEERING CIRCUIT. CAR IS CURRENTLY BACK IN THE DEALER SHOP WAITING FOR A NEW HARNESS "PIGTAIL" TO REPLACE ON THE ELECTRICAL STEERING HARNESS. CONTACTED MAZDA AND THEY SAID SINCE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, IT'S MY PROBLEM--EVEN THOUGH I CONSIDER THE CAR UNSAFE FOR DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

I BOUGHT MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 FROM AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP IN DORAL, FL WITH 53M MILES ON IT, STILL UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY & I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 2 YEARS.THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES (THAT IS AVERAGING ONCE A MONTH) SINCE PURCHASE, BACK FOR VARIOUS REASONS INCLUDING: ENGINE LIGHT ON, COOLANT LIGHT ON, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT AND DANGEROUS-LOCKED POWER STEERING! OF THE 8 TIMES, 4 OF THOSE ARE FOR THE POWER STEERING LOCKING ON ME, EITHER WHEN I START THE CAR, OR WHILE DRIVING, IT'S RANDOM THAT IT HAPPENS, WHEN IT 'FEELS LIKE IT'. I CAN'T TRUST THIS CAR, AND THOUGH THE SERVICE DEPT AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR IT NUMEROUS TIMES, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT SUBSIDED. THE TIMES THAT I START THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING IS NOT LOCKED, WHILE DRIVING THE WHEEL BECOMES VERY LOOSE, THEN THE CAR SHAKES, THEN THE STEERING LOCKS. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND HAVE GOTTEN SAFELY OUT OF TRAFFIC, BUT THE WHEEL IS VERY HARD TO TURN, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. I'M OFFICIALLY FILING A COMPLAINT B/C IT SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, AND I WANT THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. I WOULD PREFER TO HAVE MAZDA BUY BACK THE CAR FROM ME, SINCE, AT THIS POINT, I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR, ESPECIALLY TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCES. BUT IF MAZDA CAN REPAIR THE PROBLEM FOR GOOD, I'LL BE SATISFIED. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 55,046

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