NHTSA Complaint #10137647 — 2005 MAZDA RX-8

DT: THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A NEW MAZDA RX8. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED WHAT THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED WAS A PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED WHILE IN PARK AND THE RPMS INCREASED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP WHICH AFFECTED THE OXYGEN SENSORS AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD ALSO LEAD TO A FUEL TANK LEAK AND ULTIMATELY A FIRE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE MAZDA DEALER. THE MAZDA DEALER NOTIFIED THE CONSUMER ABOUT A RECALL OF A SIMILAR NATURE CONCERNING THE FUEL TANK. THE MAZDA DEALER FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED INFORMED THE CONSUMER AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE OR AFTERWARDS ABOUT THE RECALL. THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETING THE RECALL SERVICE AS INSTRUCTED, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS UPSET THAT SHE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL WHILE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. RECALL REPAIRS BEGAN IN AUGUST 2005 THE SAME MONTH OF VEHICLE PURCHASE. NO OTHER PREVIOUS PROBLEMS OCCURRED. THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 26 DAYS. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THE PROBLEM WAS THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. *AK