NHTSA Complaint #10159670 — 2005 MAZDA RX-8

I OWN A 2005 MAZDA RX8 6 SPEED. THE VEHICLE HAS 14,000 MILES. ON 5/30/06 THE ENGINE BEGAN TO STALL, SPUTTER AND MAKE A CLICKING NOISE AT OVER 4500 RPM. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO A NEARBY MAZDA DEALER. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE PERSONNEL THAT 4 OTHER RX8'S WERE CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS HEAT RELATED AND MORE PREVALENT IN HOT CLIMATES. SERVICE PERSONNEL ADDED THAT THE ECU WOULD NEED TO BE SENT TO MAZDA TO BE REFLASHED. IF THAT DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM THE MOTOR MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED A MAZDA DEALER IN LAS VEGAS IN ORDER TO SEE IF THEY WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THEY WERE. I CONFRONTED LOCAL MANAGEMENT AND ASKED IF THEY WERE INFORMING POTENTIAL AND/OR NEW BUYERS ABOUT THE MOTOR PROBLEM. HE STATED NO AND ADDED THAT HE WAS NOT REQUIRED TO DO SO. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME ON 6/8/06 SYMPTOM FREE. ON 6/12/06 THE SAME PROBLEMS RETURNED AND THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER. *NM