NHTSA Complaint #10182512 — 2004 MAZDA RX-8

ON 1/26/07 I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE LATEST RECALL REPAIR AND A TUNE UP, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS THE POWER LOSS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. PRIOR TO THIS, THE CAR WAS STALLING, LOSING POWER AND HAVING TO DOWN SHIFT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ITS SPEED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, AND LITTLE POWER WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE TUNE UP INCLUDED REPLACING THE SPARK PLUGS, AIR FILTER, AND OIL CHANGE, IN ADDITION TO THE RECALL WORK. THE CAR SEEMED TO RUN FINE AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETE, BUT LASTED ONLY ABOUT A WEEK. THE CAR EXHIBITS THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH POWER LOSS AGAIN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHO SAID MY SPARK PLUG WIRES ARE NOW THE CULPRIT, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE OKAY A COUPLE WEEKS PRIOR. SAID THE SPARK PLUG WIRES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, WHICH IS OKAY, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE CAUSE SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE CAR. MY CAR IS ALMOST OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM. *NM