NHTSA Complaint #10277165 — 2004 MAZDA RX-8

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