NHTSA Complaint #10287243 — 2004 MAZDA RX-8

THE AUTO LEVELING HEADLIGHTS IN MAZDA RX8S AND CERTAIN OTHER MAZDA VEHICLES ROUTINELY MALFUNCTIONS DUE TO CORROSION. THIS CAUSES THE HEADLIGHTS TO AUTOMATICALLY RETURN TO THEIR LOWEST POSITION IN MOST CASES TOO LOW FOR DRIVING CONDITIONS CAUSING A MAJOR HAZARD TO ALL DRIVERS BOTH OF THE MAZDA AND OTHER VEHICLES. MAZDA RECOGNIZED THIS ISSUE WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2007 HOWEVER NEVER RECALLED THE VEHICLES FOR REPAIR AND WEATHERPROOFING. EVEN IF THE HEADLIGHTS ARE MANUALLY ADJUSTED THEY WILL RETURN TO THE LOWEST POSITION ONCE THE CAR IS STARTED AND THE MALFUNCTIONING AUTO LEVELING SENSORS KICK IN. THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE PURCHASED OUR MAZDA RX8 FROM DOES NOT SEE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEREFORE WILL NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE THE SENSORS. AFTER CONFERRING WITH STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT INSPECTORS, THEY DIFFER IN OPINION AS TO THE AUTO LEVELING MALFUNCTION BEING A HAZARD ESPECIALLY IF THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. MAZDA SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL AND REPLACE THE MALFUNCTIONING SENSORS TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS DUE TO LACKING VISIBILITY. *TR