NHTSA Complaint #10294624 — 2004 MAZDA RX-8

THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN THE MAZDA RX8 BEGAN CREAKING DURING USE. AFTER INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE ONLINE, I LEARNED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AMONG MAZDA RX8 OWNERS AND THAT CONTINUED USE OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD LEAD TO FAILURE WITH THE CREAKING BEING A SIGN THAT THE PEDAL IS PREMATURELY WEARING. SINCE MAZDA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT AND OFFER A RECALL, I REMOVED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND HAD THE MOUNTING BRACKET REWELDED. I'VE ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE METAL USED FOR THE BRACKET IS INCREDIBLY THIN AND THAT THE SPOT WELDS MADE AT THE FACTORY BY MAZDA ARE WHOLLY INSUFFICIENT TO KEEP THE BRACKET FROM MOVING UNDER STRESS, LEADING TO PERMANENT FAILURE WHEN IT BREAKS. *TR