NHTSA Complaint #10319146 — 2005 MAZDA RX-8

WHILE DRIVING A 2005 MAZDA RX8 I LOST CONTROL AFTER SHIFTING FROM 5 TO 4TH GEAR. THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK IN AND MOVED SLIGHTLY RIGHT NEAR THE BREAK PEDAL AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THIS SURPRISED ME WHICH CAUSED ME TO RUN OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED A TOW COMPANY TO TRANSPORT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT USED WITH 58000 MILES ON IT. THEY SAID THE CLUTCH HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR 1400 DOLLARS. AT THE TIME I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY SO I ASKED FOR IT TO BE TOWED BACK TO A LOCAL GARAGE. MY LOCAL GARAGE FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLE BROKE AWAY FROM THE MOUNTING PLATE. THIS IS A PART THAT YOU WOULD NOT EXPECT TO BREAK. ALL INDICATIONS POINT TO A FAULTY WELD. THE METAL RIPPED FROM THE POINT OF A SPOT WELD. THIS SPOT WELD MAY HAVE WEAKENED WHAT IS RELATIVELY THIN METAL FOR THIS USE. I HAD A LOCAL GARAGE REPLACE THE PART FOR 500 DOLLARS WITH PARTS AND LABOR. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE ORIGINAL GUARANTEE BUT MAZDA REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE COST BECAUSE IT WAS NOT REPAIRED BY MAZDA. ALL I WANTED WAS THE COST OF THE PART. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I HAVE A SAFETY CONCERN IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR