NHTSA Complaint #10361282 — 2004 MAZDA RX-8

MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8'S CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET HAS BROKEN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP FOR SOME CLUTCH PROBLEMS I HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH THE CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING OR DISENGAGING PROPERLY AND THE FIRST THING THEY LOOKED AT WAS MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET. IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS IS WHAT WAS CAUSING ALL OF MY PROBLEMS. THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL BROKE ALONG THE WELDS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE TECH TOLD ME IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 04 RX-8'S AND IT IS USUALLY MISDIAGNOSED AS A CLUTCH FAILURE. THIS IS A REALLY BIG PROBLEM AS THE BRACKET BRAKING CAUSES THE CLUTCH TO NOT FULLY ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE WHICH LEADS TO PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE AND CAN ALSO BE AS EXTREME AS THE CLUTCH PEDAL COMPLETELY BREAKING OFF AND OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I HAD TO HAVE MY CLUTCH REPLACED AS WELL DUE TO THE EXTRA WEAR CAUSE BY NOT FULLY ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING. MY CAR HAS EVEN STALLED IN INTERSECTIONS AFTER A LIGHT TURNS GREEN BECAUSE THE CLUTCH WOULD FULLY ENGAGE TO SHIFT INTO 1ST PROPERLY. *TR