NHTSA Complaint #10479235 — 2004 MAZDA RX-8

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET MOUNTED TO THE FIRE WALL CRACKED ON BROKE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE UNIT CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO BE UNUSABLE AND UNABLE FOR ANY FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS TO BE ENGAGED. LUCKILY I WAS PULLING OFF THE ROAD INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT USE OF THE CLUTCH. THIS IS DANGEROUS BEYOND BELIEF AND IS PRESENTLY COVERED BY MAZDA UNDER AN 8 YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY EXTENSION PLAN BUT THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATED SAFETY RECALL REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE OR YEAR. THE FACTORY PART IS MADE OF TIN AS BEST I CAN TELL AND CAN BE BENT AND DEFORMED WITH BARE HANDS AT THE POINT WHERE ITS BOLTED TO THE FIREWALL, A CRITICAL MOUNTING POINT AS EVIDENCED BY THE GROWING NUMBER OF CASES FOR THIS EXACT DEFECT. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO PURCHASE THE PART AT MY OWN EXPENSE BUT DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO SINCE THIS IS SUCH A BASIC SAFETY DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE DEADLY RESULTS TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER INNOCENT DRIVERS IN THE VICINITY OF THE AFFECTED MAZDA RX8. *TR