NHTSA Complaint #10807631 — 2004 MAZDA RX-8

THIS INVOLVES THE ELECTRICALLY ASSISTED STEERING. WHILE HAVING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT COVERED THE PART THE DEALER KEPT SAYING THAT THERE WASN'T AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING, EVEN AFTER I HAD SHOWED THEM HOW TO MANUALLY DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE; AND THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE PAYING FOR IT BUT THE WARRANTY WOULD. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT KEEPS GETTING WORSE THE STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON AND THE ISSUE IS CONSTANT. WHETHER AT A STAND STILL, DRIVING, OR TURNING. THE WHEEL LITERALLY LOCKS UP AND REQUIRES YOU TO USE FORCE TO BRAKE IT FREE, WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY COUNTER ACT THE EXTREME BREAKING FORCE (ROTATIONAL) THAT YOU APPLIED SO YOU DON'T SIDE SWIPE ANOTHER CAR. (THIS IS NOT JUST FROM THE ELECTRICAL ASSIST NOT WORKING BUT THE RACK ITSELF) WHEN YOU DO COUNTER THE FORCE, NOW YOUR GOING THE OTHER WAY DEPENDING ON THE ORIGINAL FORCE. THIS CAN AND MAKES IT SEEM TO YOU AND OTHERS THAT YOU SNAPPING THE CAR, EXTREMELY QUICKLY IN YOUR LANE FOR NO REASON. BUT ALSO DUE TO THE FORCE AND SPEED MAKES THE CAR WANT TO BREAK TRACTION AND SPIN OUT. ANOTHER INSTANCE IS WHERE YOU HAVE LITTLE (STILL MANUAL) FORCE ON THE WHEEL AND THEN THE TEETH OF THE GEAR SEEM TO JUMP OR BOUNCE FROM 1 TO THE OTHER WHICH LEADS TO A QUICK SWAYING OF THE CAR NOT QUITE SNAPPING. AND FINALLY NOW AND RECENTLY THE ELECTRICAL ASSIST SEEMS TO BE KICKING IN AND ADDING MORE TURN TO THE WHEEL. SO WHEN YOU THINK YOU'VE FIXED THE SWAYING FORCES THE ELECTRICAL ASSIST ADDS MORE FORCE AND IT THROWS YOU OFF ON HOW MUCH OR LESS FORCE YOU HAVE TO USE SO THAT YOU DON'T TAKE OUT ANOTHER VEHICLE THESE KINDS OF THINGS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AND NEED TO BE FIXED, SO THAT NO ONE GETS HURT. I HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE INSTANCES NOT HITTING PPLS ALSO I AM UNABLE TO GET MY STATE INSPECTION OR A PROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE VEHICLE SO THIS IS PUTTING WEAR ON MY TIRES AND I AM UNABLE TO SELL THE VEHICLE