2004 MAZDA RX-8 Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

RUSTED OIL COOLER LINES AND FITTINGS ON MY RX8 DRIVEN IN OHIO WHERE ROAD SALTING IS PREVALENT IN SNOW MONTHS. FILING THIS COMPLAINT SINCE THERE IS A RECALL ISSUED FOR MY SAME MODEL YEAR IN CANADA (SPECIAL PROGRAM 76) FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE DUE TO SNOW AND SALT. MODIFIED LINES ARE AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS ISSUE BUT MAZDA IS NOT EXTENDING RECALL COVERAGE TO U.S. REPAIR COST AT DEALER ABOVE $1K. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5-10 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE COOLANT WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE DIAGNOSIS FROM BOTH WAS THAT THE ENGINE WAS FLOODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO AN ENGINE RECALL, AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALER INFORMED ME OF LARGE OIL LEAKS. LEAKS ARE VISIBLE AND ARE COVERING PARTS OF THE WHEELS AND JOINTS WITH OIL. MAZDA HAS ADMITTED TO THIS DEFECT IN CANADA (FIELD ACTION NUMBER 142-36) AND ARE PROVIDING CANADIAN CUSTOMERS WITH A RECALL ON THIS FAULTY AND DANGEROUS PART BUT US CUSTOMERS HAVE YET TO RECEIVE SUCH TREATMENT. MY CAR IS A 2004 MODEL AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH ISSUES. THIS IS A HAZARD TO BOTH MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD DUE TO THE AMOUNTS OF OIL THAT THE CAR IS LEAKING DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING AND BAD DESIGN. THE MAZDA DEALERSHIPS ARE CHARGING CUSTOMER AN UPWARD OF 1,600 DOLLARS TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE WHICH SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE TO BEGIN WITH IF THIS CAR...

VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW,2004. I HAVE EVERY OIL CHANGE, EVERY 2,900-3,000 MILES AND VEHICLE IS PERFECTLY MAINTAINED BY THE DEALERSHIP ( HARRELSON MAZDA -CHARLOTTE,NC ). ONCE 30,000 MILES WERE PUT ON THE VEHICLE, ENGINE BEGAN TO FAIL ( STOPPED AT RED LIGHTS, STOPPED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY,ETC.). AFTER ABOUT 5 RETURN VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP TECHNICIANS, MY ENGINE WAS FINALLY 'REPLACED' UNDER WARRANTY. NOW MY NEW ENGINE HAS FAILED AGAIN AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES FOR THE SAME REASON AS ORIGINALLY: MAZDA SPECIFICALLY ADVISES 10W-20 OIL IN THIS VEHICLE. BUT THIS IS ONLY TO SATISFY U.S. EPA STANDARDS. EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, MAZDA STRICTLY ADVISES 10W-30 OIL, BECAUSE ANYTHING LESS WILL ALLOW ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND FAIL. I WAS NEVER WARNED THIS. I WAS NEVER ADVISED THIS. I SERVICED VEHICLE BY EVERY RECOMMENDATION OF MAZDA, THE OWNERS MANUAL, AND MY MAZDA AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP/TECHNICIANS. MY SAFETY HAS BEEN PLACED IN JEOPARDY,...

THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE OIL COOLER LINE CONNECTORS ARE CORRODED SO BADLY AT 7 YEARS OF AGE THAT IT'S LITERALLY SPEWING OIL WHILST THE CAR IS RUNNING. I'VE DRIVEN CARS THAT WERE 15+ YEARS OLD WITH NO SUCH ISSUES. NOT ONLY IS THIS A MECHANICAL CONCERN, BUT IT COATS THE TIRES IN OIL, AND LEAVES TRACTION ON THEM ALMOST NIL. MAZDA CANADA HAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, YET, MAZDA USA HAS DONE NOTHING, EXCEPT FOR QUOTE PEOPLE ANYWHERE FROM 1800-2100 DOLLARS TO HAVE THESE LINES REPLACED. I THINK IT'S A COMPLETE DISGRACE TO AN OTHERWISE VERY RELIABLE CAR. *TR

ENGINE FAILURE, LOSS OF POWER, MULTIPLE EPISODES. *TR

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM REQUESTING DOT START AN INVESTIGATION SIMILAR TO TOYOTA' S REGARDING THE ENGINE FLOODING OF THE 2004 MAZDA RX8 *TGW THE CONSUMER STATE THE DEALER HAD HIS VEHICLE FOR 10 DAYS. AFTER 10 DAYS OF UNSUCCESSFULLY TRYING TO DIAGNOSE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, THEIR FINAL SOLUTION WAS TO FLUSH AND CLEAN THE ENGINE IN HOPING TO COVER-UP THE UNRESOLVED MECHANICAL ISSUE. IN DOING SO, THEY ONLY MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE STOPPED WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER SEVERAL REPEATED ATTEMPTS, HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE LACKED POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED (REPAIR DETAILS WERE NOT GIVEN). THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND PROGRESSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000. UPDATED 01/13/11*BF UPDATED 01/24/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE SHUTTER VALVE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,820.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER ON THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF SMOKE WAS ALSO BELLOWING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT RAW GAS WAS BEING DUMPED INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH CAUSED A FIRE TO OCCUR IN THE WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WHO STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE DEALER CALLED THE MAZDA DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE TO DISCUSS THE FAILURE AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. MAZDA FILED CASE NUMBER 130341420 REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 43,358.

I OWN A MAZDA RX8 AND I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT, I WOULD COME TO A STOP AND IT WILL STALL, CAN'T START IT BACK UP AND HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE SHOP. I WILL DRIVE IT TO THE STORE AND COME BACK OUT TO LEAVE AND IT WILL NOT START, HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED. HAVE HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED ONE TIME ALREADY AND IT STILL HAS ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS. I CAN NOT DRIVE IT NOW BECAUSE IT IS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WILL NOT START IT HAS BEEN IN THIS CONDITION FOR ALMOST A MONTH. MAZDA MOST OF THE TIME SAYS THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND AS SOON AS I LEAVE MY CAR WOULD BREAK DOWN ON THE WAY HOME. IF YOU GO TO THE WEB SITE HTTP://FORUMS.AUTOMOTIVE.COM/70/6305605/MAZDA/RX-8-LAWSUIT/PAGE4.HTML YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS CAR IS JUST A DEATH TRAP AND SO...

I SLOWED TO LET THE CAR INFRONT TURN. WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN, A BIG CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT THE EXHAUST AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IN THE CLUTCH AND COAST INTO A FIRE DEPARTMENT. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR ONCE STOPPED BUT IT WOULDN'T RESTART. I COULD SMELL OIL COMING FROM THE CAR WHILE TRYING TO START IT WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE OIL SEAL IS BLOWN. ONCE TOWED TO PEARSON MAZDA, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDED TWO COILS AND SPARK PLUGS. ONCE THOSE WHERE REPLACED, THE CAR STILL DIDN'T RUN CORRECTLY SO A COMPRESSION TEST WAS DONE IN WHICH IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE IS NO COMPRESSION ON THE REAR ROTOR AND THE MOTOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. ON FRIDAY THE FOURTH, THREE DAYS AFTER THE INITIAL INCIDENT, I WAS TOLD THAT MAZDA WOULDN'T...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN DECREASING IN SPEED WITHOUT WARNING AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,483 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

IM PRETTY BUMMED OUT, IM AN OWNER OF AN 04 MAZDA RX8 AND ABOUT A MONTH OR SO THE HEART (ENGINE) OF THE CAR SUDDENLY GAVE OUT, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND THE NEWS THEY GAVE ME WAS THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE, THEY ASKED ME FOR MAINTENANCE RECORDS WHICH I COULDN'T PROVIDE THEM WITH BECAUSE I DO THE TUNE UPS MYSELF, THEY WANT RECEIPTS BUT LETS BE HONEST ITS HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF THEM, SO THEY SAID NO RECORDS NO RECEIPTS IT WILL COST YOU OVER 3K TO GET THE JOB DONE. I SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS AND RECALLS ONLINE FOR THIS VEHICLE AND KNOW THAT MINE FALLS IN THAT CATEGORY ALSO. I HAVE WITNESSES THAT SEE ME DO MY OILCHANGES AND STORE EMPLOYEES THAT KNOW I BUY TUNE UP PRODUCTS FROM THERE STORE. WHAT CAN I DO TO...

2004 MAZDA RX-8, UNDER 45K MILES. DRIVEN ON A 78 DEGREE DAY FOR 2 HOUR TRIP. STOPPED TO REFUEL AND 30 MIN SHOPPING. GET INTO CAR ONTO HIGHWAY WHERE I NEED MY ENGINE'S SPEED TO ACCELERATE ONTO HIGHWAY. I FEELS LIKE HALF THE POWER IS GONE. IT REMINDS ME OF VAPOR LOCK, IT'S GASPING FOR FUEL OR SPARK. THIS HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED MANY TIMES BEFORE AND NEARLY DANGEROUS WHEN IN BUSY TRAFFIC, AS HAD TO PULL OVER TO BIRM. I KNOW DEALER REPLACED COIL PACKS ONCE OR TWICE SO FAR...ALONG WITH PLUGS. THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS CAR I EVER OWNED. THE MOST RE-CALLED CAR I'VE EVER KNOWN OF. RIGHT NOW IT'S RUNNING FINE, MATTER OF FACT HAS POWER TO SPARE AS COMPARED TO IT'S 'WHIMPING OUT SYNDROME ". THERE MUST BE A CORPORATE SOLUTION FROM MAZDA TO ME. I AM READY FOR A LAWYER. *TR

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN WITH THE PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8. I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE SEPTEMBER 2003 AND IT HAS HAD COUNTLESS ISSUES, PARTS REPLACED AND FAILURES. THE INCIDENT I EXPERIENCED LAST NIGHT PUT ME OVER THE EDGE AND ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE. MY RX-8, WHICH WAS JUST AT THE DEALER 2 WEEKS AGO, HAD AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION WHILE I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN MASSACHUSETTS. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE WENT FROM APPROX 50MPH TO 10MPH IN A MATTER OF A FEW SECONDS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT INJURING MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE; HOWEVER, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. EVERY SINGLE PART IN MY RX-8 HAS BEEN REPLACED EXCEPT FOR THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND ENGINE. I HAVE DISHED OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ALREADY AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT. NOT...

MY MAZDA RX8 HAS BEEN BURNING OIL SINCE IT WAS NEW. I DON"T HAVE IT ANYMORE. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE AGAINST MAZDA CORPORATION? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A NO-START CONDITION. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AS 59,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

I NOTICED MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 ONTO THE DRIVEWAY OF A FRIEND'S LANDLORD'S DRIVEWAY. I DROVE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL COOLER LINES HAD CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1200. MAZDA DOES NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY BUT HAS ISSUED A RECALL IN CANADA FOR THIS VERY ISSUE BUT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT IN THE U.S.A. LEAKS CAN BE FAIRLY SLOW AND UNNOTICEABLE FOR QUITE A WHILE AND COAT THE WHEELS AND BRAKES WITH OIL, CAUSING LOSS OF HANDLING AND TROUBLE BRAKING. *TR

THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE OIL LINES CONNECTING THE ENGINE TO THE OIL COOLER RUPTURED SENDING OIL SPEWING ALL OVER THE TIRES AND BRAKES. THE ENGINE LOST 100% OF IT'S OIL AND CONTROLLING THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT. THIS PROBLEM IS REPORTEDLY DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE OIL LINES IN COLD CLIMATES WHERE SALT IS OFTEN ON THE ROAD. IN CANADA, THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE ONE IN THE US AS WELL. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MAZDA RX8 AND I BOUGHT IT 4 MONTHS AGO IT HAS 48500 AND IT KEEPS STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IT GETS HOT AND WILL TURN OFF WHILE RUNNING . IF I STOP AT A LIGHT IT WILL TURN OFF. IT HAS BEEN SENT TO 2 DIFFERENT MAZDA PLACES BEEN PUT ON MACHINES AFTER MACHINE SENT TO 2 SHOP AND CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION AND NO BODY KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT EVEN THE MAZDA DEALER THE DEALER PUT A NEW CONVERTER AND SAID IT WAS FIXED BUT,ITS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWO MORE TIMES NOW THE WARRANTY IS OUT AND THEY THINK IT MIGHT BE, BECAUSE ITS NOT WARMED UP IN THE MORNING ,BUT DO NOT GUARANTEE IT YAH RIGHT I LIVE IN TEXAS. WELL IF THE MAZDA DEALER DON'T KNOW WHO DOES? THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ,I COULD HAVE A BAD...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING 40-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAITED 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT CAN SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,206 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

2004 MAZDA RX8 IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME RECALL PROBLEM AS THE 2005-08 MAZDA RX8. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO AN EVAPORATOR LEAK. *JB

MAZDA HAS REPLACED THE ENGINE IN MY 2004 RX8 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 700 MILES. THEY KEEP SAYING BAD ROTARY ENGINE BUT THIS IS TERRIBLE. HOW MANY MORE ENGINES WILL IT TAKE??? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FAILURE WITH THE ENGINE ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. SHE ALSO NOTICED A BURNT, RUBBERY SMELL COMING FROM THE PASSENGER CONSOLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY STATED THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW MOTOR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FIRST MOTOR IN JULY OF 2008 DURING HER THIRD VISIT. THE CONTACT NOTED THAT THE DEALER WOULD ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE ISSUE, BUT SHE WAS NEVER ABLE TO DRIVE HOME SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT A FAILURE OCCURRING. SHE WAS RECENTLY INFORMED THAT A SECOND NEW MOTOR WOULD BE NEEDED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE GEARS LOST POWER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE FLUID ISSUES AND HAVE THE SPARK PLUGS CHANGED, BUT THE FAILURES PERSIST. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A CREAKING NOISE WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A TEAR LINE CRACK IN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM IN THE SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN 2005 FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V325000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT) AND THE MANUFACTURER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. HE BELIEVES THAT THE COMPONENT THAT WAS USED TO PREVIOUSLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS FAULTY; THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WOULD RANDOMLY ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A RUPTURED OIL COOLING LINE. DURING THE REPAIR, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE OIL...

I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 I HAD A REPLACE ENGINE ON MY CAR AND THE CAR HAD A ENGINE FLOODED BEFORE AND NOW LAST NIGHT DOESN'T WANT 2 START AND THERE'S ARE A FEW RECALLS FOR THIS CAR AND I WANT 2 TAKE ACTIONS WITH MAZDA. *TR

2004 MAZDA RX8 WITH WATER MIXING IN WITH THE OIL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MECHANIC STATED THAT WATER IN THE OIL WAS NORMAL AND HOW THE VEHICLE VENTED. THERE WAS RED ANTIFREEZE IN THE VEHICLE AND GREEN ANTIFREEZE SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED. *KB THE DIP STICK WAS COVERED IN A HARD, CRYSTALLIZED, ORANGE/WHITE SUBSTANCE. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STEAM EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE THERMOSTAT HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE WRONG ANTI-FREEZE HAD BEEN USED, THERE MAY BE FUTURE COOLING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE ON 12/5/06 AT RUSSEL MAZDA IN CATONSVILLE, MD. VERY SATISFIED WITH THE LOOK OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVING NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE THE VEHICLE I MADE MY DECISION TO PURCHASE. SEVERAL OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS OWN MAZDA?S AND BELIEVE IN YOUR VEHICLES BUT NONE OWN THE RX-8. ON 1/4/07, AFTER MOVING A SHORT DISTANCE TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULDN?T RESTART 5 MINUTES LATER. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO RUSSEL MAZDA IN CATONSVILLE FOR SERVICE. DEALER STATES ?NO START CONDITION. CAR TOWED IN. CUSTOMER HEARS A WHINING SOUND FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN TRYING TO STAR ENGINE. ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER, ?POSSIBLE STARTER?. CAR FLOODED, DE-FLOODED CAR AS PER BULLETIN #01-048/06XXB479R1//.3 ? PROCEDURE ?A? ONLY. AFTER BELIEVING THIS PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED, I ASSUMED EVERYTHING WAS OK. TO NO AVAIL, ON APRIL 4, 2008, DUE TO AN EMERGENCY, ONCE AGAIN I HAD TO DRIVE...

I HAVE A 2004 MAZDA RX 8. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 11,000 MILES DUE TO LOW COMPRESSION AND OTHER ISSUES. 10,000 MILES LATER I AM GETTING THE SAME SYMPTOMS IN THE NEW ENGINE. MY DEALER IS GREAT, BUT THE CAR IS A LEMON. *TR

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2004 RX8. MY ENGINE FLOODS REGULARLY, I AM AFRAID TO VALET MY CAR DUE TO THIS CONSTANT PROBLEM. MY DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR FAILED, I HAD TO REPLACE OUT OF POCKET, NOW THE DEALER IS SAYING MY CAR HAS LOW COMPRESSION AND SUGGEST I TRADE IT IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THEY DO NOT WANT TO REPLACE MY ENGINE AS I AM OVER THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST MAZDA. *TR

2004. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE STALLING OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. ON JUNE 24, 2007, THE DEALER REPLACED THE COIL, HOWEVER, IT FAILED TO WORK AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE. THIS ALSO DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE COIL A SECOND TIME AND THE DEALER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE ENGINE APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AGO. THE ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND A VALID VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 36,000.

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH EXCESSIVE HEAT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAR LOSES OR LACKS POWER. CAR HAS DIED MANY TIMES. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TWICE TO DEALER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER FOR SERVICE OVER 7 TIMES. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 32000 MILES. TODAY: 2 NOV 2006. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I PICKED UP CAR YESTERDAY FROM DEALER AFTER BEING REPAIRED FROM SIMILAR (POWER) PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR TOO MANY TIMES. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, AND THE ENGINE LOST ALL PICKUP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO SPECIFICALLY DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED.

3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF 2004 RX-8 BATTERY AND SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TS ONE SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWICE AND HAD TO BE CHARGED THREE TIMES. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED TO ALLEVIATE STALLING. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, 02 SENSOR, AMPLIFIER AND STARTER WERE ALSO REPLACED. *NM

2004 MAZDA RX 8 HAS MANY DESIGN DEFECTS, BATTERY WAS REPLACED, SPARK PLUGS AND OIL FILTER WAS REPLACED 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. *TS THE STARTED WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING IN TRAFFIC AND WAS TAKING MULTIPLE TIMES TO TRY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES OF THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED, THE DEALERSHIP DECIDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS STILL NOT STARTING SMOOTHLY. THE DASH LIGHTS WERE BLINKING ON AND OFF AND THE HEAT WAS NOT WORKING. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, 02 SENSOR, AND A/C AMPLIFIER. THE HEATER CONTROL SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE SUN VISOR WAS REPLACED. *JB

I RECEIVED 2 SAFETY RECALL NOTICES ON MY RX8. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I LEASED THE VEHICLE AND I THOUGHT THEY CORRECTED AND/OR INSPECTED THE PROBLEM. OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 60 DAYS, THE SERVICE I HAVE RECEIVED HAS BEEN UNSATISFACTORY AND I HAVE BEEN LEAD TO BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER MAY NOT HAVE ADDRESSED THE SAFETY RECALL ISSUES. (CRACKED BALL JOINT AND HEAT INSULATION). I HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM AND I THINK THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, TO THE POINT THEY WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS WILL INEVITABLY CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO LOSE VALUE. *JB

I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH 2004. DURING THE TIME SPAN OF JULY 2004-OCTOBER 2005 THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPT. FOR FAILURE TO START AND ENGINE FAILURE DURING DRIVING THE CAR. OCTOBER 5, 2005 THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO PICK UP THE CAR THAT IT WAS FIXED. I WENT AND PICKED UP THE CAR AND STARTED HOME IN THE CAR THE CAR QUIT RUNNING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MILES PER HOUR AND MYSELF AND TWO CHILDREN WERE ALMOST HIT BY TWO BIG TRUCKS. *JB

AROUND THE MIDDLE OF JUNE I STARTED NOTICING STRANGE BEHAVIOR IN THE PERFORMANCE OF MY ENGINE IN MY MAZDA RX-8. WHILE MAINTAINING A HIGHWAY SPEED OF ROUGHLY 65MPH I WOULD HEAR A RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE, LIKE MARBLES BOUNCING AROUND INSIDE. THIS WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER IN ANY GEAR. AT NO TIME DID THE TEMP GAUGE NOTIFY ME OF OVERHEATING. THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY WHEN I EASED OFF THE GAS TO A DANGEROUSLY SLOW HIGHWAY SPEED. ONCE GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE, BUT WITH NOTICEABLY REDUCED PERFORMANCE. AFTER THE THIRD OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM IN MID JULY, I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR A DIAGNOSIS. WHILE EXPLAINING THE PROBLEMS TO ONE OF THE SERVICEMEN, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL TANK OF WHICH I WAS UNAWARE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE ENGINE...

I JUST BOUGHT A 2004 MAZDA RX8 AND A PIECE OF ROAD DEBRIS HIT MY AC CONDENSER CAUSING ALL THE FREON TO LEAK OUT. THIS HAPPENED DUE TO THE GAPING HOLE IN THE FRONT AIR DAM OF MY VEHICLE. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN TEXAS WHERE TEMPS CAN CLIMB WELL OVER 100 DEGREES. (HIGHER INSIDE THE CAR) I WORRY MY 3YR OLD SON IS AT RISK OF HEAT STROKE OR WORSE FROM THE TEMPS. MAZDA WILL NOT COVER THIS IN THEIR WARRANTY YET THEY DO NOTHING TO PROTECT THE HIGHLY VULNERABLE CONDENSER, OIL COOLER, AND RADIATOR FROM BEING PELTED FROM ROAD DEBRIS. AS A MATTER OF FACT THE AIR DAM IS SO POORLY DESIGNED THAT IT ACTUALLY FUNNELS ROCKS INTO THE AC CONDENSER ITSELF. I AM NOW WORRIED THAT A PIECE OF ''ROAD DEBRIS'' MAY HIT MY OIL COOLER AND SPILL OIL ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT CONSIDERED...

MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 WAS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER OF 2003. SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE, THE ENGINE HAS MADE LOUD KNOCKING NOISES ON ACCELERATION AND OTHER UNACCEPTABLE NOISES WHEN IN IDLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON NUMEROUS TIMES, AND ON CHECKING THE CAR ON AT LEAST 5 OCCASIONS, THE MAZDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE ONLY MINOR REPAIRS OR DONE NOTHING AT ALL. THIS PROBLEM HAS WORSENED OVER TIME AND RECENTLY THE CAR STALLED AT A BUSY HIGHWAY INTERSECTION AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR 20 MINUTES - THIS WAS A HIGHLY DANGEROUS SITUATION NOT ONLY FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS DRIVING AND STRANDED IN THE CAR WITH VEHICLES SPEEDING BY AND BARELY MISSING HITTING HER, BUT FOR THOSE VEHICLES APPROACHING FROM BEHIND. MAZDA SUDDENLY DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE OIL PUMP - SPECIFICALLY "CODE P209 POST CATALYST FUEL PUMP TRIM TOO LEAN." THIS CODE HAS COME UP ON...

FAILURE TO START IN COLD WEATHER. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATLEY 45 MILES, SHUT OFF, PARKED IN THE GARAGE. CAR SAT FOR APPROXIMATELY 24 HOURS, CAR WOULD NOT RESTART, ELECTRICAL APPEARS TO BE IN ORDER. MAZDA TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AND NOTED THE BRAKES WERE FROZEN, CAR WAS FORCEFULLY LOADED ONTO TOW TRUCK. DEALER INSISTS THE PROBLEM IS COMMON AN UPDATE WAS PERFORMED, SPARK PLUGS REPLACED. ONE WEEK LATER THE CAR AGAIN IS NOT STARTING AND IS IN THE DEALERSHIP UNKNOWN TIME OF REPAIR. INCIDENTS REPORTED TO MAZDA AWAITING RESPONSE. *AK

THERE IS CONTAMINATION IN THE OIL. SO MUCH SO THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHECK THE OIL. I'VE GONE 3000 MILES AND NEVER BEEN ABLE TO CHECK THE OIL. EVEN AFTER WIPING THE DIPSTICK, SIMPLY PUTTING IT BACK RECOATS THE DIPSTICK, SO THAT THE OIL LEVEL CANNOT BE READ. THE DEALER SIMPLY CHANGED THE OIL, BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, BUT WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALL LETTERS TO MAZDA-USA ARE IGNORED. WHY DOES MAZDA IGNORE SUCH A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS HAZARD? THIS COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IF THE ENGINE WERE TO SEIZE ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF LACK OF OIL. *AK

ALTHOUGH I FOLLOWED THE OWNER'S MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS, THE ENGINE FLOODED AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE (1.5 MILES) AND TURNED OFF. ENGINE WAS FLOODED WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER. SAID TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEW MAZDA RX8S. TEMPATURE WAS 19. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 6 DAYS IN VERY COLD WEATHER. THIS WOULD BE AREAL SAFETY ISSUE IF IT HAPPENS IN A REMOTE AREA.*AK