2004 MAZDA RX-8 Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE PRECEDING THE CONTACT. THE PRECEDING VEHICLE THEN SPUN INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DETACHED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES AND SUFFERED A CRUSHED PELVIS, SHATTERED TAIL BONE AND A SEVERED URETHRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID VERY LITTLE TO PROTECT THE DRIVER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

ON APRIL 3,2012 AT 10PM IN BUFFALO NY. I WAS DRIVING MY 04 RX8 AROUND A BEND AT 35MPH. I EXPERIENCED A JERK/TWITCH IN THE POWER STEERING. THE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON INSTANTLY I LOST THE STEERING SENDING ME INTO THE FRONT OF A STEEL DIVIDER OF A TRAIN BRIDGE. I WAS TAKEN TO ECMC BY AMBULANCE. I LUCKILY ONLY SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES TO MY BACK NECK RIBS HEAD AND SHOULDER. I AM NOT ONE TO SUE NOR AM I'M GOING TO PURSUE ANY LEGAL ACTION AGAINST MAZDA. I WILL SAY MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY MY CAR WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED $10,000 IN DAMAGE. I JUST THOUGHT ANYONE LOOKING TO BUY AN RX8 SHOULD READ ON NUMEROUS SITES THAT THIS MALFUNCTION IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM THAT MAZDA IS AWARE ABOUT BUT STILL DOES NOT WISH TO POST A TSB OR A RECALL. LOVE THE CAR BUT HAVE LOST FAITH...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE EXITING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,100.

CAR WOULD LOOSE ITS POWER STEERING, NEVER ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING. RESTART ENGINE OK. HAPPENED TWICE AGAIN SINCE THEN, SAME SOLUTION. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT. COMES & GOES?? *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED. THE MAZDA DEALER SAID THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE, HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT GUARANTEE CHANGING THE PART ( $1600 DOLLARS PARTS AND LABOR ) WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN THESE CARS. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 2010. *TR

FIRST INDICATIONS, THE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT UPON STARTING. USED ANOTHER CAR THAT DAY. NEXT DAY, NO WARNING LIGHT, HOWEVER, ON THE WAY HOME, THE STEERING ABRUPTLY MADE A *FULL* TURN TO THE RIGHT VERY QUICKLY (GOING ABOUT 30MPH ON A DIRT ROAD). I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE IT RAN OFF THE ROAD - NO FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH. SINCE THEN THE FAILURE LIGHT HAS APPEARED IN INCREASING FREQUENCY TO THE POINT IT IS MOSTLY ON. WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON, THE STEERING IS ESSENTIALLY MANUAL, BUT WORKABLE. THE WORST CASE IS WHEN IT IS OFF, AND SUDDENLY GOES INTO A FAILURE MODE WITHOUT *ANY* INDICATION (I.E. THE WARNING LIGHT STAYS OFF). IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, EVEN WHEN AT A FULL STOP AND THE WHEEL TURNS BY ITSELF TO THE RIGHT. PRETTY DISCONCERTING. THE FULL SYMPTOM DESCRIPTION IS THAT IT BECOMES EXTREMELY EASY...

AS I TURNED ON MY CAR ONE TIME, THE POWER STEERING JUST DIDN'T COME ON. I THEN SHUT IT OFF, AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WORKED. AFTER THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THE POWER STEERING CEASED TO TURN ON AT ALL. IT WASN'T AS IF THE MOTOR FOR THE ELECTRIC STEERING WAS SLOWLY GOING OUT; IT WAS EITHER NIGHT OR DAY. *TR

MY MAZDA RX8 HAD POWER STEERING FAIL WHILE DRIVING MY CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL. SO NOT COOL. *TR

POWER STEERING ISSUES, FAILING, ELECTRICAL ISSUES WHERE COOLANT OVERFLOW IS LOCATED NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY. *TR

MY ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING IS GOING IN AND OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MANY 2004 RX-8 OWNERS ARE DISCUSSING ONLINE AND IN FORUMS. DEALERS AND MECHANICS KNOW OF THE PROBLEM WITH CONNECTORS AND RACKS GOING BAD BUT MAZDA HAS REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE CHRONIC PROBLEM. IT IS DANGEROUS AND COSTLY, I AM ON MY SECOND REPAIR OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PUSH MAZDA TO STEP UP AND ADDRESS THIS GROWING AND CHRONIC PROBLEM. *TR

MY POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES OFF AND ON RANDOMLY. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON MY POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK, WHICH IN MOST CASES I AM ALREADY ON THE ROAD AND THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. THE POWER STEERING COMES AND GOES, SOMETIMES IT LAST FOR A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE IT TURNS OFF BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY ITS THE RACK, WHICH I SPENT OVER $1000 TO REPLACE AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE ABOUT 15 FRIENDS WITH THIS SAME CAR AND THEY HAVE ALL HAD THE SAME ISSUE. MAZDA NEEDS TO FIX THIS BEFORE A WRECK HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONES POWER STEERING GOES OFF WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING 70 MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE. *TR

I FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM IN MY STEERING WHILE DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THE STEERING FELT VERY LIGHT AND CRISP WHEN I WOULD TURN TO THE LEFT. WHEN I WOULD RETURN TO DEAD CENTER AND THEN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, THE STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF. THE NEXT DAY WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION" LIGHT WAS ON. POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED AT THAT TIME. UPON DOING RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2004 AND 2005 RX8'S. *KB

I JUST GOT THE CAR BACK FROM DEALERSHIP THEY HAD TO PUT NEW MOTOR IN AT 67000 MILES REPLACED MOTOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER 3 COILS AND ALSO TOLD ME THEY HAD TO FLUSH IT OUT AS IT WAS FLOODED I DROVE LESS THAN 100 MILES AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT? NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THIS IS CRAZY!!!! COST ME OVER 1100.00 TO GET IT BACK AND DRIVE 2 TIMES AND NOW BROKE AGAIN THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF CRAP SHOULD HAVE DONE HOMEWORK ON IT BEFORE BUYING. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8, WHICH HAD APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES AT THE TIME, WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING IN ONE DIRECTION AND STEERING BECAME VERY LIGHT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. THIS PROBLEM DISAPPEARED THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE CAR, BUT REAPPEARED INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE POWER STEERING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. THIS WAS INTERMITTENT FOR A WHILE, AS WELL, BUT EVENTUALLY THE POWER STEERING CEASED TO FUNCTION ALTOGETHER. THESE FAILURES WERE ACCOMPANIED BY A POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT, WHICH REMAINS ILLUMINATED TO THIS DAY. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THE PHENOMENON, I WAS VERY STARTLED BY IT AND FEEL THAT, HAD THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT AN INOPPORTUNE MOMENT, IT COULD HAVE VERY WELL CONTRIBUTED TO AN ACCIDENT. *TT

POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR

VEHICLE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY DECREASES TO THE POINT OF LITTLE OR NO POWER ASSIST. MOST COMMON ON STARTS AFTER A LONG VEHICLE SOAK. SECONDARY CONCERN IS THAT THE BATTERY FAILS RAPIDLY AND REPEATEDLY, AND VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC EN ROUTE TO DEALER TO INVESTIGATE POOR POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE. ROOT CAUSE REPORTED AS A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN VEHICLE. AMPERAGE REQUEST OF POWER STEERING SYSTEM IS SO GREAT THAT CAN OVERWHELM ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, RESULTING IN POOR/NO BATTERY CHARGING AND BELIEVED CAUSE OF ON-ROAD STALL. PER MANUFACTURER SERVICE, ONLY FIX IS REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE POWER STEERING RACK. REPAIR TO BE PERFORMED WEEK OF 5/20/11; OLD PARTS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

MY MAZDA RX8 IS HAVING POWER STEERING PROBLEMS, ONE TIME IT LOST POWER STEERING WHILE I WAS DRIVING... TO MOST PEOPLE, THIS WILL BE SOMETHING PRETTY SCARY AND VERY DANGEROUS IF THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. I WOULD RECOMMEND CHECKING THIS OUT, BECAUSE THIS IS DEFINITELY A LAWSUIT JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN... *TR

VEHICLE CAN TURN LEFT ON ITS OWN WITH A FAULTY POWER STEERING RACK AND/OR CONTROL MODULE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND MAKING A TURN HE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE POWER STEERING WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 ONLY HAS 53,000 MILES ON IT AND IS AGAIN IN THE SHOP DUE TO MANUFACTURER-RELATED ENGINE FAILURE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR I'VE BEEN LEFT STRANDED IN HAZARDOUS CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE OF ENGINE FAILURE. I'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING FAILURE AND LOSS OF ENGINE COMPRESSION/ENGINE MISFIRES WHILE DRIVING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. AS A RESULT, I'M BECOMING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY, AS WELL AS FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS WHO OWN/OPERATE THIS TYPE OF MAZDA VEHICLE. PLEASE CONSIDER ORGANIZING A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST MAZDA TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR PUTTING MANY VALUABLE LIVES AT RISK. *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...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 02/26/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. UPDATED 06/10/10.*JB

THIS IS REGARDING A 2004 MAZDA RX-8 WITH ABOUT 65,000 MILES. POWER STEERING ON CAR WORKS OK WHEN CAR FIRST STARTED. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES (AND USUALLY BY THE TIME I HIT THE HIGHWAY) THE CAR WILL JERK ITSELF TO THE LEFT AND BACK TO THE RIGHT VERY SHARPLY, ALMOST CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS. AFTER JERK, STEERING LIGHT WILL LIGHT ON DASHBOARD AND NO POWER STEERING ASSIST IS AVAILABLE. POWER STEERING HAS ALSO GONE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, ALSO ALMOST CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I FOUND OUT THROUGH RX8CLUB.COM THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, AND THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE UPWARD OF $2,000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF POWER STEERING ON 2004 MAZDA RX-8 WITH APPROXIMATELY 25K MILES OF USE. PREVIOUSLY, POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY BUT WOULD CORRECT ITSELF AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT. WE REQUESTED SERVICING OF THIS PROBLEM IN APRIL OF 2008 BUT IT DIDN'T SHOW UP IN THE COMPUTER SCAN OF THE CAR SO THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US TO BRING IT BACK WHILE THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING. HOWEVER, IT WASN'T POSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SAFELY WHILE THE FAILURE WAS OCCURRING AND IT WOULD CORRECT ITSELF ONCE THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND RESTARTED. VERY UNSAFE TO HAVE THE STEERING FAIL/SEIZE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN OPERATION. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL JULY 12, 2009 WHEN IT FAILED COMPLETELY. CAR IS CURRENTLY BACK IN THE DEALER SHOP WAITING FOR PARTS THAT CONTAIN A SENSOR THAT SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM TO BE SHIPPED FROM JAPAN. THE REPAIR WILL REQUIRE REMOVING...

FAILURE OF POWER STEERING ON 2004 MAZDA RX-8. POWER STEERING SHUTS DOWN INTERMITTENTLY DURING DRIVING. STEERING THEN PULLS TO THE RIGHT DURING DRIVING AND AT A STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL ROTATE ON IT'S OWN. DEALER HAS REPAIRED SUSPECTED SHORT IN WIRING HARNESS, CLEANED HARNESS GROUND CONNECTIONS, REPLACED A SENSOR IN THE POWER STEERING CIRCUIT. CAR IS CURRENTLY BACK IN THE DEALER SHOP WAITING FOR A NEW HARNESS "PIGTAIL" TO REPLACE ON THE ELECTRICAL STEERING HARNESS. CONTACTED MAZDA AND THEY SAID SINCE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, IT'S MY PROBLEM--EVEN THOUGH I CONSIDER THE CAR UNSAFE FOR DRIVING. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2004 MAZDA RX8 FROM AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP IN DORAL, FL WITH 53M MILES ON IT, STILL UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY & I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 2 YEARS.THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES (THAT IS AVERAGING ONCE A MONTH) SINCE PURCHASE, BACK FOR VARIOUS REASONS INCLUDING: ENGINE LIGHT ON, COOLANT LIGHT ON, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT AND DANGEROUS-LOCKED POWER STEERING! OF THE 8 TIMES, 4 OF THOSE ARE FOR THE POWER STEERING LOCKING ON ME, EITHER WHEN I START THE CAR, OR WHILE DRIVING, IT'S RANDOM THAT IT HAPPENS, WHEN IT 'FEELS LIKE IT'. I CAN'T TRUST THIS CAR, AND THOUGH THE SERVICE DEPT AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR IT NUMEROUS TIMES, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT SUBSIDED. THE TIMES THAT I START THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING IS NOT LOCKED, WHILE DRIVING THE WHEEL BECOMES VERY LOOSE, THEN THE CAR...

PURCHASED USED VEHICLE IN APRIL 2007, FIRST INCIDENT 8/14/2007 ENGINE STALLED (ENGINE INTERNAL FAILURE) AT 45,107 MILES ENGINE REPLACED BY MAZDA DEALERSHIP. SECOND INCIDENT SEPTEMBER 2007 POWER STEERING GOES OUT (POOR CONNECTION ON ENGINE ROOM HARNESS) CONNECTION FIXED STEERING GEAR REPLACED; THIRD INCIDENT OCTOBER 2007, STEERING PROBLEM (STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR MALFUNCTION) BROKEN WIRE REPAIRED--LEARNED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED 15 TIMES PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. *JB