2007 MAZDA RX-8 Steering Problems

I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY JOB AND THE STEERING COLUMN MOVED WHILE IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND I LEFT THE PARKING LOT AND WAS DRIVING HOME AND A PIECE OF THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE AND FELL AND HIT MY RIGHT LEG AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I CALLED MAZDA USA AND THEY HAD THE CAR PICKED UP AND TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED ON 11-14-2017 I RECEIVED A CALL ON 11-17-17 STATING THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIX THE STEERING ISSUE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD A STEERING COLUMN BREAK ON ANY VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED I HAVE A CAR THAT IS 30 YEARS OLD WITH THE ORIGINAL STEERING COLUMN IN IT IT IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN IT'S...

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, TURNING AND SOMETIMES STATIONARY, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS TURNING TO THE RIGHT WHEN AT FULL LOCK AND IS SOMETIMES VERY HARD TO STEER IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AND RELEASING DOES NOT AFFECT IT. I BELIEVE THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING RACK IS THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE.

WE HAVE OWNED THIS 2007 MAZDA RX-8 FOR 3 YEARS. WE BOUGHT IT FOR OUR SON TO DRIVE, AND HE DRIVES IT DAILY TO WORK AND TO SCHOOL. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET HAS BROKEN 3 TIMES, AND EACH TIME CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTY IN SAFELY DRIVING THE CAR HOME, OR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO BEING IN AN ACCIDENT DRIVING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR THE SECOND TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. EACH TIME THE BRACKET HAS BROKEN, THE DEALER (HILEY MAZDA, HUNTSVILLE, AL) REPLACED IT FOR NO COST, AS MAZDA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE PART TO 8 YEARS / 100,000 MILES. BUT, EACH TIME THEY REPLACED THE BRACKET WITH EXACT SAME PART. SO, THE SAME INADEQUATE DESIGN FAILS AGAIN AND AGAIN. I BELIEVE MAZDA SHOULD HAVE REDESIGNED THIS PART AFTER IT FIRST BECAME APPARENT IT WAS PROBLEM, NOT JUST REPLACE IT WITH THE...

THE POWER STEERING ON THE CAR STARTED TO REDUCE AND BECOME MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEN JUST OFF OF CENTER. TURN FURTHER AND IT WILL REGAIN ITS POWER BACK TO CENTER. IT THEN WILL DO IT AGAIN WHEN YOU START ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT TURNING. *TR I AM AFRAID THAT IT MAY GO OUT COMPLETELY WHICH I HAVE HEARD HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER SIMILAR CARS. THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED AS IT CAN BE VERY SERIOUS AS IT CAN OCCUR AT ANY SPEEDS AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THANKS