2007 MAZDA RX-8 Structurebody Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A STANDING ISSUE; HOWEVER, IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED PER A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V354000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON I4, AND WENT TO SHIFT FROM 4TH GEAR TO 5TH GEAR; I HEARD A SNAP AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I THEN HAD ABOUT 2 INCHES OF TRAVEL IN MY CLUTCH PEDAL. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BREAKING IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MAZDA RX8S. NO, I DO NOT HAVE A HEAVY DUTY CLUTCH. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD AREA IS ALL CRACKED UP AD SPLIT OPEN. THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT TO BE CRACKED OR SPLIT. THE CRACKING FOLLOWING THE SHAPE OF THE AIRBAG THAT IS UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. IT HAS VERY JAGGED EDGES AND EXPOSES THE AIRBAG TO EXCESS LIGHT AND MOISTURE BY BEING SPLIT OPEN IN SO MANY PLACES. THE DASHBOARD STRUCTURE IS NOW WEAKENED DUE TO ALL OF THE CRACKS. AN EXPLOSION FROM THE AIRLOCK WOULD BE MORE POWERFUL THAN NECESSARY BECAUSE IT NO LONGER NEEDS TO BREAK THROUGH THE PLASTIC. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. DEALERS ONLY STATE IT AS A COSMETIC CONCERN AND DO NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2007 MAZDA RX-8 NEW FROM A MAZDA DEALER. I STARTED NOTICING THAT THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE STARTING CRACKING AROUND THE AREA WHERE THE AIR BAG IS LOCATED. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO OCEAN MAZDA AND TO MAZDA USA. NO ONE TOOK THE TIME TO CALL ME BACK. I AM VERY UPSET AND CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING SINCE THE DASH IS CRACKED OR WORST CASE SCENARIO THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY WHEN IN A COLLISION. THIS VERY IS IN GREAT CONDITION WITH VERY LOW MILES AND SHOULD NOT HAVE A DASHBOARD THAT ONLY CRACKS AROUND THE PERFORATION LINES OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. *TR