2005 Mazda RX-8: complaints, problems and recalls

MAZDA RX-8: CAR WAS PARKED AT THE TOP OF A GRADUAL SLOPE, WITH PARKING BRAKE FIRMLY PULLED UP. NO MORE THAN 5 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR HAD BACKED UP INTO BOTTOM OF A DITCH. THE CAR WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF OVER $15,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE DUE TO THE FAULTY BRAKE. WITNESSES AT THE SCENE CONFIRM THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS SET.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128671 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED AN 05 MAZDA RX8 IN JAN OF THIS YEAR. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, I WAS INFORMED BY OTHER DRIVERS THAT MY DRIVER'S HEADLIGHT CAUSES THEM A DISTRACTION BECAUSE IT GLOWS BRIGHTER, AS IF THE HIGH BEAM HAS COME ON. I HAVE SEEN THIS MYSELF WHEN I DROVE ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF MINE. I TOOK THE CAR INTO SERVICE AT THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE LIGHT IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY BECAUSE THE OTHER CAR ON THE LOT DOES IT ALSO." I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO BECAUSE IT IS A SERIOUS DISTRACTION AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136733 at NHTSA ↗

DT: THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A NEW MAZDA RX8. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED WHAT THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED WAS A PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED WHILE IN PARK AND THE RPMS INCREASED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP WHICH AFFECTED THE OXYGEN SENSORS AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD ALSO LEAD TO A FUEL TANK LEAK AND ULTIMATELY A FIRE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE MAZDA DEALER. THE MAZDA DEALER NOTIFIED THE CONSUMER ABOUT A RECALL OF A SIMILAR NATURE CONCERNING THE FUEL TANK. THE MAZDA DEALER FROM WHERE THE VEHI…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137647 at NHTSA ↗

FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED BY DEALER DUE TO DEFECTIVE FRONT BRAKES. BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED AND VEHICLE IS NOW EXPERIENCING SAME BRAKE PROBLEMS. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140403 at NHTSA ↗

JUST STOPPED IN A PARKING SPOT. TEMPERATURE WAS APROX 47 DEGREES. VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY JUMPING THE CURB AND CRASHING THROUGH A CONCRETE GARBAGE CAN. APROX DAMAGE $6000 LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF THE CAR. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144138 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH, THE ANTI-SKID AND CHECK ENGINE LAMPS ILLUMINATED. AFTER THE LAMPS ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE SPEED DECREASED FROM 70MPH TO 15MPH WITHIN 8 SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD, WERE THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED WITH EASE, BUT THE ENGINE STILL REVVED HIGH AND THE LAMPS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE HOWEVER THE DEALER W…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149188 at NHTSA ↗

THE FRONT SEAT BELT IN A 2005 RX-8 WAS INSERTED INTO THE BACK SEAT RECEIVER WHERE THE BACK SEAT BELT WOULD NORMALLY GO. THE INDIVIDUAL THAT DID THIS WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE CAR AND ENDED UP BEING TRAPPED IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. WE HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT TO GET HIM OUT. WE CALLED THE MAZDA 800 ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND AFTER BEING ON HOLD FOR 20 MIN WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY RELEASE AND WOULD HAVE TO CUT THE BELT. WE WERE ALSO INFORMED THAT THE MAZDA DEALER WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS AS IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. BESID…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10156574 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL ON THE INSIDE DOOR PANEL SHOWS THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT INFORMATION AND THE VIN NUMBER, BUT THE TIRE PRESSURE AND WHEEL SIZE INFORMATION IS LEFT BLANK. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10157277 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-07-07 (July 7, 2005)

IF CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE PARKED AND THE ENGINE IS OPERATED AT HIGH RPM'S FOR AN EXCESSIVE LENGTH OF TIME, SOME OF THE PARTS AROUND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAN MELT AND PRODUCE A VARIETY OF MALFUNCTIONS. PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD-UP CAN RANGE FROM INOPERATIVE OXYGEN SENSOR, NEUTRAL SWITCH AND BACK UP LIGHTS, PROBLEMS WITH THE PARKING BRAKES, MALFUNCTIONS OF THE GAS GAUGE AND/OR POSSIBLE FUEL LEAKS RESULTING FROM HEAT DAMAGE TO THE FUEL TANK.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE PARTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

Reported: 2016-10-31 (October 31, 2016)

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RX-8 vehicles manufactured April 10, 2003, to February 18, 2008. The affected vehicles have fuel pump sealing rings that may deteriorate due to exposure to heat from the engine or exhaust pipe.

Consequence: The deteriorated seals may leak fuel, which, in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump sealing ring set and add a thermal insulation pad to the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0516J.

Reported: 2017-06-01 (June 1, 2017)

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RX-8 vehicles. Heat from the engine and the exhaust may cause the main fuel pump pipe to crack.

Consequence: If the fuel pump pipe cracks, fuel may leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump filter kit, free of charge. The recall began on July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1017E.

Reported: 2017-07-26 (July 26, 2017)

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2008 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1417G. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-382.

Reported: 2018-06-15 (June 15, 2018)

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2004-2011 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-354 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018. Mailing to the affected RX-8 owners began July 6, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 16V354.

Reported: 2018-06-15 (June 15, 2018)

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Mazda MPV vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2005-2009 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 17V-011 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018 for MPV vehicles. The recall began July 9, 2019 for RX-8 vehicles. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 17V-011.