2004 Mazda RX-8 problems
Owners have filed 625 complaints about the 2004 Mazda RX-8 with NHTSA. Power train accounts for 25% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of engine and engine cooling at 17.8%.
Complaints625
Crashes23
Fires11
Injuries24
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Power train 25.0% · 156
Engine and engine cooling 17.8% · 111
Steering 13.0% · 81
Air bags 8.0% · 50
Engine 5.3% · 33
Electrical system 5.3% · 33
Fuel/propulsion system 3.4% · 21
Structure 3.2% · 20
Severity
Of those complaints, 23 describe a crash, 11 describe a fire and 24 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Filings have fallen off, 4 in the last three years against 8 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 66,936 miles.
In owners' own words
Vehicle in motion (3rd gear). Slowed to make a left turn. Depressed clutch pedal to shift into neutral. Pedal stayed on floor. I pulled it up with my foot and attempted to pump it in an effort to build pressure. With clutch depressed vehicle could not be shifted into gear unless pumped multiple times, then clutch would engage less than 2 inches of travel from floor. Pedal moves back and forth side ways as well.. Power train · reported at 82,976 miles
While shifting from 4th to 5th gear, I heard a snapping sound come from the clutch pedal, followed by the inability to shift gears because there was no pressure coming from the clutch pedal. The clutch pedal bracket had snapped, causing the pedal to move at an angle and the push rod that leads from the clutch pedal to the clutch master cylinder punctured the clutch master cylinder causing it to fail. Power train · reported at 85,000 miles
The clutch pedal (already a known problem by Mazda, but no recall has yet been announced) cracked while I was driving last year. I was on hwy 13 in minnesota and barely got control of my speed (was barely able to maintain use of the clutch) it sat until I could get it repaired, the same pedal is now craking in another spot, working on getting it repaired before it breaks again, this time will reinforce it. Power train · reported at 102,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…