10 of the 212 complaints about the 2005 Mazda RX-8 are about the braking system — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 5,000 miles.
10
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES
My cars steering will loosen up and stiffen up randomly also the traction control will randomly engage and the tire pressure lights and another light
NHTSA complaint #11421597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET BREAKS AT THE SPOTWELDS WHICH ALSO BREAKS THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AND LUKILY THIS BROKE WHILE STARTING THE CAR
NHTSA complaint #11267976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
THE EXTERNAL OIL LINES AND CONNECTION FITTINGS FOR THE ROTORY ENGINE LUBRICATION POINTS AND COOLING HAVE CORRODED AWAY FORM ROAD SALT IN MINNESOTA. DRIVING CAUSES ENGINE OIL TO BE SPRAYED ON FRONT WHEEL AND BRAKES CAUSING FRONT BRAKE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE PROBLEMS. THE CORROSION WAS SO BAD THAT EACH ATTEMPT TO FIX AN OIL LEAK ENDED UP BRAKING MORE CORRODED OIL FITTINGS OFF. THE TOTAL REPAIR IN 2017 ENDED BEING OVER $1,000 DOLLARS FOR JUST PARTS PLUS LABOR. MAZDA HAS PREVIOUSLY PAID TO FIX ALL MAZDA RX-8S SOLD TO PEOPLE IN CANADA BECAUSE OF ROAD SALT CORROSION FAILURES OF THESE SAME OIL LINES. WHY DOESN'T THE USA HAVE CONSUMER PROTECTION LIKE CANADIAN CITIZENS HAVE! I PAID A REPAIR SHOP BY ME $1,037.81 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MECHANIC LOST ABOUT ANOTHER $1,000 IN AFTER MARKET FITTINGS AND HOSES PLUS TIME, BUT EACH FIX BROKE MORE FITTINGS. HE FINALLY BOUGHT ALL NEW FACTORY PARTS AND SOLD THEM TO ME FOR COST AND ONLY CHARGED US FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS LABOR. TONY BECK,S AUTO REPAIR IN PINEISLAND MN JUST COULDN'T CHARGE ANYONE WHAT IT REALLY COST HIM. US RX-8 OWNERS ARE GETTING SCREWED BY YOU NOT RECALLING THIS OIL LINE FAILURE PROBLEM. THESE OIL LINES AND FITTINGS GO ALL AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE AND ARE HIGH PRESSURE 1/2 INCH ID HYDRAULIC LINES. HOW CAN OIL SPRAYING FRONT DISC BRAKES AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE! STEVE W. FROM MINNESOTA, WE HAVE LOTS OF ROAD SALT JUST LIKE CANADA, THAT'S WHY THE I-35 BRIDGE FELL DOWN. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THESE SALT CORROSION CAUSED OIL LEAKS! CAUSED MASSIVE OIL LEAKS THAT CAN ALLOW ENGINE
NHTSA complaint #11053886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
CLUTCH PEDAL KEEPS BRAKING EVERY 20,000 MILES. :-/ THIS IS THE 4RTH REPLACEMENT I AM LOOKING AT, CURRENTLY IS BRAKING GRADUALLY. AIR BAGS SENSORS KEEP FAILING EVERY 30,000 MILES AND PASSENGER AIRBAG IS CRACKING.
NHTSA complaint #10960021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2005 RX-8 LEAKING OIL COOLER LINE FAULTS BREAKS CAR VEERED OFF THE ROAD ONTO RIGHT SIDE GRASS UNDER HEAVY BREAKING DUE TO SUDDENLY SLOWING TRAFFIC. NORMALLY, CAR BREAKS VERY WELL, LINEARLY, AND STRAIGHT. AFTER CHECKING WHAT CAUSED THIS, I FOUND THE ENTIRE LEFT UNDERSIDE SPRAYED WITH ENGINE OIL. OIL CAME FROM RUSTED ENGINE COOLER LINES LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL. ABOUT A 10 SECOND ENGINE RUN SHOWED A STREAM OF OIL SPRAYING TOWARDS THE TIRE THROUGH A CRACK IN THE RUSTED COOLING LINE. UNDERBODY, LEFT FRONT TIRE, AND BREAKS WERE COVERED WITH OIL. THERE WAS NO COLLISION ONLY BECAUSE THE AREA WHERE CAR WAS PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE HAD NO OBSTACLES. LUCKY ME! CAR IS OBVIOUSLY NOT DRIVABLE AS ENGINE OIL IS VISIBLY LEAKING AND BREAKS ARE COMPROMISED WITH GREASY OIL RESIDUE. APPARENTLY CANADA HAS A RECALL FOR THESE FAULTY COOLING LINES - 'RX-8 OIL COOLER HOSE ' SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM (SSP) 76' ' SEEMS UTTERLY APPROPRIATE AS IN AN UNLUCKY SITUATION THIS COULD TURN OUT FATAL!
NHTSA complaint #10413105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I'M GOING IN TODAY FOR THE THIRD TIME BECAUSE MY AC CONTINUES TO MAKE A NOISE WHEN THE FAN IS BLOWING. I CANT EVEN BEGIN TO LIST ALL OF THE PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR. JUST TO NAME A FEW I'M ON MY SECOND ENGINE, NEW BRAKES, BATTERY AND TIRES BEFORE 40K MILES AND I WAS TOLD BY THREE DIFFERENT SHOPS THAT SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG WITH THE BRAKES BUT MAZDA CLAIMS OTHER WISE. I'VE HAD A TWO NEW RADIATORS AND MY DRIVER WINDOW WENT OUT ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE FROM THE VISOR FALLING OFF DURING THE HOT SUMMER BECAUSE IT JUST MELTED. HOW DOES A "SUN VISOR" MELT. I'VE HAD THE SHIFTING PADDLES REPLACED BECAUSE THEY JUST DIDN'T WORK AND I DON'T EVEN REALLY USE THEM, THE GAS CAP LOCK BROKE AND I HAD TO PRY IT OPEN SINCE THE EJECT NO LONGER WORKED... I THINK YOU GET THE POINT AND I DIDN'T EVEN MENTION SOME OF THE BI ITEMS. I'VE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH A CAR IN MY LIFE. I CANT WAIT UNTIL I CAN SELL IT OR MAYBE ILL GET LUCKY AND IT WILL IMPLODE. IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME AT THIS POINT. THIS CAR IS JUNK!!! I'M GOING BACK TO HONDA.
NHTSA complaint #10249650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX8. THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT 6 TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
NHTSA complaint #10187214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKES (DUE TO TSB) REPAIRED THREE TIMES NOW. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 4K MILES AND THE BRAKES SQUEAKED, THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THEM AND WITHIN 1 WEEK THEY BEGAN TO SQUEAK AGAIN SO I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY CLEANED & ADJUSTED THEM. THEY STARTED SQUEAKING AGAIN I TOOK TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS AND PADS AGAIN DUE TO THE BACKPLATE AND PAD WAS SOAKED WITH OIL.
NHTSA complaint #10185550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED BY DEALER DUE TO DEFECTIVE FRONT BRAKES. BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED AND VEHICLE IS NOW EXPERIENCING SAME BRAKE PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10140403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10128671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.