36 of the
1,004 complaints filed about the Mazda RX-8
are about the other systems —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
Safety concerns of Sam Leman Mazda located in blooomington IL installed a radiator from auto zone instead of using Mazda-approved parts. Sam Lemans modified other vehicle components to make the auto zone part fit and initially suggested using zip ties. My vehicle was held from Nov 5-25, 2025 while the dealership attempted to figure out how to alter components to fit the Auto Zone part - my choices were use the (1) Auto Zone part or (2) supply my own. Mazda corporate was then involved due to the unnecessary vehicle modifications due to Sam Lemans using a non approved Mazda part (Auto Zone radiator). Sam Leman compromised safety & my vehicle has been compromised due to component alternations and non Mazda approved parts. The auto zone part was not designed for my specific car and could fail during normal driving conditions. By altering the fan housing to make the unauthorized Mazda part fit, Sam Lemans created a risk of mechanical failure or accident. I am have a video showing the dealership discussing “zip tie” repair to hold the weight of the radiator (but this site will not allow me to upload a .mov video for your review only a photo of the video is there an alternate email I can send the video for review of Sam Leman’s mechanic discussing using zip ties to)? I am requesting NHTSA review this as a safety risk due to the wrong part, alteration of other parts, and non mazda approved part used by an authorized Mazda dealership, even after Mazda corporate was notified.
NHTSA complaint #11703597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I NOW HAVE REPLACEDCLUTCH PEDAL THE FORTH TIME. IM WRITING THIS TO SEE IFI CAN STILL GET ONE FACTORY REPAIR OF THE PART THE PEDAL WILL BREAK IN WELD SPOT REGARDLESS OF MY TRYING NOT PUT TO MUCH PRESSURE.
NHTSA complaint #11405160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PASSENGER DASH COVER HAS LOST INTEGRITY/CRACKED ALONG THE LINES WHERE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS AND AM CONCERNED THAT THE FORCE OF POTENTIAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD BE AFFECTED AND NOT WORK AS DESIGNED OR DEPLOY WITH TOO MUCH FORCE TO CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE OCCUPANT IF THE AIRBAG COVER SHOULD FLY OFF UPON DEPLOYMENT. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE DASH OF MANY MAZDA VEHICLES AND SHOULD AT A MINIMUM BE REVIEWED. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS AND THE AIRBAGS RECALL HAS RECENTLY BEEN PERFORMED BY A MAZDA DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #11278260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I TOOK MY RX IN TO GET POWER STEERING ISSUES FIXED JUST TO FIND OUT THAT THE OIL COOLER LINES WERE RUSTING OUT WHICH IS ALSO A RECALL IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD BUT NOT THE US. IN THE UPPER STATES THIS CAN BE A MASSIVE PROBLEM IF OIL STARTS SPRAYING ALL OVER THE MOTOR AND THE GROUND IT COULD CAUSE ENVIRONMENTAL, AND SAFETY HAZARDS TO OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. IF GONE UNNOTICED IT COULD EASILY CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE AND POTENTIAL FIRES FROM THE MOTOR WHILE ON THE ROAD WHICH NO ONE WANTS, THERE'S NO REASON THIS RECALL SHOULD NOT APPLY TO THE US, ATLEAST THE NORTHERNMOST STATES.
NHTSA complaint #11192464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BRACKET FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAS BROKEN 4 TIMES. THE MILAGE IS CURRENTLY 81,000. I'VE CONTACTED MAZDA CORP AND THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM NEW. THEY'RE SAYING UNLESS THERE'S A RECALL WE HAVE TO KEEP BUYING A NEW PEDAL/BRACKET ASSEMBLY. THE METAL THEY USED IS SOFT AND WEAK CAUSING YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CLUTCH. PEDAL GETS STUCK TOO. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND AT IDLE. DANGEROUS GOING UP OR DOWN HILLS EVEN AT INTERSECTIONS IT'LL DISABLE YOUR ABILITY TO MOVE. WHEN MAZDA DOES A REPAIR THE PUT THE SAME WEAK JUNK NOT BOTHERING TO REINFORCE OR EVEN FIX THEIR PROBLEM. LOOK IT UP ON THE WEB. JUST ABOUT EVERYONE WITH A MANUAL RX8 HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11181493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I PRESSED MY CARS CLUTCH TO CHANGE GEARS (6 SPEED MANUAL ) WHILE DRIVING ON MY REGULAR SUNDAY DRIVE IN A CITY STREET, I HEARD AND FELT A VERY LOUD EXPLOSION AND NOISES OF METAL PIECES EJECTING FROM UNDER MY CAR. I WAS IN THE 60KM/H ZONE SO WAS NOT SPEEDING OR GOING FAST SUCH AS ON A FREEWAY ETC. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY WHILE ROLLING AS THE ENGINE HAD BEEN DISABLED IN THE EXPLOSION. I COULD FEEL MY LEFT FOOT WAS IN EXTREME PAIN. MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I FEARED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN UP. MY CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED REGULARLY WITH NO MODIFICATIONS. WHAT I DISCOVERED WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD DETONATED, THE GEARBOX BELL HOUSING WAS TORN APART (GOT PICTURES TO PROVE IT) AND I FOUND PARTS OF THE CLUTCH IN MANY TINY PIECES ALL OVER THE ROADS. THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED BY MAZDA 30,000KMS AGO AND AT A MAZDA DEALERSHIP USING OEM CLUTCH KIT. THE FORCE OF THE GEARBOX EXPLOSION WAS SO GREAT THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL IMPACTED MY LEFT FOOT AND SHATTERED THE BONES OF THE LEFT FOOT IN PIECES (YES I WAS WEARING THICK SOLED SNEAKERS) AND CAUSED SEVERE TRAUMA TO MY FOOT IN GENERAL. AT THE HOSPITAL, THE SURGEONS WORDS WERE " IT LOOKS REALLY BAD". I WAS OPERATED ON AND TITANIUM PLATES AND 4 SCREWS WERE INSERTED TO TRY TO HOLD MY SHATTERED BONES IN PLACE. 8 MONTHS AND A LOT OF HOSPITAL VISITS LATER, I AM STILL RECOVERING FROM THE DAY. I HAD FURTHER SURGERY FEW WEEKS AGO TO PERFORM A BONE GRAFT BECAUSE ONE BREAK WASN'T HEALING. I HAVE APPROACHED MAZDA REGIONAL HEAD OFFICE. INITIALLY MAZDA CONTACTED ME VIA PHONE ASKING FOR DETAILS OF THE CRASH. I SENT THEM PHOTOS VIA EMAIL. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM SINCE. I THEN ALSO CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY PROMISED TO RING BACK AND THEY TOO, HAVE STOPPED. IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT TO FIND A LAWYER WHO CAN SEE THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM, THAT A VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BLOW UP, OR CATCH FIRE ETC NO MATTER WHAT AGE IT IS. HELP!
NHTSA complaint #11175123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE RING/ASSEMBLY HOLDING THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR CRACKED WITH NORMAL USE (PUTTING THE VISOR DOWN (NO EXCESS FORCE WAS USED) AND THE VISOR FELL INTO THE DRIVER'S LINE OF VISION, OBSCURING VISION. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO PUT THE VISOR BACK UP AGAIN. THE RING FELL OUT OF THE CAR INTERIOR.
NHTSA complaint #11114136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKEN UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. I WENT TO PUSH THE CLUTCH IN TO DOWNSHIFT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO OVER TAKE A SLOWER VEHICLE AND IT SNAPPED WITH AN AUDIBLE "POP" AND I COULDNT SHIFT INTO THE LOWER GEAR AND MY RPMS, WENT TO IDLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. HAD IT BROKEN AT A DIFFERENT TIME, I COULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED INTO A CERTAIN GEAR AND HA TO BREAK FAST OR CRASH RISKING THE LIVES OF MY OCCUPANTS AND THE OCCUPANTS OF ANOTHER VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #11109969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DEFECT KNOWN TO MAZDA TO THE EXTENT OF THEM ISSUING A RECALL (OR SSP) IN THE CANADIAN MARKET DUE TO USE OF CORROSIVES AND EXCESSIVE WET SEASONS CAUSING BUILD UP ON AND CORROSION OF THE OIL COOLER LINES. MAZDA CLEARLY STATED IN THE CANADIAN SSP (#76) THAT EXTENSIVE CORROSION COULD CAUSE A LEAK AND/OR LOSS OF PRESSURE, AND KNOWING THAT A LOSS OF PRESSURE OR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OIL WHILE THE CAR WAS IN OPERATION WOULD CAUSE DRASTIC MECHANICAL ENGINE FAILURE BY WAY OF BURNING OUT THE SEALS/ROTORS/BEARINGS AND EVENTUAL SEIZURE OR TOTAL LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN THE MOTOR. THE LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE DUE TO CORROSION DIRECTLY RESULTING FROM THIS CAUSED MY APEX SEALS TO OVERHEAT AND NO LONGER PROVIDE A SEAL TO ALLOW THE MOTOR TO HOLD COMPRESSION. DUE TO THIS FAILURE DIRECTLY CAUSED BY THE KNOWN DEFECT, AND THE FACT THAT THE ISSUE WAS PUT IN PLACE FOR CANADA DUE TO THEIR HIGH PROPENSITY FOR EXTENDED WET SEASONS AND HIGH USE OF CORROSIVES TO ALLEVIATE WINTERY CONDITIONS ON THE ROADWAYS, MAZDA SHOULD ALSO HAVE ISSUED REGIONAL OR CASE-BY-CASE RECALLS OF VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE THIS SAME DEFECT IN AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES THAT EXPERIENCE SIMILAR CONDITIONS. HAD I BEEN TRAVELLING ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOT ON A 25MPH CITY ROAD, I COULD HAVE EXPERIENCE A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT BECAUSE OF MY MOTOR FAILURE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER CASES OF THIS DEFECT SHOWING IN AMERICAN VEHICLES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FROM NEAR ME (IN NEW ENGLAND) TO CALIFORNIA THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED ONLINE. I CAN CONTACT THE LICENSED MECHNIC WHO DEALT WITH THE VEHICLE FOR COPIES OF HIS WORK ORDERS, AND I HAVE RECEIPTS TO PROVE THAT I PURCHASED OIL COOLER LINES AS REPLACEMENTS BEFORE I KNEW OF THE LOSS OF COMPRESSION AND RUINED MOTOR. MAZDA USA WAS OF NO HELP IN ALLEVIATING THE PROBLEM, AND I AM NOW OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON A VEHICLE THAT I HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED BEFORE THE EVENT OCCURRED
NHTSA complaint #11089022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I PURCHASE THE CAR ON JULY 21 2017. THE AC HAS NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. NOW THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THIS TO GET FIX. I WAS WONDERING IF SOME CAN HELP ME OUT WITH THIS. BEFORE I GIVE THIS CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAN KEEP THE CAR. I'M NOT PAYING 1.900.00 TO HAVE THE CAR FIX. THANK YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET THIS FIX!
NHTSA complaint #11024971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GOOD MORNING, I HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS LETTERS INFORMING ME THAT I HAVE A RECALL ON MY MAZDA. IT IS THE "FUEL LEAK AT FUEL PUMP RINGS AND FUEL PUMP DISCHARGE PIPE 1017E" RECALL. I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING THEM FOR THE PAST YEAR OR SO. EVERY TIME I CHECK THE NHTSA WEBSITE OR THE MAZDARECALLINFO.COM WEBSITE, IT SAYS "REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE". I AM CONCERNED WITH MY SAFETY AT THIS POINT AND AM WONDERING JUST WHY THERE IS NO "REMEDY" YET AVAILABLE? IT SEEMS TO BE AN IMPORTANT RECALL, IN MY OPINION.
NHTSA complaint #11015689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CLUTCH PEDAL CRACKED IT'S AT THE SHOP AND JUST GOT DIAGNOSED THAT IT'S CRACKED ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY NEAR THE FIRE WALL. JUST GOT OFF THE FREEWAY WAS SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP PUSHED MY CLUTCH PEDAL IN AND HEARD A CRACK POP SOUND THEN HAD LOT OF PLAY IN MY PEDAL
NHTSA complaint #10992343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DASHBOARD THAT COVERS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG HAS BEEN CRACKING IN THE OUTLINE OF THE AIRBAG SINCE PRIOR TO 10/4/2012. MAZDA SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT. I'VE ATTACHED MY 10/4/2012 REQUEST FOR AN ESTIMATE OF REPAIR, BUT I DID NOT GET IT REPAIRED. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS DEFECT. I'VE ALSO ATTACHED A PICTURE OF THE DASHBOARD AS OF TODAY. I AM AFRAID IT IS GOING TO BURST OPEN AND INJURE OR KILL SOMEONE.
NHTSA complaint #10986337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PASSENGER SIDE DASH NEAR AIRBAG AREA (ABOVE GLOVE BOX VISUALLY) IS CRACKING HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF THE PASSENGER, PREMATURE RUPTURE OF AIRBAG, RANDOM DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG. GARAGE KEPT CAR. CRACK HORIZONTAL HAS OVER TIME PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. VERTICAL CRACK BEGAN 12.13.16. IN GARAGE. HAVE APPOINTMENT WITH MAZDA DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR 16V-354-BUT RECALL PAPERWORK DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE AREA(S) OF DASH INCLUDED WITH REPAIR THAT WILL RESOLVE ISSUE AND POTENTIAL HAZARDS-INCLUDING ENCASEMENT OF AIRBAG. RECALL NOTICE DOES NOT ARTICULATE POTENTIAL PARTS ASSOCIATED. "PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG INFLATOR" IS ALL DESCRIBED.
NHTSA complaint #10936068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, WENT TO SHIFT UP INTO A HIGHER GEAR AND UPON DEPRESSION THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SNAPPED AND BROKE PREVENTING ME FROM DISABLING THE TRANSMISSION AND ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO GO INTO THE NEUTRAL OR ANY OTHER POSITION. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH AND MY CAR HAS ONLY 46,135 MILES ON IT
NHTSA complaint #10914305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10908280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.