NHTSA — Vehicle Speed Control Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
69,771 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Mazda RX-8 engine problems

engine problem

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2005 Mazda RX-8 Owner Comments

problem #11

Jul 032018

RX-8

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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

- Fairfield, CA, USA

problem #10

Aug 012014

RX-8

  • 87,000 miles
I was driving down the highway, coming to a stop from 65 mph speed because of traffic ahead, and as soon as I press the clutch pedal it snaps. The clutch pedal now moves freely making the vehicle completely inoperable. Had to call a friend to tow my car with her truck. And even though I was able to safely stop by pulling the car in neutral and stopping on the shoulder, things could have been a lot worse if I had to make an emergency stop or accelerate.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #9

Apr 192014

RX-8

  • 82,480 miles
As I'm driving my clutch pedal gets stuck when it hits the floor and wouldn't up back up on its own and I would have to use my foot to tap it under to go back up. Clutch pedal seems to be leaking oil also. Also at times when I'm wanting to change gears the shift knob would grind gears. If I'm going at a fast speed it often keeps me from shifting to fifth gear and I would have to jump to sixth instead.

- Greenfield , CA, USA

problem #8

Jun 292013

RX-8

  • 73,900 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving under normal conditions and I was about to shift into third but I heard a pop and it would not get into gear. My pedal stayed depressed and would only come up if I kicked it from behind. I did hear a few creaks when I released the clutch the day before and just thought it needed oil. Turns out the left spot weld broke and the bracket cracked on the left side.

- Union, MO, USA

problem #7

May 152012

RX-8

  • 124,000 miles
**resubmit-didn't go through** I was driving approx 65 mph on the freeway and felt a kick/jolt and had a loss of power. My speed went down10-15 mph and although I tried to accelerate it wouldn't do anything. I pulled over to the shoulder and tried to exit but car refused to go into gear. Every time I forced it into gear, the car would constantly stall and die. I had the ignition coil and spark plug replaced but now the clutch just sinks to the floor. I've tried to pump the clutch to get it into gear but this is quite dangerous on the road. My vehicle has trouble controlling its speed since there's a lag switching from 3rd to 4th, 5th to 6th since I have to pump my sunken clutch several times and fiddle with the shifter to actually kick my car into the next gear. My car is now over 100K miles and just read about the Mazda RX8 clutch pedal recall online. This malfunction/safety issue was never announced professionally by my dealer. Mazda had no problems contacting me via phone, email, mail regarding bills but for some reason failed to give me a notice regarding this defect. I've been advised that repairing this problem is quite expensive and since my car although less than 8 years old has passed the extended warranty based on mileage, I'll be stuck driving this car without proper repairs" I feel Mazda should've contacted all RX8 owners to reduce the number any future disasters. Would there be any chance to extend the warranty for the clutch pedal based on mileage over 120K? I can't afford to purchase a new car at this moment but need to still commute to work without paying for repairs that would cost me an arm and a leg at the dealer" if this is a recall issue, I would feel more safe having an authorized dealer inspect the problem rather than a cheap auto shop that isn't fully aware of specific details.

- Walnut, CA, USA

problem #6

Jan 052012

RX-8

  • 105,000 miles
While driving at 50 mph and changing gears normally the clutch pedal assembly suffered a catastrophic breakage causing the cars transmission to become inoperable. Transmission had to be damaged to be forced into neutral to come to a stop. Clutch pedal had already previously been replaced in 2009 after identical incident occurred. Mazda North America has refused to honor a warranty replacement for the most recent incident.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #5

Dec 172009

RX-8

  • 34,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Mazda RX8. While driving 35 mph, the driver side floor mat became stuck under the accelerator pedal. The failure occurred twice until the mats were taken out the vehicle. The contact called the manufacturer who took a complaint but offered no further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000 and the current mileage was approximately 54,000.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

problem #4

Jul 252009

RX-8

  • 102,000 miles
Clutch assembly faulty design. While driving and shifting gears (manual transmission) the clutch pedal assembly snaps, resulting in the loss of ability to shift gears. I was lucky and had this happen in the parking lot of my apartment complex. I hate to think what might have happened had I been on the highway with my kids in the car with me.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #3

Jan 012007

RX-8

  • 6 miles
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.

- Bedford, TX, USA

problem #2

Dec 012005

RX-8 0-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7,800 miles
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.

- Scottsdale , AZ, USA

problem #1

Sep 222005

RX-8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,300 miles
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 vehicle was purchased informed the consumer at the time of purchase or afterwards about the recall. The dealer who performed the repair was completing the recall service as instructed, but the consumer was upset that she was not notified of the recall while purchasing the vehicle. Recall repairs began in August 2005 the same month of vehicle purchase. No other previous problems occurred. This was the first incident. The consumer owned the vehicle for 26 days. The dealer could not determine if the problem was the same as described in the recall.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

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