2004 Mazda RX-8: fire, smoke or burning smell

5 of the 490 complaints about the 2004 Mazda RX-8 describe fire, smoke or burning smell.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 1%
typical mileage: 101,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 27 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Fire, smoke or burning smell by model year

2011
2
2008
1
2005
1
2004
5

What owners say

Filed Sep 11, 2017 · Engine · 150,000 miles · VA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mazda rx-8. While driving through a drive-thru window, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was pushed to a parking space. While attempting to start the vehicle, a loud pop sound emerged from the engine compartment. Immediately afterwards, smoke and flames appeared. The fire department extinguished the flames. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not evaluated by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Jun 14, 2010 · Engine · 95,000 miles · VA

I slowed to let the car infront turn. When I pressed the accelerator again, a big cloud of white smoke came out the exhaust and the engine completely died. I was able to push in the clutch and coast into a fire department. I tried to restart the car once stopped but it wouldn't restart. I could smell oil coming from the car while trying to start it which leads me to believe that the oil seal is blown. Once towed to pearson mazda, I was told that the car needed two coils and spark plugs. Once those where replaced, the car still didn't run correctly so a compression test was done in which it was found that there is no compression on the rear rotor and the motor would have to be replaced. On friday the fourth, three days after the initial incident, I was told that mazda wouldn't cover the motor under warranty because the catalytic converter was hollowed out. Now anyone that knows about cars knows that a hollowed cat won't cause an oil seal to go on a motor. It has been documented many places on the internet were these motors last as little as 20,000 miles and have to be replaced. Mazda doesn't want to take responsibility for a defective product. It has now been two weeks and mazda still has not responded to my many calls to get this reversed.

Filed Oct 21, 2009 · Engine · 101,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 mazda rx-8. He stated the vehicle hesitated to start and that while driving it failed to operate at minimal speed. He also stated the vehicle would not accelerate properly. The check engine warning light illuminated and he noticed smoke coming from under the hood and the middle interior console. An independent mechanic stated that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The manufacturer stated that there was a previous campaign pertaining to the same failures; however, the repairs were made with the original owner. The contact is responsible for paying the repair cost. The contact stated the part was reprogrammed but not replaced as relayed to him by the manufacturer. No repairs had been made. The failure and current mileages were under 101,000.

Filed Dec 24, 2008 · Engine · 37,250 miles · CA · fire

Engine light came on with no noticeable problems. Called dealer who advised bringing it in. On way to dealership, approx. 4 miles, car began to misfire, producing smoke from exhaust pipes. By the time I pulled into the dealership, smoke was coming from every area of underside of car, as well as interior. Wife following said flames were coming from both exhaust pipes. Car only has 37,000 miles, and all dealer servicing were done since purchase of vehicle. After 2 weeks of contact with home office, mazda has agreed to pay for repairs of exhaust system, but I am liable for physical damage to car which includes melted carpeting, spark plugs, etc. Was told both coils were the cause of problem.

Filed Jun 25, 2008 · Engine, Fuel system · 105,000 miles · TX · fire

The 2004 rx8 has internal seals fail prematurely. This causes the engine to "blow" by a loss of compression in one of the two rotor chambers. The problem being the car with still run with half power. I continued to drive to find help off the highway. The rotor that is not working is dumping gas into the catalytic converter. By the time I parked, I could smell burning fiber and plastic and the exhaust shot out several large chunks of red hot ceramic material. The catalytic converter was bright orange and the entire underside of my car is melted. Looking on internet under "2004 rx 8 engine failure" I have seen several other stories with similar results but worse. Is it possible that the fuel tank could explode with such heat so near if you continued to drive. This happens anywhere from 12,000 miles to 100,000 miles and beyond. Mazda knows of the engine defect and has extended the warranty on the motor as of may 2008. My car is at hancock mazda in dallas. They said damage amounted to $9,500.00 from heat.