The electric power steering randomly pulls hard to one side while driving. There are brief spasms of forceful jerks each jerk is 1-2 seconds the series of jerks lasts 10-20 seconds and usually stops with power steering failure all while driving.
2004 Mazda RX-8: pulls to one side
7 of the 490 complaints about the 2004 Mazda RX-8 describe pulls to one side.
- owner complaints
- 7
- of this car's complaints
- 1%
- typical mileage
- 91,000
- recalls
- 0
What owners say
Takata recall after completing the "interim repair" the cars power steering will intermittently go out without warning, or pull to the right electronically and forcefully with no notice, this is a seriously dangerous problem as, in addition to the car pulling hard right without notice, sometimes while correcting for the pull the power steering comes on without notice forcing the steering correction to swerve left. Also the ABS and tcl lights turn on an off intermittently since the 'interim repair' . The power-steering will go in and out while stopped, in motion in either city or highway, and while going in a straight line or while turning. ' this is going to kill someone
Power steering suddenly started to pull to the right then went out.
Car turns left way too easy. Also car will pull left really hard and jerk out of my hands at higher speeds.
Failure of power steering on 2004 mazda rx-8. Power steering shuts down intermittently during driving. Steering then pulls to the right during driving and at a stop, the steering wheel will rotate on it's own. Dealer has repaired suspected short in wiring harness, cleaned harness ground connections, replaced a sensor in the power steering circuit. Car is currently back in the dealer shop waiting for a new harness "pigtail" to replace on the electrical steering harness. Contacted mazda and they said since car is out of warranty, it's my problem--even though I consider the car unsafe for driving.
Drivers side oil cooler lines have metal section and connector as they pass from engine compartment to wheel well. This metal section has corroded through and produced a hole in the metal oil line allowing engine oil to be sprayed onto brake system, front tire and rim, and consequently under rear tire track. This resulted in hard pulling to right (passenger side) under stiff braking, skipping and loss of traction of front left (drivers) tire due to oil soaked condition and loss of traction of left rear tire from tracking in oil pattern. Mazda canada has issued special service program (ssp 76) for this issue. Mazda europe has initiated a similar program, there is no us recall or ssp as of this date. Ssp replaces effected parts and provides for redesigned wheel well liner to protect oil fittings from corrosive road salts and water.
Engine failure, purchased car 3/11/2006, a couple of weeks later the car started idling roughly, then stalling, the computer module has been replaced twice, the engine once, I still have problems with acceleration, the last incident happened last week 7/29/2007, I was in the center lane pulling out into the passing lane and the car lost all power but did not stall my head was slammed forward almost hitting the stirring wheel and a few seconds later shot off like a rocket slamming my head back against the drivers seat, causing my neck to whip lash I have had a bad headache since, and I was almost hit by a big diesel truck. The car is in the shop again getting the oil and tires changed, and also getting checked for this problem but they are saying they could not find anything on the road test. Well it happens to me quite often when I go to pass someone on the interstate, it hesitates before it kicks in and someone is going to get killed. I am paying for a car that spends more time in the shop than out. I bought it 3/11/06 it stayed in the shop almost continually until 7/18/2006, and I was making payments. Now it is starting all over again with the rough idle and hesitation. I am getting to the point that I want my money back and I'll give them the car back. I am getting to scared to drive it. Now I find out today about other recalls the control arm I was not aware of, I guess that is why my car is starting to pull hard to the right, now I have to have that taken care of. I have moved 350 miles away and I can't leave until my car gets fixed and out of the shop, this is starting to be bull!!! Someone needs to do something I have a friend who also has an rx8 we purchased ours on the same day and she is having the same problems and hers is a 2006 where mine is a 2004, so mazda hasn't fixed the problem.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems
- Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight...
- If a vehicle has body vibration or steering wheel shimmy while driving and the root
- Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight...
- Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3" even when driving straight...
- Summary to be provided on a future date.
- Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight...
- Mazda modular diagnostic system (m-mds) steering wheel angle sensor module self test shows fail
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2004 Mazda RX-8 pulling
Is pulls to one side a common problem on the 2004 Mazda RX-8?
7 of 490 owner complaints about the 2004 Mazda RX-8 (1%) mention pulls to one side.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2004 Mazda RX-8?
There are 0 recalls and 13 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2004 Mazda RX-8
Stalling 50Engine failure 38Check engine light 29Power steering loss 28Loss of power 24Grinding brakes 22Won't start 21Ball joint 13Jerking 13Fuel pump 11Fuel smell 9Misfire 9Won't shift 9Overheating 8No deployment 6Fire or smoke 5
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