2005 Mazda RX-8: engine failure

Filed May 1, 2018 · Electrical, Steering · 94,000 miles · MO

I had many recalls done last year. Now, today, oliver at mazda corporate said that joe machens dealerships aren't equipped to have done the work properly. Recalls: 16v793, 17v‑354 & 355, front end stearing from inappropriate caulking of ball joint , engine replaced twice, oil mixing with coolant, again, and now my alarm goes off as soon as I start it. Joe machens told me to remove the battery. A new lithium battery is being developed by mazda because rotary engines can't use a regular battery. They had my car for six weeks last year, august, and kept yelling that they didn't have the new, correct parts. My stearing is difficult at times and they never told me about the recall concerning this. The seals deteriorated making issues. Now they are making new gaskets, rings, etc. To be heat resistant. They are fighting me, again, while they have admitted my car needs proper fixing with proper parts from inappropriate work done last year. One corporate worker said maybe a new engine should have been done with proper parts. Yet not at a dealership, at a mechanical shop that knows how to work on rotory engines. My car was parked in my lot. I had my oil checked to have fluids changed with valvoline because of their offer for 150,000 miles on engine if using their oil. I couldn't go forward with this because of the same issues . Oil foamy, alarm goes off, faulty light they knew about also. It worked before they did recall work on it. It is not safe for fire hazard, stearing difficulty, goes through a lot of oil since they worked on it. Ignition switch recall they never did. Were supposed to contact me when parts arrived. I will need to fax you paperwork. Many pages. Also shows how they x'd out one recall concerning gaskets. I couldn't check the boxes as I wished to report.

Filed Feb 21, 2018 · Steering · 109,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda rx-8. While driving 65 MPH, the contact noticed that the power steering indicator illuminated as the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the highway. The vehicle was turned off and then restarted approximately 20 times before the contact was able to regain full control. The dealer (midlands mazda, 655 broad river rd, columbia, sc 29210) stated that the vehicle was known for having a ball joint issue and it could possibly be due to the rack and pinion. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.

Filed Oct 21, 2015 · Engine · 123,000 miles · FL

There is a flaw in the mazda rx8 engine. It is why they stopped making them in 2011. The engines have bad apex seals. As a result - the seals blow around 70 thousand miles and the engine is useless. Mazda replaced my engine in 2011. However - it does not solve the problem. The engine still shuts down in traffic. This is extremely dangerous. When you are coming to a stop or slowing down the engine will just shut off. It has also shut off when I attempted to pass in the left lane while accelerating on the highway. It also has something called a hot non-start - this means - it will not start when the engine is hot. You have to wait 20 minutes for the car to cool before it can start. If there is no emergency lane when your car shuts down - you are in trouble and in a very dangerous situation,. I have been stuck numerous times in traffic and then the car unable to start. Also as a result of this hot non-start- you have to fuel your car with it running or you will have to sit and wait at the gas pump for 20 minutes before it can start. This has occurred before they replaced my engine from 2009 thru 2011 and now with a new engine from 2012 thru 2015 they also need to be investigated for fraud. I leased my car for 3 years. I then purchased it and financed it for 5 years in 2008. Mazda knew these engines were flawed - but they were still selling them to people when this engine issue has been around since 2005. The car is dangerous to drive. Also - the apex seals can blow when you are driving the which means the car will shut down in traffic as well. I am not alone - search mazda rx8 engine issues on google - everyone has the problem.

Filed Jul 17, 2013 · Steering · 106,000 miles · MS

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda rx8. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was stated that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the problem persisted. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.

Filed Feb 14, 2013 · Engine · 49,814 miles · NY

I went to start my rx8 and it would not start. I called aaa to have it jumped, thinking it was a battery problem. The aaa employee sent to jump the car could not jump it and I had to tow it to my mechanic the next day. My personal mechanic looked at it and said it was a specific problem with the engine that was covered by an "extended warranty" mazda issued because the 2005 rx8s had so many complaints about this particular problem. Instead of doing a recall, mazda does extended warranties. They did the same thing with the clutch pedal bracket, which I had to jump through hoops to get the dealership to take care of it at no cost to me. They always want to charge, even when it is something covered by a warranty. So, my husband had the car towed to the nearby dealership. Automatically, they tell us we have to replace the battery because they need to do a diagnostic test to find out the problem. Battery $185 with labor and $150 for a diagnostic test. Then, we are told that only if they are able to prove that it was a specific problem covered in the warranty that mazda would cover it under the warranty. If they find it is not that specific part, we will have to pay out of pocket. I was told by my personal mechanic it was that particular issue which is covered by the warranty, but of course, mazda wants to do their own tests. My car has less than 50,000 miles on it and it is ridiculous that I would have to replace the engine for $4,000 when a quick online search shows that this is a very common problem with this specific car. I think mazda should have their feet held to the fire and do right by their customer.

Filed Mar 9, 2010 · Engine · 30,000 miles · MD

2005 mazda rx-8. Consumer states rough running, stalling and flooding. *tgw the consumer stated the vehicle became almost impossible to start. He took the vehicle to the dealer and was told there was carbon in the engine and performed it a compression test. It barely passed the test. The dealer informed the consumer there were a lot of defects in mazda rx-8 engines and that he would probably need a new engine in the future. The dealer replaced the battery and decarbed the engine. The vehicle has continued to idle roughly, stall and flood since the first visit to the dealership. Six months later when the consumer went to start the vehicle to warm it up, the engine light started to blink and the engine cut off. The vehicle was towed back to the dealership. They stated the engine needed to be decarbed again and the coils needed to be replaced.

Filed Jul 31, 2009 · Engine · 35,367 miles · MD

I own a 2005 mazda rx8 with 35,000 miles on the car. It had to be taken to the dealership recently for a rough idle and hard start problem. After much costly investigation (costly to me 590$), it was found that my renesis engine is losing compression and could possibly fail at any moment. After contacting corporate hq about this problem the dealership tested the engine which passed by a minimal percent, just enough not to replace the engine under warranty. After some personal research on this matter, I've found hundreds of other rx8 owners having the same problem with little or no help from mazda other than replacing the damaged engine with the same model of faulty engine. Reports from owners of engines dying in the middle of dangerous a intersections and such are very unsettling being an owner myself having the same problem. There have been owners that are now on their second and third engines as well with seemingly no end to the repairs. In my case, the dealership guaranteed that my engine would fail within six months so to "be careful" and "keep and eye on it". This is unacceptable. Obviously there is something seriously wrong with these engines and I think they are unsafe. Mazda has added an extended warranty to these engines for up to 100,000 miles but that does not solve the problem of these engines failing while in motion or in the middle of a busy intersection. It only replaces one burnt out bomb with a bomb with a new fuse. I seriously think this should fall under the "lemon-law" and I would like more to be done about this issue because it seems rx8 owners are being left without options here except to make lemonade from their 30,000$ lemon. Me included.

Filed Jul 23, 2009 · Engine · 26,000 miles · TX

2005 mazda rx8 quits running and will not restart -removed spark plugs cleaned and started-quit before got home same problem. Don't kill engine unless above 3000 RPM or engine is warm. Engine quit replaced spark coil quit before got home was told catalytic converter defective and will damage muffler. Car was towed each time to mazda dealership. Now they claim needs new engine.

Filed Jun 30, 2009 · Engine · 46,000 miles · TX

I have a mazda rx8 2005. It repeatedly stalls and has needed a new engine twice in less than a year. Mazda covered the first engine but is now refusing the second. I am aware that these particular vehicles have many problems.

Filed Jun 16, 2009 · Engine · 59,000 miles · TX

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 mazda rx8. While driving 10 MPH, the vehicle shut off without warning and was unable to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that there was internal engine failure. The engine had low compression. The vehicle is currently being repaired, but the contact does not know who will pay for the repair costs. He is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 59,000 and current mileage was 61,000.

Filed Aug 22, 2007 · Engine · OK

1) when summer season began my 2005 rx-8 with less than 20k miles started dying in the middle of traffic/traffic lights. Then immediately after that incident when on the interstate the car would not accelerate. 2-3)car has been to dealership to replace coils - however if you look at automotive.com and read the posts from hundreds of rx-8 owners 90% of the posts have the same problem and live all over the u.s. Mazda keeps our vehicles for a day or two to replace this or replace that but in the end the engines need to be replaced. However, it is unknown if the replaced engine fixes the problem or if the problems start all over again.