If certain passenger vehicles are parked and the engine is operated at high rpm's for an excessive length of time, some of the parts around the exhaust system can melt and produce a variety of malfunctions. Problems caused by the excessive heat build-up can...
Engine & cooling
Mazda RX-8 Engine problems by year
200 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Mazda RX-8's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.
Engine complaints by model year
Engine recalls
Latest RX-8 engine complaints
The contact owns a 2004 Mazda RX-8. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the engine. The dealer determined that the engine had no compression. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 60,000.
The contact's grandson owns a 2006 Mazda RX-8. The contact stated that while her grandson was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the vehicle had an oil pressure failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Engine naturally wears out especially after 200k miles due to friction in the natural design of the Rotary engine, resulting in losing its overall function such as turning off in the middle of a drive due to loss of compression from worn Apex Seals of the Rotary. The rotary engine requires a replacement of the Apex Seals to continue functioning normally to avoid any unpredictable accidents due to engine failure. An event occurred where my RX-8 went into limp mode in the middle of the freeway as i was commuting due...
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a misfire from poor compression, this is more then likely a common event nowadays for RX-8 owners starting at the S1 2004 models with newer models soon to follow the same incident as me. This is completely unsafe especially traveling at 65 MPH
SEAT BUILTS NEED TIGHTING
Multiple trouble codes all at once after not having any trouble codes after a long period. As of now 56,000 original miles. Traction control improperly functioning causing vehicle,s maximum speed to 3 mph. Multiple misfire,s with new spark plug, new spark plug coil packs and new spark plug wires. Gasoline leak not yet narrowed down to specific location. No engine power after shifting to 2nd gear. Check engine light is constantly on however will go out for no more than 2 days. Very strong gasoline odor inside of the vehicle after startup. Loss of engine compression. Goodness knows what is next!!!
I sent my mazda in to the dealership to fix recalls and make a key. In excellent shape. One area with slight body damage. On 3/16/2018 was returned a car that doesn't run. With. Cracked dashboard, torn seats, multiple dents, charged 345 dollars on 6/10 2019. I was sent a tow bill as notification to pick it up.
The motor loose compression to easy, after that ,the car its junk.
Oil cooler hoses rust out at fittings and leak oil uncontrollably. One search of any rx8 forum and you will find all years are effected.
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.
Takata recall I received a call regarding an 'escalation' of my recall and when I called back the individual on the phone said they could not find my information. The last time I tried to get my rx8 repaired I was told I have to drive the car over an hour to the shop to get airbag fixed - this is after I received a very graphic postcard showing and telling me how I will be injured or killed if I don't get my car repaired. I am trying to get this car repaired, however I will not drive this car over an hour in...
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heavy traffic in south texas heat and humidity in order to make the required 100% compliance easy for takata there are multiple other recalls on this car, including on the engine that I have replaced 4 times. Dealers were told to install the old engines that were in their inventory and not install the new design. The old engines continued to loose compression over time and even though mazda extended the warranty to 100k on the vehicle, eventually I exceeded 100k - and the 4th engine went bad @102k. Mazda never replaced the engine with an engine that did not have compression issues. The dealers used the same engine and mazda waited for consumers to exceed the 100k mileage and then refused to provide any further assistance. I have a beautiful rx8 that is basically a rolling chasis because it will not run, overheats the fuel system (can explode or catch fire), and airbags that can injure or kill me at any moment. I cant even open the door on this car for fear of injury or death. If the airbags werent an issue, I cant drive the car because the engine looses compression and power and can put the driver in a very dangerous situation in traffic, and finally if all else were functioning, the exhaust can overheat the fuel tank cause explosion and/or fire. At one point the interior of my trunk melted. My car has zero value because of mazda and takata.
Takata recall the vehicle was stuttering as I was driving home it wasn't hot or overheating or low on oil, I drove it home and shut it off I then later tried to start it it wouldn't start it just cranked and cranked it wouldn't even start or try to , the apex seals on this car went out which is due to the loss of compression which ultimately caused the sputtering, mazda is well aware of this issue as it was recalled almost a year ago but I didn't have the issue so I didn't see a need to get it replaced ! This issue is unacceptable as now I'm without a car please help me out !
Takata recall after responding to numerous notices regarding this recall and the deadly danger of the airbags, mazda still insists that I drive the vehicle an hour away and in heavy city traffic to have the service done to correct the airbag issue. In addition, for years the engine had compression issues and I found out that after replacing the engine 4 times under warranty, mazda was replacing the engine with the same engine that has compression issues after a time. I was told that I could buy a $7,000 gen ii...
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engine that did not have compression problems, or take the replacement with the potential for compression issues as a warranty repair. They were able to deplete their stock of bad engines by using them as replacements, and as soon as my warranty expired I still have a faulty engine which also keeps me from safely driving driving for service work. The engine will loose compression and power in traffic and cause a safety issue. I keep my vehicles well past the 100k mark because I take care of them and keep them on the road. However, that has not been the case with this car, due to a combination of mazda's bad faith method of replacing faulty engines, and the potentially fatal airbag issue. Apparently the car also has issues with the exhaust overheating and causing a fire hazard, which I have never been notified of. Although a beautiful car that I would love to be able to drive, this vehicle is unsafe in more than one way and has a current value of $0. Im even afraid to open the door of the vehicle because according to the notices I have received, there is no way to know when or what might cause the airbag to deploy. I really cannot put a specific date on when the issues occurred, other than the service records for engine replacements up until the 100k mark. At 102k mazda refused to replace another engine that had gone out.
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...
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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
The external oil lines and connection fittings for the rotory engine lubrication points and cooling have corroded away form road salt in minnesota. Driving causes engine oil to be sprayed on front wheel and brakes causing front brake failure and possible engine fire problems. The corrosion was so bad that each attempt to fix an oil leak ended up braking more corroded oil fittings off. The total repair in 2017 ended being over $1,000 dollars for just parts plus labor. Mazda has previously paid to fix all mazda rx-8s...
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sold to people in canada because of road salt corrosion failures of these same oil lines. Why doesn't the usa have consumer protection like canadian citizens have! I paid a repair shop by me $1,037.81 For the repairs. The mechanic lost about another $1,000 in after market fittings and hoses plus time, but each fix broke more fittings. He finally bought all new factory parts and sold them to me for cost and only charged us for about 2 hours labor. Tony beck,s auto repair in pineisland mn just couldn't charge anyone what it really cost him. Us rx-8 owners are getting screwed by you not recalling this oil line failure problem. These oil lines and fittings go all around the outside of the engine and are high pressure 1/2 inch id hydraulic lines. How can oil spraying front disc brakes and engine compartment not be a safety issue! Steve w. From minnesota, we have lots of road salt just like canada, that's why the i-35 bridge fell down. Not safe to drive with these salt corrosion caused oil leaks! Caused massive oil leaks that can allow engine
Takata recall, my car suddenly stopped on the side, of the 101 freeway off the west lake village exit going south, and would not turn on. I had my car towed to the mazda dealership after finding out of the recall on the fuel pump and air bags on the mazda website. After 3 days at the dealership and being charged 3 hours of $115.00 Hour they were not able to repair my car or replace the recall. They suggested for me to buy a new engine that would cost me $7000.00
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data