2004 Mazda RX8 from North America - Comments

Hey folks,

I have had trouble with my RX-8 too. Let's see, New engine replaced @ 14k miles, left tail light lense due to condensation build up (now the right is doing it), new starter, new computer, new battery. I tell ya I love the car, but it making me nervous about keeping it. This is my third RX vehicle. I had a 1982 and 1988. Both of these ran like a top, so when I bought the 2004 I felt good about the purchase. Found out later that Mazda had to do some tweaking on the engine to get it to pass emissions and mileage requirements and this started the whole problem. These cars are meant to be be driven hard and use gas. The modifications they made to the engine are not meant for a rotary. In my opinion, they should just scrape the rotary, retain the body style and put a beefy six in the car. Problem solved.

Let the engine idle until you see the temperature gauge goes up noticeably EVERY time before you drive! You guys probably just jump right in there on a cold morning, start it, drop it in gear and roll! YOU CAN'T DO THAT! I know of people with RX-7's and other rotary cars from Mazda with over 150,000 miles! Their cars are running fine! Cold rotaries will not last, they are not the same as piston engines, and WILL lose compression if run COLD! GEEZ!, it's not the cars fault, it's called OPERATOR ERROR folks!

I drive my RX-8 in Northern Alberta (Canada) where it is constantly below -30, -40. (Celsius)

Right now, it's minus 28 and she's been plugged in for the last 3 days.

Only issues I have (typical) are the emergency brake sticks in the extreme cold (but I kinda expect this) so I just leave it in first, and don't use the remote start.

I let it idle until its temp is half way up and then drive it!

I DO NOT use this car as a daily driver, it's a performance machine...

But I gotta say, its gas mileage is a record breaking low! Especially in the cold! I won't even tell you guys what I get because it's not even in the double digits... But last week it was +7 Celsius when I drove around Calgary, and I was getting 19mpg and the 8 hour drive up north I avg. 22.

Mine is a 2004 with 48,000km on it (Somewhere around 27,000 miles I think?)

I will admit after reading the countless posts about the engine and tranny's... I'm quite worried because I am 5 hours drive from the nearest Mazda Dealership!

Lets hope for the best, take care of our cars and enjoy them!

Ps. My company vehicle is a Chev... so believe me I'm more worried about breaking down in that then I am in my little baby!

My wife has a 2004 RX8. We are on our 3rd battery. This last time the car wouldn't start, we had it towed where we had to have the spark plugs replaced at $45 per plug. We still had some hesitation when the car starts from a stop, so we dropped it off at the Mazda dealer where they tell me the engine has low compression. The fuel injectors are to blame at a cost of $1700 dollars. Also, while the car is still in the shop, they call me and say the motor mounts are worn and need to be replaced at a cost of over $300 dollars. We have been told the motor may need to be replaced if the injectors do not work. Don't buy a RX8. I've not seen where it is reliable. We have the same problem as everyone else, flooded engine and won't start. You would think some engineer could figure this out by now. Save your money and buy another car, a reliable car and cheap to operate.

I maintain my father's 2004 RX-8 and I have to say man what a piece of crap. I have had the engine replaced, lower ball joints, fuel tank, both visors, both tail lights, and battery twice. Now the car is in the shop for an ac problem. They are telling me the Clutch Magnetic Field on the AC Compressor is failing due to the heat of the engine. They intially wanted me to pay 890 in parts. After some complaining they were willing to give to me at cost but I haven't had it done because I believe the problem is actually the ac control switch, as the ac works on and off. My Advice do not buy an '04. I haven't really heard of the other years having all these problems. And for the people posting that it is the drivers fault that's bull crap. You can't tell me that the majority of the people who drive these cars are driving them wrong. IT DEFINITELY IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM.

After owning an RX-7, I quickly came to the conclusion that the rotary engine is incredible... for use as a BOAT ANCHOR!!

I have just recently purchased an 04 RX8 6 speed manual... when I first test drove it I had the same feeling I get when I drive my 95 RX7 or my 88 RX7, but neither one can be compared.

I had the dealer check the vehicle after I purchased it, out of my pocket. Nothing in the vehicle has been changed from its original parts; all serial numbers still matched. This was a 1 owner vehicle.

The dealership where I purchased the vehicle actually gave me a copy of the work that has been done to the vehicle from the original owner, and it seems like he maintained the vehicle very well. I have had it for about 3 months now, following all the vehicle requirement according to the manual, and the car still runs great @50,000 miles. But I also have the other 2 RX7 that I drive. So each vehicle only goes out every three days or so. My 88 now has over 170,000 on it, and my 95 has 105,000. Wish I could get a 80/81/or82 RX7; I'll rebuild that, and I definitely can't wait for RX9 to come out in 2012...

Rotary is the way to go... Maintain it, drive it well, and drive it hard, and you love it.

As far as those who has had problems with theirs; sorry to hear that. But considering there have over 50,000 of these cars sold in 03 and 04, and only a handful of you are complaining, maybe it is something you are doing and not the car itself. You know what they say; treat your car as you would like your car to treat you...

Anyways, to those who has any problem, good luck, hope you can resolve it, and to those who enjoy yours and have had a great experience, keep revving. These car are mean to be revved up!!!!

Rotary Engine Lover Forever........

Yes, RX-8 owners aren't doing what they should with these cars... TRADING them!!

I recently bought a used 2004 "RX-great". Treat this car like a woman. Give it a lot of TLC and it will treat you the same. Keep in mind, this car is a SPORTS CAR... not a Honda Accord, Nissan Maxima, or a Toyota Camry. If you ask any sports car owner, with experience, they'll tell you its nothing like a sedan.

A better way to put it... a RX-8 vs a typical car is equivalent to a super model vs an every day girl. If you want to keep that model, you need to take good care of her. On the other hand, the every day girl doesn't need as much attention because shes "LOW MAINTENANCE" compared to the model.

I've had my 95 Maxima for over a 9yrs. I beat the living hell out of that car, and it stayed strong. The RX-8 WILL NOT do the same because, #1 it's a rotary engine, #2 it's a sports car, and #3 it's a SPORTS CAR!!!

As far as the flooding of the engine... Imagine waking up in the morning and jumping out of bed and jogging for at least 30 minutes with out brushing your teeth, eating breakfast, or taking a shower. These are all things normal people do to "WARM UP" for the day. All the RX"great" needs is five minutes of idle. That one small problem leads too many others.

Drive safe.

My son bought a Mazda RX8 2004 manual and has nothing but problems with it.

First the whole centre console radio, air con controls, and display above it stopped working all together. After many electrical engineers pulled it apart and connect up their diagnostics equipment, and still no luck, we finally found one broken connection inside the radio that stopped everything.

Next the engine check light comes off and on, then the power steering was intermittent, and now it's finally stopped working.

The answer I get from the dealer is it will cost you a lot, as each item will need to be replaced one at a time to find which one is the problem.

My son just drives it as it is no power steering at all, n/s tailamp full of water.

These new cars will never last to be collectibles, but would make great boat anchors. Give me an older car; this new technology is not long term tested.

I have a 2003 RX8 - It was the third one in Australia other than demos at dealerships. The weather here is between 45 and 120 fahrenheit. With 85,0000 kilometres (52,000 miles) on the clock, it is on its third set of tyres, second battery, second radiator, second fluid tank & sensor, second set of engine mounts, second steering control module, second main steering rack and power steering sensor/sender. It has also had the brake discs machined. Total cost would be $6,500 - except I got Mazda Australia to foot most of the bills. It uses about 14.5 litres per 100 kilometres (don't ask me what that is in MPG. By the way, the default condition for the fluid sensor is NO INDICATION. If you unplug it altogether, there is no light on the dash.

But I still love my 8! - Mark, Melbourne Australia.

45 days ago I purchased a 2004 RX8. I did know of the flooding problem so I purchased an extended warranty. Have had a blast! Warm her up before hitting the road, let her idle before shutting her off and checking the oil every other fill up. Oh yeah, I use 91 octane minimum. Went to Key West on vacation right after Fay went through came home, parked her. Got up the next morning and she wouldn't start. Had her towed to the Mazda dealer and guess what? I get a brand new 2007 crate engine. Yes this car is a sports car. Yes you need to maintain her properly. Last I looked the Vette is a sports car. So is the Porsche Boxter. Never heard of an engine failure like I have heard and now experienced with the 2004 RX8. The dealer has told me that there is corrective material in the new engine. I will keep her for two years and trade it in on a Boxster. Hopefully it will make it till then.

I have had my RX 8 for about a year now, and I have spent more on repairing it than I have on paying the installments.

All the problems that I have read about sound so familiar.

Initially I thought that I had purchased a Friday car (you know the one that the factory rushed on Friday because it was time to go home). Then my friend bought the same car and I realized that we either both had a Friday car, or that the RX 8 is an engineering nightmare.

I have never had problems with a car as with the RX8. The water in the rear lenses, the start up problems.

It would not go into third gear, had to replace the petrol pump, had to replace the gear fork.

Had to replace a cracked and leaky radiator now as well as the coolant bottle (sensor stopped working and the bottle is a unit, you cannot only purchase the sensor).

The engine management light keeps on flashing. The agents could not find the problem as it does not show any code on their diagnostic computers. It is now at an electronic engineering shop for almost two weeks. Most electronic components were replaced, but they could not find the problem. They are currently re-wiring the whole engine to try and find the problem on a trial and error basis. It is going to cost me a fortune.

By the way, my friend has been without his car for about 3 weeks now. He had to replace his seals and rotor housings on 150 000 kms (93 000 miles) at a cost of about R 30 000 ($ 4000). My friend and I work for the same company and are teased by our fellow employees for driving drug addicted supermodels that has to go to rehab every few months, but never recover. They have a point because every time I get it back, I think that I can now drive it with confidence, but every time I am horribly disappointed a month or two later.

I don't know if I still want it when I get it back. But what do you drive after an RX8. Where do you go from dating a supermodel. I think you have to be in denial to drive an RX8.

I bought a 2004 Rx-8 with 50k miles on it, and I've had it for four months already, and the only problem I've had was that my brake pad are used up.

I take good care of the car. I love my 8. I do warm it up before I drive it