Four problems related to lose power steering have been reported for the 2004 Mazda RX8. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Lost power steering. Car would still turn with heavy effort. However, there was no electronic assist.
My electronic power steering is going in and out causing me to lose power steering. This is a problem that many 2004 RX-8 owners are discussing online and in forums. Dealers and mechanics know of the problem with connectors and racks going bad but Mazda has refused to address the chronic problem. It is dangerous and costly, I am on my second repair of the problem. Please push Mazda to step up and address this growing and chronic problem.
I was driving my 2004 Mazda RX-8, which had approximately 60,000 miles at the time, when I suddenly lost power steering in one direction and steering became very light in the other direction. This problem disappeared the next time I started the car, but reappeared intermittently for several hundred miles, eventually causing the car to lose power steering in both directions. This was intermittent for a while, as well, but eventually the power steering ceased to function altogether. These failures were accompanied by a power steering warning light, which remains illuminated to this day. The first time I experienced the phenomenon, I was very startled by it and feel that, had the problem occurred at an inopportune moment, it could have very well contributed to an accident.
My Mazda Rx8 is having power steering problems, one time it lost power steering while I was driving. . . To most people, this will be something pretty scary and very dangerous if they do not know what is going on. I would recommend checking this out, because this is definatly a lawsuit just waiting to happen. . .