Nine problems related to visibility have been reported for the 2004 Mazda RX8. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
2004 Mazda RX-8 passenger side sun visor slipped at the seams and dropped and would not stay back up. This impaired my vision while driving making seeing out the right side of the car through the front minimal. I had to hold it up while making turns or crossing roads with traffic arriving from the right. I could not repair the visor and had to remove it in order to drive the vehicle safely.
The contact owns a 2004 Mazda Rx8. While driving at approximately 15 mph, the clutch pedal broke and the contact could not shift; he had to be assisted to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealership where the clutch pedal bracket was replaced at the contacts expense. The sun visor also broke twice; the first time, it was replaced under warranty. The vehicle had not been repaired for the sun visor failure at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was 37,728. The current mileage was approximately 38,400.
The contact owns a 2004 Mazda RX-8. While driving approximately 10 mph, he engaged the clutch and the pedal extended to the floor. He stated that the engine stalled and he had to push the vehicle onto the emergency lane. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where the clutch pedal assembly was replaced. The contact had not called the manufacturer when the complaint was filed. The current mileage was approximately 37,800. The failure mileage was approximately 37,600. Updated 06/08/10. The consumer also stated the driver side sun visor broke and obstructed his vision. Updated 08/11/10.
2004 Mazda RX-8: while attempting to swing driver side sun visor down for use, the sun visor separated at the top molded plastic seam edge and no longer stays in upright position, blocking driver's vision. Visor had to be forcible removed from roof attachment stem since it hung in complete down position, creating a driving hazard if it would be allowed to remain. It could not be swung to side as this blocked the side vision. Visor was rarely used, so failure was not due to wear or neglect. This is second occurrence for exact same problem. Last occurred approximately 2. 5 years ago, and was replaced by Mazda under the original car warranty at no cost. The vehicle is now beyond the original warranty period and beyond the 12 month part replacement warranty. When requesting this repair recently through the at local Mazda dealer to be covered as a latent defect at no cost, explaining this was second occurrence, the service writer took information and stated he would try to have Mazda cover repair again. Contacted service writer on 11-4-09, he stated Mazda denied my request to have the repair covered at no cost. I have a current request into Mazda USA at 800-222-5500 again requesting relief for the repair. This formal complaint is being filed since this is the second occurrence for the exact same problem.
The part number of the item is Mazda part #fe03-51-21yd and #fe03-51-22yc. This part is installed in the Mazda's vehicle the Rx8. The part started to fail at around 57,000 miles within just less than two months after the warranty expired and 7,000 miles after the vehicle's manufacturer warranty expired. This part should be considered a safety component because it presents a dangerous threat to both drivers and passengers occupying the vehicle during failure and Mazda is claiming that it is not. The reason why is that when this parts fails to function properly the headlight beams cannot be regulated properly in order to see safely. Instead what will happen is that the lights will not adjust to the correct height and will not illuminate the road so that the driver cannot see ahead of the vehicle. On my vehicle specifically when the incident occurred and re-occurred I could not see no further then a range of ten to fifteen feet from my vehicle. In the research I've done I've read in the forums that this is extremely common in all the models built within the time period of 2004-2007 built before the date of November 15, 2006 (before they redesigned the part).
Driver and passenger sun visor can crack/break and obstruct vision while driving.
Driver's side sun visor has broken for the second time in 3 months. The top seam splits rendering the visor completely unusable. It loosely hangs directly in the driver's line of sight. This is a safety hazard.
I have an RX-8 and the drivers side sun visor just fell off. And I rarely use. It appears to have separated around the edges or came unglued. The Mazda dealer will not replace because my is an 04' with 32,000 miles is not under warranty, even though it on the TSB.
The drivers sun visor broke when put down and the result was a visor hanging down in front of the drivers to totally block her vision. Fortunately car was not in a turn or stopping for traffic as this would have caused a crash. This was a sudden and disconcerting failure. . Read more...