Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) | |||||
| 01-013/08 | 04/18/2008 | 10024588 | Mazda special program (msp16) - engine lack of power -pcm reflash. vehicles produced from april 10, 2003 through nov. 9, 2007. vin range jm1fe17**40100053 - 80215462. *nj updated 6/3/08. *nj | 04/25/2008 | |
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | |||||
| 0500406 | 10/06/2006 | 10020557 | Manual transmission-clutch hard to disengage. *kb | 11/15/2006 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | ||||||
| PE09045 | MAZDA MOTOR CORP | 09/23/2009 | 08/19/2010 | CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET FAILURE | ||
| On september 23, 2009, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate allegations of the clutch pedal bracket failures in my 2004 - 2006 mazda rx8 vehicles.in response to an information request letter sent by odi, mazda stated that the failure mechanism may be related to an improper fastener attachment sequence to the body.the improper sequence may create a distortion of the pedal bracket and create a stress amplitude during pedal usage that may go beyond the wear out limit of the bracket.mazda stated that the percentages of vehicles experiencing the defect is low at approximately 1% of the vehicle population projected to 10 years in service based on analysis of warranty claim data that best represented the alleged defect.in terms of risk to motor vehicle safety, mazda stated that the failure is progressive with warning manifested in noise and difficulty in shifting gears prior to complete failure of the bracket.mazda also stated that when a bracket fracture occurs the clutch pedal may lean towards the brake pedal however gear shifting becomes impossible prior to any contact of the clutch pedal to the brake pedal. odi is not aware of any crashes associated with a clutch pedal bracket failure in the subject vehicles.odi's analysis of warranty claim data provided by mazda yielded failure rates of approximately 3% projected over 10 years in service. odi's analysis of vehicle owner questionnaire (voq) data complaint indicates that approximately 5% of the voq complainants allege they were unable to get out of the roadway as a result of a clutch pedal bracket failure.none of these incidents occurred on a highway. approximately 7% of the complainants alleged a contact condition after a clutch pedal bracket failure of the clutch pedal to the brake pedal. none of these complaints noted difficulty in getting the vehicle stopped.mazda has informed odi that it will conducted an owner notification of an extended warranty coverage program increasing the clutch pedal assembly warranty to 8 years and limited at 100k miles for model years 2004 through 2009 rx8 vehicles.a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will continue to monitor this issue and will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. | ||||||
| PE09045 | MAZDA MOTOR CORP | 09/23/2009 | CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET FAILURE | |||
| The office of defects investigation (odi) has received 40 complaints alleging failure of the clutch pedal assembly mounting bracket.fifteen of the complainants allege the bracket failure occurred as they were driving and created a vehicle disablement as they were unable to engage any gear.two complainants also alleged interference between the clutch pedal and brake pedal occurred when applying the clutch pedal as a result of the clutch pedal assembly bracket failure.one of these complainants alleged the clutch pedal became trapped behind the brake pedal. a preliminary evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences of the failure of the clutch pedal assembly mounting bracket. | ||||||
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY - PEDAL/LINKAGE | ||||||
| PE09045 | MAZDA MOTOR CORP | 09/23/2009 | 08/19/2010 | CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET FAILURE | ||
| On september 23, 2009, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate allegations of the clutch pedal bracket failures in my 2004 - 2006 mazda rx8 vehicles.in response to an information request letter sent by odi, mazda stated that the failure mechanism may be related to an improper fastener attachment sequence to the body.the improper sequence may create a distortion of the pedal bracket and create a stress amplitude during pedal usage that may go beyond the wear out limit of the bracket.mazda stated that the percentages of vehicles experiencing the defect is low at approximately 1% of the vehicle population projected to 10 years in service based on analysis of warranty claim data that best represented the alleged defect.in terms of risk to motor vehicle safety, mazda stated that the failure is progressive with warning manifested in noise and difficulty in shifting gears prior to complete failure of the bracket.mazda also stated that when a bracket fracture occurs the clutch pedal may lean towards the brake pedal however gear shifting becomes impossible prior to any contact of the clutch pedal to the brake pedal. odi is not aware of any crashes associated with a clutch pedal bracket failure in the subject vehicles.odi's analysis of warranty claim data provided by mazda yielded failure rates of approximately 3% projected over 10 years in service. odi's analysis of vehicle owner questionnaire (voq) data complaint indicates that approximately 5% of the voq complainants allege they were unable to get out of the roadway as a result of a clutch pedal bracket failure.none of these incidents occurred on a highway. approximately 7% of the complainants alleged a contact condition after a clutch pedal bracket failure of the clutch pedal to the brake pedal. none of these complaints noted difficulty in getting the vehicle stopped.mazda has informed odi that it will conducted an owner notification of an extended warranty coverage program increasing the clutch pedal assembly warranty to 8 years and limited at 100k miles for model years 2004 through 2009 rx8 vehicles.a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will continue to monitor this issue and will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. | ||||||
| PE09045 | MAZDA MOTOR CORP | 09/23/2009 | CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET FAILURE | |||
| The office of defects investigation (odi) has received 40 complaints alleging failure of the clutch pedal assembly mounting bracket.fifteen of the complainants allege the bracket failure occurred as they were driving and created a vehicle disablement as they were unable to engage any gear.two complainants also alleged interference between the clutch pedal and brake pedal occurred when applying the clutch pedal as a result of the clutch pedal assembly bracket failure.one of these complainants alleged the clutch pedal became trapped behind the brake pedal. a preliminary evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences of the failure of the clutch pedal assembly mounting bracket. | ||||||
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | ||||||
| PE09045 | MAZDA MOTOR CORP | 09/23/2009 | 08/19/2010 | CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET FAILURE | ||
| On september 23, 2009, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate allegations of the clutch pedal bracket failures in my 2004 - 2006 mazda rx8 vehicles.in response to an information request letter sent by odi, mazda stated that the failure mechanism may be related to an improper fastener attachment sequence to the body.the improper sequence may create a distortion of the pedal bracket and create a stress amplitude during pedal usage that may go beyond the wear out limit of the bracket.mazda stated that the percentages of vehicles experiencing the defect is low at approximately 1% of the vehicle population projected to 10 years in service based on analysis of warranty claim data that best represented the alleged defect.in terms of risk to motor vehicle safety, mazda stated that the failure is progressive with warning manifested in noise and difficulty in shifting gears prior to complete failure of the bracket.mazda also stated that when a bracket fracture occurs the clutch pedal may lean towards the brake pedal however gear shifting becomes impossible prior to any contact of the clutch pedal to the brake pedal. odi is not aware of any crashes associated with a clutch pedal bracket failure in the subject vehicles.odi's analysis of warranty claim data provided by mazda yielded failure rates of approximately 3% projected over 10 years in service. odi's analysis of vehicle owner questionnaire (voq) data complaint indicates that approximately 5% of the voq complainants allege they were unable to get out of the roadway as a result of a clutch pedal bracket failure.none of these incidents occurred on a highway. approximately 7% of the complainants alleged a contact condition after a clutch pedal bracket failure of the clutch pedal to the brake pedal. none of these complaints noted difficulty in getting the vehicle stopped.mazda has informed odi that it will conducted an owner notification of an extended warranty coverage program increasing the clutch pedal assembly warranty to 8 years and limited at 100k miles for model years 2004 through 2009 rx8 vehicles.a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will continue to monitor this issue and will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. | ||||||
| PE09045 | MAZDA MOTOR CORP | 09/23/2009 | CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET FAILURE | |||
| The office of defects investigation (odi) has received 40 complaints alleging failure of the clutch pedal assembly mounting bracket.fifteen of the complainants allege the bracket failure occurred as they were driving and created a vehicle disablement as they were unable to engage any gear.two complainants also alleged interference between the clutch pedal and brake pedal occurred when applying the clutch pedal as a result of the clutch pedal assembly bracket failure.one of these complainants alleged the clutch pedal became trapped behind the brake pedal. a preliminary evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences of the failure of the clutch pedal assembly mounting bracket. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||
| 10/08/2005 | 102000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2005 mazda rx-8. while driving in stop and go traffic the bracket that holds the pedal in place broke and the clutch pedal was feel to the floor. the vehicle was towed to the contacts home. the vehicle had not been inspected or repaired at the time of the complaint. the vin was not available at the time of the complaint. the failure mileage and current mileages was 102000.rl | |||
| 04/08/2010 | 63400 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2005 mazda rx-8. the contact was driving approximately 15 mph attempting to make a turn. the gear selector was shifted into first gear and the clutch traveled to the floor. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. the failure was contributed to the clutch assembly. the estimated cost to replace the clutch assembly was $390.00. the vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. the contact was in the process of notifying the manufacturer. the failure and current mileages were 63,400. updated 06/08/10. *lj | |||
| 10/18/2009 | 45321 | 1 | |
| My clutch pedal on my 2005 mazda rx8 snapped while changing gears (3-4) on the freeway. last month there were noises coming from the clutch pedal [squeaking] and after the pedal snapped the pedal does not fully pop back all the way up. in order to get the pedal in the right position i have to get my foot under the pedal while driving in order to pull the pedal up in the right position. [every time i switch gears] in order to correct the failure [which was the weak welds on the clutch assembly snapped] i have to get it rewelded and add extra support welds. *tr | |||
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | |||
| 01/07/2010 | 51000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2005 mazda rx-8 with 51xxx miles on it. driving home i stepped onto the clutch prion to a turn and snap! the car was locked in second gear and the clutch pedal was not returning to its normal position. only a few miles home, i realized the clutch pedal bracket broke on the left side around the bolt. it looks like it was cheaply made and poorly welded. i also got online and found out that this is a common problem. this could have been a lot worse if i was traveling at a higher speed and got locked in gear. i am taking the car to a dealership to replace the bracket. *tr | |||
| 12/23/2009 | 60000 | 1 | |
| I bought a used mazda rx8 (2005 with about 60 thousand miles) with a manual transmission. after about 3 months of daily driving (no racing or hard shifting) my clutch pedal broke while approaching a red light. the bracket that holds the pedal in place broke due to its very thin metal design. upon researching the issue online i have found that many rx-8 owners are having the same issue. i have installed a reinforced bracket at my own expense and still need to make some adjustments because it has unaligned the gears in the transmission. if this break would have occurred at any other time i believe it could easily result in serious injury or death. i spend a lot of time on the highway getting to school and i believe that at 65 mph this break would have at least destroyed the transmission. this issue needs to be resolved and a recall must be implemented. *tr | |||
| 08/15/2009 | 1 | ||
| I have experienced the typical signs of a faulty clutch pedal. i have done research on the subject and i am experiencing the same issues as the people had before their clutch broke. this issue started around two months ago. the pedal squeaks very loud and has give from side to side as well as in and out. i have a 2005 mazda rx8, 6 speed manual transmission. *tr | |||
| 04/02/2009 | 30650 | 1 | |
| 1. for a few weeks prior to the failure, i heard squeaking coming from the clutch pedal each time i used it. 2. the clutch pedal bracket, which holds the clutch pedal to the body of the car, snapped off, rendering the clutch inoperable and the car unable to engage/change gears. 3. the clutch bracket and clutch pedal had to be replaced with oem parts. *tr | |||
| 11/25/2008 | 50750 | 1 | |
| I had my 2005 mazda rx-8 towed to the dealership and was told that my clutch pedal assembly was broken and was making it difficult to drive and shift gears, i believe it's a safety hazard and is poor workmanship. i've heard that this is very common on rx-8's that aftermarket companies are producing clutch pedal reinforcement kits. you know it's really a problem when aftermarket companies address and flaw in a product. especially when it's part of the clutch and safety of the car. and it's not even covered under warranty, which is horrible. not only did they produce a flimsy product, but now i have to pay to have it fixed. *tr | |||
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY - PEDAL/LINKAGE | |||
| 03/10/2010 | 66000 | 1 | |
| 1. driving on the freeway at about 50 mph exiting off a long off ramp. 2. clutch pedal broke. pushed clutch in and heard a loud crack!. barely got the car into first gear and into a parking lot where it was doa and had to be towed. the pedal was bent and nearly stuck behind the brake pedal. 3. no repair. dealer asking $595 to repair. i can't afford it (i am unemployed and couldn't find a single job in a year and a half). *tr | |||
| 10/31/2008 | 49600 | 1 | |
| I have a 2005 mazda rx8 and for the past 2 years the dealership has replaced my clutch pedal assembly 3 times because of a loud squeal when pressing the clutch pedal. my most recent visit they replaced it again.. the other night i was out with my girlfriend driving long distances and my pedal began to feel really strange and it didn't seem to want to shift properly.. i drop her off and i go home the next morning i wake up to clean my car and i back up and then move forward and my shifter is completely stuck! and the clutch pedal is literally touching the brake pedal.. i tried to see i could still turn the car on and the pedal stuck to the floor as if there were no clutch fluid.. fortunately we were not driving when this happened but this is a danger to many people who are driving manual transmissions. upon inspection the thins bracket that holds the assembly together was torn... the vehicle will be at the dealership for the next few days for repairs.. it has 49,600 miles approx. *tr | |||
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | |||
| 08/28/2011 | 79012 | ||
| My second incident on the same vehicle/part. i previously had the clutch pedal in my mazda rx-8 replaced because of a broken bracket. the replacement was an identical part with no redesigns. approximately 16 months later it broke yet again. same conditions, driving on the road, sudden loss of resistance and crunching sound from pedal, unable to shift properly. inspecting the vehicle after parking revealed that the exact same spot weld broke, leaving the bracket to move away from the firewall and not providing leverage for the clutch piston into the master cylinder. | |||
| 08/30/2010 | 65000 | ||
| Over the past two weeks or so the clutch pedal on my 2005 mazda rx-8 had been making a squeaking noise whenever depressed. the noise subsided after a few hours of driving. however, this past monday (8/30/2010), when i was stopped at a stop light i heard a soft crack. i proceeded through the intersection where shifting from 2 to 3rd i heard an even larger snap and the pedal depressed completely to the floor and i had to cut across a few lanes of traffic and safely managed to get to a gas station. the car was no longer able to change gears and the entire clutch pedal assembly had to be replaced. | |||
| 05/15/2010 | 52000 | ||
| Clutch pedal in my 2005 rx8 broke while driving, leaving it nearly impossible to shift gears. it's a known issue among rx8 drivers, but mazda has so far refused to issue a recall. | |||
| 05/11/2010 | 90250 | ||
| I was driving my 2005 mazda rx-8 home, and after a normal drive home with no issues, i was going from 1st gear to 2nd near my house and the clutch pedal dropped to the floor, the clutch wouldn't release and i couldn't change gears. had this happened a dozen shifts earlier, i would have been caught in a highway merge, and my safety seriously endangered. upon inspection when i managed to baby the car in 1st gear home, the clutch pedal had broken at the bracket. under no circumstances should a clutch pedal break. i had the car towed to the dealership, and fully expect replacement without charge, but based on what i've read, that's not going to happen, despite my extended bumper to bumper warranty. | |||
| 04/01/2010 | 72000 | ||
| While driving northbound on i-75 in downtown atlanta in stop-and-go traffic conditions, the clutch pedal in my 2005 mazda rx-8 suddenly made a cracking sound and fell to the floor. the clutch remained about 1 from the floor, allowing minimal disengagement of the transmission, sufficient to allow me to return the car to the dealer. the diagnosis was a broken clutch pedal, resulting in damage to the master cylinder. there had been some creaking at the top of the return of the clutch pedal over the past 2-3 weeks. | |||
| 02/23/2010 | 77000 | 1 | |
| Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) around 30 days ago i heard a pop sound when i depressed the clutch pedal of my 2005 mazda rx-8. it felt a little softer after the pop sound. i thought something had broken but could not see anything and the clutch seemed to work ok. however, over the next 30 days, it became harder and harder to get the manual transmission into reverse. on february 23, 2010, i brought my 2005 mazda rx-8 to congressional mazda in rockville, md to have my clutch inspected. the dealer informed me the clutch pedal assembly bracket was broken and needed to be replaced. the quote was over $500 so i said i would bring the car back in when i had the money. however, when i drove away i could not shift out of 1st gear and the car was not drivable. i immediately drove back to the dealer in 1st gear and asked them to order the part and replace the clutch pedal assembly bracket. when the clutch pedal assembly was replaced, the car shifted fine. i have the broken clutch pedal assembly and i can see clearly that the metal on one side of the mounting bolt has torn apart making it impossible to fully engage the clutch. that must have been the pop sound i heard. i have 77,000 miles on my rx-8. i drive the car to work, not on competitive or challenging tracks or courses. i am very concerned that mazda used poor quality metal and/or poor quality spot welds in constructing the clutch pedal assembly on the 2005 rx-8 and i request that nhtsa evaluate if there is a defect in manufacturing quality of that part. i have the old clutch pedal assembly bracket and can send it to nhtsa for inspection. i believe mazda needs to recall the cars and replace the clutch pedal assembly with a better constructed system. the replacement clutch assembly i received has the same poor quality metal and spot welds as the original part. mazda does not seem to be addressing this potentiality serious safety problem. please look into this situation. [xxx] *tr | |||
| 12/30/2009 | 71000 | 1 | |
| I've been hearing this squeaking sound coming from my clutch for the past few months. approximately a month ago i was driving home when i felt/heard a popping sound. my clutch pedal was now almost to the floor. i assumed my clutch was gone but the car still drove home i was 1/2 mile from home. i drove slowly and carefully home. i had the car towed to mazda today and they informed me that my clutch bracket is broken. the estimate to replace this is roughly 500$. *tr | |||
| 01/12/2010 | 51369 | 1 | |
| My clutch pedal snapped again for the 3rd time in 2 years, !@#$%??? when is mazda resolve this issue?? until some one dies???? *tr | |||
| 11/10/2009 | 45500 | 1 | |
| The clutch pedal assembly fails while driving when the 2004-2008 mazda rx-8 reaches around 45,000 miles. when the pedal fails you may not be able to take the car out of gear or put it back into gear. this could cause an accident if it happens while driving at a high rate of speed. luckily, when it happened to me i was leaving a stop sign about one block from my home. many people on an rx-8 forum (rx8club.com), have had the same problem occur and it is typically near 45,000 miles. mazda does not cover this problem under warranty and they have not issued a recall. *tr | |||
| 09/01/2009 | 32000 | 1 | |
| 1. this seems to be a manufacturer defect and poor choice of materials for the clutch pedal assembly. 2. the car in question is a 2005 mazda rx8. the clutch pedal eventually had movement left-to-right and the welds on the pedal assembly broke. i was left unable to put the car in gear and had to tow the car to the dealership. 3. the entire clutch pedal assembly was replaced by a local mazda dealership under bumper-to-bumper warranty. however, they did clearly state that the exact same part was used to replace it. there have been no revisions to the welds and the clutch pedal started creaking again! *tr | |||
| 10/20/2009 | 61000 | 1 | |
| The clutch bracket on my vehicle broke and almost caused me to have an accident in an intersection. i can barely shift now and after reading about it i see that several others have had the same issue. *tr | |||
| 10/06/2009 | 48000 | 1 | |
| The clutch pedal on my 2005 mazda rx-8 is extremely squeaky and seems to be on the verge of breaking. when pressed down upon, it squeaks and it also moves left and right more than it should. i have read dozens of other reports of the clutch pedal actually snapping and i am quite worried that my clutch pedal is close to breaking as well. *tr | |||
| 08/05/2009 | 53000 | 1 | |
| 2005 mazda rx8 with 53,000 miles. clutch pedal has been squeaking for the past 8-10k miles. i complained on 2 separate occasions to mazdas service department and they did nothing. today my clutch pedal snapped off while i was driving. mazda needs to use better welding on the bracket. the two spot welds don't hold up for very long. *tr | |||
| 03/30/2009 | 83355 | 1 | |
| It started to click and squeak. i was driving through the intersection when the pedal bracket snapped when me and my children almost got hit by a coal truck because of this. i had to take it to my dads shop and weld it which i'm still unsure of how long it will last since the metal is thin and it is squeaking again. *tr | |||
| 04/10/2008 | 61000 | 1 | |
| Clutch assembly faulty design. while driving and shifting gears (manual transmission) the clutch pedal assembly snaps, resulting in the loss of ability to shift gears. after pulling over to the side of the road, the car had to be started in 1st gear to drive to safety. the thin metal tears away from around one of the bolts that holds the assembly to the firewall. this is happening on other rx-8's of people i associate with to the point that welding up the old bracket is becoming common. mazda has not come up with a stronger assembly since they introduced the rx-8 in 2004. the alternatives to correct the issue (out of warranty) is to: (a) purchase a new one from mazda. (b) have your old assembly welded or purchase a remanufactured welded one. (c) purchase a bracket that adds support to the assembly i did both b & c, welded and added support. *tr | |||