It was Canzoomers number so ask him I've heard the problems with the M3 but I'm not sure how common it is but never heard the S2K problems. Who knows, maybe it's more common than I realize on newly introduced engines. If Canzoomer is correct with the 60 that puts it at about 1 per 100 that have been sold thus far considering they are awaiting more from Japan (again according to Canzoomer). Not a huge number but we're talking cars that haven't even cracked 10k miles yet.

Peter, I wouldn't worry about it since it's not going to do any good, just enjoy the car.

Ike

 

Just read old posts in any of the forums for other cars. You'll see lots of random complaints. I've been mostly looking at the Evo and Sti as alternatives (now I'm stuck on the 8). I've seen a few complaints about the clutch and brakes on the Evo in their forums. There are only a limited number of Evo's that are going to be sent to the US, whereas the 8 will be available in much larger numbers. I also remember the WRX having a few complaints in the forums in the first. I also heard about M3's having their share of problems.

I think you'll find there's no new model that's immune from random problems in the first year, especially in a forum where you'll hear about every kind of problem. It makes it seem worse than it is because nobody writes posts titled, "Made it safely back home from work again without any car issues."

 

Ike, I still don't see where you're getting 60- I only see the 6 he posted in this thread. And I'm not saying you're wrong, I am just not finding the 60 in any of his posts.....

 

Ditto... not seein' the reference to 60...

 

Come on, Ike, READ, don't just imagine the flame bait! I just quoted the only part of canzoomer's post to mention a number, and that number was 6. You can't just make up your own number (like 60), pretend it was canzoomers, and then continue to quote that number!

You're wrong, and we all know it - why don't you just admit it before you make yourself look even more foolish trying to defend it?

Regards,
Gordon

 

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...5&pagenumber=3

 

Thanx, SC, for posting the reference that Ike should've originally pointed out when Gord asked him for a reference.

From CZ's post in THE OTHER THREAD, he's referring to 60 throughout North America, whereas in THIS thread he states 6 incidents in Canada

 

Jeesh, it's like a witchhunt around here, sorry for making you search Gord, and for going to diner when there was important info to be posted :p

Rabinabo, I agree it's very normal to have problems with a new model year car, but the engine thing is most troubling, hopefully they find the cause fast and get it fixed. If in fact there is a problem, maybe the 60 was a typo...

 

:o Sigh, don'cha just hate it when the trolls are right? Apologies to you, Ike - I hadn't seen that other thread.

Regards,
Gordon

 

Thanks Ike- I just wasn't able to find it on my own. Didn't look hard enough.

 

OK, 60+ is partially by extrapolation.

Here is how I came up with that figure:

I spoke with people at Mazda in parts distribution and in dealer service and managed to eke out that around 66 extra engines have come in to North America so far.

All of these have gone out for dealer replacements, there are none left in stock in USA or Canada, and they are on back order status.

Of the engine failures I have found so far, where I was able to reach the owners ( 8 so far) all have been failures like mine.
Of 4 in Canada so far I have found, 3 were identical, and one was quite similar.
All 8 were in cars with VIN #'s below 3,000.
When I asked about my replacement engine they told me they are sending from Japan, and that they have been told that all the failed engines are now going back to Japan.

That is not so unusual, as they have no facility here for rebuilding.
By talking to dealers (including through a friend who is the head mechanic at one of them) we have pieced together that the failures seem to be related to the front oil injector, and failure of the front rotor front end side seals.

This is what I have gathered so far.

 

Regarding the 6 in Canada and 60+ in USA:
Mazda is bringing in/ has brought in 700 cars to Canada.
They have brought in 6 engines so far, and have used them up in replacements.

In the USA Mazda is bringing in/ has brought in around 3,500 cars this year. Apaprently 60 or so engines have come in to USA parts, and all are gone.

Every person I have been able to track down so far who got a replacement had a similar or identical failure.

8 out of 66+ is not absolutely definitive, but so far I have not found any other failure type in the 8 cases i have found.

Maybe I am drawing the wrong conclusions, but so far the evidence supports what I said.

What also puzzles me:

Many of us have seen the oil light problem, and quite a few people have had oilpans replaced by dealers when they contacted Mazda with a customer complaint.

Yet there is still no official Service Bulletin.

They have done a service bulletin on installing the front license plate, on where the hidden bolt is to allow the dealers to remove the centre front console, and one on the suspension of the optional add on shock sensor for the alarm system.

But nothing on the oil light/replacement oil pan.

When I contacted Mazda Canada in early September about this they thought I was making it up, and had not heard about it.
I suggested they lookup the replacement oil pan part #:
N3H8-10-4AXA.

They checked the Canada and USA parts systems and found it existed in the USA inventory. They checked and got back to me to say that they were working on a Canadian Service Bulletin, but it would take a while as they had to "translate it into French" and they "had to bring in the parts"

That was 6 weeks ago, and still no service bulletin in Canada or the USA.

Smells fishy to me.

Is it related to the engine failure?

I do not know.

It IS the oil system, they also replaced the dipsticks with one that shows the indexes higher as a port campaign.

That is 3 oil system related issues now, and still nothing being officially said.

I am suspicious.

 

OK so here's a stupid question - I've heard some folks talk about their vin numbers and such - are you referring to the last 4 digits of the vin # when you're talking about 'low' numbers?

eg: my VIN number ends wth 01959, so I presume that's a pretty low one?

I had the oil light issue and have had my oilpan replaced. No check engine lights to date, however.

Simon

 

Exactly.
Mine is 01877

 

my engine, which was replaced, was on vin 101365, and I often had the oil light come on at long interstate speeds

does appear to be some sort of pattern

 

Posted for Dad (Twin 8s!).... his account is still hosed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
We have two RX-8s. Both are 6MT. My last five are 10172. My wife’s is 12527. Mine was purchased 09/09/03, my wife’s came in on 09/19/03. I had the oil light problem at 2450 miles and they replaced the pan and sensor. My wife has not seen the problem. I had a CEL come on, on the way to work at 45MPH. Got to work made an appointment to get checked, and that afternoon after messing with the gas cap, it did not come when I started the car. I have 3600 on mine now and my wife has 2200. I am getting about 22MPG and my wife is at 21MPG. Have been watching the entries regards oil related problems. Thank you for the data. I hope there is not at direct tie between the oil warning issue and engine failure… just do not want the hassle.

Will be standing by for data. This forum was the only way I knew to ask questions about the oil pan, thanks for the good information.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

My Vin is ...101212, and just got back Sunday with ~ 4500 rpm (80-85 mph) run for 4+ hours.

No issues with CEL or Oil lights then, or ever. Averaged 21 mpg.

 

Not to say that its not worrisome, but ...

The 2002 M3 model had the nice problem of blowing the engine randomly. The http://yoy.com/auto/m3_failure_index.html site has the info. Considering how many m3s are sold, this is a high number. Original WRX had tranny and clutch issues in its first year. The US didn't get that model, so we were lucky in sense. Engine problems suck, but in first years its almost inevitable.

The good news is Mazda seems to be replacing them without many questions (unlike the BMW m3 incidents... terrible in my opinion, BMW, shame on you).

 

my vin is 5469,my oil light came on a few times when car was new,under 2000 miles.i now have 7500 miles and have only seen the oil light twice in the last 5500 miles and i drive on the highway 5 days a week (80 miles rt) usually at avg 75 to 80 mph with sustained speeds.does this make sense to anyone,its almost like the problem has went away by its self.on another note my dealer keeps telling me that mazda has not released the oil pan yet but are aware of the problem.i just brought the car in 2 weeks ago and sat there while the called whomever at mazda with the response no eta yet on the pan,makes no sense?

 

What's this about an oil pan?

 

Anybody lower than 00716? (Either never seen the oil light or not very observant. Hope the former.)