after much, rather insane speculation the recall is official and who ever mentioned ball joints was right...I'll pull up the NHTSA bulletin right away:

Toyota recalls 345,000 Sienna minivans
Seat belts may not perform properly during a crash, regulators say. Mazda also recalls RX8s.

July 21, 2005; Posted: 11:06 a.m. EDT (1506 GMT)


DETROIT (Reuters) - Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 345,443 Sienna minivans in the United States because of defective seat belts that may not properly restrain passengers during a crash, U.S. regulators said.

The vehicles involved are from the 2004-2005 model years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Separately, NHTSA said Mazda Motor Corp. is recalling 27,800 2004 model-year RX8 cars as cracks may occur in the ball joint socket due to improper forging of the lower control arm.

In severe driving conditions, the ball may separate from the socket and a loss of steering may occur, which could result in a crash, NHTSA said.
________________

http://www.cnn.com/2005/AUTOS/07/21/...cnn_topstories

 

Here it is:

Make : MAZDA Model : RX8 Year : 2004
Manufacturer : MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 05V325000 Recall Date : JUL 18, 2005
Component: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 27800
Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DUE TO IMPROPER FORGING OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, CRACKS MAY OCCUR IN THE BALL JOINT SOCKET.
Consequence:
IN SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE BALL MAY SEPARATE FROM THE BALL JOINT SOCKET AND A LOSS OF STEERING MAY OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE VEHICLES. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
Notes:
MAZDA RECALL NO. 3405G. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236; (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

 

here is the engine overheat recall you to clarify this is different:

Make : MAZDA Model : RX8 Year : 2004
Manufacturer : MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 05V317000 Recall Date : JUL 07, 2005
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 56000
Summary:
IF CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE PARKED AND THE ENGINE IS OPERATED AT HIGH RPM'S FOR AN EXCESSIVE LENGTH OF TIME, SOME OF THE PARTS AROUND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAN MELT AND PRODUCE A VARIETY OF MALFUNCTIONS. PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD-UP CAN RANGE FROM INOPERATIVE OXYGEN SENSOR, NEUTRAL SWITCH AND BACK UP LIGHTS, PROBLEMS WITH THE PARKING BRAKES, MALFUNCTIONS OF THE GAS GAUGE AND/OR POSSIBLE FUEL LEAKS RESULTING FROM HEAT DAMAGE TO THE FUEL TANK.
Consequence:
FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE PARTS. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
Notes:
MAZDA RECALL NO. 3305G. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

 

Anyone know how this will affect Canadian 8s?

 

Thanks for the info, but theres already a thread started on this (and in the correct forum )

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/rx-8-control-arm-ball-joint-problems-recall-67126/

 

Thanks for the detailed info. You da man!

 

its too cold up there, so the 8 will never overheat (j/k)

 

Not everyone reads the tech forum though, So good to have thsi info up in the general Rx8 forum.

 

I did not notice the other thread...sorry guys

but NomisR is correct...since these are Recalls...this is for everyone

 

All recall stuff is going to the tech forum so we don't have a ton of threads on the same issue. As Cam pointed out, https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=67126.