I bought my RX-8 in November of 2010 and I have only put 5,00 miles on it. So far I feel like the car is a lemon. I have 2 really big issues right now with and I have searched the forum but haven't found anyone with exactly the same problem. So far I have had to replace the starter and alternator. I have already replaced the back bumper guards cause they seem to crack. Anyways here are my 2 problems.

Problem Number 1: I have hot air then it goes to cold. I did the Radio Power and hold Scan for a second and the numbers are not stuck. They move from 0-16 decently, Sometimes they do seem to switch back and forth on their own like at number to it will flash 2 and go back and forth between 1 and 2 without me touching it. Sometimes I will move it all the way to 16 and then it moves from 16 to 15 to 13 down to seven back to 16 just randomly. I have an extended warranty but the dealer is an hour drive from my house. Trying to do something on my own.


Problem 2: My passenger side window doesnt seem to go all the way down it gets right at the seal on the door but a portion of the glass hangs out a 1/4 of an inch. I have to push it down a little to get it to go down. Is there any adjustment for the window or does anyone else have the same problem?


I love my car but this stuff is getting expensive fast. I have condensation in my headlights as well. I drilled a small hole in them but it stays in there. Also some mornings the cd player or radio wont play sound til I have drove it for 5-10 minutes and it annoys me. I am starting to regret buying it because of the small things. I almost want to trade it but I will lose my *** on a trade in. I already have a good bit of money tied into it too. I have put an intake and alot of racing beat parts and an exhaust and I hate to just quit on a car that could have so much potential. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Oh by the way I bought it used. It is a 2004 with 53,000 miles on it

 

Previous owner is probably an audio guy but didnt bother to revert everything back before stripping the system. Bring it back to the dealer, tell them to fix it or have them buy it back.

 

...and it should be under warranty for any defects.

 

I think I am just gonna go ahead and trade it in. They said they would buy it back.

 

I feel your pain. I bought my 04 in Oct of 2010 with 60k miles. I put $2k into it in the first month. Including an aluminum radiator, overflow bottle and oil pan due to bad sender. Intake control valve and cleaning $640. Heater/AC fan resistor card, air cabin filters, tune up. BUT that made it right!!

My engine had been replaced at 55k. I got a new cat for free at 61k.

My RX8 will NEVER be my ONLY car. They are much too sensitive for daily driving and get way too bad premium mpg for that!! Stictly autocross and curvy roads for me and we love it for that purpose with soft tires.

BTW I know two other people with 04's that had engines replaced at 55k for free. The engine core replacement warrantee is only good for 80k or 8years from the original date of sale. You might be running out of time on that.

Try to sell it outright rather than trade it in. You are right they will skin you and you will also be out all the sales tax!!

Good luck.

 

Both cars in this thread were 1st-year models, bought used, 7 years old, and I assume with mostly unknown usage & maintenance histories. And they are being called "lemons" and "too sensitive". Many of the problems mentioned here seem, at best, relatively minor, and at worst, not too unusual for a 7 year old used car.

I think is is more about perceptions and expectations than anything else...

 

That is somewhat true. When I bought the car it had 48,000 Miles on it. It had all the records with it. So far I have had to replace the Alternator, Starter and Battery. Whoever worked on the car left the battery hold down bracket out and I had to buy a new one. They didn't give me a remote key for my doors that I had to go buy and have programmed. I also had to put a exhaust on it cause the cat went bad and muffler was rusting. This car came from a very respected Mazda dealer and they won't accommodate me in any way. I also didn't get a spare tire or the kit in the trunk and those at the dealer are high. I have just had alot of problems out of it.

 

I have all the records on my car from day one. We "LOVE" this car's handling and features. BUT they have certain expensive reliability issues. Even my Dealer service mgr. readily admits that!!

Come on new motors at 55k in this day and age!! I wouldn't have bought the RX8 without the "new" engine with warrantee still in affect for another year. I did my homework on this car before I bought it. I figure this car will last me easily another 10 years.

I owned/autocrossed many first gen RX7's over the years and they were totally reliable up to well over 150k and over 15 years old when I sold them to others who continued to enjoy them for years after that.

We are still driving an 86 Mustang GT with original driveline. A 93 Crown Vic with mostly original everything. AND I have an original 81 Suzuki MC I still ride frequently. The 99 Miata I just sold had 160k miles on it but was original driveline, nearly perfect and tight (but it had specific $1000 issues needing addressed when I first got it too).

So don't tell me about "perceptions and expections". I don't buy new cars. I expect to put at least $1500 in a used car to bring it up to my standards.

Read the posts on this board to see people buying these cars just because they "look cool" and go fast and are fairly new....then see groans within a few months. Back to Honda they run. Can't blame them.

No one expects to replace/rebuild a properly maintained engine in less than 150k miles in the last 20 years!! Especially the once bulletproof rotary.

My other 2 cents. Inflation.

 

Sadly the battery and starter should have been a recall as they were too weak in the first place. Amen.

Your Cat should have been replaced for free by the dealer as mine was 8yrs/80k miles. I still have my original exhaust going strong in FL.

I forgot about having to buy a new battery hold down so I could pass SCCA safety inspection. Amen to that. Bet alot are missing under that cover.

I too only got one key and fob so had to get all reprogrammed at the dealer. That must be a common issue with dealers keeping them to reprogram later.

I found a spare tire on this board $125 like new but not the mounting bracket. I keep it in the trunk only on trips. Walmart/Advance have a nice package with Slime and Compressor that fits nicely into the original strap as my flat fix pack was missing too. There is just enough room to put a quart of oil in there too and a pouring spout.

Good luck.

 

Concerning your problems it is essential that you get a DVD with the entire factory repair to help you solve issues like these so far away from a Dealer. I got a complete Factory one off ebay for $15. The partial ones available on this website cover alot of things but not everything.

You might consider listing each one of those problems separately under troubleshooting titles for better response as no one has addressed them correctly yet.

Good luck.

 

Thanks man I will try that. Good information you have there