Problem alert: 2004 mazda RX-8 Due to the suspension problem that I had no clue of. I found out the hard way that the suspension right front control arm lowers ball joint recall on the passenger side.... :mad:..... I got in to a wreck yesterday, I thought I blew out my right tire but no it was much more then that it was my front suspension went out and my lower ball joint cracked in half.. I took it to the dealer last night.... and now I'm just finding out that the dealer knew about this problem a year ago and claimed to fix the problem.... yeah right..... fix my ass. has anyone else had this problem??????? please reply thanks

There was a TSB issued for this, but it didnt effect any US bound cars. This happening to you is just a coincedence as sometimes there are flaws in manufacturing.

http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/pdf/RepairProceduresRecallBJ.pdf
http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/pdf/OwnerLetterRecallBallJoint.pdf

There was a TSB issued for this, but it didnt effect any US bound cars. This happening to you is just a coincedence as sometimes there are flaws in manufacturing.
Not true, see above recall....

here are some pic.

If you took it to them for that exact recall, and then that exact problem happened causing you to wreck your car, doesn't that make the dealer liable?

Not true, see above recall....


Maybe no dice is confusing TSB with recall.

If my memory serves me correctly, nodice is correct. There was a recall issued, but the cars affected were only overseas, IE never brought to the US.

the original poster can look at the recall and check if he has the markings.

Talk to the services manager this morning and he told me there going to look into this problem and he told me that they did check for all recalls on my car last year and for this year and said qoute we fix this problem a year ago. . I dont understand why some people are saying it only for oversea rx-8 check your dealer and ask them like I did if you have a 2004 mazda RX-8 . They will tell you that they check for these problem on 2004 rx-8's....

There was a US recall for this problem as shown in the links to finishline performance. Check your VIN to see if yours was in the recall, check the markings, and check for a recall sticker that should have been placed under the hood. The dealer was supposed to check for the markings to see if the ball joint should be replaced. If the recall was done on yours and, assuming that it was one of the affected parts that was not replaced, then you have a case for the dealer being liable. If the recall was not performed on your vehicle then you have to find out why it wasn't called in to determine liability.

BTW, I checked the markings on the ball joints myself before taking it in. I knew that mine were OK but still wanted the recall performed to make it official in their computer.

has anyone else had there car check or had this problem only 2004 rx-8?

^^ Check the link to the finishlineperformance.com TSB. It shows the range of the VINs affected.

Once again, i will reiterate. This did not affect USDM cars, they sent out recall letters, but no USDM car had the affected joint. This happening to you is more than likely a coincidence with the recall.

If your control arm does not have those markings, you dont get them replaced. They visually check it and write it off because thats all they can do if your control arm/joint didnt have the marking.

if you DO have those markings on your control arm, this is the first case in the USA.

abbid. How do you no if they did'nt effect u.s. DM 2004 rx-8 I not trying to be mean but it sound like you check every 2004 RX-8 in the U.S. come on think about it. If it didnt effect us why even send out recall leter to owners of 2004 rx-8 like i said early. I talk to the services manager this morning and they said they fix the problem last year maybe, maybe they did'nt do it..... you never no shit happens

I maybe right or I could be wrong but I no for sure this was a weird wreck I no for sure I have no body damage at all on my car really weird it felt like I blew out my tire but some really snapped in the suspension... well thanks for your input.

Uh... I received a notice for this recall too. I live in the US. Maybe it was only certain cars? Mine's an early production '04 (I don't know the build date, but I took delivery 7/24/04)

BTW, recall letter was last year or early this year (I can't remember which).