I just Zanio'ed my 8 today. I was surprised to discover a crack in my defrost switch. Has anyone else seen this?
I'm going to take it up with my dealer and try to get them to replace it at no charge.

i have the exact same crack in the defrost button. its like a little slit in the middle of the button. u can see it at night when all the buttons are lit up.

NO WAY! I thought I was the only one. I have the same crack on the same button. Dealership said they would replace it under warranty. wierd I just thought it was some salesman not paying attention.

Same problem here, dealership is going to replace it.

Hmm.. you got a pic? I'm curious to see what the fuss is about.

I'll take a picture tomorrow. Glad to get some response and know that I'm not alone.

Heres mine Im very very interested in this I cant believe like 5 people are experiencing this problem. no big deal but very strange.

and at night....

it is very disturbing that 5 completly different people have the same exact crack on the same exact button. i dont even use the defrost buttons, maybe used them before only once. i smell a massive recall coming.

I doubt a massive recall will stem from cracked defrost buttons.
I thought a "official" recall was safety of emmisions related. Its just standard warranty issue at best.

This is getting interesting. I had the same cracked switch, but the opposite side. I noticed it during my delivery inspection and was replaced 3 days later. The whole switch assembly is replaced and it took all of 5 minutes. No biggie.

I wonder what happens at the port when the accessories and the port campaign work is done.......

-G

Wow.. that's a nasty crack.

How long after you took delivery that you noticed this?

um that would be immediately. See I bought the car from a dealer in Virginia and had it delivered halfway to Savannah, GA for me. I noticed it on the ride home and when the dealer called to check up and see if all was well I told them about it and they said that the local dealer would fix it under warranty. Just havent gotten around to it yet.

oh yell no
that sucks
I dont have the crack YET

Here's my defrost switch. Glad to hear others have had the problem and had it fixed. I will talk to my dealer this week. The cracks are due to stress in the molding. Many others should see cracks soon. Hopefully the vendor has fixed the molds for the n replacement buttons.

stupid question

you guys with cracks have you even used the switch

I hardly ever used the switch. I'm thinking that this problem will show up soon for many owners.

just wondering becuase I have yet to touch mine and now I'm nervous

I went to dealer today. The switch will be replaced N/C but paperwork takes an hour to process. Ordering the parts will be 7-10 days. Installation should be a half hour. I decided to wait till warranty service. The dealship had not heard of other problems with cracks. I suspect this is from stress flaws in the molding of the buttons. Keep an eye out for more of this RE: defrost buttons. There is no possible way this crack came from regular use of the button.

thanks for the info

now I'm scared to touch it:(

I just now found this thread didn't even think to look. Thought it was a minor problem, but thought I'd mention my car "came" with a crack in that button. I noticed it the 1st "night" i drove the car as it was hard to see without the back light. They replaced under warranty no problem. Funny how this happened to all of us.

The car I test drove for the weekend had a crack on the right side button also.

I was just looking at the photos posted by WHealy regarding his Blue Carbon fiber and noticed he has what appears to be the cracks too - (it's the 7th picture down). It has started on my car YET.

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?threadid=19095

damn...i've used mine at least 30-50 times already this winter...knock on wood

Originally posted by 6speed8
I was just looking at the photos posted by WHealy regarding his Blue Carbon fiber and noticed he has what appears to be the cracks too - (it's the 7th picture down). It has started on my car YET.

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?threadid=19095

Yea, in his post, WHealy said BOTH his buttons cracked during his CF installation....

I think this is just an incident of Mazda using a low quality part.

I have a crack in my ass - I think it's because of the driver's seat. Anyone else have this problem?

khoney, you should really get that checked out, sounds like a defect.

well that sucks..well before I pick mine up..ill push the buttons about 50 times to try and crack them LOL before I sign for it

CM

NO WAY! I thought I was the only one with this. I have never even used my defrost button yet, and there is the exact same crack. So wierd. I didn't even think to call the dealer I just thought it was to minor.

You guys "Crack" me up!! hee hee. Hmm, used mine a lot here in 1 degree above zero temps and -20 windchill. My crack I am sure is frozen shut! ha ha Really.....I will go check mine out...have not noticed.

No crack for me....hope it stays that way. CJ

crap, i got jinxed. i read this post, and the next time i drove my car, i noticed i got a crack too!!!! cryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

1. Elara, this thread ought to be moved - not sure exactly where.

2. Now that everybody is getting their M flash, I think it's time for us to start annoying North America Mazda about this problem. The Forum has identied a systemic flaw and I'm going to guess that most of us will encounter this problem right after the warranty period expires. Might as well get it fixed before the problems start.

You'd think that Mazda would know how to make plastic buttons after all these years, don't you?

Thanks, TDS for starting this thread

Just did some interior cleaning today and I've found the cracks on the defrost button as well. Will bring that up on my next service. I wonder if these cracks can be correlated to how much bumps the car has gone through? Perhaps the lucky ones here don't have to go through that many potholes during their drive.

damn guys
my car is fine but if it looks like that im gonna flip.
sorry to hear the bad news guys

I think y'all are pressing too hard.

LOL. This is probably the reason why. The most simple and obvious answer is always the right one, as Yoda once said in some Star Wars movie.

We had the crack in our defrost button too...

dealer called us to tell us the part was in before we even noticed it :-) it was taken care of in November and hasn't had a problem since then.

the only other piece of the interior that has given us a problem is the driver's side sun visor. on a road trip my GF flipped it down and it stayed there, it wouldn't hold in the upright position so i'm bringing it in to get replaced today under warranty. once i got a chance to look at it there was a rather large crack in the top seam of the visor and you could see inside where the plastic had broken away.

Ray

i noticed my rear window defrost button was cracked as well. i got it fixed about 2 months ago...how often do i actually get to use it...im in TX...anyways...my dealership fixed it under warranty

I am with true9baller - read the thread and noticed the crack. Bringing my car in for A/C (not the TSB), so I also added the button. Hopefully M flash to follow.

dag

i had a ac button crack they change it fast no charge..

I'm going to have to get out a magnifying glass to check mine... they appear fine from a distance but I want to make sure. :D Thanks for the heads up!!

Because of this thread, I actually paid attention to my switches, and sure enough the mirror/rear defroster (RHS) button is cracked.

Look carefully: mine is cracked on the *side* and is just starting to creep onto the front.

Does anyone have a good theory as to why these are cracking? I'm just about 100% certain this button has cracked recently, as I paid it a lot of attention when I got the car in August 03. Maybe it's just due to heat cycling (hot days, cooler nights). I recognized right away these buttons take very little effort to operate, and I certainly don't punch them...

-jd.

Same- except my dealer said it look to him like the switch was strcuk by something- refused to cover under warranty-Now I'm PO!!

You really need to get that covered under warranty. My dealership said I was the 3rd customer they covered. They should contact mazda. It is a known problem from port.

Tell your dealer to look up MT000004289

It is a MRI that covers this problem

FYI

FRONT DEFROST BUTTON CRACKING
Applicable Models
Model Starting S/N Ending S/N
2004 RX8 40000000 40126175

Some vehicles may experience cracking of the windsheild defrost button. The concern is most noticeable when the parking lights are on, causing light to shine through the crack. The concern is most likely caused by grease applied at time of assembly, which causes solvent cracking. The assembly process has been modified to prevent further occurrences. Customers with this concern should have the heater control unit replacedwith a modified part. 1. Verify concern. 2. Replace climate control unit. Refer to page 7-40-11 of the workshop manual. IMPORTANT! - Replacement of the climate control unit involves removal and reinstallation of the center panel asembly. Refer to Service Bulletin # 07-003/03 for center panel removal. The center panel is easily damaged if procedure is not followed carefully. 3. Verify repair. Parts information: FE01-61-190 Climate control unit

Mark one more for cracked button. Mine is the button on the right. It happened sometime last week. I was down in So Cal and it was pretty hot out. Off to the dealer.....

FYI

I think there is also a bulletin out on the red/blue temperature control knob...it can easily get stripped and come loose. Mine was when I bought it...I insisted the sales person give me a new one off another RX8 on the sales room floor.

Originally posted by WinningBlue
FYI

I think there is also a bulletin out on the red/blue temperature control knob...it can easily get stripped and come loose. Mine was when I bought it...I insisted the sales person give me a new one off another RX8 on the sales room floor.

The rotary buttons are addressed in a TSB.

This is a "MRI" and my dealer had to search for it on the MZ tech site.

haha i don't think pressing too hard is the problem

i think it's due to the way that they car was built.

maybe there's too much pressure there

Originally posted by aznkukuboi
haha i don't think pressing too hard is the problem

i think it's due to the way that they car was built.

maybe there's too much pressure there


Does anyone read the thread they post in?

Mine too cracked :mad:

<------- another victim of the crack... although i found it very strange that the salesman at dealership said this was common with the "ROTARY ENGINE".............................................. i sure hope he meant with the "RX8"!

Just had two buttons replaced with no problems (well actually, the didn't have the part my first trip there even though I told them ahead of time).

dag

This is weird, because the test car I drove had a crack on the defrost button. It was dusk and I didn't notice it until I turned on the lights. I have made sure to check mine ever since I saw that, and I don't have a crack, yet...

Originally posted by snap-on
The rotary buttons are addressed in a TSB.

This is a "MRI" and my dealer had to search for it on the MZ tech site.

"MRI"? Waas zat?

I noticed my rear defrost button was cracked this morning....dammit!

Originally posted by Shooter
I noticed my rear defrost button was cracked this morning....dammit!

I'll take that over the windshield chip / spider I got this morning :) . Wanna trade?

First thing I noticed when I took delivery from the dealer was the crack in the button.

I'll take that over the windshield chip / spider I got this morning . Wanna trade?

Since you put it that way.......No. :p

Rear defroster button developed a crack about a week ago. Are they replacing ALL of the buttons with new ones, or just the ones that are cracked? If this is a manufacturing or design defect, they should be replacing the buttons at risk for failure.

I wonder at what point they modified the building procedure (e.g; what month builds are safe from this defect)

I was wondering the same thing. My RX8 was built in December.

Add me to the list of cracks. Noticed it this passed weekend.

got mine two weeks ago used and as I sit down right after we signed the paper work I see the crack. Not a great way to start my rx-8 experience.

I discovered the crack at night with lights on. I would never have noticed it in daylight. My dealer said no problem. They have ordered a new one.

I just got a new one from the dealership, they fixed it under warrenty. If you haven't got it replaced yet, go do it.

Same switch cracked in March about 2 weeks after I had car - thought it was the cold Canadian Winter.

The switch opposite cracked last week.

I suppose they'll all go, eventually :mad:

Hey all,

Just noticed that mines cracked also. My car was born on 11/03 and I've had it for a week. I just read this post and went and checked mine. Well what do you know!! Its cracked, guess I'll be taking it in to get that fixed and my steering wheel straightened out.

Looks like we have an epidemic of cracks with the defrost switch. I noticed it early ...soon after delivery but did nothing due to the inconvenience factor. However thanks to this forum it seems that it is a widespread occurance and I will approach my dealer.

skc

I got cracks. One in the rear defrost and on in the windshield defrost.
2306 miles so far.

mine cracked also, dealer replaced at no charge. If dealer says different refer them to this forum.

Rear defrost cracked. Dealer is getting part. Wonder if the replacement is any better? Probably end up cracking again :(

Replaced both front and rear defrost buttons on mine. It was done within a day. Word of advice: Point out that there are no scratches on the piano black surface as well as the surrounding vinyl while you're showing the service manager the cracks. All these surfaces are prone to get scratched as the dumb mechanic tries to pry out the face plate.

Rear defrost cracked. Dealer is getting part. Wonder if the replacement is any better? Probably end up cracking again :(

From the info I've read, the real culprit (as opposed to the buttons themselves) has been grease or lubricant residue from installation either at the factory or at the port of entry which has caused the buttons to soften up.

lol...I have the crack as well. Guess I'm special cause both by front and rear defrost buttons are cracked.

How the hell does a simple button just "crack"????

After reading this thread a few months back I checked my defrost switch (Built 11/03) and sure enough rear defrost button was cracked just like in the photos. Took it to dealer they verified and ordered. Once in I had them do the A/C TSB at the same time. After mod I noticed that when the A/C temp is in the coldest position it automatically switches from fresh air to re circulate. If you move the temp just one notch warmer it switches back to the fresh air mode. It did not do this prior to the mod. I don't know if its the new switch or the A/C TSB but it makes the max cool recommendation in the manual dummy proof...

The Tech who did the work took great care and a beautiful job. I plan on asking for him by name for future repairs and will wait for him to be available.

How the hell does a simple button just "crack"????
The plastic "button" you see and press on the console is actually the cover for a small plunger that actuates the circuits to turn things on/off. It's this plastic "cover" that becomes weak and cracks.

Wow,,,so it wasn't just me who's defrost button is cracked!!!!! :mad:
It's just that mine is the rear defrost button that's on the right side!
The dealer's going to replace it..

Wow,,,so it wasn't just me who's defrost button is cracked!!!!! :mad:
It's just that mine is the rear defrost button that's on the right side!
The dealer's going to replace it..

Mine was also the right-side button. I think they're supposed to replace ALL of the little buttons in the cluster, no matter which one(s) is(are) broken or cracked.

They replaced the entire button cluster on mine.

My front windsheild defroster button is cracked half way. I will be calling the dealer tommorow (Anaheim, CA).

okay, thought I should ring in as well. I purchased mine with crack already there. Of course the dealer replaced it.

Funny, mine went all winter without cracking, despite frequent use.

Last week, with temps in the 80's and the rear defrost untouched for months, the button decides to crack. Off to the dealer I guess. I know there's a TSB for it so I'm not expecting any problems. Just a little pain to deal with.

I also have a crack in my defrost button. My question is. Will they have to remove the entire HU to replace the button? Or do they pop off from the front side?

Wow I never even thought to look that closely at the buttons...I will be checking it for cracks later tonight...

Well, I have an appointment on Monday for my cracked defrost button. They are telling me that they will have to remove the entire switch cluster from the rear of the HU. Then send it to Mazda to get a replacement. They cannot have the new one on hand. That they have to send it in first as a core? So they will be keeping my car for a few days. They will get me a rental. I think I would rather pull the HU myself, and then take it to them. I don't want my 8 sittin' around the dealership for a few days, because of some dumbass button, come on! Plus I have my PIE adaptor, and my in dash eq hooked up. Has anyone else delt with this before? I thought the buttons would just pop off, and then pop new ones on.

That does seem kinda strange. I would call another dealer and ask if they are willing to order the part before you bring in your car.

I'd like to know how the buttons come off as well. I had the crack in the button, took it in and it was fixed. But now I have a scratch on the cd player faceplate. I mentioned it when I took it in, they looked at. On the invoice they put not authorized customer responsible. It's not a big scratch or too noticeable but it's there and they did it. Any suggestions how to go about this? I'm definitley goin to switch dealers, would another dealer fix something the first one screwed up?

this is weird! i bought the car used 10/31/05 it is a 04 rx8 and the main defrost button has a slit across it as well!

i figured it was from the owner before me.. but after reading this. i should definatley look into this