I Think this might help people get a general idea of what might be wrong with their car if we can get some consistent problems with consistent dates? also, if you have any recalls or PCM flashes that have occured since then post your results.

January 2004

Airbag wiring recall performed at port.

Only 2 minor complaints:

AC cycling
Some bucking in very-low-speed traffic (6spMT)

I'm hoping the "M" flash will help with the 2nd one. My car just missed getting "L" so I guess it's "K"?

Dec 2003.

Had M flash installed. No problems to date.

September 03. Original flash level = k. current flash level =m. air bag recall. Oil gauge sweep does not yield sweep. mpg averaging around 17. no change. the only problem that i have is at 80 mph, 4k rpm, 6th gear, i feel like i have to shift up. also, paint chips rather easily.

August 2003. Original "J" calibration, now flashed to "M". Two "longish" cranks to start (5 seconds) while on "J". Got airbag and tranny shield/damper recalls done. No warranty repairs required - 8800 miles since Dec 03 purchase.

November 2003... took delivery in February.

Has been in dealer 7 times; just about anything you can think of has gone wrong.

Troy J.

think this best to be done in a spreadsheet format, so we can sort it by either the last 6 digits of VIN and /or build mo/year. I started one back when we were awaiting the release of the first VINs.Anyway:
built : 5/03; no flashes; no probs save for TSBs done (and the infamous port campaigns). Awaiting Stage 1.1, though not much longer (either it will arrive[soon], or I'll go for other mods, like midpipes/intake)
EDIT: in the FWIW category:
I don't 'think' it'll do much good. The engines have so much hand-built time that I don't think much correlation will come of build month, build sequence or even assembly line if we knew that much. Maybe engine assemly person, as I believe there to be few of them. Obviously some things can be traced to VINs (TSBs/recalls). Outside of those, it'll be much like a snipe hunt.

JeUpRX-8 states "November 2003... took delivery in February.

Has been in dealer 7 times; just about anything you can think of has gone wrong"

Hey bud, sorry to hear you're having so much problems. The only time my 8 has been in the shop is for scheduled maintaince. I have absolutely, positively no problems with me 8, and neither do 9 other 8 owners that i know through the local car club.

Mfg. Date: February 6, 2004

Total Miles to date: 1006

Problems: None so far. Has not been flashed yet, and will get it flashed when I bring it to the dealer for my 1st/FREE oil change.

Originally posted by pret
JeUpRX-8 states "November 2003... took delivery in February.

Has been in dealer 7 times; just about anything you can think of has gone wrong"

Hey bud, sorry to hear you're having so much problems. The only time my 8 has been in the shop is for scheduled maintaince. I have absolutely, positively no problems with me 8, and neither do 9 other 8 owners that i know through the local car club. Please don't dredge this up again. Let's keep this thread on topic.

May 2003, delivery in Sep. 2003. Current on all "recalls" through L flash. No problems thus far.

Build date June 24 2003. Took delivery August 8th, 2003. Have had the Oil pan, airbag and dampener recalls done. Think I was originally on the K flash, now up to M.

Windshield cracked. Havent replaced yet. Burnt out 2 coil packs, reason still being investigated. Parts replaced and working great again. 17,600 miles and counting.

Oh, cloth seat material is starting to wear rather badly on the drivers seat. But I am heavy and sit in the car a lot. Exploring remedies for this.

Guys-build date 11/03, recalls done before took delivery 4/04. No reflash. Runs great-mileage? Who cares?

Bob

Mine was built on 11 Aug 2003. I just had the M flash done today by Don Marvel himself at Town North Mazda in Richardson TX. (Not that it makes a difference who does it) I have no major gripes other than folks griping about a great ride. My AC amplifier is on order. No "problems" to report

Edit after 14,000 miles - Syncro's blown in 2nd and 3rd, transmission rattle, bad mileage, warped brake rotors, rear diff whining and the factory audio really does suck.

11/4/2004. Had the M Reflash. Aside from what was on the TSB's, nothing is wrong.

7/03 took on 8/03... not to many problems:
Two recalls (air bag and that trans bolt I think)
The quarter panel in the back seat came off (TSB about it now)
Driver Door rattles, driver side vent rattles, rear right speak rattles :( I hate rattles, just anal about them.

Nothing major major though. 16K+ miles.

November 2003, delivered 5/3/04. In the shop 5/4/04 (Catalytic CEL) Flashed to M?

Only issue so far is that the drivers seat has some looseness in the linkage or adjusments underneath. rails are solid...its between the rail and the seat bottom...creaks when turning. Cloth seats.

aug 2003

just the recalls.

mpg 19-24

just turned 15k miles today.

just updating this, i have a major tranny fault, i could not shift out of 4th gear, and now any WOT shift over 6k rpm yeilds grinding. 08/03 MFD

5/27/03, picked up 7/17/03. Currently running "L" flash which I had loaded in when my airbag and transmission shield recalls were taken care of. No problems so far other than poor gas mileage (usually somewhere between 13.5-16.0 mpg). L flash added about 1 mpg. I think most of the poor mileage is due to my commute where I rarely can get above 4th gear.

bump :]

11/2003 - Purchased 10/2004. M Flash and replaced CAT after 1 week w/CEL. No other problems to report. Runs great, mileage as expected. Only have 2200 miles currently.

1/11/05 Also film in headlights.

Build 4/03
Purchased - 8/04

6K miles
Not one problem

'04...like and '05
Build 06/04

No problems...knock on wood

bump :]

bump

Don't leave out the tire story.

Tell us that one again.. :D :D

built 11-03 took delivery 2-04 no problems had all flash done when oil changes were done .waiting for the dealership to installl the new break pads .

Delivered Dec 05, dunno when it was built (where do you find that?) Only problem is with the auto-dim mirror, though I haven't contacted the dealer for a replacement yet.

Build 2/04.

1. Wouldn't start one morning. Got it reflashed, started every time.
2. Transmission failed while on vacation. 40 days later the car was back in my hands!
3. Transmission still sucked. Took it back in to Dealer in Richardson, Tx (Town North Mazda) 12 days later, and they replaced the transmission and clutch.
4. After getting my car back AGAIN, it still wasn't right. Called the local dealership to schedule to bring it in. On the way in my clutch "exploded". They claim abuse.

the car was delivered on sept 2003

1-Transmission
1-set of plugs
1- set of wires
1-clutch (went to 6 puck aftermarket & Lite Flywheel)
Cant shake these CEL's since the bad flash even with the new flash it still misfires
2-recalls (airbag & Dampner)
1-center console lid
34000 miles
In the shop for a motor I think :confused:

build 04/04 purchased 07/04

6k miles so far...no problem.

Build Date: 05/30/03
Delivered: 07/22/03

Current Mileage: 28100

Regular Dealer Service: None so far - will do the 30K with them. I change my own oil & filter.

Recalls: Both Air Bag and Tranny Damper recall services performed.

TSBs Performed: Snapping wheel TSB performed.
PCM reflash to M performed.

TSBs Pending: A/C fluctuating (parts were supposedly on order, never got a callback. They were also supposed to tell me when they got the upgraded NAV firmware. Will bug them at 30K service.

Problems: Threw cat converter code, reflash fixed it.
Car shudders occassionally at idle. Excessive, IMO. Sounds like it's gonna fall apart when I shut it off. This did NOT happen when new. Will address this at 30K service (tried earlier, but wouldn't do it at the dealership).

Mileage: 19.5 - 20.5 MPG every time, ~70% highway. Mostly use 89 octane

Wow you did not want me to see this thread...

Jun 03
Currently on M flash 17 city / 17 highway

Work performed
--------------------
Airbag recall
Heat shield recall
oil level tsb
2 floods - dealer replaced spark plugs with the hotter set
tsb for front brake squeal

Issues outstanding
------------------------
front brakes still squeal
dealer ground grooves into front rotors, scarred inside front passenger rotor
oil warning light does NOT come on when oil is low
power loss in mountains (mammoth for socal folks)
engine stall in mountains ^
highway mph (I hate stopping in lone pine for gas, have to drive the TII)
intermittent racing and lurching from engine at sea level
AC cycles cold - hot - cold
tranny whirr at idle, intermittent tranny screech when starting from a stop
intermittent differential whine, loud after a long drive
gearbox hard to shift, 2nd and 3rd grind often
LOUD flapping noise from engine in hot weather (sound comes from under the UIM near injectors)
excessive oil consumption
water in oil
engine is consuming water
rough idle
intermittent strong sulfur smell - no biggie doubt car could pass smog anyway :)

outside bar in bottom seat baffle HURTS (it hurts a lot if hits you good)
rear quarter windows don’t close all the way
rattle in steering wheel column
rattle in dash vents
rattle in stereo console
rattle in passenger door
rattle in homelink mirror
rattle in rear passenger speaker
dvd navigation gets lost or shows car parallel to map road but not on road

Some of these have TSBs but the dealer 'cannot reproduce issue' on them, even when car is demonstrating issue when they pull it around for pickup. So they remain open issues :( BUT I still have fun driving it when it runs right

8/03 Build date, purchased 11/03 AT Touring. The only service I've had done is some recalls and scheduled maintenance. Other than idiots running into the car, the only problems I've had are a couple of hard starts. The stock tires even lasted 25000 miles. 32000 miles to date. 20-26 mpg hwy (depends on type of gas and type/distance of hwy), 16-18 city, and 14-16 in the mountains with my foot in it. current flash: L

bump :]

Bump

All of you who have contributed to the "baby boomer" thread know I am seriously looking at an 8.

Some of the other threads I've read say beware of 8's built before 2004. The one I'm considering has a date on the door jam of 05/03. From some of the threads, this gives me great concern. Although I have had the car for the weekend and it seems to be fine, the comments re: flash updates, recalls, etc have me worried about purchasing this car.

What do you think?





.

All the threads I read state so long as the PCM flash is up to date buying “older” RX-8’s is not a problem. Mine is also a 5/03 and has been great. About the only thing that will effect this batch for sure is the oil pan TSB which really is not a big deal. So if the deal is a good one for you I would not pass up on a 5/03. Just make sure the PCM flash is up to date and the oil pan has been changed.

my rx8 has been in the shop over 3 times-bought it in oct 03 (o4 model) it is standard, dealer says problem w/ my car is we need to choke it.... says it is in the manual that we need to do this. why does mine "flood" only sometimes? sad, i loved this car. but i cannot afford 270$ every time it "floods" or they say we "choked" or didnt "choke" -

Had a base 04 8. No problems at all! bought 04 touring 8, big problems. see erjjet postings.
Anyway, PCM was flashed at dealer. same problems. Now it's in Cali getting flashed (i guess they do it better)they say this will fix it! We'll see. I'll post an update when I pick up the car (hopefully this week)been in the shop 1 1/2 weeks.

my rx8 has been in the shop over 3 times-bought it in oct 03 (o4 model) it is standard, dealer says problem w/ my car is we need to choke it.... says it is in the manual that we need to do this. why does mine "flood" only sometimes? sad, i loved this car. but i cannot afford 270$ every time it "floods" or they say we "choked" or didnt "choke" -

If your warranty is not up, I would suggest buying another 2 years if you can. I traded mine for another 04 and they gace me 8 year/100k. I was about to buy one before i traded for 1500.00.