Cracked Air Bag Dash
11-24-2012, 05:14 PM
#126
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Just noticed a crack right in the center of mine yesterday, about 1.5 inches long...jumped out at me immediately and makes an otherwise nice car look like ****. I really can't live with it so I'm just going to take it to a vinyl repair shop and see how it holds. After 8 years and 80k I'm not too broken up about it, but there's no denying it's a low quality part that should be addressed when this is happening to vehicles with far less age and mileage.
11-25-2012, 09:27 AM
#127
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11-25-2012, 10:31 AM
#128
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At the end of the day vinyl is just that...vinyl. However, there is an appreciable element of quality that seems to be missing among many manufacturers of these components that ultimately hamstrings the perceived quality of their products. I don't care if it's a Kia or a Lexus -- a dash should remain free of defects for more than just a few years. As I said before, I'm not torn up about it given the age and mileage of my car but I do feel for those who have seen cracks just outside of warranty.
11-26-2012, 10:42 AM
#129
I had a 96 Cordoba in the heat of Thailand and it had no dash issues what-so-ever looked as new as the day it was bought.. VW and most German brands used to have problems years ago back in the 80's but no longer, why is that you suppose? And do they back up their products when they do show such issues only a few years into ownership?
11-26-2012, 11:13 AM
#130
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My girlfriends 2010 Mazda is showing signs of this happening soon, you can see the lines from where it is perforated more easily now. Kind of sucks that she takes such great care of it inside and out but will have a crack in the dash soon. At least on my 8 it took almost 8 years to happen.
11-26-2012, 11:21 AM
#131
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I never had this problem with my 2004 RX-8. My 2008 Anniversary model starting showing cracks last year and now have spider web cracks in segments of the dash. Not acceptable as the materials used in the 2008 are inferior and Mazda should own up to a re-call due to the poor materials used.
11-26-2012, 12:24 PM
#132
Super Moderator
I had a 96 Cordoba in the heat of Thailand and it had no dash issues what-so-ever looked as new as the day it was bought.. VW and most German brands used to have problems years ago back in the 80's but no longer, why is that you suppose? And do they back up their products when they do show such issues only a few years into ownership?
All car makers are having issues because there has to be a very thin and weak breakout area for the PASSENGER Air Bag to deploy correctly where the ''invisible'' look is used like the RX-8..
Depending on the style and design some deploy at a different locations.
A few years earlier there used to be a noticeable flap/area where you could visibly see where the bag deploys from...
Perhaps car makers (not just Mazda) should go back to a 'trap door' look??
Then we will see everyone complaining about this look.
Yes it does not look good and I am waiting for mine to do the same...one day I guess.
But Mazda are not going to re-call over this...re-calls are for safety, not cosmetic.
BTW, you can't just wrap any vinyl over this area.
11-26-2012, 12:26 PM
#133
Super Moderator
I never had this problem with my 2004 RX-8. My 2008 Anniversary model starting showing cracks last year and now have spider web cracks in segments of the dash. Not acceptable as the materials used in the 2008 are inferior and Mazda should own up to a re-call due to the poor materials used.
11-27-2012, 11:08 AM
#135
No it didn't and I know the reason for it cracking but that is irrelevant to the quality It's up to them to test and provide a product made from sufficient materials or with sufficient design that holds up to the riggers of real life and not just do 'enough' to take your money & sell the car down the road.. That's a trick for used car dealers to do with used cars, not intended for new ones.
It boggles the mind how you can argue, indeed defend, an indefensible quality issue regardless of manufacturer.
At least with a trap door you know what it's purpose is, it's designed into the dash and accept it up front without deception of an implied quality that doesn't exist and later falls apart without any reasonable and cost effective way to repair or replace it in spite of the ugliness of the cracking after the fact.
I also ask again (which was never addressed) How do you know it's not a potential safety issue? It most certainly can be, refer to my earlier post..
It boggles the mind how you can argue, indeed defend, an indefensible quality issue regardless of manufacturer.
At least with a trap door you know what it's purpose is, it's designed into the dash and accept it up front without deception of an implied quality that doesn't exist and later falls apart without any reasonable and cost effective way to repair or replace it in spite of the ugliness of the cracking after the fact.
I also ask again (which was never addressed) How do you know it's not a potential safety issue? It most certainly can be, refer to my earlier post..
Last edited by DrivingForce; 11-27-2012 at 11:16 AM.
11-27-2012, 02:51 PM
#136
Hey guys/gals!!! My airbag cover cracked as well...been in contact with the service department at Mazda and they aren't showing any recalls for the airbag cover. They call it a "door" though. I got issues like you guys...makes the car look sad. I am trying to show mine sometime soon. I am queen of improvise though so I decided that I would carbon fiber mine. I didn't feel like wasting money on a new one that was gonna crack again. Anyways..I don't know what we can do other than contact Mazda but it would have to be in a petition form if that would even work. Anyone up for it or is it just pointless? PS- if you want a new one, you have two options: 1- pay about $500+ for a new one or "pull-a-part", not sure of that cost. There are some on EBAY that are going for $150-$200....waste of money in my opinion.
11-27-2012, 02:59 PM
#137
Super Moderator
11-27-2012, 03:09 PM
#138
Super Moderator
No it didn't and I know the reason for it cracking but that is irrelevant to the quality It's up to them to test and provide a product made from sufficient materials or with sufficient design that holds up to the riggers of real life and not just do 'enough' to take your money & sell the car down the road.. That's a trick for used car dealers to do with used cars, not intended for new ones.
It boggles the mind how you can argue, indeed defend, an indefensible quality issue regardless of manufacturer.
At least with a trap door you know what it's purpose is, it's designed into the dash and accept it up front without deception of an implied quality that doesn't exist and later falls apart without any reasonable and cost effective way to repair or replace it in spite of the ugliness of the cracking after the fact.
I also ask again (which was never addressed) How do you know it's not a potential safety issue? It most certainly can be, refer to my earlier post..
It boggles the mind how you can argue, indeed defend, an indefensible quality issue regardless of manufacturer.
At least with a trap door you know what it's purpose is, it's designed into the dash and accept it up front without deception of an implied quality that doesn't exist and later falls apart without any reasonable and cost effective way to repair or replace it in spite of the ugliness of the cracking after the fact.
I also ask again (which was never addressed) How do you know it's not a potential safety issue? It most certainly can be, refer to my earlier post..
I merely pointed to the FACT that Mazda is not the only manufacturer that has this happened to.
There is NO safety issue, the Air Bag Module can not deploy or fall out...it is impossible if you have seen how and where it mounts...obviously you have not.
YES, I will/would be pissed if it happens to my 8...but I can tell you now you can scream as much as you want to, after 6+ years of age Mazda and every other car maker is not going to do anything about it...
BTW: You admit your 96 SEAT did not crack in Singapore heat, well it has no Air Bag!, therefore NO trap door so how "could" it crack?
11-27-2012, 03:28 PM
#139
Super Moderator
Hey guys/gals!!! My airbag cover cracked as well...been in contact with the service department at Mazda and they aren't showing any recalls for the airbag cover. They call it a "door" though. I got issues like you guys...makes the car look sad. I am trying to show mine sometime soon. I am queen of improvise though so I decided that I would carbon fiber mine. I didn't feel like wasting money on a new one that was gonna crack again. Anyways..I don't know what we can do other than contact Mazda but it would have to be in a petition form if that would even work. Anyone up for it or is it just pointless? PS- if you want a new one, you have two options: 1- pay about $500+ for a new one or "pull-a-part", not sure of that cost. There are some on EBAY that are going for $150-$200....waste of money in my opinion.
11-28-2012, 09:43 AM
#140
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Maybe Mazda used various suppliers for the air bag door. The 2008 finish is more grainy looking, not as smooth. Anyway they have a faulty product like the leaking tailights and the sunvisors that will probably never be addressed with any re-calls.
11-28-2012, 10:33 AM
#141
Wouldn't that compromise the functionality of the airbag cover?
Although if you mean to stick some carbon fiber-looking foil on top of the dash, that may be no issue for a deploying airbag, but I still wouldn't risk it not to open in an accident and someone getting hurt...
Besides, I'm not sure how the carbon fiber foil would look
Probably would cause quite a bit of glare.
Although if you mean to stick some carbon fiber-looking foil on top of the dash, that may be no issue for a deploying airbag, but I still wouldn't risk it not to open in an accident and someone getting hurt...
Besides, I'm not sure how the carbon fiber foil would look
Probably would cause quite a bit of glare.
11-28-2012, 11:50 AM
#142
I am not arguing with....you are just going off and ranting rubbish.
I merely pointed to the FACT that Mazda is not the only manufacturer that has this happened to.
There is NO safety issue, the Air Bag Module can not deploy or fall out...it is impossible if you have seen how and where it mounts...obviously you have not.
YES, I will/would be pissed if it happens to my 8...but I can tell you now you can scream as much as you want to, after 6+ years of age Mazda and every other car maker is not going to do anything about it...
BTW: You admit your 96 SEAT did not crack in Singapore heat, well it has no Air Bag!, therefore NO trap door so how "could" it crack?
I merely pointed to the FACT that Mazda is not the only manufacturer that has this happened to.
There is NO safety issue, the Air Bag Module can not deploy or fall out...it is impossible if you have seen how and where it mounts...obviously you have not.
YES, I will/would be pissed if it happens to my 8...but I can tell you now you can scream as much as you want to, after 6+ years of age Mazda and every other car maker is not going to do anything about it...
BTW: You admit your 96 SEAT did not crack in Singapore heat, well it has no Air Bag!, therefore NO trap door so how "could" it crack?
Well you manged to get the right year anyways but it was Thailand not Singapore completely different countries by decades and so what? There are literally hundreds of thousands of cars with airbags there and before that I lived in south Florida my entire life with many cars with airbags and they aren't or haven't cracked either, except maybe the few Rx8's that is..
Many manufacturers, especially European, that come from cold climates had cracking issues long before airbag history and they managed to resolve them or at a minimum significantly extend the life with different materials and design technology..
In spite of you exaggerating and dramatizing the length of time that's been at issue I still think a mere 6 years you mention, let alone some of the examples being even less time, is a massive failing in QC.
I'm saying that a "top" customer service interested company doesn't throw up their hands and throw it back in the face of a customer that spent good hard earned money on their product when they know they have a larger issue with quality. Instead they provide satisfactory customer service and then improve the quality on future models..
As for covering it with anything else (I.E. carbon fiber) that is inadvisable and a potential liability as it could cause any number of issues of safety if it indeed is deployed in the case of an accident including to the passenger..
Last edited by DrivingForce; 11-28-2012 at 12:05 PM.
11-28-2012, 12:01 PM
#143
I am not arguing with....you are just going off and ranting rubbish.
I merely pointed to the FACT that Mazda is not the only manufacturer that has this happened to.
There is NO safety issue, the Air Bag Module can not deploy or fall out...it is impossible if you have seen how and where it mounts...obviously you have not.
YES, I will/would be pissed if it happens to my 8...but I can tell you now you can scream as much as you want to, after 6+ years of age Mazda and every other car maker is not going to do anything about it...
BTW: You admit your 96 SEAT did not crack in Singapore heat, well it has no Air Bag!, therefore NO trap door so how "could" it crack?
I merely pointed to the FACT that Mazda is not the only manufacturer that has this happened to.
There is NO safety issue, the Air Bag Module can not deploy or fall out...it is impossible if you have seen how and where it mounts...obviously you have not.
YES, I will/would be pissed if it happens to my 8...but I can tell you now you can scream as much as you want to, after 6+ years of age Mazda and every other car maker is not going to do anything about it...
BTW: You admit your 96 SEAT did not crack in Singapore heat, well it has no Air Bag!, therefore NO trap door so how "could" it crack?
First off you have no idea for certain whether or not it can prematurely deploy or not and to suggest that you do is just well.......................... An uninformed ***/u/mption on your part.
Secondly no one mentioned anything about it "falling out" so couple that complete mistaken comprehension with your previous one regarding Singapore and maybe reading in more depth would be advisable before responding..
And other car makers are irrelevant as this topic is about Mazda and most other manufacturers I'm aware of aren't having an issue this extensive in such a short period of time from new.
11-28-2012, 02:20 PM
#144
Super Moderator
Just noticed this,
First off you have no idea for certain whether or not it can prematurely deploy or not and to suggest that you do is just well.......................... An uninformed ***/u/mption on your part.
Secondly no one mentioned anything about it "falling out" so couple that complete mistaken comprehension with your previous one regarding Singapore and maybe reading in more depth would be advisable before responding..
And other car makers are irrelevant as this topic is about Mazda and most other manufacturers I'm aware of aren't having an issue this extensive in such a short period of time from new.
First off you have no idea for certain whether or not it can prematurely deploy or not and to suggest that you do is just well.......................... An uninformed ***/u/mption on your part.
Secondly no one mentioned anything about it "falling out" so couple that complete mistaken comprehension with your previous one regarding Singapore and maybe reading in more depth would be advisable before responding..
And other car makers are irrelevant as this topic is about Mazda and most other manufacturers I'm aware of aren't having an issue this extensive in such a short period of time from new.
This information has been discussed way back..nothing new,
You have been here in this club for 5 minutes and spouting drivel and contributing next to nothing....
I cant be bothered...
Bye..
https://www.rx8club.com/faq.php?faq=forum_rules
Some forum rule...for you to think about for 2 weeks.
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12-07-2012, 03:49 PM
#145
I didn't even notice mine until the wife pointed it out two days ago, now I cant stop staring at it.. make that two Jacksonville, Fl. owners with it now... fail.....
I am assuming these cracks are forming along the line that is there for when the dash splits for the airbag deployment. I know on the Hondas I have owned they made no attempt to cover up the airbag hatch, and it always stuck out as an eye sore. as much as I would like saving money by just buying the cover if mazda even makes it available, (I am a chep bastard) I NEVER want to disassemble an airbag to do it.
I am assuming these cracks are forming along the line that is there for when the dash splits for the airbag deployment. I know on the Hondas I have owned they made no attempt to cover up the airbag hatch, and it always stuck out as an eye sore. as much as I would like saving money by just buying the cover if mazda even makes it available, (I am a chep bastard) I NEVER want to disassemble an airbag to do it.
12-09-2012, 09:01 PM
#148
Super Moderator
What are you talking about
IF you have the H split around your PASSENGER Air Bag then the Part Number I gave you is correct for LHD...I don't give a stuff what Mazdaspeed Parts says..
THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS OF BUYING THE BLACK DASH COVER..
WITH AIR BAG MODULE INCLUDED 57-K50... OR WITHOUT 57-K5X.
THIS Part and Number I supplied from MAZDA Factory EPC is correct FEY1-57-K5X
Mazda Parts - Online Mazda Parts
So you still have 2 choices with Air Bag Module $1100.00 or without $392.00.
What do you think on an RX-8 the "D00R" exactly is??
12-09-2012, 09:16 PM
#149
Super Moderator
Here you go a picture of the 'door' with the air bag module included....without module you still get the 'door' or DASH airbag cover....
12-10-2012, 09:55 AM
#150
Thank you ASH8 for clearing that up for me. I "finally get it" DOOR meaning that which the airbag flies out of. That part name totally threw me for a loop.
I'm trying to get the part thru Mazdaspeed Racing discount for $301 to save some money.
Looks like worst case as you mentioned I can get one thru a dealer!!
As usual you are a life saver with all things RX8.
All the best.
Doug
I'm trying to get the part thru Mazdaspeed Racing discount for $301 to save some money.
Looks like worst case as you mentioned I can get one thru a dealer!!
As usual you are a life saver with all things RX8.
All the best.
Doug