samsonite1

All,

In an attempt to trend the issues with the 8's I will be compiling a list and publish the results once we have a sampling. Please provide the following data for the poll.

Build date

Current mileage

ecu flash level
Any issues with the previous level?
Any issues with the current level?

MT or AT
Any issues with the transmission? If so, what?
Issue with gears?
Issue with the clutch?
Issue with the T/O bearing?
Issue with noise?
Issue with flywheel
Issue with harmonic balance?

Tires on the car
Issues with alignment?
Issues with balance
Issues with cupping on the inside?

Any aftermarket mods
Did the mods effect stock components? If so what was the mod and what did it affect?

Driving style normal or aggressive

Driving cycle - %city % highway

Issues the car has been in for

Outstanding issues

Engine oil - dino or synth
Any issues with the motor?

Transmission oil - Dino or synth
Did any issues with the transmission get better with the fluid change?

Diff oil - dino or synth
Did any issues with the diff get better with the fluid change?

Body - Any issues?

Interior - Fit and finish. Rattles and squeaks. Noisy window lifts? Etc

Brakes - any issues? Noise? Premature wear?

samsonite1

I'll start

Build date Aug 2003

Current mileage 24617

ecu flash level L
Any issues with the previous level? no
Any issues with the current level? no

MT or AT MT
Any issues with the transmission? If so, what?
Issue with gears? hard shift to 6th
Issue with the clutch? noisy
Issue with the T/O bearing? noisy
Issue with noise? i seems to have a lot of drive line rattles.
Issue with flywheel no
Issue with harmonic balance? no

Tires on the car Bridgestone
Issues with alignment? yes. It wanders on the freeway. It has been checked
Issues with balance no
Issues with cupping on the inside? yes

Any aftermarket mods no
Did the mods effect stock components? If so what was the mod and what did it affect?

Driving style normal or aggressive normal with typical shifts between 4 and 5 k

Driving cycle - %city % highway 90% highway 10 % coty

Issues the car has been in for: Recalls and normal maintenance

Outstanding issues drive seat creaks.

Engine oil - dino or synth dino
Any issues with the motor? no

Transmission oil - Dino or synth dino
Did any issues with the transmission get better with the fluid change? have not changed

Diff oil - dino or synth
Did any issues with the diff get better with the fluid change? have not changed

Body - Any issues? no

Interior - Fit and finish. Rattles and squeaks. Noisy window lifts? Etc drive seat creaks, window lifts make a lot of noise, center console had to be replaced twice, rattle coming from the rear speaker area, rattle coming from the center console behind the radio/vent area - no Nav. Brushed aliminum accent pieces scratch easy. floor mats look ratty now.


Brakes - any issues? Noise? Premature wear? a lot of noise. I will get addressed with the tsb

RotorGeek

Lots of brake dust


I have had a very toublr-free ownership so far. My MPG has gone from 14 to 18 so i am very happy with that.

Slims8

Build date Aug 2003
Current mileage 13100
ecu flash level "M"
Any issues with the previous level? N
Any issues with the current level? N

MT or AT - MT
Any issues with the transmission? Yes
If so, what?
Issue with gears? yes - 2nd, 3rd, 6th
Issue with the clutch? - Yes - "Exploded"
Issue with the T/O bearing?
Issue with noise? - Yes
Issue with flywheel
Issue with harmonic balance?

Tires on the car - Factory
Issues with alignment?
Issues with balance
Issues with cupping on the inside?

Any aftermarket mods - No
Did the mods effect stock components? If so what was the mod and what did it affect?

Driving style normal or aggressive - Normal

Driving cycle - %city % highway - 65% Highway, 35% city

Issues the car has been in for
Transmission Failure (Gear problems - 40 days in Shop)
Transmission Problems (Gear Failures - 12 days in Shop)
Clutch Exploded (9 days in shop... 12 days in my driveway)

Outstanding issues
Clutch

Engine oil - dino or synth - Dino

Brakes - any issues? Noise? Premature wear? - Noise

Gaels22

Build date: June 2003

Current mileage: 19434 kms

ecu flash level: M
Any issues with the previous level? Poorer Gas mileage, flooding
Any issues with the current level?

MT or AT: AT
Any issues with the transmission? If so, what? None
Issue with gears?None
Issue with the clutch?None
Issue with the T/O bearing?None
Issue with noise?None
Issue with flywheel: None
Issue with harmonic balance?None

Tires on the car: Bridgestone Potenza's
Issues with alignment?: None
Issues with balance: None
Issues with cupping on the inside? Yes, cupping very badly; Mazda Eastern District Service Manager looking into problem : Causing way too much road noise in car

Any aftermarket mods: None
Did the mods effect stock components? If so what was the mod and what did it affect?None

Driving style normal or aggressive: Not normal but not aggressive : I like speed

Driving cycle - 80 city 20 highway

Issues the car has been in for:
Replace Oil Pan
Replace Spark Plugs
Replace Battery
Upgrade ECM
Replace Center Column 3M Tape
Replace Climate Control ****

Outstanding issues: Tire Cupping Problem and Front Brakes Squeeling

Engine oil - dino
Any issues with the motor? None

Transmission oil - Dino
Did any issues with the transmission get better with the fluid change?

Diff oil - dino
Did any issues with the diff get better with the fluid change?

Body - Any issues? Yes

3M Tape had to be replaced on Center Column of both sides of car due to chipping - under warranty

Interior - Fit and finish. Rattles and squeaks. Noisy window lifts?

Something rattles on dashboard by Steering wheel - no clue what it is
Finish on the ceiling poor around the airbags
Truck finish is very poor - it doesn't connect to the truck and has a 1/2 inch gap


Brakes - any issues? Noise? Premature wear?

Big problem with front brakes squeeling - Mazda will hopefully replace

th1rd3y3

Here is my information

epitrochoid

Build date 11/03

Current mileage 16500

ecu flash level M
Any issues with the previous level? Low power, poor MPG, engine bucking
Any issues with the current level? Idle is a little rough

MT or AT MT
Any issues with the transmission? If so, what? None
Issue with gears? None
Issue with the clutch? None
Issue with the T/O bearing? Just the noise everyone gets
Issue with noise? Synchros are a little loud, but normal
Issue with flywheel None
Issue with harmonic balance? None

Tires on the car OEM Potenzas
Issues with alignment? Tires tramline alot due to 10% tread remaining
Issues with balance None (I even halfway expected there to be)
Issues with cupping on the inside? None

Any aftermarket mods CZ Stage 1.1, HKS Legamax Exhaust
Did the mods effect stock components? If so what was the mod and what did it affect? Coilpacks may be damaged by earlier stage 1 design, otherwise none

Driving style normal or aggressive aggressive

Driving cycle - %city % highway 30/70

Issues the car has been in for Recalls and flashes only

Outstanding issues None

Engine oil - dino or synth Castrol 5w-20 Dino Poop
Any issues with the motor? None

Transmission oil - Dino or synth Redline Mt-90 Synth
Did any issues with the transmission get better with the fluid change? Yes!

Diff oil - dino or synth Redline 75W-90
Did any issues with the diff get better with the fluid change? Hard to tell (changed at the same time as tranny)

Body - Any issues? None

Interior - Fit and finish. Rattles and squeaks. Noisy window lifts? Etc NAV screen rattles at times in the heat

Brakes - any issues? Noise? Premature wear? Standard noise, I really don't care about it though

rkostolni

Build date 11/03

Current mileage 6k

ecu flash level M
Any issues with the previous level? yes, repeated check engine light, cat clogged
Any issues with the current level? No

MT or AT MT
Any issues with the transmission? If so, what? No
Issue with gears? No
Issue with the clutch? No
Issue with the T/O bearing? Normal noise
Issue with noise? Just normal T/O noise
Issue with flywheel No
Issue with harmonic balance? No

Tires on the car Bridgeston
Issues with alignment? No
Issues with balance No
Issues with cupping on the inside? No

Any aftermarket mods No
Did the mods effect stock components? If so what was the mod and what did it affect? N/A

Driving style normal or aggressive Fairly Normal considering this is a sports car

Driving cycle - %city % highway 60% 40%

Issues the car has been in for Check engine light, replace cat, shock sensor to sensitive, rattle, will be going in soon for rusted rotors,

Outstanding issues

Engine oil - dino or synth dino
Any issues with the motor? no

Transmission oil - Dino or synth dino
Did any issues with the transmission get better with the fluid change?

Diff oil - dino or synth dino
Did any issues with the diff get better with the fluid change?

Body - Any issues? no

Interior - Fit and finish. Rattles and squeaks. Noisy window lifts? Etc
Interior is good, no probs

Brakes - any issues? Noise? Premature wear? no issues

Slims8

Very interesting start... Notic 3 transmission failures, all with a build date of August of '03?

Slims8

August, September... This trend may be useful. I wish some people would post about their "exploding clutches"

RX8SpdDmn

I have a late build '04, M Flash.

I have rattles and buzzes.

Yesterday, the tranny stopped allowing me to get into 6th gear. About 15 minutes later, I got it in again. I've had it not let me go in a couple times before, but then went in on the next attempts. This time, I tried over and over and over before finally getting it in. I'll be going to visit the dealer the next time this happens.

Slight brake squeal, but it's not consistant.

RX8SpdDmn

Build date - Not sure, but late '04

Current mileage 1200

ecu flash level M
Any issues with the previous level? N/A
Any issues with the current level? Poor mpg.

MT or AT MT
Any issues with the transmission? If so, what? Requires a lot of attention to shift smoothly
Issue with gears? I get locked out of 6th gear sometimes. Yesterday it wouldn't let me back in for ~15 minutes
Issue with the clutch? no
Issue with the T/O bearing? no
Issue with noise? in neutral, clutch released, it's noisy
Issue with flywheel no
Issue with harmonic balance? no

Tires on the car OEM
Issues with alignment? no
Issues with balance no
Issues with cupping on the inside? no

Any aftermarket mods N/A
Did the mods effect stock components? If so what was the mod and what did it affect?

Driving style normal or aggressive aggressive

Driving cycle - %city % highway 50/50

Issues the car has been in for - none yet.

Outstanding issues

Engine oil - dino or synth not changed yet
Any issues with the motor? no

Transmission oil - Dino or synth stock
Did any issues with the transmission get better with the fluid change?

Diff oil - dino or synth stock
Did any issues with the diff get better with the fluid change?

Body - Any issues?

Interior - Fit and finish. Rattles and squeaks. Noisy window lifts? Etc - rattles between driver's side A Pillar and dash, and in driver's door.

Brakes - any issues? Noise? Premature wear? some light sqeal, inconsistant

smoothrx8

All,

In an attempt to trend the issues with the 8's I will be compiling a list and publish the results once we have a sampling. Please provide the following data for the poll.

Build date: 06/03

Current mileage: 8400

ecu flash level: M
Any issues with the previous level?: ?
Any issues with the current level?: NO

MT or AT: MT
Any issues with the transmission? If so, what?: NO
Issue with gears?: NO
Issue with the clutch?: NO
Issue with the T/O bearing?: NO
Issue with noise?: NO
Issue with flywheel: NO
Issue with harmonic balance?: NO

Tires on the car: OEM
Issues with alignment?: NO
Issues with balance: NO
Issues with cupping on the inside?: NO

Any aftermarket mods: NO
Did the mods effect stock components? If so what was the mod and what did it affect?

Driving style normal or aggressive: Normal

Driving cycle - %city % highway: 95% city/5% highway

Issues the car has been in for: None

Outstanding issues

Engine oil - dino or synth: Dino
Any issues with the motor?: Nope

Transmission oil - Dino or synth: Dino
Did any issues with the transmission get better with the fluid change?: N/A

Diff oil - dino or synth: Dino
Did any issues with the diff get better with the fluid change?: N/A

Body - Any issues?: Orange Peel!!!

Interior - Fit and finish. Rattles and squeaks. Noisy window lifts? Etc: Rattle near rear right speaker is driving me crazy!!!

Brakes - any issues? Noise? Premature wear?: Brake dust everywhere

samsonite1

Once we have a sample of 20 cars, We can start trending.

I have noticed as well about the 8-03 build date and transmissions......

Nemesis8

iTrader: (3)

Build Date: 09/03
Current mileage 30K

ECU flash level R
Any issues with the previous level? None
Any issues with the current level? None
MT or AT? MT
Any issues with the transmission? If so, what? Noisey
Issue with gears? Second Gear Grinds
Issue with the clutch? None, after I replaced the hose with the MS part
Issue with the T/O bearing? Just the noise everyone gets
Issue with noise? Synchros are a little loud
Issue with flywheel? None
Issue with harmonic balance? None
Tires on the car: Pirelli P-Zero
Issues with alignment? None
Issues with balance? None
Issues with cupping on the inside? None
Any aftermarket mods? Click Here
Did the mods effect stock components? Yes
If so, what was the mod and what did it affect? MS Suspension - handles better than my buddies Porsche 911 Carrera now!
Driving style normal or aggressive? Aggressive
Driving cycle - %city % highway: 30/70
Issues the car has been in for: Recalls and flashes
Outstanding issues: None
Engine oil - dino or synth 5W-20 Dino
Any issues with the motor? None
Transmission oil: Redline MT-90 Synthetic
Did any issues with the transmission get better with the fluid change? Yes
Diff oil: Redline 75W-90 Synthetic
Did any issues with the diff get better with the fluid change? Can't tell
Body - Any issues? Cheap Paint and Orange Pealed Clearcoat
Interior - Fit and finish. Rattles and squeaks. Noisy window lifts? Etc: Rear passenger side rattle
Brakes - any issues? Noise? Premature wear? Brakedust Everywhere, and Wheel Hubs Rusted

NomisR

Build date 11/03

Current mileage 7500

ecu flash level M
Any issues with the previous level? No
Any issues with the current level? No

MT or AT MT
Any issues with the transmission? If so, what? No
Issue with gears? No
Issue with the clutch? No
Issue with the T/O bearing? No
Issue with noise? No
Issue with flywheel No
Issue with harmonic balance? No

Tires on the car: Potenza
Issues with alignment? No
Issues with balance No
Issues with cupping on the inside? No

Any aftermarket mods No
Did the mods effect stock components? If so what was the mod and what did it affect?

Driving style normal or aggressive: semi agressive

Driving cycle - %city % highway 35% city 65% Highway

Issues the car has been in for: Recall, M Flash, Maintainance

Outstanding issues: Rattle in rear door

Engine oil - dino or synth Dino
Any issues with the motor? No

Transmission oil - Dino or synth Whatever they put in at the factory
Did any issues with the transmission get better with the fluid change? No changes

Diff oil - dino or synth No idea
Did any issues with the diff get better with the fluid change? No clue

Body - Any issues? No

Interior - Fit and finish. Rattles and squeaks. Noisy window lifts? Etc Rattle on rear driver side door and mirror

Brakes - any issues? Noise? Premature wear? None yet, no noise, but excessive brake dust.

beachdog

Build date 09/03

Current mileage 8000

ecu flash level M
Any issues with the previous level? N
Any issues with the current level? Y (the drive by wire is more sensitive at low speed than previous levels. harder to creep at low speed - manual trans)

MT or AT
Any issues with the transmission? If so, what?
Issue with gears? crunchy 1-2 shift occasionally - plan to fix with synth trans oil
Issue with the clutch? N
Issue with the T/O bearing? N
Issue with noise? Y loud in neutral (again, plan to fix w/synth)
Issue with flywheel N
Issue with harmonic balance? N

Tires on the car
Issues with alignment? N
Issues with balance N
Issues with cupping on the inside? N

Any aftermarket mods N
Did the mods effect stock components? If so what was the mod and what did it affect?

Driving style normal or aggressive N

Driving cycle - %city % highway 30c 70h

Issues the car has been in for
trans input shaft noise
1-2 shift crunchiness
a/c fast cycling
abs pump failure

Outstanding issues N

Engine oil - dino or synth D
Any issues with the motor? rough idle

Transmission oil - Dino or synth currently d
Did any issues with the transmission get better with the fluid change?

Diff oil - dino or synth currently d
Did any issues with the diff get better with the fluid change?

Body - Any issues? N

Interior - Fit and finish. Rattles and squeaks. Noisy window lifts? Etc N

Brakes - any issues? Noise? Premature wear? N

peterlemonjello

Build date: June 2003

Current mileage: 16200 miles

ecu flash level: M
Any issues with the previous level? Poorer Gas mileage, flooding
Any issues with the current level?

MT or AT: MT
Any issues with the transmission? If so, what? None
Issue with gears?None
Issue with the clutch?None
Issue with the T/O bearing?None
Issue with noise?None
Issue with flywheel: None
Issue with harmonic balance?None

Tires on the car: Bridgestone Potenza's
Issues with alignment?: None
Issues with balance: None
Issues with cupping on the inside? None

Any aftermarket mods: None
Did the mods effect stock components? If so what was the mod and what did it affect?None

Driving style normal or aggressive: Not normal but not aggressive

Driving cycle - 90%city 10%highway

Issues the car has been in for:
Upgrade ECM
All Recalls
Replace Door Sills

Outstanding issues:

Engine oil - Castrol 5w20
Any issues with the motor? None

Transmission oil - dino
Did any issues with the transmission get better with the fluid change?

Diff oil - dino
Did any issues with the diff get better with the fluid change?

Body - Any issues? No

Brakes - any issues? Noise? Premature wear?

Small problem with front brakes squeeling. After 14,000 miles squeaks aren't near as bad.

Slims8

Samsonite, How's everything looking. It looks like there are plenty of people with tranny problems for the car to only be about a year old. I wish more people had posted which had major problems or Mazda's refusal to fix.. Oh well.

zoom_zoom33

It sounds like most problems with the tranny on the MT's only saw one AT reply

samsonite1

So far it is showing issues with Transmissions and fit and finish. I will show the compiled data on Monday

RotaryJeff

Jeff

QuarterMile

Build date Aug 2003
Current mileage 14500
ecu flash level "M"
Any issues with the previous level? N
Any issues with the current level? N

MT or AT - MT
Any issues with the transmission? Yes
If so, what?
Issue with gears? yes - 2nd grinding
Issue with the clutch? - Yes "Exploded"
Issue with the T/O bearing?
Issue with noise? - Yes
Issue with flywheel
Issue with harmonic balance?

Tires on the car - Factory
Issues with alignment?
Issues with balance
Issues with cupping on the inside?

Any aftermarket mods - No
Did the mods effect stock components? If so what was the mod and what did it affect?

Driving style normal or aggressive - Normal

Driving cycle - %city % highway - 75% Highway, 25% city

Issues the car has been in for
1. Transmission grinding
2. Clutch Exploded

Engine oil - dino or synth - Dino

Brakes - any issues? Noise? Premature wear? - Very squeaky

rex

iTrader: (2)

Build date 9/2003

Current mileage 4300

ecu flash level M
Any issues with the previous level? Poor fuel economy
Any issues with the current level? None

MT or AT MT
Any issues with the transmission? If so, what?
Issue with gears? Poor synchro action on 1-2 shift when cold
Issue with the clutch? Clutch burned easily when new - pressure plate loose
Issue with the T/O bearing? No
Issue with noise? Consistently noisy since new
Issue with flywheel No
Issue with harmonic balance? No

Tires on the car Bridgestone Potenzas
Issues with alignment? No
Issues with balance No
Issues with cupping on the inside? No

Any aftermarket mods None except cosmetic mods
Did the mods effect stock components? If so what was the mod and what did it affect?

Driving style normal or aggressive Mix: 50% normal/50% aggressive

Driving cycle - %city % highway 80%city 20%highway

Issues the car has been in for
1. Clutch burning caused by loose pressure plate
2. Various reflashes and all relevant recalls

Outstanding issues
None

Engine oil - dino or synth dino
Any issues with the motor? None

Transmission oil - Dino or synth synth
Did any issues with the transmission get better with the fluid change?
Synthetic (RedLine) oil improved general shift quality when warm, but did not affect 1-2 shift when cold

Diff oil - dino or synth dino - stock
Did any issues with the diff get better with the fluid change? Not applicable

Body - Any issues? None

Interior - Fit and finish. Rattles and squeaks. Noisy window lifts? Etc None

Brakes - any issues? Noise? Premature wear? None

JMD RX-8

Build date - June 2004

Current mileage - 4,500

ecu flash level - M
Any issues with the previous level? - n/a
Any issues with the current level? - n/a

MT or AT - MT
Any issues with the transmission? If so, what? - None
Issue with gears? - None
Issue with the clutch? - None
Issue with the T/O bearing? - None
Issue with noise? - None
Issue with flywheel - Plan to swap out for RB lightweight one
Issue with harmonic balance? - None

Tires on the car - OEM Dunlop 8090
Issues with alignment? - No
Issues with balance - No
Issues with cupping on the inside? - No

Any aftermarket mods - No
Did the mods effect stock components? If so what was the mod and what did it affect?

Driving style normal or aggressive - 50% aggressive

Driving cycle - %city % highway - 50/50

Issues the car has been in for - Re-program alarm for new key. Dealer couldn't do it and I found instructions posted on here. Thanks much...saved me a 4 hour appointment to flash immobilizer.

Outstanding issues - None

Engine oil - dino or synth - Castrol GTX
Any issues with the motor?

Transmission oil - Dino or synth - OEM - Synth in a month
Did any issues with the transmission get better with the fluid change?

Diff oil - dino or synth - OEM - Synth in a month
Did any issues with the diff get better with the fluid change?

Body - Any issues? - Too many women admiring it (not an issue by any means)

Interior - Fit and finish. Rattles and squeaks. Noisy window lifts? Etc

Brakes - any issues? Noise? Premature wear? - Excessive dusting from front rotors only.