Clutch Pedal SNAP OFF 8 Year Warranty-Recall ~~~
 

For a while I thought my pedal already *broke* ...

but tonight, yes I finally know how does it feel, I stop, park, try to put it into 1st so I can lock the car, step on the pedal and *snap*, it broke. lol

So yes, it broke in the *right* time. (when im not driving it)

I just made an appointment tomorrow morning thru dealership's online system.

should I drive the car back to home first cuz im not home(at GF's house now)

hmm should I call Mazda now and tow it to the dealership ?



UPDATE :

FOR THOSE WHO GOT A BROKEN CLUTCH PEDAL !

Please report your case to NHTSA at

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm

Because under normal driving condition, a clutch bracket should NOT break. and imagine if you're in the middle of highway speed, the bracket gave up and locked you in gear and you need to brake fast ...

Also, if you're involve in an accident because of this bracket issue. please give NHTSA a call and tell them the whole story.

Thanks


ATTENTION : Today, 5/10/2009 The Department of Transportation from the government has contacted me about Pictures of the broken bracket. I am trying to find it and send it him. So I suggest whoever have a picture of the broken bracket should contact me first via pm

Update: Oct 06, 2009 NHTSA has "officially" opened the case with the Clutch Bracket issue for all 40,000 RX-8 (thats all MT we got in the state? ) We need more reports to make Mazda fix this unacceptable issue ! So please if you had/having this issue. Take a picture of your bracket and keep it in a safe place, if your bracket broke and it was replaced under Bumper to Bumper Warranty. Keep a copy of the invoice, scan it into your computer. I can forward your issue to the government agent who is handling this case. Oh yes, file a formal complain at the web site above !!!!!!!!!! Thanks !

Update, August 31th, 2010. NHTSA has closed the case, and Mazda will provide 8 years/100K warranty on the said Clutch bracket part. As of this writing, it seems that 99.99% of the Mazda employees are still unaware of this and might bs you about "no its not covered, what are you talking about."
If you're reading this, give MNAO a call, send them the government's link about ths issue, which could be found HERE it covers every single Manual Transmission equipped Rx-8 from 2004-2009 (where is 2010?).

Latest update : 10/26/2010. It seems that more and more owners are getting letters from Mazda about the "Warranty Extension, SSP 82". Its just a nice notice from Mazda tell owners (you?) that yea they will extend the Bracket's warranty to 8 years or 100K miles,whichever comes first. keep that letter somewhere. the "updated" part number is FEY5-41-30XB CLUTCH BRACKET KIT* FOR SERIES 1 2004-2008,
and FFY9-41-30X CLUTCH BRACKET KIT* FOR SERIES 2 2009-2012.
*Kit Includes Pedal Bracket and Clutch Switches (2).


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...e7c36c858e.jpg


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...6186a2ab63.jpg

Have it towed. I wouldn't risk transmission damage by trying to slam it into neutral at spot lights and then slamming it into first when moving again, not to mention lots of clutchless shifting throughout.

it just *snap* off, Im gonna take a flash light out and check, but 99% its dead.

Checked and ...

Its dead, I cannot even go into gear. sucks.

called Mazda RSA, no dealership has an open *drop off* area except for like Great Neck Mazda ... so forget it.

Im gonna leave the car at my GF place for the night .... lets just hope that no one will see the NAV I have and smash my window ...

Tomorrow morning gonna get up like 7 oclock to call the tow.

Oh Im just wondering, can I *tag* along with the tow truck to go to the dealership ? so I can get my rental.

it snapped off!??!? holy crap, like the pedal? or the entire thing

You should be able to - I tagged along when my car was towed to the dealer when it flooded.

Charles :) Where are you........

Yep, well, like most people with broken bracket, the right side of the top part snapped right off. I took the flash light from the trunk and took a peek. the right side is gone, when I push the bracket in with my hand. the whole thing moves.

Yeah I think so too, I mean they're going straight to the dealership anyway. but damn traffic is gonna be bad ... especially morning time :(

Where are you when I need you ~~~~~~~

So to all MT owners, no matter how many miles you have. my odo saids 37223 miles(I think), and it broke. it WILL happen to you too. yeah I know some people can live with more miles. but sooner or later it will break, so just becareful. Im REALLY lucky the shit didnt go when Im driving on a highway, cuz that will be mad dangerous. Engine off, parking brake pull, try to put into gear 1 to lock the car ... *crack*

Easiest way to tell is (repost), press the clutch lightly, back and forth. if it has a minor squeak, and you can move it left and right with your feet a bit. You're bracket is about to go. depends on when. Mine had the symptom for like 10 K miles before it finally snapped off tonight.

Now Ray, I think you might want to speed up the bracket making process. cuz you see, MAD potential customers waiting for your product ... or maybe make something that can reinforce the bracket. whatever works out for ya.

Im gonna take my camera out tomorrow morning and maybe film it. so people can see what does it look like when its *gone*

I lol'ed.

where the fux is CRH? shit nycgps, I am right behind you, my left side is cracked, I am scared

Ray finish that damn clutch pedalz!

Why dont you change it then ? dont wait man, I cant even move it into damn gears. imagine if that happens on a highway ...




Hmm, I thinking, can I consider this as a safety issue? I mean Im lucky the thing broke when Im not even driving(park!)

but what if it snap off when Im doing highway 55 mph ? its not going to be funny.

If you think it's a safety issue, report the incident to NHTSA. They're in the business of determining safety hazards.

If your nav system is portable, put it in the trunk. Or ask your GF to keep it at her place. Then have MRA tow your car to a dealer.

At 39k miles this is a warranty item. Vent your frustration by having them give you a good loaner.

Ken

Im going to google the info tonight and tomorrow.

What Im thinking is, this forum probably represent like what, less than 5% of the whole Rx-8 community (very stupid estimate, meow), and guess what, a lot of broken brackets.

I treat my clutch bracket as my Brake bracket. meaning, you know, something that is NOT SUPPOSE TO BREAK no matter how many miles the car has. or maybe I should say clutch bracket should be last like the car's body,

Can I snap my doors off because I use it too much??

Hell we laugh about Civic guys, but Im *pretty sure* their clutch bracket last WAY longer than ours ... and you know who drives them the most? Teens ! they dont even give a shit about the car. Still not breaking.

I dont know man, Im gonna find some info about it. We're still seeing Revision B of the bracket ! I seen C once I swear, but its back to B or some crap.

God damn it Mazda, I love and hate you !!!!!

Yeah, but everyone with a broken bracket has joined this forum to report it. Same with everyone who had a blown engine or a broken sunvisor.

The other 95% have had no problems. :)

Save the rage. Turn it into determination when you ask for a good loaner. But let it all out if they try to stick you with an Aveo.

Ken

What year is your car?

I dont want to go through the hassle of removing all my illegal mods =.=

more like

the other 95%, problem or not, are simply too dumb to use internet :)

There is no loaner at the dealership, only rental, and I have a feeling they gonna give me some crap like the Explorer they gave me last time ... god damn Enterprise rent-a-car ...

Yeah 2005, my friend. Build date I think somewhere in Dec 2004

maybe its a good time to start now ... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I think Ray will have his replacement in a couple of weeks.
Until then, just take the warranty replacement. They made a production change, so it won't (supposedly) break again.
When mine started to get really noisy, I just crawled under there and spot-welded the two parts of the bracket.
It would be nice to have a good, hard piece of billet there instead.

RAY! Where art thou brotha!

The OE replacement may, indeed, suck. I don't doubt it.
But Mazda does claim that it is redesigned.
Either way, it is shitty by design.
I'd like to see a nice billet design like the hotrodders get.

It would be nice to have a clutch pedal that feels like it can only move on one axis.
Mine rolls side to side on the flexibility of the OE bracket and I'm too lazy to take it out until it breaks again.

Mazda's bumper-to-bumper warranty includes a free loaner if your car is laid up for warranty work. Clutch pedal breaking off is certainly a defect in material or manufacture.

You got an Explorer? My dealer also has an in-house Enterprise, and I got stuck with an Aveo for my 4206f day. Despite the "White glove" instructions to loan a CX-7 or something similar. Don't expect sympathy over an Explorer.

Ken

Im gonna call MRA to get my tow, wish me luccccckkkkkkk !

this is gay.

Estimate wait time is 1 hour 30 minutes. I hope its less ..

now im sitting outside, leeching someone's internet (Shhhhhhh!)

cold ... boring ... lucky I have my laptop with me :)

DAMN TRUCK COME ALREADY !

See if they can do it, the service manager there seems kind of nice, lets see what happens

wow, nycgps, I fucking blame you for this shit..........I should never have read your stupid freaking post!!!! omfg the left side of my clutch pedal broke out..........the right side is still intact though but now my clutch slides to the left when I press it!!! its inevitable! shiiittt!!!!!!

subs for future reference

may be time to research some sort of ghetto Home Depot-style support bracket setup for the stock one...

Brrr! When the suspension collapsed on my Honda, I had to wait two hours for AAA to come. And that was a service I paid an annual fee for! Fortunately, it was a pleasant summer day, and I broke down next to a corporate building that had a nice lawn with a picnic table under a shade tree. I also had the latest copy of NSSN with me to read while waiting.

Years ago I stopped to help a guy broken down on the Grand Central Parkway. He was on an exit ramp, within site of a gas station. Because of the towing contracts, the guys at the gas station could not help him. It was the day after a snow storm, so he'd been waiting all day for the contract wrecker service to show up - and there was no ETA.

His problem was just a broken wire. When I got him started, I think he wanted to adopt me and maybe give me the use of his daughter.

Ken

I end up wait there like almost 2 hours, then the first tow truck came, why I said first? well, cuz he came, then he left, cuz theres an accident there needs him to go ... then I waited almost another hour b4 the second truck came

Got to the dealership @ 11:34. whole morning wasted.

I whine a bit about the rental and the problem shouldnt exist (Clutch bracket broke), and I got a Ford Edge -_-

*sigh*

Hopefully I can get my car back tomorrow afternoon .... I took a few pics of my car on the truck. upload it later.

maybe its time for you to look at Mazda's part pdf file.

or just PM Tommy or Jason to buy a new bracket :)

holy shit ny, that sucks! I've been meaning to check mine for weeks now. Think I'll finally do it tonight

True True.

check it, but if you're going to try to warranty it ... u gotta wait till it breaks.

thats what happened to me. *sigh*

oh, and I forgot to mention: That CRH 'batman' signal was freaking hilarious!!!

I will not ask you for it in fear you might die of sleep deprivation

I wonder if perhaps driving style has a little to do with the breakages. I know some people that shift really hard and fast and I'm guessing that probably isn't great for the pedal.

No, the shifting style hasn't to do with it. All the pedal does is push against the force of the hydraulic clutch system. BTW, I will also have available new pushrods for HD pressure plate use.

I'm in very good graces with my dealership. If I can show them it's starting to go, I'm certain I can get it replaced.

Sleep deprivation does nothing...sleep is for the weak!!

I take cat naps every 16 hours for like 1-2 hours 24/7/366...and I'm perfectly ok...

:eyetwitch

Meow!!

so charles, can we obtain this awesome clutch bracket support piece yet, from anywhere!

Right, but some people like to slam the clutch down to where it hits the backing while others are much more gentle and use less force when depressing the pedal. Sure the pedal only pushes against the clutch system, but the pedal does bottom out and how much force you're using when it bottoms has a great affect on how much stress the pedal is experiencing.

driving style might have something to do with it. but I gotta say we're the more gentle group, compare to 16 yr old driven Civic group

I agree in the end it's the design. However, what I'm trying to say is that I believe the bracket was designed for infinite fatigue life (expected maximum stress load at half of ultimate). At least I hope so or else that engineer should be shot immediately! However apparently there was some poor estimation on what was the maximum stress they expected to endure or else not enough of a factor of safety in the design; really one and the same thing. This has led to pedals snapping, but I believe that if you have a driving style that says within the stress estimation that Mazda used you should theoritically have a pedal that lasts forever since I have to assume the stress designed for is enough to depress the pedal.

This is all a mute point anyway; pedals are breaking so we need a fix. I expect to be flamed for even suggesting that the pedal could last since "there are people here who have broken their pedals", but I want to provide the prospective of what I believe happened during the design phase.

I will get a new bracket today from dealership and Im expecting your solution to come out within the next business day

Or else Im gonna fly over to your home and kick your ass :P

I'm actually quite a "tender-foot" with my clutch. I roll my foot on it always and I don't think I ever hit the carpet with it. When it "pops", I don't push it any further.
However, mine started "clicking" at 30k miles or so and was broken within another 10k.

Im not sure which Bracket version my car originally had. Probably the Version A ?

but some people with new bracket still break after some time so ... :(

I swear to all your mother that I saw Revision C once ! What happen to my eyes ?????

Well put me down on the list of people interested in the bracket.