kwescott

going down to pick up my car now and I reminded them I needed my original part back. I'll take pics and post when I return,

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

That is EXACTLY what Mazda tech line told my dealership. Read my earlier post for what they've said in detail (on the invoice)

Man I was like, wtf ? how can a worn clutch cause the stupid bracket to break like that.

I was like forget it, I aint replacing no clutch for 1257 bucks (Dealership quote), I can buy a nice Exedy Stage 1 Clutch for under 300. Plus the TB and PB and Transmission seals still cost less than 350. the hell, 1257 for what ? if the clutch is made of Fermanic then maybe (its too heavy tho)

Please file your complain, I know I filed mine, with enough people I guess we can make Mazda to design a better part than this *crap* that we have right now.

ken-x8

How did you get rolling without grinding?

Ken

swoope

iTrader: (5)

did my system work for you???

beers

kwescott

Here are pics of my broken bracket. Picked up the car about 30 minutes ago.

Yup, the metal on this piece is VERY thin. Heavy Duty clutch pressure plate or not, I can imagine that this will be a common failure for the RX8.

{edit} I'm going to keep my invoice and my broken part so that I might be able to get a reimbursement when the safety recall finally happens, cause it will.

auzoom

I havent looked but maybe a warning should be posted in the Clutches, Clutches, Clutches thread?

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

Im going to order the clutch after this week ...

LionZoo

C'mon Charles, where's your part?

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

that means ... next monday ?

whitebeau

I saw cbtrx8 & nycgps report on http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

Currently there's only 3 of these reported. Which in ratio does not make it appear as an issue. Taking a wild hair number out of my Bleach Lunchpale (nycgps you know your jeoulous :P) if 30-50 people on here report this that have had this issue and dealt with Mazda's "Break fix solution", and guessing maybe 1/2 of the rx-8 owners are on this forum, i'd guess less then 1% are reporting a failure problem. Which might be within the acceptable window for Mazda as cost in support to replace the part, will still warp due to metal fatigue.

So please report your issue to nhtsa!


yes, i'm also the punk *** that commented on rotarynews.com website on their coverage of the 09' trying to make this more recognized.

It sucks that the Rx-8 community has to fab it's own fix, when it's clearly a design flaw that has an imminent failure window. aka Meantime Before Failure (MTBF in the nerd world).

man.. now i got another freakin part to check when i get mine back from the dealer....

kwescott

Just submitted mine: You are only allowed 2000 characters. Didn't realize this when I typed my original complaint and it was over 4000.

Here is what I wrote, feel free to use it in your complaint. I would agree with the comment above, that we really need to document these failures beyond our forum here.

I wish there was a way of attaching images to the complaint. I think if there was 100 pics of a bracket, all failing at the same point..it would prove quite a point.

"Vehicle's clutch bracket assembly broke at two separate weld points making the vehicle inoperable. Prior to Christmas, 07, I began noticing a very loud squeak upon depressing the clutch pedal. In researching this, it appears that this was symptomatic of the first weld spot failing. I began noticing an inability to pull the car out of gear. The shifter would not budge, even with the clutch pedal fully depressed to the floor board. This problem was most severe at vehicle start up. Upon starting the car, it was impossible to put the car into any gear. To make the car driveable, the vehicle had to be started with the clutch pedal depressed, and the car already in 1st gear (with the vehicle off, it was very simple to get the car into any gear). I took the vehicle into my local Mazda dealer two days after the problem began. They advised me that my problem sounded as if it was due to failure in the hydraulic system. I had advised them that I had read about problems with the clutch bracket, and the clutch pedal alignment. I questioned whether I had too much free play, and not enough clutch stroke. They had the vehicle for the day and advised me by phone that the hydraulic system was fully functional. My clutch pedal alignment was off and they made adjustments. With regards to the noise I was hearing upon depressing the pedal, they said it was normal. Upon receiving my car, all the problems appeared to have been resolved. The noise was gone, the car was shifting like it has since owning the car. A night later, less than 2o miles later, upon making a shift from 1st to 2nd gear, I heard a very loud snap and the clutch pedal disappeared from beneath my foot. The clutch bracket had snapped (a breakage at a second weld spot) and now was no longer attached to the car. The car returned to having the same difficulties with regards to shifting. Mazda would not cover the repair as a safety defect, insisting that it was driving abuse and not a design flaw."

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

keep those complaints coming.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

Wow, really, Mazda said it was abused ?

wow, **** that.

These parts are NOT suppose to break under any condition. well, if I take a saw and cut it then yeah, but it should not break no matter how I drive.

Again, my GF wants to get new car, she wants a Mazda 3, but I told her no, why ? After the Mazda tech line's complete bullshit, I completely lost faith in Mazda's customer service.

Do I still like Rotary engine powered car? Yes I do. Will I buy one in the future ? maybe. Even I do in the future I will only let Mazda to touch my car if I have no other choice. Will I recommend Mazda to my friends/family anymore? No Sir. No more Mazda. I already told my father to try to trade his cx-7 in after he pay it off.

Yep Mazda, I just said that. Feel free to contact me. Im one of the Shinka owners in New York. there shouldnt be too many.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

my gf is getting a mazda3. this really isnt such a big issue. its happening to a few people, sure. but i guess i just have lower expectations of cars. i dont expect them to be perfect.

and coming from a chrysler lebaron that broke down every 2 weeks (literally, 7k in repairs/year. my grandmother paid for them, she has this philosophy of just repairing what you already own. she was kinda pissed when i purchased another car) this car is as close to perfect as i have seen.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

it already happened to *quite* a lot of people on this forum. not to mention this forum just represents probably what, 5% or less of the whole Rx-8 community ? there could be more failures out there. Plus Mazda force this *customer abuse* bullshit too often so they dont have to cover their own design defect cost ? come on.

Mazda still wonder why they cant sell more cars than Ford. Yeah, I wonder why too.

Nubo

It's a big issue if it happens to you and results in an accident, not to mention how many clutch and transmission failures that have been blamed on the customer.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

^^ yep

Just think of it, what happens if your clutch bracket breaks when you're going 60 mph on a highway, and all of the sudden you cant go in or get out of the gear. you're stuck. and you cant do anything.

dothackRAVE

It's still beyond me how a clutch pedal can snap. Fix lead foot maybe?

ken-x8

It's not the pedal, although pedals on other cars have been known to break. It's the pedal bracket. Go back and look at the posts with pictures. Failure of an inadequate weld, nothing to do with what the driver does.

Ken

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

i wonder if the 09 rx8 has had the bracket redesigned.

Shifty Devil

Maybe this is where they got the idea for the feature mentioned in this thread:
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-media-news-11/2009-rx8-press-release-detroit-135859/ discribes features on the 2009 RX-8.

"Additionally, the front end and engine bay have ample crumple zones, the front seats are designed to reduce whiplash injuries, the brake pedal is designed to break away in the event of a collision of sufficient force to protect feet and legs and all four seating positions are fitted with three-point seatbelts. "

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

The title saids *clutch pedal snap off~*

so ... we're not talking about brakes here ...

CnnmnSchnpps

iTrader: (1)

Thanks to the pics in this thread I have a better idea of what to look for.. I'm pretty sure mine if on the verge of failing, so I will take it to a shop and have it spot welded tomorrow..

Here's another piece of geek vocabulary that is applicable to the current situation

CnnmnSchnpps

iTrader: (1)

Took out the bracket today and it doesnt look that bad... But my pedal squeaks like a ****.. Any ideas?? I can take it in to get some extra spot welds, but would that even help?

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

it looks like your spot welds are still holding up ok, but since you already have the bracket out, you might as well get a few more spot welds added to it, if it doesn't cost you too much.

btw thanks for posting a pic of an UNBROKEN bracket, now I know EXACTLY what to look for, before all I saw was separated pieces of the bracket and wasn't sure where it broke, but now i know