So tonight I was coming home from dinner and noticed a half inch scratch on the front defroster button (left side). At first I thought it was cracked, but came to the conclusion that all the buttons on the console are painted with texture. I must have scratched it with something coming in/out of the car. Can somebody please give some insight on removing the front (left) defroster button? If removing the button isn't an option, what would be the best approach to repainting the scratch? I have the black textured paint and I'm thinking about using a superfine brush or perhaps a cushioned pin with paint at the end to fill the crack. Any ideas would be much appreciated.

 

Actually, it is cracked not scratched.
Look closer - if you get your fingernail under the button and push up, the crack will close.

I have checked about 50 RX-8s for this damage and more than 75% of them had it, including mine.
Something about how the RX-8 is packed up for shipping, I suspect.
Fixing the part requires removal of the console and is somewhat difficult.
Mazda will warranty the repair, so just bring it to a dealer.

 

Thanks MazdaManiac. Is Mazda aware of this issue? I'm afraid that if I bring it in, they will say it's cosmetic and could have been caused by me? Did the SA's give you a hard time about it?

 

I’ll include a pic of my cracked buttons. You can see I had both.

I took it to the dealer and they said it was obviously something I did. I simply pulled up this web site and pointed out the thread where multiple people had said they had run into this issue. So then they looked closer. They contacted Mazda and after two weeks said they still hadn’t heard back but would take care of it anyway. I’ve been in there several times and they never mentioned any issues at being compensated for the repair. So I assume Mazda picked it up. Of course they didn’t do the repair …

The dealer was concerned about my carbon fiber. They said they would not guarantee the after market pieces would not be damaged. So I suggested I do the install. They agreed. I had to remove the center console (climate controls and stereo). Then I had to remove the climate controls switch from the face plate along with the head unit. Can’t remember if I HAD to remove the head unit or decided it would make it easier. I just know I removed it as I didn’t properly seed it back in the face plate ribbon connections causing nothing to work when I put it back in … the first time. The climate control is all one piece for all three “dials”. When the dealer was checking on the part they said it’s $300. So I’d defiantly check on warrantee.

Here's the thread that has several members with the issue.

Good luck.

 

Same thing happend to mine, dealer replaced free of charge.

 

me too

 

knock on wood...not on mine...yet. :D

 

damn i thought i was the only one...i looked at my defrost one night while coming back from university of houston on i-45 and i saw my defrost button cracked..so the dealer will replace it for free?

 

It's under warranty. When I went to the dealership to show them the crack, I printed the discussion(s) on this issue, they ordered the part, and replaced with no hassle.