Automotive Forums

My Mazda Rx8 keeps accelerating without any warning. I have rear-ended someone, luckily I was driving slowly at the time. It doesn't do it all the time. When it does, it is Very Scary. I hit the brake, and finally have to take my foot off and on the brake to make it stop. I almost drove right into a Van full of kids at a red light. The dealerships don't want to hear about it. I have asked if I can trade it in. I am getting nowhere, and have been forced to rent a vehicle for over 2 weeks now. They say they cannot duplicate the problem. It only seems to do it when the car is hot.
I am terrified of this car! Is anyone else having this horrible "Zoom Zoom Zoom" problem? It gives a whole new meaning to their saying. I am very frightened I will hurt someone else. It's one thing to take your own life into yours hands. It's entirely different when my car can become a "Lethal Weapon"! I was told by the mechanic if it happens, I am supposed to turn off the ignition. It accelerates so fast, who has time to think of that!
Very, Very scary! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have never tried to get onto one of these blogs before. I don't know what to do??
Thanks,
Diane Pfeifer  

don't have the same problem you do, but at 25000 miles i am replacing clutch which was totally burned out.

this makes no sense, don't ride the clutch, don't stop with the clutch
have had issues

lease up in 3 mos
even with extended warranty they say it's wear & tear

any others with clutch issues in 2004 rx8?  

You won't believe this but this afternoon i was reducing speed to a roundabout and pressed the brake pedal as i've done many times before in the 13 months i've had it and nothing happened. I then found myself free wheeling at 40 m.p.h with what i believe was no brakes. I weaved through traffic hit a sign and mounted the roundabout, once i crossed the top of the roundabout it was clear that stamping on the pedals that foot brakes were not an option, so a swift yank on the handbrake and steering broad sided me away from 2 lanes of on coming traffic.
The result now is:

1. my wife has a stiff neck and my son has bruising to his chest.
2. My car has no wheels, no bottom half to the engine, radiator e.t.c.
3. The police have accused me of driving wrecklessly, with  possible action to be taken.
4. I am now as a confident driver left with the thought that if they don't write off the remains of the car, would i still be keen to go into a corner in a car that before then i trusted.

         Mazda Rx8 231, 2004  

Hey, it's the throddle position sensor

 I had this same exact problem with my Hyuandai..... and everytime someone looked at it, it wouldnt do it so people thought I was loosing my mind.... then I finally it did it and i drove it over to my friends house ( a licensed mechanic and let him drive it) he came back in about 10 seconds and said it was the THRODLE POSITION SENSOR ... I took it to hyundai and they reconfigured it and that never happened again .... hope that helps  .... it was very cheap to fix.  

my msg didnt go thru to you like it was supposed to but i had the same problem with my hyundai and it is the throddle position sensor... and you have to take it back to the dealer to have it fixed but its cheap to do.   hope that helps.