Mazda RX-8 Recall Issued Over Cracked And Leaking Fuel Pump Pipes

Nearly 70,000 Mazda RX-8 vehicles have been recalled by federal highway safety officials, as a result of problems where the fuel pump pipes may prematurely crack due to excessive heat exposure, posing a fire hazard in the presence of an ignition source. 

The Mazda RX-8 recall was announced by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on June 6, following several consumer complaints indicating the fuel pump pipe had deteriorated and cracked due to the exposure of heat from the engine and exhaust pipe. To date, no injuries or fires have been reported.

Mazda received the first field report of a crack in the main fuel pump pipe in November 2007, and opened an investigation that found a weld line during manufacturing had caused the premature deterioration.

The auto maker began collecting good parts from the field to test high heat exposure incidents to replicate the cracking incident and found an infrequent failure occurrence rate. Mazda subsequently closed the investigation in conclusion that the initial report was an isolated incident caused by a poor weld during manufacturing.

On November 4, 2016, Mazda received an additional field report from the Japanese market indicating the fuel pump sealing ring had leaked fuel. Upon further investigation of the returned parts, a creep-induced crack in the fuel pipe was confirmed.

During a separate recall repair appointment for a Mazda RX-8 on January 20, 2017, the automaker was notified of a confirmed crack in the main fuel pump pipe. As a result, Mazda initiated the safety recall process to remedy the fuel pipes.

The recall includes certain model year 2004 through 2008 RX-8 vehicles that were manufactured Mazda North American Operations of Washington, DC. An estimated 69,447 vehicles sold across the United States at licensed Mazda dealers are included in the recall.

Mazda announced it will begin notifying owners and dealers of the recall by July 31, 2017, with instructions on how customers may schedule a free repair appointment at their local dealer, in which dealers will replace the fuel pump filter kit, free of charge. Customers with additional questions or concerns regarding the recall may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 and reference the recall number 1017E.