# 2008 MAZDA RX-8 — POWER TRAIN
> NHTSA complaint `948451` · 2012-11-07 · Mazda Motor Corp.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MAZDA
- **Model:** RX-8
- **Year:** 2008
- **Manufacturer:** Mazda Motor Corp.
- **Component:** POWER TRAIN
- **Miles at failure:** 55,000
- **Speed:** 55 mph
## Narrative
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK  AND  AS I WAS SHIFTING GEARS I FELT THE CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCELERATION. THE TOP SPEED I GOT TO WAS 55MPH. WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO GET OFF THE CAR, I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND FROM INSIDE WHERE THE SHIFT KNOW IS LOCATED. I CHECKED UNDER THE CAR FOR A POSSIBLY FIRE, AND THERE IT WAS. APPARENTLY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD CLOGGED UP AND THAT'S WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH A CAR THAT BARELY HAS 55,000 AND ALREADY HAS PROBLEMS LIKE A FIRE. WHAT IF I THE CAR CAUGHT IN FIRE WITH MY FAMILY INSIDE. CANT IMAGINE. I CALLED AN AGENCY THAT TOLD ME THE CAR HAD A SAFETY RECALL, AND HAD ASKED ME IF THE DEALER HAD PROVIDED WITH AN INSPECTION STICKER WHICH WAS NOT IN THE WINDSHIELD. I WISH I COULD HAVE MY DOWN PAYMENT I GAVE BACK BECAUSE I WOULD NOT FEEL SECURE AND SAFE DRIVING A CAR (WITH MY CHILD AND WIFE) WITH A CAR THAT TURNED ON FIRE.  *TR
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*