Autoblog

In yet another installment of the Mazda RX-8 customer satisfaction drama, we can confirm that the manufacturer will announce a voluntary recall on 2004, 2005 and some 2006 model year RX-8s. Mazda has confirmed to us that owners will be receiving notices in the next month or so, as the company is doing a staggered roll-out across the country.

Mazda has also told us that the repairs needed for each RX-8 will vary based on tests performed by each dealer. Automotive News is reporting that each car will receivea vacu um test to check for oil leaks, and those vehicles suffering from sealing problems will receive new Renesis side-port rotary engines. Robert Davis, head of product development and quality at Mazda, told Automotive News that the company does not want dealers tearing into the engines, and instead will send the defective motors to its remanufacturing plant in North Carolina. Each vehicle will also receive a check of its starting system, as that supposedly has been problematic. Davis described the campaign as "white-glove treatment".

Mazda claims that the problem is brought on by hot climates or the usage of synthetic oil. If the oil is allowed into the combustion chamber, it eventually reaches the catalytic converter and causes a malfunction of that emissions-control device.

[Source: Rotary News]

Thomas Friedman recently disqualified himself for any future runs at heading up the General Motors fan club, but now he's going to host a new Discovery Times documentary called "Addicted to Oil". The topics that will be discussed during this documentary, such as the "true" price of gasoline (Friedman doesn't feel that the cost of securing oil or cleaning up the environment is reflected in what we pay at the pump) and the role of petrodollars in the War on Terror, are likely old hat for anyone who's been keeping up on the debate over the last few years. However, we suspect that there might be a few eyes opened among the general TV-watching audience, at least to the extent that this audience watches the Discovery Channel.

Friedman boasts that green energy technology will be the growth industry of the 21st century, and he says the real question is whether America will lead the way, or if a new economic leader will be born elsewhere in the world.

Interestingly enough, Friedman states that he has nothing against SUVs, and he seems to agree with GM's claim that the automaker makes a lot of large SUVs (such as the Hummer H2) because they sell well. That free-market explanation is a somewhat different take than what has been presented on the pages of the New York Times recently.

[Source: The Discovery Times]

Nissan Motors has told dealers to stop selling some 2006 Altima and Sentra SE-R models due to a problem with excessive oil consumption. The affected vehicles, built during the first five months of this year, could eventually run low on oil which can result in catastrophic engine damage, or even fires. Up to 100,000 vehicles are thought to be affected, and so far there have been 215 complaints of oil consumption and 17 reports of fires. The majority of the reported problems are said to have occurred in rental fleets.

Nissan is recommending that owners check their oil on a regular basis, which is good advice for anybody, regardless of what brand they drive. Given the most vehicles don't consume any oil between changes, though, we can see how this problem can catch less-than-attentive owners by surprise.

[Source: Reuters]