Major Problems with Mazda RX-8 Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Mazda RX-8 to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

Mazda RX-8 complaint overview

758 recorded complaints across model years
Years covered 2004–2011
Most recorded categories AIR BAGS (107), STEERING (104), MANUAL TRANSMISSION (104)
Highest recorded count 476 in 2004

Complaint counts are reports, not confirmed defect rates. Older model years have had more time to accumulate reports, and sales volume and reporting coverage differ by year. A higher count does not by itself make a year the least reliable, and these figures are not a failure probability.

Compare two model years

Year A Year B

Problem category

Mazda RX-8 FlawScore

Best and Worst Years for Mazda RX-8

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Mazda RX-8.

Model Year	Complaints
2011 RX-8	2
2010 RX-8	3
2009 RX-8	8
2008 RX-8	17
2007 RX-8	38
2006 RX-8	58
2005 RX-8	156
2004 RX-8	476

Worst 3 Mazda RX-8 complaints

2005 Mazda RX-8 AIR BAGS Victims: 2

2004 Mazda RX-8 ENGINE Victims: 1 Mileage: 16000 miles

2004 Mazda RX-8 AIR BAGS Victims: 1

Browse Mazda RX-8 complaints by category

Problems with AIR BAGS, STEERING and MANUAL TRANSMISSION are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Mazda RX-8 owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
AIR BAGS tl* the contact owns a 2010 mazda rx-8. the contact stated that the air bags were replaced two years ago....	107 ~ 38582 miles
STEERING i was driving home on the highway and the car started to intermittently pull slightly in one direction. after about...	104 ~ 74283 miles
MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN normal driving and the clutch pedal popped and became unstable. shifting the card became difficult. after further inspection discovered the	104 ~ 69466 miles
POWER TRAIN clutch pedal mounting bracket snapped at the bolt which results in clutch not engaging properly. the issue renders the car...	74 ~ 83108 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING oil cooler lines on the rx 8 will rust an corrode due to salt on the roads in the winter...	65 ~ 38488 miles
ENGINE takata recall my car suddenly stopped on the side of the 101 freeway off the west lake village exit going...	46 ~ 68492 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING i own a 2005 mazda rx8 6 speed. the vehicle has 14 000 miles. on 5/30/06 the engine began to...	45 ~ 31176 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM while driving i noticed a fuel smell coming through my vents. after checking around the engine compartment i saw fuel...	42 ~ 62922 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM converter fire voided warranty aftermarket parts installed cause or not the cause...	38 ~ 49796 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER the ring/assembly holding the driver side visor cracked with normal use (putting the visor down (no excess force was used)...	33 ~ 58897 miles
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN tl* the contact owns a 2007 mazda rx-8. while driving approximately 20 mph the clutch pedal became unresponsive without warning....	28 ~ 61419 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL i was driving on the hwy the cruise control was on i had been using it for about 20 miles...	25 ~ 73820 miles
VISIBILITY tl*the contact owns a 2007 mazda rx-8. in september of 2008 both the driver's and passenger side visors cracked at...	24 ~ 25272 miles
PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) > CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN i am a member of a mazda rx8 website. 25% of our members have had their clutch pedals snap off...	21 ~ 66224 miles
STRUCTURE i purchased a 2007 mazda rx-8. i started noticing that the dashboard of the passenger side starting cracking around the...	16 ~ 46469 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE i purchased a mazda rx8 new in 2009. i have noticed the passenger dash cracking. at first it was small...	15 ~ 49071 miles
SUSPENSION on may 7 2013 i brought the vehicle to paretti mazda of metairie because a fluid was leaking from somewhere...	13 ~ 76238 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE converter fire voided warranty aftermarket parts installed cause or not the cause...	12 ~ 40803 miles
EQUIPMENT i purchased a 2007 mazda rx-8. i started noticing that the dashboard of the passenger side starting cracking around the...	11 ~ 16637 miles
EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2005 mazda rx8 quits running and will not restart -removed spark plugs cleaned and started-quit before got home same problem....	10 ~ 69015 miles
COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING i'm going in today for the third time because my ac continues to make a noise when the fan is...	9 ~ 57069 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING i'm going in today for the third time because my ac continues to make a noise when the fan is...	8 ~ 30931 miles
GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING mazda rx-8 purchased dec 24th 2003.f the vehicle 'stalls' when cold the engine become non-restartable (even following the manif's deflooding...	7 ~ 19214 miles
SERVICE BRAKES oil cooler lines on the rx 8 will rust an corrode due to salt on the roads in the winter...	6 ~ 53400 miles
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES i was driving my 2007 mazda rx-8/6 speed. i was in 2nd gear shifting into 3rd gear when my clutch...	5 ~ 66528 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN engine failure after driving short distances engine does not always want to restart during times of sitting in traffic car...	5 ~ 21267 miles
TIRES i purchased a brand new set of potenza's on the dec 7. i had them mounted on in the afternoon...	5 ~ 17622 miles
LOWER BALL JOINT > CONTROL ARM > FRONT i received 2 safety recall notices on my rx8. i took the car to the dealer where i leased the...	5 ~ 54577 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC front brakes and rotors replaced by dealer due to defective front brakes. brakes and rotors replaced and vehicle is now	5 ~ 8061 miles
SEAT BELTS my stepdaughter placed her infant/carseat in the rear seat of our 2010 mazda rx-8. she reached for the closest seatbelt...	4 ~ 17125 miles
ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT a new catalytic converter was purchased from a mazda dealer in mayaguez puerto rico on august 29 2009. the same...	4 ~ 14250 miles
CATALYTIC CONVERTOR > EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM a new catalytic converter was purchased from a mazda dealer in mayaguez puerto rico on august 29 2009. the same...	4 ~ 25500 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS front driver airbag did not deploy. *tr...	4 ~ 6000 miles
WHEELS i purchased a brand new set of potenza's on the dec 7. i had them mounted on in the afternoon...	4 ~ 33000 miles
AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT defective air conditioning -will not provide a vehicle until fixed. 2005 mazda rx8. contacted mazda corporation supposedly and they will	4 ~ 44500 miles
12V/24V/48V BATTERY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM the rotary engine rx8 (my 2005) continues to have starting problems. i have just over 100 000 miles on my...	3 ~ 2400 miles
DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY the mazda rx-8 is having an issue that is coming up more frequently now from a faulty a/c switch or...	3 ~ 30333 miles
TAIL LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING the rear passenger tail lamp on the 2004 mazda rx-8 is known to collect water inside the lamp sometimes as...	3 ~ 13833 miles
EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING dt: the consumer purchased a new mazda rx8. the vehicle experienced what the consumer suspected was a problem that occurred...	3 ~ 433 miles
DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE mazda rx-8 with less than 3000 miles has twice shut off and failed to start. major problem with fuel delivery	3 ~ 1548 miles
VISIBILITY/WIPER the ring/assembly holding the driver side visor cracked with normal use (putting the visor down (no excess force was used)...	2 ~ 24250 miles
SEATS the dash is all cracked around the passenger dash side. is exactly where the air bad sits 4 large cracks	2 ~ 56000 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL takata recall after completing the "interim repair" the cars power steering will intermittently go out without warning or pull to...	2 ~ 88000 miles
FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl* the contact owns a 2006 mazda rx8. the contact stated that she smelled a fuel odor after parking the...	2 ~ 25500 miles
STARTER ASSEMBLY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM the rotary engine rx8 (my 2005) continues to have starting problems. i have just over 100 000 miles on my...	2 ~ 5000 miles
FRONT > SUSPENSION tl*the contact owns a 2004 mazda rx-8. the contact stated that when having the vehicle serviced a mechanic stated the...	2 ~ 63750 miles
HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING tl* the contact owns a 2007 mazda rx8. the contact stated the headlights were extremely cloudy causing very limited illumination....	2 ~ 13000 miles
SIDE/WINDOW > AIR BAGS airbags failed to deploy after front and side impact accident resulting in significant damage (vehicle might be totaled). speed at	2 ~ 245560 miles
FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY > MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN my clutch pedal bracket broke at the welds with 60k miles on my car. my car is bone stock. *tr...	2 ~ 65000 miles
TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE dt: the consumer purchased a new mazda rx8. the vehicle experienced what the consumer suspected was a problem that occurred...	2 ~ 650 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER i purchased my automatic rx8 in late jan. 2004. as i write this i have averaged 14.3 mpg with mixed...	2
ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT > WINDSHIELD > DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM 2004 mazda rx 8 has many design defects battery was replaced spark plugs and oil filter was replaced 3 months...	2 ~ 19000 miles
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM coolant sensor in the coolant reservoir tank is continuously showing a warning light. coolant levels are fine oil levels are	1 ~ 25000 miles
POWER STEERING FLUID > HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST > STEERING i first noticed a problem in my steering while driving in my neighborhood. the steering felt very light and crisp...	1 ~ 61000 miles
FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE for the past 3 years the clutch pedal on my car has squeaked and groaned when depressed. this would not...	1 ~ 52425 miles
SIDEWALL > TIRES brand new goodyear tire with less than 100 miles on it blew while going down highway. *tr...	1 ~ 57705 miles
MECHANICAL > EQUIPMENT i have a mazda rx8 2005. it repeatedly stalls and has needed a new engine twice in less than a...	1 ~ 46000 miles
ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING tl*the contact owns a 2005 mazda rx-8. the contact was driving approximately between 10-30mph proceeding to make a turn. the...	1 ~ 55000 miles
DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN tl*the contact owns a 2004 mazda rx8. while driving 50 mph the clutch pedal began squeaking. the clutch pedal brace...	1 ~ 37700 miles
WHEEL BEARING > FRONT > SUSPENSION tl*the contact owns a 2004 mazda rx8. while driving various speeds the vehicle will stall without warning. he took the...	1 ~ 32000 miles
ABS WARNING LIGHT > ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC tl*the contact owns a 2005 mazda rx8. the abs and traction control light illuminated on 3 occasions. the check engine...	1 ~ 600 miles
HEAD RESTRAINT > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS tl*the contact owns a 2005 mazda rx-8. the contact received a recall notice one year ago. the dealer stated that...	1 ~ 8000 miles
ROTOR > DISC > SERVICE BRAKES, AIR i have had to have the front brakes (due to tsb) repaired three times now. i bought the car with...	1
FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE problems with rotary engine starting. usually happens at a temperature below 25 degrees fahrenheit. poor ignition system for colder weather....	1 ~ 34000 miles
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM problems with rotary engine starting. usually happens at a temperature below 25 degrees fahrenheit. poor ignition system for colder weather....	1 ~ 34000 miles
ROTOR > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS dt*: the contact stated while performing general maintenance the brakes were observed to be corroded. the vehicle was inspected by...	1 ~ 12500 miles
LABELS > OTHER > EQUIPMENT the vehicle certification label on the inside door panel shows the gross vehicle weight information and the vin number but	1
MARKINGS > TIRES the vehicle certification label on the inside door panel shows the gross vehicle weight information and the vin number but	1
NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT engine failure purchased car 3/11/2006 a couple of weeks later the car started idling roughly then stalling the computer module...	1 ~ 16000 miles
SEAT HEATER/COOLER > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS dt*: the contact stated the seat warmer of the vehicle stays on and get too hot. the contact expressed concerns...	1
REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES > VISIBILITY my son was involved in an accident while driving the 2004 mazda rx-8 i had recently purchased. the collision occurred...	1 ~ 18000 miles
PARKING BRAKE mazda rx-8: car was parked at the top of a gradual slope with parking brake firmly pulled up. no more...	1 ~ 2900 miles
CRUISE CONTROL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL dt: the contact owns a 2004 mazda rx8. the contact states that while driving with cruise control set and hitting...	1
FAN > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING dt: the contact owns a 2004 mazda rx8. the contact states that while driving with cruise control set and hitting...	1
AUTOMATIC (ASC) > ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL the vehicle fishtailed all the time in inclement weather. the consumer was making a right turn and the vehicle did...	1 ~ 1900 miles
INTERIOR/UNDER DASH > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM i bought the 2004 rx8 used. it only had 16 000 miles but the previous owner had broke the rear...	1 ~ 1000 miles
HEATER CORE > DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY ac and general cabin temperature problems. i am having a combination of problems with the heating and cooling of the...	1 ~ 3000 miles
FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM driver's side sun visor cracked and separated from post. it was hanging and would not stay up out of field...	1 ~ 8400 miles
BELL HOUSING > CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN veh. being operated on the nj turnpike at 65 mph when clutch failed. towed to dealer at own expense. dealer...	1
ACCELERATOR PEDAL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL the dummy pedal on the left has a design flaw which enables high heels to be trapped between the pedal...	1
FRONT > SEAT BELTS while driving 55 mph driver lost control of vehicle and it hit a pole. air bags deployed but driver's seat	1
REAR/OTHER > SEAT BELTS in the new mazda rx8 the rear seat design with the high center console makes it very hard to latch...	1
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE driver and passenger doors have poor sealing against road noise & wind. at highway speeds wind noise becomes highly intrusive	1 ~ 2120 miles

FAQ

What year Mazda RX-8 is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 8 years, Mazda RX-8 models of 2011, 2010, 2009 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Mazda RX-8?

Mazda RX-8 models of 2004 and 2005 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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