Mazda RX-8 Problems by Year
Mazda RX-8 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical RX-8 year: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2004 RX-8: 489 complaints, 10 recalls
- 2005 RX-8: 162 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2006 RX-8: 60 complaints, 5 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2011 RX-8: 4 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2010 RX-8: 5 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2009 RX-8: 8 complaints, 4 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mazda RX-8 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 235 | 7 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 138 | 5 | 1 |
| Air Bags problems | 114 | 6 | 13 |
| Steering problems | 111 | 5 | 8 |
| Engine | 50 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 48 | 7 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 45 | 4 | 1 |
| Structure | 34 | 5 | 1 |
| Visibility | 29 | 4 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 | 4 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 22 | 5 | 0 |
| Suspension | 22 | 4 | 3 |
| Equipment | 16 | 4 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Seats | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Wheels | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Mazda RX-8 problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2005: power train (54)
- 2004: power train (154) · engine and engine cooling (106) · steering (80) · air bags (50)
All Mazda RX-8 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 RX-8 | 4 | 3 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2010 RX-8 | 5 | 4 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2009 RX-8 | 8 | 4 | — | Power Train | |
| 2008 RX-8 | 17 | 5 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2007 RX-8 | 38 | 5 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 RX-8 | 60 | 5 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 RX-8 | 162 | 6 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 RX-8 | 489 | 10 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Mazda: all Mazda models · Mazda VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda RX-8 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2004 (489), 2005 (162), 2006 (60), 2007 (38) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical RX-8 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mazda RX-8?
Power Train, with 235 complaints across 7 model years.
How many recalls does the Mazda RX-8 have?
14 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.