2004 Mazda RX-8 Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 154 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2004 Mazda RX-8, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 69,600 miles. The words owners use most often: “clutch pedal” (77% of reports).
- 154power train complaints
- 69,600median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $860typical repair cost reported by owners
- 22%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Clutch pedal: mentioned in 118 of 154 complaints (77%)
- Bracket snapped: mentioned in 16 of 154 complaints (10%)
- Change gears: mentioned in 14 of 154 complaints (9%)
- Heard loud: mentioned in 12 of 154 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2004 Mazda RX-8 at $860, and half of them between $750 and $2,250.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2010), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 143 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 154 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 2 an injury.
Mazda RX-8 power train complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:manual transmission
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles with manual transmissions, the heat insulator may be cracked causing abnormal noise.
Risk: Continued operation of the vehicle can cause the insulator to come off and could pose a hazard to following vehicles.
Fix: Dealers will replace the heat insulator. The recall began march 5, 2004. Owners should contact mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Clutch pedal broke driving down the road
Driving down the road and came to a stop light, engaged the clutch heard a pop and haven't been able to get into gear since.i was in the middle of traffic and was nearly rear ended cause the couch wouldn't disengage to but it in great cause the bracket had broken completely.
As i pressed my cars clutch to change gears (6 speed manual ) while driving on my regular sunday drive in a city street, i heard and felt a very loud explosion and noises of metal pieces ejecting from under my car. I was in the 60km/h zone so was not speeding or going fast such as on a freeway etc…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2004 Mazda RX-8s have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 154 owner complaints about power train for the 2004 Mazda RX-8 (31% of the 489 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Mazda RX-8 power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 69,600 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2004 Mazda RX-8?
Owners report a typical cost of $860 (half paid between $750 and $2,250), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2004 Mazda RX-8?
The most frequent phrase is “clutch pedal”, in 118 of 154 complaints, followed by “bracket snapped” (16).
Other 2004 Mazda RX-8 problems
See all 2004 Mazda RX-8 problems or power train problems across all RX-8 years.