Mazda RX-8 Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 235 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Mazda RX-8 across 7 model years. The 2004 model year has the most (154). The words owners use most often: “clutch pedal” (77% of reports).
- 235power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $850typical repair cost reported by owners
- 24%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 180 of 235 complaints (77%)
- Bracket snapped: mentioned in 21 of 235 complaints (9%)
- Change gears: mentioned in 21 of 235 complaints (9%)
- Put gear: mentioned in 12 of 235 complaints (5%)
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 Mazda RX-8 at $850, and half of them between $750 and $2,150.
Based on 16 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 221 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 235 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury.
Mazda RX-8 power train complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:manual transmission
Model years: 2004
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.
The steering wheel sometimes its hard to control sometimes its normal and when going fast the steering is so loose like there's a gaps that you need your two hands on the steering all time and the weels Weigel at high speed 60mph. its hard drive the car on the freeway And everyday use i already…
Clutch pedal broke driving down the road
The clutch pedal assembly bracket breaks at the spotwelds which also breaks the clutch master cylinder and lukily this broke while starting the car
Clutch pedal assembly snapped while driving at slow speeds. Only able to get car into gear while pushing pedal down and to the left. Could have been incredibly dangerous at higher speeds.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Mazda RX-8s have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 235 owner complaints about power train for the Mazda RX-8. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 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.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Mazda RX-8?
Owners report a typical cost of $850 (half paid between $750 and $2,150), from 16 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Mazda RX-8?
The most frequent phrase is “clutch pedal”, in 180 of 235 complaints, followed by “bracket snapped” (21).
Other Mazda RX-8 problems
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (138)
- Air Bags problems (114)
- Steering problems (111)
See all Mazda RX-8 problems.