Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2008 Mazda RX-8, assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its VIN to decode that exact car, its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment, alongside these records.
Open a VIN recordRecalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Mazda RX-8 year.
NHTSA has issued a do-not-drive warning covering 3 recalls on this make, model and year. Repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Recalls are issued per model. Confirm whether this specific car has already been repaired using its VIN, free, at any franchised dealer or on nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for this make, model and year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car. A dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Issue: Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2004-2011 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-354 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018. Mailing to the affected RX-8 owners began July 6, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 16V354.
Campaign 18V402000
Issue: Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Mazda MPV vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2005-2009 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 17V-011 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018 for MPV vehicles. The recall began July 9, 2019 for RX-8 vehicles. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 17V-011.
Campaign 18V404000
Issue: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2008 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1417G. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-382.
Campaign 17V474000
Issue: Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RX-8 vehicles. Heat from the engine and the exhaust may cause the main fuel pump pipe to crack.
Risk: If the fuel pump pipe cracks, fuel may leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump filter kit, free of charge. The recall began on July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1017E.
Campaign 17V354000
Issue: Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RX-8 vehicles manufactured April 10, 2003, to February 18, 2008. The affected vehicles have fuel pump sealing rings that may deteriorate due to exposure to heat from the engine or exhaust pipe.
Risk: The deteriorated seals may leak fuel, which, in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump sealing ring set and add a thermal insulation pad to the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0516J.
Campaign 16V793000
The parts named most often across 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this make, model and year.
1 fire
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so read this as where to look rather than as a defect rate.
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON DAY DURING A TURN THE POWER STEERING PARTIALLY WENT OUT MAKING THE TURN VERY DIFFICULT TO HOLD AND TO STRAIGHTEN OUT AFTER. UPON LEAVING WORK THE STEERING WORKED FINE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY WHEN MAKING A TURN ON MY WAY HOME THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE POWER STEERING BUT STILL NO LIGHT INDICATING A PROBLEM. I THEN DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR IN BUT THE WHOLE DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WOULD CREAK AND NOT ALWAYS WANT TO TURN COMPLETELY MAKING THE TRIP TAKE LONGER TRYING TO AVOID HIGHWAYS AND TO MANY SHARP TURNS IN FEAR OF IT LOCKING UP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ASPECIALY COMING OUT OF WINTER SEASON AND GOING INTO SPRING WITH ALL THE RAIN. THIS SHOULD BE A RECAL IN THE US SINCE IT IS A RECAL IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
I TOOK MY RX IN TO GET POWER STEERING ISSUES FIXED JUST TO FIND OUT THAT THE OIL COOLER LINES WERE RUSTING OUT WHICH IS ALSO A RECALL IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD BUT NOT THE US. IN THE UPPER STATES THIS CAN BE A MASSIVE PROBLEM IF OIL STARTS SPRAYING ALL OVER THE MOTOR AND THE GROUND IT COULD CAUSE ENVIRONMENTAL, AND SAFETY HAZARDS TO OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. IF GONE UNNOTICED IT COULD EASILY CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE AND POTENTIAL FIRES FROM THE MOTOR WHILE ON THE ROAD WHICH NO ONE WANTS, THERE'S NO REASON THIS RECALL SHOULD NOT APPLY TO THE US, ATLEAST THE NORTHERNMOST STATES.
I AM TRYING TO GET THE AIRBAGS REPLACED BUT I CANNOT FIND A PLACE WHO WILL SERVICE OUR CAR. WE ARE TRYING TO AVOID DRIVING IT UNTIL THE AIRBAG PROBLEM IS FIXED.
TAKATA RECALL, MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED ON THE SIDE, OF THE 101 FREEWAY OFF THE WEST LAKE VILLAGE EXIT GOING SOUTH, AND WOULD NOT TURN ON. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP AFTER FINDING OUT OF THE RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP AND AIR BAGS ON THE MAZDA WEBSITE. AFTER 3 DAYS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND BEING CHARGED 3 HOURS OF $115.00 HOUR THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPAIR MY CAR OR REPLACE THE RECALL. THEY SUGGESTED FOR ME TO BUY A NEW ENGINE THAT WOULD COST ME $7000.00
ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2017 I TOOK MY 2005 MAZDA RX8 TO THE GUNTHER MAZDA DEALERSHIP LOCATED AT 1800 SOUTH STATE ROAD 7 (441), FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA 33317 FOR RECALL WORK OF THE FUEL PUMP SEALS. THE NEXT DAY I FILLED THE TANK AND WENT TO WORK, I DRIVE FORM HOLLYWOOD TO BOCA RATON DAILY. THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS STRONG AND MY TANK WASN'T LASTING AS LONG AS USUAL. I CALLED GUNTHER MAZDA AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 7, 2017. THE SERVICE PERSON, RON, SAID HE STRONGLY SMELLED THE GASOLINE AND SAID IT WAS A CARBON BUILD UP ON THE THROTTLE AND THAT HIS FOREMAN WOULD LOOK AT THE CAR. I SIGNED PAPERWORK, BUT DIDN'T RECEIVE A COPY. I GOT THERE ABOUT 10:30, AT ABOUT 11:50, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I FILLED THE TANK WITH GAS AND MY MECHANIC TOOK THE BACK SEATS OFF. THE FUEL PUMP SEAL WAS FILLED WITH GASOLINE, THE CAR WAS LEAKING GASOLINE AND FUMES IN THE CABIN WERE OVERWHELMING. WHEN I CALLED GUNTHER MAZDA TO SPEAK WITH RON, I WAS HUNG UP ON 3 TIMES. WHEN MY HUSBAND CALLED HE WAS MET WITH EXTREME RUDENESS AND TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $130 FOR THEM TO REEXAMINE THE CAR. IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNCONSCIONABLE THAT THE GUNTHER MAZDA LOCATED AT 1800 SOUTH STATE ROAD 7 (441), FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA 33317 WOULD LET ME DRIVE AWAY FROM THEIR DEALERSHIP KNOWING THAT THE FUEL PUMP SEAL WAS FAULTY. MY CAR COULD HAVE BLOWN UP KILLING ME AND MAYBE OTHERS. MY MECHANIC REMOVED THE ASSEMBLY TO REPAIR AND SAID THE INSTALL WAS INCORRECTLY DONE. HE WILL BE SENDING ME ADDITIONAL PICTURES OF WHAT HE FOUND.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I PURCHASE THE CAR ON JULY 21 2017. THE AC HAS NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. NOW THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THIS TO GET FIX. I WAS WONDERING IF SOME CAN HELP ME OUT WITH THIS. BEFORE I GIVE THIS CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAN KEEP THE CAR. I'M NOT PAYING 1.900.00 TO HAVE THE CAR FIX. THANK YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET THIS FIX!
THE DASH IS ALL CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER DASH SIDE. IS EXACTLY WHERE THE AIR BAD SITS 4 LARGE CRACKS ALL THE WAY AROUND IT ..ALSO THE DRIVER SEAT RIGHT SIDE LOWER LUMBAR IS SHIFT UP AND DOWN...POOR MANUFACTURING
THE DASHBOARD THAT COVERS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG HAS BEEN CRACKING IN THE OUTLINE OF THE AIRBAG SINCE PRIOR TO 10/4/2012. MAZDA SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT. I'VE ATTACHED MY 10/4/2012 REQUEST FOR AN ESTIMATE OF REPAIR, BUT I DID NOT GET IT REPAIRED. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS DEFECT. I'VE ALSO ATTACHED A PICTURE OF THE DASHBOARD AS OF TODAY. I AM AFRAID IT IS GOING TO BURST OPEN AND INJURE OR KILL SOMEONE.
POWER STEERING FAILED AT ONLY 85000 MILES, ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH WITH MY TWO TODDLERS IN THE BACK SEATS!!! NOW IT IS GOING TO COST ME OVER 2K TO FIX IT, I AM A MILITARY WIFE, IN GERMANY, AND ALMOST CRASHED DUE TO MAZDA'S LACK OF QUALITY!!!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
THE DASH COVER FOR THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS IS CRACKING AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MAZDA.
THE PLASTIC CASING ON MY DRIVERS SIDE DASHBOARD THAT ENCASES THE AIR BAG IS PUSHING IT'S WAY THROUGH THE DASHBOARD. IT IS THE EXACT SHAPE OF A RECTANGLE WHICH THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IS THE PLASTIC CASING. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE CAR AND ALSO DANGEROUS BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE.
Showing 12 of 17 complaints.
NHTSA frontal crash test
3 open NHTSA investigations into this model. Investigations come before recalls, so these are potential defects not yet covered by one.
Rated configuration: 2008 Mazda RX-8 2-DR. w/SAB
Over 5 years this costs $9,500 more in fuel than an average new vehicle.