What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2005 Mazda RX-8

Typical pattern

2.9% of complaints about the 2005 Mazda RX-8 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2005 vehicle — around the middle of the 245 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (55 complaints), typically at 5.7 yr or about 70,263 miles.

Complaints
210
Median age at failure
6.7 yr
Median mileage
63,400 n=158
Crash / fire / tow
4.8% of reports
Safety recalls
6 3 do not drive

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
55 reports · 70,263 mi
5.7 yr
1.8%
Engine cooling
28 reports · 46,000 mi
4.7 yr
0%
Air bags
24 reports · 75,000 mi
11.1 yr
25%
Steering
17 reports · 95,000 mi
9.4 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

18V402000 2018-06-15 Do not drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

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

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

18V404000 2018-06-15 Do not drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

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

An inflator explosion may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

17V474000 2017-07-26 Do not drive
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

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.

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.

17V354000 2017-06-01
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

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.

If the fuel pump pipe cracks, fuel may leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

16V793000 2016-10-31
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

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.

The deteriorated seals may leak fuel, which, in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.

05V317000 2005-07-07
Engine cooling

IF CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE PARKED AND THE ENGINE IS OPERATED AT HIGH RPM'S FOR AN EXCESSIVE LENGTH OF TIME, SOME OF THE PARTS AROUND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAN MELT AND PRODUCE A VARIETY OF MALFUNCTIONS. PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD-UP CAN RANGE FROM INOPERATIVE OXYGEN SENSOR, NEUTRAL SWITCH AND BACK UP LIGHTS, PROBLEMS WITH THE PARKING BRAKES, MALFUNCTIONS OF THE GAS GAUGE AND/OR POSSIBLE FUEL LEAKS RESULTING FROM HEAT DAMAGE TO THE FUEL TANK.

FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

In owners’ own words

Engine cooling mileage not reported 1.8 yr in service
PURCHASED A MAZDA RX8 2005, ON 7-16-2006. NOTE VEHICLE WAS NEW ONLY 159 MILES ON ODOMETER. I PURCHASED IT FROM CLASSIC MAZDA IN MENTOR OHIO AND THEY NEVER ADVISED ME OF OPEN RECALL REGARDING POSSIBLE FIRE FROM LEAKING FUEL TANK. FOUND OUT FROM ANOTHER MAZDA DEALER WHERE VEHICLE SITS AT THIS TIME WITH MECHANICAL ISSUE. MY FAMILIES SAFETY WAS COMPROMISED BY GREED OF CLASSIC MAZDA BY NOT INFORMING US PRIOR TO SALE OF OPEN SAFETY RECALL. *JB
Engine cooling 600 mi 2.6 yr in service
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX8. THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT 6 TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000. *AK
Engine cooling mileage not reported 1.3 yr in service
THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES AND NOW ISN'T STARTING AGAIN WAS TOWED AGAIN TODAY. *JB
Power train 30,650 mi 4.6 yr in service
1. FOR A FEW WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, I HEARD SQUEAKING COMING FROM THE CLUTCH PEDAL EACH TIME I USED IT. 2. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET, WHICH HOLDS THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO THE BODY OF THE CAR, SNAPPED OFF, RENDERING THE CLUTCH INOPERABLE AND THE CAR UNABLE TO ENGAGE/CHANGE GEARS. 3. THE CLUTCH BRACKET AND CLUTCH PEDAL HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH OEM PARTS. *TR

Other RX-8 model years

2007200620052004

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