2005 Mazda Rx-8 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train:manual Transmission (22) · Steering (15) · Air Bags (15)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mazda Rx-8 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
125 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2018-06-15 · campaign 18V402000 · 308,591 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: 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,
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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 16V
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2018-06-15 · campaign 18V404000 · 4,184 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: 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 ye
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2017-07-26 · campaign 17V474000 · 308,992 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump 2017-06-01 · campaign 17V354000 · 69,447 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump 2016-10-31 · campaign 16V793000 · 69,447 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (180)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-20 · SA-055-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
product quality information (pqi) description service information mt-041/12 is no longer valid. it has been unpublished and superseded by the field quality information report (fqir) reporting system.
Visibility/Wiper 2026-07-29 · 09-022-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. the changes are noted in red text. 09-042/04 12/10/04 description some vehicles may exhibit inoperative electric rear window defroster grid lines, integral antenna concerns causing radio reception issues or terminal tabs pulled
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-21 · SA-029-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service alert supersedes the previously issued sa listed below: the changes are noted in red. sa-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 description mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. mazda recommends dealers follow the sch
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-22 · SA-039/25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.) when parked near a glass building or low-e windows. this may be caused by the sun's reflection. if a structure's windows create enough of a curve, the concave glass can focus the sun's rays onto a small area and a
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-14 · SA-036-25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
when replacing the siriusxm satellite radio unit, a call must be made to inform siriusxm of the existing radio id and the new/replacement sat radio id as soon as possible to ensure the customer leaves the dealership with an active sat radio.
Unknown Or Other 2025-06-19 · SA-032-25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some customers may complain about a noisy hvac blower motor or odor after a cabin air filter replacement. foreign debris on the blower motor after servicing the cabin air filter may be the cause. during the removal of the cabin air filter, foreign debris (leaves, dust, dirt....ect.) may fall on the
Showing the 6 most recent of 180 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-10-13 · Air Bags“see attached document for complaint…”
2022-07-27 · Fuel/Propulsion System“part associated with recall 1017e has failed due to improper installation. …”
2021-06-21 · Steering“my cars steering will loosen up and stiffen up randomly also the traction control will randomly engage and the tire pressure lights and another light …”
2021-06-18 · Steering“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 spend $2800 at the dealership get fix but never get …”
2021-03-29 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 74,000 mi · 🔥 fire“fuel leak at gas tank area caused massive fire.…”
2019-10-11 · Service Brakes · 110,200 mi“the clutch pedal assembly bracket breaks at the spotwelds which also breaks the clutch master cylinder and lukily this broke while starting the car…”
2019-04-16 · Engine · 102,325 mi“oil cooler hoses rust out at fittings and leak oil uncontrollably. one search of any rx8 forum and you will find all years are effected.…”
2019-03-12 · Air Bags · 150,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owned a 2005 mazda rx-8. while driving 55 mph, the vehicle was involved in a front end collision. the air bags did not deploy. there were no warning indicators illuminated. the vehicle was towed to the junk yard. a police report was filed. the contact received medical attention and suffered injuries to the head, pelvic, and ribs. t…”
2019-02-12 · Steering · 115,000 mi“my steering wheel turns on its own while in motion on the beltway and sometimes it difficult to steer at all while in motion in traffic. i purchased new tires thinking that would solve the problem but it didn't.…”
2018-12-06 · Unknown Or Other · 110,000 mi“takata recall making a complaint about not doing recall in a timely manor…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.