2006 Mazda Rx-8 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (12) · Visibility (9) · Steering (6)
🧭 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
48 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 (174)
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 174 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-05-23 · Engine“the contact's grandson owns a 2006 mazda rx-8. the contact stated that while her grandson was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the vehicle had an oil pressure failure. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage…”
2020-02-21 · Steering · 11,000 mi“there is a white bushing that breaks and is not replaceable. the whole steering column has to be replaced. the fact that this car was made with this flaw is beyond my comprehension. the steering wheel becomes very loose and unsafe to drive.…”
2019-04-10 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 179,500 mi“perry mazda of santa barbara ca is refusing to repair my recall because the fuel pump currently installed is an aftermarket part. i've contacted mazda, but the representative i spoke with agreed with the technician that they can't repair my recall. he is looking into another solution so i can get my registration, but i'm making sure their acting le…”
2019-02-21 · Unknown Or Other · 11,000 mi“the bracket for the clutch pedal has broken 4 times. the milage is currently 81,000. i've contacted mazda corp and the dealer i bought it from new. they're saying unless there's a recall we have to keep buying a new pedal/bracket assembly. the metal they used is soft and weak causing you to lose control of the clutch. pedal gets stuck too. it happe…”
2019-01-18 · Steering · 98,000 mi“i'm writing to state on my rx8 shinka 2006 mazda has a steering wheel problem most concerning. i have owned it and maintained it. as i was leaving my bank i noticed a white gasket of kind on the floor of the drivers side. i went to drive my car and there was a lot of play in moving the steering wheel. at first i tried unlocking and locking the stee…”
2018-11-07 · Engine · 95,000 mi“takata recall the vehicle was stuttering as i was driving home it wasn't hot or overheating or low on oil, i drove it home and shut it off i then later tried to start it it wouldn't start it just cranked and cranked it wouldn't even start or try to , the apex seals on this car went out which is due to the loss of compression which ultimately caused…”
2018-05-07 · Power Train · 117,891 mi“the clutch pedal binds up,or sticks during releasing from the floor,was replaced before and still has the same issue and my local mazda dealership does not want to hear the complaint,now i will pay out of pocket for their repeated defect!…”
2018-04-19 · Unknown Or Other · 75,000 mi“my vehicle experienced a defect known to mazda to the extent of them issuing a recall (or ssp) in the canadian market due to use of corrosives and excessive wet seasons causing build up on and corrosion of the oil cooler lines. mazda clearly stated in the canadian ssp (#76) that extensive corrosion could cause a leak and/or loss of pressure, and kn…”
2018-03-07 · Power Train:clutch Assembly · 50,000 mi“i was driving to work on the evening of february 21st. i was stopped at a stop light and the light turned green so i pressed on the clutch to get the car in gear, when i pushed down however, the clutch made a large snapping sound and moved down a little further than usual. i went to put the car back into gear anyway and noticed that the clutch was …”
2017-11-20 · Power Train · 135,180 mi“clutch pedal snap off issue with rx-8 owners continues to be a serious safety concern, as the welds holding the pedal together can and will snap, leaving the driver unable to change gears or use their vehicle, even if in operation and at highway speeds. this issue has occurred with my vehicle as of 11/20/17. the warranty mazda has issued simply is …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.