MAZDA RX-8 · model year

2004 MAZDA RX-8

624 NHTSA complaints, 23 crash reports, and 10 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004MAZDARX-8 carries 624 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 23 crashes, 11 fires, 24 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 RX-8 is steering with 80 filings, followed by power train:manual transmission (75) and air bags (49). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 10 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 21 investigation files overlapping the 2004 RX-8, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

624
Complaints
23
Crashes
11
Fires
24
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

624 filings

Crashes Reported

23 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING80
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION75
AIR BAGS49
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING46
POWER TRAIN38
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE37
ENGINE33
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM27
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM20
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY19
UNKNOWN OR OTHER18
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)15
VISIBILITY12
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE10
STRUCTURE:BODY9

Recalls (10)

19V78100031/10/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2005 MPV, 2004 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may e

16V79300031/10/2016

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.

17V47400026/07/2017

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 manufa

05V32500020/07/2005

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DUE TO IMPROPER FORGING OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, CRACKS MAY OCCUR IN THE BALL JOINT SOCKET.

04V07500017/02/2004

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE HEAT INSULATOR MAY BE CRACKED CAUSING ABNORMAL NOISE.

04V07400017/02/2004

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AS A RESULT OF AN NCAP TEST, CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED FOR IMPROPERLY WIRED FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAGS.

18V40200015/06/2018

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, Ind

05V31700007/07/2005

ENGINE AND 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, NEU

17V35400001/06/2017

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.

17V35500001/06/2017

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2004 Mazda RX-8 vehicles. The ball joint socket on the front suspension lower control arm may crack and the ball joint may separate from the socket.

Recent Complaints

20250721AIR BAGS

For a year I have responded to every notice for a recall repair (7 total) Mazda has not repaired my vehicle or scheduled its repair. My recall ID is 016742248 and my Campaign Number is 100409. My car has a DO NOT DRIVE status and Mazda tells me I MUST drive the car 2 hours to get it repaired each way. And they refuse to transport y vehicle even thought I have told them in phone conversations about my cars do not drive status. The latest attempt for filing for a repay was 7-21-25 at 9:40am central time.

20240523ENGINE

The contact owns a 2004 Mazda RX-8. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the engine. The dealer determined that the engine had no compression. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 60,000.

Mileage: 60,000

20240211STEERING

The electric power steering randomly pulls hard to one side while driving. There are brief spasms of forceful jerks each jerk is 1-2 seconds the series of jerks lasts 10-20 seconds and usually stops with power steering failure all while driving.

20230329ENGINE

Engine naturally wears out especially after 200k miles due to friction in the natural design of the Rotary engine, resulting in losing its overall function such as turning off in the middle of a drive due to loss of compression from worn Apex Seals of the Rotary. The rotary engine requires a replacement of the Apex Seals to continue functioning normally to avoid any unpredictable accidents due to engine failure. An event occurred where my RX-8 went into limp mode in the middle of the freeway as i was commuting due a misfire from poor compression, this is more then likely a common event nowadays for RX-8 owners starting at the S1 2004 models with newer models soon to follow the same incident as me. This is completely unsafe especially traveling at 65 MPH

20221223FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2004 Mazda RX-8. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, he noticed a strong gasoline odor originating from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump was fractured and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V354000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the recall repair failed to fix the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would follow up with him. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

Mileage: 86,000

20210802FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Fuel fumes are leaking into passenger compartment and leaking from tank. Previous recall failed to fix

20210428AIR BAGS

FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG CRACKED DASH AND PUSHED OUT GLOVE BOX.

Mileage: 62,000

20210428UNKNOWN OR OTHER

FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG CRACKED DASH AND PUSHED OUT GLOVE BOX.

Mileage: 62,000

20210327UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I NOW HAVE REPLACEDCLUTCH PEDAL THE FORTH TIME. IM WRITING THIS TO SEE IFI CAN STILL GET ONE FACTORY REPAIR OF THE PART THE PEDAL WILL BREAK IN WELD SPOT REGARDLESS OF MY TRYING NOT PUT TO MUCH PRESSURE.

Mileage: 78,000

20210224STEERING

JULY 2017 WHEN I START THE CAR THE STEERING GEAR TURN TOO THE RIGHT ALL THE TIME. FEW MILE THE STEERING GET HARD AND START SHACKING BY IT SELF. NOW THE STEERING IS HARD WITH ABS AND CONTROL TRACTION LIGHT ON. I SEND IT TOO A MECANIC TOO CHECK THE WIRING AND RACK AND PINON AND THE MECANIC INDICATE THAT IS THE TORQUE SENSOR AND I HAVE TOO CHANGE THE RACK AND PINON.

20210222FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

RECENTLY PURCHASED THE CAR FROM SOMEONE ELSE AND NOTICED THAT THE CABIN SMELLS LIKE FUEL. I THOUGHT MAYBE HE SPILLED SOME INSIDE IT BUT IT'S BEEN A WEEK AND THE SMELL IS STILL THERE. I DON'T KNOW WHY AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE CAR CATCHING FIRE OR ME GETTING CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

20200210POWER TRAIN

CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD

Mileage: 140,000

20191127STEERING

STEERING TURN ALONE

Mileage: 15

20191105UNKNOWN OR OTHER

PASSENGER DASH COVER HAS LOST INTEGRITY/CRACKED ALONG THE LINES WHERE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS AND AM CONCERNED THAT THE FORCE OF POTENTIAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD BE AFFECTED AND NOT WORK AS DESIGNED OR DEPLOY WITH TOO MUCH FORCE TO CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE OCCUPANT IF THE AIRBAG COVER SHOULD FLY OFF UPON DEPLOYMENT. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE DASH OF MANY MAZDA VEHICLES AND SHOULD AT A MINIMUM BE REVIEWED. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS AND THE AIRBAGS RECALL HAS RECENTLY BEEN PERFORMED BY A MAZDA DEALER.

Mileage: 76,811

20191021STRUCTURE:BODY

SEAT BUILTS NEED TIGHTING

20191021SERVICE BRAKES

SEAT BUILTS NEED TIGHTING

20191021ENGINE

SEAT BUILTS NEED TIGHTING

20191021CrashAIR BAGS

ON 10/19/19 THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHEN SWERVING TO AVOID A DEER ON THE ROAD. TWO TREES WERE HIT AND THE VEHICLE WAS FLIPPED ON ITS SIDE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING THIS ACCIDENT AS I WAS EXPECTED. PICTURES SHOW THE FRONT DAMAGE AND INTERIOR.

Mileage: 90,000

20191010STEERING

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004, MAZDA RX8 THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MODULE FAILED, AND JERKED THE CAR AGGRESSIVELY TO THE LEFT INTO THE ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE FORCE WAS SO STRONG THAT IT CAUSED MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. FORTUNATELY, THERE WASN'T ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT THAT MOMENT ON THAT PARTICULAR STRETCH OF ROAD. WHEN REVIEWING THE MAZDA FORUM THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS THAT EXPERIENCED THE SAME LOSS OF CONTROL OR FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, MAZDA HAD POWER STEERING ASSIST RECALLS FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS, REF. MAZDA3/MAZDA5 POWER STEERING RECALL NOTIFICATION 6010H.

Mileage: 83,000

20190927STEERING

MY POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT FROM TIME TO TIME. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS DESIGN AND THE VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS.

Mileage: 127,000

Compare 2004MAZDARX-8 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 MAZDA RX-8 have?
The 2004 MAZDA RX-8 has 624 NHTSA complaints, 23 crashes, 11 fires, 24 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 MAZDA RX-8?
Yes, the 2004 MAZDA RX-8 has 10 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 MAZDA RX-8?
The most-complained component for the 2004 MAZDA RX-8 is STEERING with 80 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2004 MAZDA RX-8 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.