MAZDA RX-8 · model year

2008 MAZDA RX-8

23 NHTSA complaints, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008MAZDARX-8 carries 23 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 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 2008 RX-8 is air bags with 8 filings, followed by steering (4) and unknown or other (3). 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 5 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 2008 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.

23
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

23 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS8
STEERING4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
ENGINE2
POWER TRAIN1
SERVICE BRAKES1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
SEATS1

Recalls (5)

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

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

18V40400015/06/2018

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 Dakot

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.

Recent Complaints

20190329STEERING

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.

Mileage: 88,862

20190329ENGINE

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.

Mileage: 88,862

20190329UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

Mileage: 88,862

20180320AIR BAGS

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.

Mileage: 78,000

20171114AIR BAGS

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

Mileage: 73,000

20171114ENGINE

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

Mileage: 73,000

20171114FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 73,000

20171009FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 220

20170922UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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!

20170525AIR BAGS

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

20170525SEATS

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

20170518AIR BAGS

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.

Mileage: 45,437

20170518UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

Mileage: 45,437

20170509STEERING

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!!!!

Mileage: 85,000

20160824STEERING

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.

Mileage: 98,000

20160302AIR BAGS

THE DASH COVER FOR THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS IS CRACKING AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MAZDA.

20151007AIR BAGS

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.

Mileage: 62,000

20150504AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA RX-8.THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V344000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20150331AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V344000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20140304SERVICE BRAKES

OIL COOLER LINES ON THE RX 8 WILL RUST AN CORRODE DUE TO SALT ON THE ROADS IN THE WINTER MONTHS IN THE UPPER STATES.. LINES RUST AND CORRODE CAUSING OIL TO SPRAY OVER THE ENGINE BAY ,TIRES AND BRAKES. CAUSING A LOSS TRACTION. AND EVEN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.. OIL OVER THE ROAD.THIS BECOMES A HAZARD TO DRIVERS BEHIND YOU.. MAZDA HAS A RECALL CANADA DUE TO THIS ISSUE.. BUT WILL NOT HONOR THE US AT ALL.. THIS IS SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.. *TR

Mileage: 33,000

Compare 2008MAZDARX-8 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 MAZDA RX-8 have?
The 2008 MAZDA RX-8 has 23 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2008 MAZDA RX-8?
Yes, the 2008 MAZDA RX-8 has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 MAZDA RX-8?
The most-complained component for the 2008 MAZDA RX-8 is AIR BAGS with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2008 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.