2006 Mazda RX-8: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 60 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (30% of complaints); the 2008 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jun 2018
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 60 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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 was unknown.”Owner report · Engine · May 2023
“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 legally.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Apr 2019
“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 happens while driving and at idle. Dangerous going up or down hills even at intersections it'll disable your ability to move. When mazda does a repair the put the same weak junk not bothering to reinforce or even fix their problem. Look it up on the web. Just about everyone with a manual rx8 has the same problem.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Feb 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“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 the sputtering, mazda is well aware of this issue as it was recalled almost a year ago but I didn't have the issue so I didn't see a need to get it replaced ! This issue is unacceptable as now I'm without a car please help me out !”Owner report · Engine · Nov 2018
“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 steering column. This was no good. There was still play in the steering wheel. Meaning you can move the steering wheel column up and down with outside unlocking the column. This should not be an issue. It's just like the air bag recall. I shouldn't have to worry that my steering wheel will fail while driving my awesome car!”Owner report · Steering · Sep 2018
“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.”Owner report · Steering · May 2018
“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!”Owner report · Power Train · May 2018
“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 not good enough, as the warranty simply replaces the broken clutch pedal bracket with one of the same design & flaw that will lead to the same failure. My vehicle was in motion and I was attempting to change gears accelerating when this occurred.”Owner report · Power Train · Nov 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mazda rx-8. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v793000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Dec 2016
“The vehicle is leaking gas from the fuel pump. It smells really bad scared to drive because the gas smell stay in the cabin. People when I park next to them say you have a bad gas leak . But it's just dripping from the fuel pump to where the fuel line connects and I just need help with this problem because it is not safe if people can tell me I have a bad gas leak just by parking right next to me also seem like it leaks while car is off also it is highly important that a person is not to inhale gas fumes all day please help thank you *tr”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Sep 2016
When filing, owners marked a crash in 1 of these complaints and injuries in 0 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
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.
Remedy: 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.
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. Virgin Islands. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2004-2011 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-354 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Remedy: 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 16V354.
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 the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2006 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact RX-8 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Mazda RX-8 reliable?
NHTSA has 60 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2006 Mazda RX-8. The most complained-about area is air bags (30% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2006 Mazda RX-8 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 63,000 miles or less.
Does the 2006 Mazda RX-8 have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.