2008 Mazda RX-8: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 17 owner complaints on record; most reports concern air bags; the 2009 and 2010 model years look 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 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2019
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Mar 2018
“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”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Nov 2017
Show 7 more owner reports
“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!”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jul 2017
“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”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2017
“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!!!!”Owner report · Steering · May 2017
“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.”Owner report · Steering · Jun 2016
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2015
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2015
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2015
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 2008 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 2008 Mazda RX-8 reliable?
NHTSA has 17 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2008 Mazda RX-8. The most complained-about area is air bags.
Does the 2008 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.