Mazda Rx-8 Reliability
1,003 NHTSA complaints (2004–2011). Complaint rate: 2111.6 per 1,000 vehicles.
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 2004–2005 Mazda Rx-8. The 2008–2011 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: AIR BAGS.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Mazda Rx-8 Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 110 | 10.0% |
| STEERING | 110 | 7.3% |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 104 | 0.0% |
| POWER TRAIN | 76 | 1.3% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 65 | 1.5% |
| ENGINE | 50 | 0.0% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 47 | 0.0% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 45 | 0.0% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 38 | 2.6% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 36 | 2.8% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004AVOID | — | 624 | 23 | 11 | View 2004View→ |
| 2005AVOID | — | 212 | 8 | 1 | View 2005View→ |
| 2006 | — | 74 | 1 | — | View 2006View→ |
| 2007 | — | 51 | 2 | 2 | View 2007View→ |
| 2008GOOD | — | 23 | 0 | 1 | View 2008View→ |
| 2009GOOD | — | 9 | 0 | — | View 2009View→ |
| 2010GOOD | — | 5 | 0 | — | View 2010View→ |
| 2011GOOD | — | 5 | 1 | 2 | View 2011View→ |
See also: Mazda Rx-8accident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
Buying a Mazda Rx-8?
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