2004 Mazda RX-8 Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Mazda RX-8.

< older2005
Complaints
624
Crashes
23
Fires
11
Injuries
24
Fatalities
Recalls
6

Worst 2004 Mazda RX-8 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#180 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:82,117 mi
Crash-related:8
#275 complaints

Manual Transmission

Avg mileage:72,571 mi
#349 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:79,650 mi
Crash-related:7
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Mazda RX-8.

Steering Defects
80
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
Avg Miles
82,117
Manual Transmission
75
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
72,571
Airbags
49
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
Avg Miles
79,650
Engine & Cooling
46
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
47,533
Transmission / Drivetrain
38
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
86,735
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
37
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
41,450
Engine Problems
33
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
83,948
Electrical Faults
27
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
67,238
Fuel System
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
100,360
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
19
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
73,693
Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle)
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
71,053
Visibility
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
38,216
Gasoline Fuel System
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
75,520
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
73,794
Structural Problems
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
58,438
Body Structure
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
84,167
Suspension Failures
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
79,735
Unintended Acceleration
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
93,874
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
26,900
Other Equipment
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
38,500
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
68,936
Headlight/Taillight Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
43,300
Automatic Transmission
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
26,583
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
54,577
Latches / Locks
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Mazda RX-8. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2004 Mazda RX-8

6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~838,815 vehicles.

19V781000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~47,006 affected

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 explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

18V402000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~308,591 affected

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.

17V474000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~308,992 affected

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.

17V354000Fuel Pump
~69,447 affected

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.

17V355000Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
~35,332 affected

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.

16V793000Fuel Pump
~69,447 affected

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.

Other Mazda RX-8 Years

2004 Mazda RX-8 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2004 Mazda RX-8 reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2004 Mazda RX-8 has 624 NHTSA complaints, 23 crash-related, and 6 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 80 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Mazda RX-8?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (80 complaints, avg 82,117 mi); Manual Transmission (75 complaints, avg 72,571 mi); Airbags (49 complaints, avg 79,650 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Mazda RX-8?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 70,624 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Mazda RX-8?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Mazda RX-8 include 23 crash-related reports, 11 fire reports, 24 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2004 Mazda RX-8 have any recalls?
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 838,815 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2004 Mazda RX-8?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2004 Mazda RX-8 shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Mazda RX-8 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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