2005 Mazda RX-8 Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2005 Mazda RX-8.

20042006
Complaints
212
Crashes
8
Fires
1
Injuries
8
Fatalities
Recalls
5

Worst 2005 Mazda RX-8 Problems

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

#122 complaints

Manual Transmission

Avg mileage:72,278 mi
#221 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:76,931 mi
Crash-related:3
#321 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:94,891 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2005 Mazda RX-8.

Manual Transmission
22
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
72,278
Airbags
21
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
76,931
Transmission / Drivetrain
21
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
94,891
Steering Defects
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
82,040
Engine & Cooling
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
48,736
Fuel System
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
90,676
Unintended Acceleration
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
69,771
Engine Problems
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
86,063
Electrical Faults
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
47,888
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
31,882
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
54,490
Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle)
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
63,023
Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Side/Window
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2005 Mazda RX-8. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2005 Mazda RX-8

5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~760,661 vehicles.

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.

18V404000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~4,184 affected

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.

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.

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

2005 Mazda RX-8 — FAQ

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

Is the 2005 Mazda RX-8 reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2005 Mazda RX-8 has 212 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Manual Transmission with 22 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2005 Mazda RX-8?
Top reported problems: Manual Transmission (22 complaints, avg 72,278 mi); Airbags (21 complaints, avg 76,931 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (21 complaints, avg 94,891 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 2005 Mazda RX-8?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 72,303 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2005 Mazda RX-8?
NHTSA complaints for the 2005 Mazda RX-8 include 8 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 8 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 2005 Mazda RX-8 have any recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 760,661 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 2005 Mazda RX-8?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

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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