2008 Mazda RX-8 Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Mazda RX-8.

20072009
Complaints
23
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Fatalities
Recalls
5

Worst 2008 Mazda RX-8 Problems

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

#18 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:64,609 mi
#24 complaints

Steering Defects

#32 complaints

Engine Problems

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Mazda RX-8.

Airbags
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
64,609
Steering Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Mazda RX-8. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2008 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

2008 Mazda RX-8 — FAQ

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

Is the 2008 Mazda RX-8 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2008 Mazda RX-8 has 23 NHTSA complaints, 0 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 8 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2008 Mazda RX-8?
Top reported problems: Airbags (8 complaints, avg 64,609 mi); Steering Defects (4 complaints); Engine Problems (2 complaints). 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 2008 Mazda RX-8?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 64,609 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
Does the 2008 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 2008 Mazda RX-8?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

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.

Check Your Specific 2008 Mazda RX-8

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