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2005 Mazda RX-8Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 162 owner complaints about the 2005 Mazda RX-8, most often about the power train. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-402 the manufacturer reports only 9% of affected cars repaired.

2005 Mazda RX-8
40
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.5× the RX-8 median · #2 of 5 years by complaints
Safety recalls6Lowest repair rate 9%Owner complaints16210 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage68kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 13, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2005 Mazda RX-8 has problems

162 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train541
Engine and engine cooling280
Air bags224
Steering170
Fuel/propulsion system121
Vehicle speed control111
Engine90
Electrical system80
Equipment40
13 other systems341

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

6 recalls

2005 Mazda RX-8 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

9%repaired · 2019 Q4

Passenger side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 18V-402 · Jun 15, 2018 · 308,591 vehicles · 29,226 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

11%repaired · 2019 Q4

Passenger side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 18V-404 · Jun 15, 2018 · 4,184 vehicles · 467 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

14%repaired · 2018 Q4

Driver side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 17V-474 · Jul 26, 2017 · 308,992 vehicles · 42,217 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

28%repaired · 2018 Q4

Delivery: fuel pump

Recall 17V-354 · Jun 1, 2017 · 69,447 vehicles · 19,427 repaired

Risk. If the fuel pump pipe cracks, fuel may leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 2 more recalls
31%repaired · 2018 Q4

Delivery: fuel pump

Recall 16V-793 · Oct 31, 2016 · 69,447 vehicles · 21,549 repaired

Risk. The deteriorated seals may leak fuel, which, in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mazda.

Mileage at failure

When do power train problems start?

68kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 51 power train complaints. 82% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
0under 30k miles42under 100k miles9100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2005 vs. every other RX-8 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the RX-8 median. How we score

'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2005 Mazda RX-8 safety ratings

2005 Mazda RX-8 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2005 Mazda RX-8 frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2005 Mazda RX-8 side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: Optional
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2005 Mazda RX-8, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · still open
    Led to recall 18V-031
  2. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · still open
    Open
  3. CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET FAILUREPE09045 · closed Aug 19, 2010
    No recall
  4. Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · closed Mar 2, 2015
    Led to recall 14V-700
In owners' words

What RX-8 owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The steering wheel sometimes its hard to control sometimes its normal and when going fast the steering is so loose like there's a gaps that you need your two hands on the steering all time and the weels Weigel at high speed 60mph. its hard drive the car on the freeway And everyday use i already…
Complaint 11421371 · Jun 18, 2021
THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY BRACKET BREAKS AT THE SPOTWELDS WHICH ALSO BREAKS THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AND LUKILY THIS BROKE WHILE STARTING THE CAR
Complaint 11267976 · Oct 11, 2019 · 110,200 miles
CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKEN UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. I WENT TO PUSH THE CLUTCH IN TO DOWNSHIFT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO OVER TAKE A SLOWER VEHICLE AND IT SNAPPED WITH AN AUDIBLE "POP" AND I COULDNT SHIFT INTO THE LOWER GEAR AND MY RPMS, WENT TO IDLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. HAD IT BROKEN AT A DIFFERENT TIME,…
Complaint 11109969 · Jul 7, 2018 · 150,000 miles

Own a 2005 RX-8?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.