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2011 Mazda RX-8Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 4 owner complaints about the 2011 Mazda RX-8, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-402 the manufacturer reports only 9% of affected cars repaired.

2011 Mazda RX-8
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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls3Lowest repair rate 9%Owner complaints43 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem1Fuel/propulsion system

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 11, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: Michael Gil from Calgary, AB, Canada, CC BY 2.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2011 Mazda RX-8 has problems

4 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
Fuel/propulsion system11
Fuel system, gasoline11
Suspension11
Visibility/wiper10

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

3 recalls

2011 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.

20%repaired · 2023 Q3

Delivery: fuel pump

Recall 21V-744 · Sep 24, 2021 · 13,891 vehicles · 2,711 repaired

Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

42%repaired · 2020 Q4

Passenger side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 19V-488 · Jun 24, 2019 · 211 vehicles · 88 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 →

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 →

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.

Best & worst years

2011 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

2011 Mazda RX-8 safety ratings

2011 Mazda RX-8 4 DR RWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Rollover: 5 stars (7.9% risk)
  • Stability control: Optional
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2011 Mazda RX-8, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · still open
    Open
In owners' words

What RX-8 owners report

Recent fuel/propulsion system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The incident occurred on 02/08/2023. Prior to this, I brought my car to the dealership due to a recall to fix gas mounting rings, recall number. I do not feel comfortable with their repairs and I do not believe that the dealership performed the repairs properly which caused my car to smoke and…
Complaint 11531617 · Jul 11, 2023

Own a 2011 RX-8?

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