2007 Mazda RX-8

Do not drive

Owners filed 38 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 5 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

29 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 90,000105,000 miles; the median is 72,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags14
100
Steering4
000
Power Train4
000
Power Train › Manual Transmission3
000
Fuel/Propulsion System2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling2
000
Air Bags › Frontal2
101
Visibility1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Power Train › Clutch Assembly1
000

5 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module18V402000Do not drive
Filed Jun 15, 2018308,591 vehiclesMazda North American Operations

Defect. 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.

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

Remedy. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018. Mailing to the affected RX-8 owners began July 6, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 16V354.

Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module18V404000Do not drive
Filed Jun 15, 20184,184 vehiclesMazda North American Operations

Defect. 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.

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

Remedy. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018 for MPV vehicles. The recall began July 9, 2019 for RX-8 vehicles. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 17V-011.

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module17V474000Do not drive
Filed Jul 26, 2017308,992 vehiclesMazda North American Operations

Defect. 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.

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 occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1417G. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-382.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump17V354000
Filed Jun 1, 201769,447 vehiclesMazda North American Operations

Defect. 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.

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

Remedy. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump filter kit, free of charge. The recall began on July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1017E.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump16V793000
Filed Oct 31, 201669,447 vehiclesMazda North American Operations

Defect. 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.

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

Remedy. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump sealing ring set and add a thermal insulation pad to the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0516J.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train
Filed Aug 9, 201990,000 milesMO

CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS. ONLY ABLE TO GET CAR INTO GEAR WHILE PUSHING PEDAL DOWN AND TO THE LEFT. COULD HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AT HIGHER SPEEDS.

Air Bags
Filed Mar 23, 2019PR

THE COVER OF AIR BAG PASSENGERS IS CRACKED AND STICKY ,THIS UNIT HAVE AT THIS TIME 9,023 MILES. PLEASE VERIFY IF THIS PROBLEMS COULD BE SOLVED BY MAZDA

Power Train
Filed Sep 11, 2018115,000 milesNJ

MY CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY

Power Train
Filed Sep 8, 2018115,000 milesNJ

AS I TRIED TO SHIFT GEARS FROM 2ND TO THIRD THE CLUTCH PEDAL 'CLICKED'AND IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR.I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND IT WAS A LITTLE CONCERNING.I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH.THE PEDAL IS STUCK HALFWAY AND WON'T GO INTO GEAR NOW

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 23, 201870,000 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V793000(FUEL SYSTEM) ON OCTOBER 31, 2017 BY OPEN ROAD MAZDA (108 RIDGEDALE AVE, MORRISTOWN, NJ). DURING THE REPAIR, THE FUEL PUMP SEALING RING SET WAS REPLACED AND A THERMAL INSULATION PAD WAS ADDED TO THE FUEL TANK, AS INSTRUCTED PER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT KEPT THE VEHICLE PARKED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. IN MARCH OF 2018, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, A FUEL LEAK WAS DISCOVERED COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE OPEN ROAD MAZDA DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Steering
Filed Nov 17, 2017103,000 milesAZ

I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY JOB AND THE STEERING COLUMN MOVED WHILE IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND I LEFT THE PARKING LOT AND WAS DRIVING HOME AND A PIECE OF THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE AND FELL AND HIT MY RIGHT LEG AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I CALLED MAZDA USA AND THEY HAD THE CAR PICKED UP AND TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED ON 11-14-2017 I RECEIVED A CALL ON 11-17-17 STATING THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIX THE STEERING ISSUE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD A STEERING COLUMN BREAK ON ANY VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED I HAVE A CAR THAT IS 30 YEARS OLD WITH THE ORIGINAL STEERING COLUMN IN IT IT IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN IT'S CURRENT CONDITION

Air Bags
Filed Aug 15, 201796,300 milesFL

TAKATA RECALL. DUE TO CONSTANT FLORIDIAN SUN EXPOSURE, THERE IS A FUEL LEAK FROM MY CAR. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE LEAK, PARKED IN A MALL PARKING LOT. ALSO, THE AIRBAG IS FAULTY AND DEFECTIVE.

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jul 27, 201790,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE GEAR DID NOT IMMEDIATELY SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (GARDEN CITY MAZDA IN GARDEN CITY, NY) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V793000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 17V354000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 18, 201721,000 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V793000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH MAXON MAZDA (2329 RTE 22, UNION, NJ 07083) WHO STATED THAT THE CONTACT NEEDED TO WAIT FOR A FINAL NOTICE. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT'S NEIGHBOR NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED REGARDING THE FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE OR THE RECALL ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Unknown or Other
Filed May 30, 201788,925 milesOR

MY CLUTCH PEDAL CRACKED IT'S AT THE SHOP AND JUST GOT DIAGNOSED THAT IT'S CRACKED ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY NEAR THE FIRE WALL. JUST GOT OFF THE FREEWAY WAS SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP PUSHED MY CLUTCH PEDAL IN AND HEARD A CRACK POP SOUND THEN HAD LOT OF PLAY IN MY PEDAL

Steering
Filed Nov 4, 2016FL

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, TURNING AND SOMETIMES STATIONARY, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS TURNING TO THE RIGHT WHEN AT FULL LOCK AND IS SOMETIMES VERY HARD TO STEER IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AND RELEASING DOES NOT AFFECT IT. I BELIEVE THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING RACK IS THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 8, 201683,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A STANDING ISSUE; HOWEVER, IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED PER A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V354000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 3, 201672,000 milesAR

PASSENGER SIDE DASH WHERE THE AIRBAG WOULD COME THROUGH UPON INFLATION HAS CRACKED OVER TIME. I FEEL THAT THIS MAY BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO INFLATE IN AN ACCIDENT, THAT THE COMPROMISED SEALS WILL CAUSE FRAGMENTS TO DISLODGE AND HIT OCUPANTS. I'VE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS MAZDAUSA AND WAS TOLD IT'S NOT A PROBLEM AND THE PART COULDN'T BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE ADVISE.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 30, 2016100,000 milesSC

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS DETERIORATED AND EXPOSED THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED; HOWEVER, IT WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V382000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT RECALL NOTIFICATIONS WERE ALSO RECEIVED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V345000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V354000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 08/29/16 UPDATED 08/31/16.*JB

Air Bags
Filed Jan 7, 201670,000 milesAL

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AREA, CRACKS IN DASHBOARD, IN A SQUARE LIKE SHAPE. AFRAID IT MAY DEPLOY, WITHOUT HAVING A WRECK. HAS BECOME A DISTINCTIVE SQUARE, CIRCLE SHAPE. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER THE SUMMER OF 2015. I GOT A RECALL LETTER FOR DRIVER AIRBAG, WHICH WILL BE TAKING CARE OF THAT WITH MAZDA IN NEXT FEW WEEKS, BUT MORE CONCERNED ABOUT PASSENGER AIRBAG, BECAUSE MY 13 YR OLD DAUGHTER IS ALWAYS IN PASSENGER SEAT.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 1, 201563,000 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SEAMS WERE FRACTURED AND THE AIR BAG WAS EXPOSED IN THE DASHBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 9, 2015OH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V344000 (AIR BAGS)HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 4, 2015IL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V345000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V382000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. MA 10/2 *CN

Steering
Filed Jul 13, 201578,586 milesAL

WE HAVE OWNED THIS 2007 MAZDA RX-8 FOR 3 YEARS. WE BOUGHT IT FOR OUR SON TO DRIVE, AND HE DRIVES IT DAILY TO WORK AND TO SCHOOL. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET HAS BROKEN 3 TIMES, AND EACH TIME CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTY IN SAFELY DRIVING THE CAR HOME, OR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO BEING IN AN ACCIDENT DRIVING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR THE SECOND TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. EACH TIME THE BRACKET HAS BROKEN, THE DEALER (HILEY MAZDA, HUNTSVILLE, AL) REPLACED IT FOR NO COST, AS MAZDA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE PART TO 8 YEARS / 100,000 MILES. BUT, EACH TIME THEY REPLACED THE BRACKET WITH EXACT SAME PART. SO, THE SAME INADEQUATE DESIGN FAILS AGAIN AND AGAIN. I BELIEVE MAZDA SHOULD HAVE REDESIGNED THIS PART AFTER IT FIRST BECAME APPARENT IT WAS PROBLEM, NOT JUST REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME INFERIOR (AND UNSAFE) PART. THIS DEFECT WAS INVESTIGATED BY SAFECAR.GOV IN 2009-2010 (REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE09045). I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT PROMPTED MAZDA TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE, AND WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME ON 10/15/13, WITH 78,586 MILES ON THE CAR. THE SECOND FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT OCCURRED ON 4/23/14 WITH 83,115 MILES (ONLY 6 MONTHS LATER !). TODAY (7/13/15), THE BRACKET BROKE AGAIN WITH 93,560 MILES ON THE CAR. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE HILEY MAZDA, HUNTSVILLE, AL DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. MY WIFE AND I ARE WRITING TO ENLIST THE HELP OF THE NHTSA TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR FOR OUR

Power Train
Filed Apr 20, 201578,000 milesFL

I WAS DRIVING ON I4, AND WENT TO SHIFT FROM 4TH GEAR TO 5TH GEAR; I HEARD A SNAP AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I THEN HAD ABOUT 2 INCHES OF TRAVEL IN MY CLUTCH PEDAL. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BREAKING IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MAZDA RX8S. NO, I DO NOT HAVE A HEAVY DUTY CLUTCH. *TR

20 of 38 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2004
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20114320Do not drive
20105400Do not drive
20098400Do not drive
200817510Do not drive
2007 — this page38510Do not drive
200660500Do not drive
2005162610Do not drive
200448910100Do not drive

Compare every RX-8 year →

Reading this record

NHTSA has issued a do-not-drive warning for a recall on this vehicle.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jun 15, 2018. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.