Mazda RX-8 Problems and Repair Histories
Mazda RX-8 problems reported via the Car Repair History and Car Reliability Surveys
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Mazda RX-8
Mazda RX-8s for which no problems have been reported are not displayed. So the Mazda RX-8 problems and repair histories you see here should not be used to infer car problem frequency.
For Mazda RX-8 problem frequency, check the Car Reliability Survey result. For the problems behind the score, check the Mazda RX-8 problems and repair histories that follow it.
Mazda RX-8 Reliability through December 31, 2012
General NotesModels and statistics marked with an asterisk (*) have very low sample sizes. These results, visible only to logged-in members, provide only a rough estimate of car reliability.Any result under 20 repair trips per 100 cars is likely a result of the small sample size, and should be expected to increase to 20 or so in future updates.
New models often start out with high repair rates, and then improve as the manufacturer identifies and addresses common problems. MethodologyOnly successfully completed repairs are currently included in the analysis. Routine maintenance, most wear items, recalls, and problems fixed with just a reflash or warning light reset are not included.
| Year | Make/Model | Trips/Year/100 Cars | Compared to all models for the same year | |
| 2006 | Mazda RX-8 | 12 RX-8s, 10.0 months of data per RX-8, average 57800 miles Small sample size. Join or 12 RX-8s, 10.0 months of data per RX-8, average 57800 miles Small sample size. sign in to view |
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| 2005 | Mazda RX-8 | 18 RX-8s, 8.1 months of data per RX-8, average 50600 miles Small sample size. Join or 18 RX-8s, 8.1 months of data per RX-8, average 50600 miles Small sample size. sign in to view |
see reported repairs | |
| 2004 | Mazda RX-8 | 17 RX-8s, 8.9 months of data per RX-8, average 61200 miles Small sample size. Join or 17 RX-8s, 8.9 months of data per RX-8, average 61200 miles Small sample size. sign in to view |
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Non-members can see only ten Mazda RX-8 problems and repair histories. Log in or join us to see them all.
Repair costs are in local units.
2007 Mazda RX-8 4dr Coupe
232-horsepower 1.3L R2 6-speed manual RWD
| Mazda RX-8 in Ontario, Canada | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Aug | 2007 | 0 | loose front wheel well shell. Clips replaced under warranty. Regular maintenance | |
| Jul | 2008 | 0 | Loose passenger sun visor- warranty | |
| Oct | 2008 | 100 | Four wheel alignment. Trunk/Liftgate antenna low frequency-warranty | |
| Jan | 2009 | 0 | The sunroof track was repaired under warranty | |
| Mazda RX-8 in British Columbia, Canada | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Oct | 2008 | 0 | HVAC switch replaced | |
2007 Mazda RX-8 4dr Coupe
212-horsepower 1.3L R2 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| Mazda RX-8 in Arizona, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jun | 2009 | 0 | Repaired rattle in driver's side mirror | |
2006 Mazda RX-8 4dr Coupe
238-horsepower 1.3L R2 6-speed manual RWD
| Mazda RX-8 in New Jersey, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Aug | 2009 | 34000 | First odometer entry | |
| Jan | 2010 | 38000 | 0 | In winter, heater only works when temperature control knob is on hottest position. Problem was very intermittant in summer, when occasionally heat would come on even when the temperature control knob was turned to all colder positions. |
| Apr | 2010 | 41000 | 30 | Engine warning light. Dealer replaced ignition coils under warranty. Next day, engine broke a seal (catastrophic event) and engine needed to be replaced. Took 2 wks to get engine and another wk to install. |
| Jun | 2011 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in California, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| May | 2009 | 0 | radiator reservoir. valve getting stuck closed replaced under warranty. | |
| Jul | 2009 | 43000 | 0 | Radiator reservoir not cycling fluid. Not opening under acceleration. Needs to idle for fluid to cycle. |
| Mar | 2010 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Texas, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jun | 2009 | 16000 | First odometer entry | |
| Jul | 2009 | 17000 | 0 | Engine replaced due to low compression. |
| Mar | 2010 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
2006 Mazda RX-8 4dr Coupe
212-horsepower 1.3L R2 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| Mazda RX-8 in Illinois, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jun | 2009 | 11000 | First odometer entry | |
| Feb | 2010 | 14000 | 0 | Both engine mounts were cracked. Dealer said this is common, and they put better, upgraded mounts in. I noticed the problem because the idle was extra loud, and you could even feel in in the pedals. |
| May | 2012 | 20000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| Mazda RX-8 in Illinois, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jun | 2009 | 22000 | First odometer entry | |
| Oct | 2009 | 23500 | 0 | Flooded and wouldn't start. Flooding procedure did not work for owner |
| Dec | 2009 | 24000 | 0 | idling rough when outside temp below 40F. Emissions pump had stuck sensor |
| Aug | 2011 | 45000 | 0 | Rotary motor carbon build up. Motor replaced under warranty paid by manufacturer Passenger side visor split, hinge failed. Covered by manufacturer under TSB. Sunroof rattled in tilt position. Replaced frame, roller assembly based on TSB. |
| Mar | 2013 | 62000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
2005 Mazda RX-8
Engine not specified
| Mazda RX-8 in Illinois, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jun | 2008 | 46000 | First odometer entry | |
| Jul | 2008 | 47000 | 0 | Tail light condensation/seal problem fixed under warranty/TSB. Whole tail light assembly replaced and proactive replacement of second non-damaged tail light. |
| Mar | 2010 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
2005 Mazda RX-8 4dr Coupe
238-horsepower 1.3L R2 6-speed manual RWD
| Mazda RX-8 in Maryland, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Oct | 2007 | 28000 | First odometer entry | |
| Jun | 2008 | 39000 | 0 | Both rear taillights had condensation in them. replaced under warranty, tsb for them. |
| Sep | 2008 | 42000 | 0 | The tire pressure monitoring system has had its low tire pressure light on for the last few weeks. I took it to the dealership, they could not replicate it and oddly enough the light did not come on until the next day. It has been on since then too. |
| Apr | 2012 | 80000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| Mazda RX-8 in Ohio, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Oct | 2007 | 19000 | First odometer entry | |
| Dec | 2007 | 20000 | 0 | Transmission whine in 6th gear. Noise stopped when clutch depressed or foot off gas. Interior trim breakage. Center console lid broken (glider for sliding cover broken off) and dust shield for e-brake lever broke off in cold weather. Dust cover has known TSB. Engine making a rattling sound when accelerating. Commonly known on the RX8 forums as "marbles in a can". Not diagnosed by dealership (unable to reproduce), however I've read this is detonation or knock. Noise is obvious, but dealer couldn't hear. |
| Mar | 2010 | 43000 | 0 | Water pump leak...replaced under warranty. Rust formation at contact point between rear freestyle doors and kick panel. Known issue with TSB. Repaired under warranty, though took some wrangling with Mazda. |
| Sep | 2011 | 57000 | 0 | Headlight leveling sensor failure. Headlights aiming too low. Removed sensor, disassembled. Lot of corrosion inside, cleaned as well as posssible, reassembled. Front sensor cleaned only, will do rear sensor soon. |
| Nov | 2011 | 58000 | 120 | Condensation in tail light, results in fogging. Removed taillight, cleaned gasket and clogged water drainage channel (was full of dirt, prevents proper drainage, which then leaks into taillight). Fix was not succesful, moisture persists. Headlight leveling sensor failed after prior repair (warning light). Lights aimed too high, blinding other drivers. Sensor removed again, re-cleaned. Sealed wire harness with silicone, reinstalled. After re-aiming headlights, repair OK. Sputtering at low RPM & rough idle. Ignition coils required replacement (coils are "weak" in this vehicle and fail prematurely). Coils purchased and replaced. Also replaced plugs & wires. Total cost for all parts roughly $350. HVAC temp control dial failure. Known issue with these vehicles. Found fix on RX8club.com. Removed stereo/HVAC unit, disassembled. Soldered connections on control board for heater control. Reinstalled. Repair was successful (& easy). |
| Nov | 2012 | 68700 | 400 | Corroded oil cooler line cracked and developed massive oil leak. |
| Jan | 2013 | 70000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| Mazda RX-8 in Ontario, Canada | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Nov | 2007 | 37200 | First odometer entry | |
| Dec | 2007 | 39680 | 56 | Rear tail light water condensation and build up. Manufacturers defect. Well documented with Mazda Canada. |
| Oct | 2008 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
2005 Mazda RX-8 4-door
2-cylinder manual 2WD
| Mazda RX-8 in Victoria, Australia | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Oct | 2007 | 21080 | First odometer entry | |
| Nov | 2007 | 22320 | 0 | Coils burnt out |
| Jul | 2008 | 26660 | 0 | Replaced coils. |
| Mar | 2010 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
2004 Mazda RX-8 4dr Coupe
238-horsepower 1.3L R2 6-speed manual RWD
| Mazda RX-8 in California, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Dec | 2006 | 30000 | First odometer entry | |
| Mar | 2007 | 33000 | 125 | Malfunctioning ignition coils. dealer said 'it wasn't a problem'. Malfunctioning ignition coils. dealer said 'it wasn't a problem'. replaced coils myself, issues went away. |
| Apr | 2010 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in New York, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Feb | 2007 | 40000 | First odometer entry | |
| Aug | 2007 | 43000 | 0 | passenger side visor broke (split in 2) and had to be replaced. While i was there i had them replace the clutch master cylinder because while in heavy traffic on a hot day the clutch pedal becomes spongy. Also i had them add a breather as my dipstick woul |
| Jun | 2011 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
| Mazda RX-8 in Pennsylvania, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Apr | 2006 | 0 | Second Third and Fifth gear were near impossible to shift into, dealer rebuilt damaged components. | |
| Nov | 2006 | 0 | Warranty replacement of entire transmission. (Transmission was rebuilt earlier and problem shifting did not go away) | |
| Jan | 2007 | 39000 | 0 | Rear windshield was leaking into the back seat. Left rear back seat and windshield replaced (price is approximate since it was not disclosed) |
| Mar | 2010 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
2004 Mazda RX-8 4-door
4-cylinder manual 2WD
| Mazda RX-8 in California, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Apr | 2007 | 25000 | First odometer entry | |
| Jul | 2007 | 29000 | 298 | The power lumbar support had a broken switch. Dealer noticed it during an inspection and took care of it under warranty. |
| Mar | 2010 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
2004 Mazda RX-8 4-door
2-cylinder manual 2WD
| Mazda RX-8 in Ontario, Canada | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Dec | 2006 | 22940 | First odometer entry | |
| Jan | 2007 | 22940 | 0 | The heat in the cabi would fluctuate from hot to cold (like the air conditioner had come on). Twisting the heat control knob from current setting of hot to cold and back again (repeat as necessary) would usually bring the heat back to the cabin. Replaced heater, details in email 050207 |
| Feb | 2007 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
2003.5 Mazda RX-8 4-door
2-cylinder automatic 2WD
| Mazda RX-8 in New South Wales, Australia | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Feb | 2008 | 34720 | First odometer entry | |
| Mar | 2008 | 34720 | 200 | Front + rear brake pads replaced. |
| Feb | 2009 | 39680 | 30 | 2nd set of failed IGN coils. Replaced(owner) myself for |
| Mar | 2009 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
Expert Mazda RX-8 Repair Advice
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What People Are Saying about Problems with the Mazda RX-8
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