Reliability & cost of ownership
Mazda RX-8 Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Mazda RX-8? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Mazda RX-8 problems by model year
42 recall entries and 784 owner complaints on file across 8 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 RX-8 | 3 | 4 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2010 RX-8 | 4 | 5 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2009 RX-8 | 4 | 8 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2008 RX-8 | 5 | 17 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2007 RX-8 | 5 | 38 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2006 RX-8 | 5 | 60 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2005 RX-8 | 6 | 162 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2004 RX-8 | 10 | 490 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Mazda RX-8, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- power train235 complaints
- engine and engine cooling138 complaints
- air bags114 complaints
- steering111 complaints
- engine50 complaints
- fuel/propulsion system48 complaints
- electrical system45 complaints
- unknown or other36 complaints