2004 Mazda RX-8 problems
The 2004 Mazda RX-8 has 626 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (22%) concerns engine. After that come transmission (13%) and steering (13%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 626 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 22% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 23 and 11
- Injuries and deaths
- 24 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 67,000 miles 498 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 62 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 57 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 91 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 94 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 97 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 58 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 17 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 17 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 2 |
What the data shows
Among the 498 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 67,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 50,000 miles (105 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 23 complaints mention a crash; 11 complaints mention a fire; 24 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 4 model years of the Mazda RX-8 with enough data (246 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 10 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
There is contamination in the oil. So much so that it is impossible to check the oil. I've gone 3000 miles and never been able to check the oil. Even after wiping the dipstick, simply putting it back recoats the dipstick, so that the oil level cannot be read. The dealer simply changed the oil, but did not fix the problem. They said mazda knows about this, but won't do anything about it. All letters to mazda-USA are ignored. Why does mazda ignore such a potentially serious hazard?
The consumer was involved in an accident in which he lost control of his vehicle. None of the air bag deploed although the vehicle was a total loss.
Hi, I want to report a control arm failure on my 2004 mazda rx-8 that resulted in an accident and minor injury. I was driving the car on december 7 in oklahoma city and after completing a right hand turn at approximately 30 MPH, I was accelerating away when the right front control arm separated at the ball joint resulting in loss of control. The car spun around and went over a 10" curb with all four wheels and struck a highway sign.
I typically drive my rx8 like it should, one day I come home park my car per usual. Next morning I go to turn on my car, the dsc light stayed on, thought nothing of it, then on my way to work, I was driving causally, then while in the middle of a turn, my steering became very heavy and almost impossible to turn, my power steering had went out.
I bought a car that had a recall of the air bag the passenger seat air bag had been deployed was told by dealer it was under recall.after checking with the dealer the side seat air bag was not part of the recall was not replaced or even looked at .so we took the seat out to see ant obvious issues and we found all the wires that plug into seat all way to under carpet against frame all the wires were melted.witch is an obvious manafaturing problem.we have read mupltile forums where tons of people have had same…