2006 Mazda RX-8 problems
The 2006 Mazda RX-8 has 74 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (23%) concerns air bags. After that come drivetrain & axles (14%) and wipers, windshield & visibility (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 74 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 23% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 1 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 65,000 miles 60 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 | 11 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 14 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 9 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 9 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 60 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 65,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 70,000 miles (10 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a crash. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 95% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2006 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 4 model years of the Mazda RX-8 with enough data (17 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 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.
Dt*: the contact stated that while going 70 MPH in cruise control mode the vehicle back end swerved left and then right. The vehicle was able to be driven after the incident occurred. The vehicle was not taken to the service dealer, however the contact suspects that traccion control system failed.
While driving, during normal positioning of sun visor, the visor split and fell down, hanging by the electrical wires and dangling in front of my face. It was difficult to see until I could pull off the road. It was still not possible to remove the visor without tools, making even the ride home dangerous.
Defective air conditioning -will not provide a vehicle until fixed. 2005 mazda rx8. Contacted mazda corporation supposedly and they will not help. Who should I contact to get assistance?
I was driving around 35MPH on the crossing of dempster and greenwood. As I pressed in the clutch to switch gears the pedal snapped. I did not slam on the clutch pedal or anything. I was unable to switch gears. I had to drive on 2nd gear home which was luckily less than a mile away. I thought this might be a simple defect in my car, however as I did my research I found out that quite a few owners of the mazda rx8 6speed manual have this problem.
Crack appeared in the dash where the passenger air bag is contained. The crack started several months ago and the car is not garaged and is in the sun all day so I thought it might be caused by the sun. I live in georgia and this car originally came from the port authority in florida where it is also very hot. My VIN number is included in the range of "potentially affected vehicles" in the 14v-344 letter dated june 20, 2014, written to [xxx] of the national highway traffic safety administration and was signed by…