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U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Mazda RX-8 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

17 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

67,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 17 complaints (47.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior529.4%
Fuel system concerns211.8%
Transmission and shifting15.9%
Braking behavior15.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
8
Steering
4
Unknown Or Other
3
Engine
2
Fuel/Propulsion System
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Power Train
1
Seats
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags8
Steering4
Unknown Or Other3
Engine2
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Engine And Engine Cooling1
Power Train1
Seats1

Air Bags: 8; Steering: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3; Engine: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Power Train: 1; Seats: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
5
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2012
1
2013
1
2014
1
2015
3
2016
2
2017
6
2018
1
2019
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20121
20131
20141
20153
20162
20176
20181
20192

2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 6; 2018: 1; 2019: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10493657 · 2013-01-21 (January 21, 2013)

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STARTED TO INTERMITTENTLY PULL SLIGHTLY IN ONE DIRECTION. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF THIS, THE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY POWER STEERING WAS GONE AS I WAS DOING 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD RANDOMLY START TO PULL TO ONE DIRECTION. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE. I LOWERED MY SPEED TO THE MINIMUM OF 55MPH (IN INDIANA, THE 45MPH IN ILLINOIS) AND STILL HAD THE SAME ISSUES FOR THE REST OF THE DRIVE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND THIS PROBLEM IS FAIRLY COMMON …

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10493657 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10898369 · 2016-08-24 (August 24, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10898369 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11032323 · 2017-10-09 (October 9, 2017)

ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2017 I TOOK MY 2005 MAZDA RX8 TO THE GUNTHER MAZDA DEALERSHIP LOCATED AT 1800 SOUTH STATE ROAD 7 (441), FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA 33317 FOR RECALL WORK OF THE FUEL PUMP SEALS. THE NEXT DAY I FILLED THE TANK AND WENT TO WORK, I DRIVE FORM HOLLYWOOD TO BOCA RATON DAILY. THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS STRONG AND MY TANK WASN'T LASTING AS LONG AS USUAL. I CALLED GUNTHER MAZDA AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 7, 2017. THE SERVICE PERSON, RON, SAID HE STRONGLY SMELLED THE GASOLINE AND SAID IT WAS A CARBON BUILD UP ON …

Owner-reported narrative. 220 miles reported. Look up ODI 11032323 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11045867 · 2017-11-14 (November 14, 2017)

TAKATA RECALL, MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED ON THE SIDE, OF THE 101 FREEWAY OFF THE WEST LAKE VILLAGE EXIT GOING SOUTH, AND WOULD NOT TURN ON. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP AFTER FINDING OUT OF THE RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP AND AIR BAGS ON THE MAZDA WEBSITE. AFTER 3 DAYS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND BEING CHARGED 3 HOURS OF $115.00 HOUR THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPAIR MY CAR OR REPLACE THE RECALL. THEY SUGGESTED FOR ME TO BUY A NEW ENGINE THAT WOULD COST ME $7000.00

Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11045867 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10483668 · 2012-11-07 (November 7, 2012)

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND AS I WAS SHIFTING GEARS I FELT THE CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCELERATION. THE TOP SPEED I GOT TO WAS 55MPH. WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO GET OFF THE CAR, I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND FROM INSIDE WHERE THE SHIFT KNOW IS LOCATED. I CHECKED UNDER THE CAR FOR A POSSIBLY FIRE, AND THERE IT WAS. APPARENTLY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD CLOGGED UP AND THAT'S WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH A CAR THAT BARELY HAS 55,000 AND ALREADY HAS PROBLEMS LIKE A FIRE. WHAT IF I THE CAR CAUGHT IN FIRE WITH MY FAMI…

Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10483668 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10567099 · 2014-03-04 (March 4, 2014)

OIL COOLER LINES ON THE RX 8 WILL RUST AN CORRODE DUE TO SALT ON THE ROADS IN THE WINTER MONTHS IN THE UPPER STATES.. LINES RUST AND CORRODE CAUSING OIL TO SPRAY OVER THE ENGINE BAY ,TIRES AND BRAKES. CAUSING A LOSS TRACTION. AND EVEN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.. OIL OVER THE ROAD.THIS BECOMES A HAZARD TO DRIVERS BEHIND YOU.. MAZDA HAS A RECALL CANADA DUE TO THIS ISSUE.. BUT WILL NOT HONOR THE US AT ALL.. THIS IS SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567099 at NHTSA ↗