FaultScore

Mazda RX-8 body problems

34 of the 1,004 complaints filed about the Mazda RX-8 are about the body and structure — 3% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2004.

34

Complaints

3%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

Body & Structure complaints by model year

2004 RX-8 20 58.8%

Median failure at 68,750 miles

2005 RX-8 2 5.9%

Median failure at 60,000 miles

2006 RX-8 5 14.7%

Median failure at 74,500 miles

2007 RX-8 6 17.6%

Median failure at 78,000 miles

2009 RX-8 1 2.9%

What owners said

2004 Mazda RX-8 Aberdeen, MD

STRUCTURE:BODY

SEAT BUILTS NEED TIGHTING

NHTSA complaint #11269947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Mazda RX-8 at 107,000 miles Raceland, LA

STRUCTURE:BODY

I SENT MY MAZDA IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX RECALLS AND MAKE A KEY. IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. ONE AREA WITH SLIGHT BODY DAMAGE. ON 3/16/2018 WAS RETURNED A CAR THAT DOESN'T RUN. WITH. CRACKED DASHBOARD, TORN SEATS, MULTIPLE DENTS, CHARGED 345 DOLLARS ON 6/10 2019. I WAS SENT A TOW BILL AS NOTIFICATION TO PICK IT UP.

NHTSA complaint #11233289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Mazda RX-8 at 54,000 miles Mills River, NC

STRUCTURE:BODY

SEVERE OUTSIDE PAINT DEGREDATION WITH 54,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #11233495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Mazda RX-8 Santurce, PR

STRUCTURE:BODY

I PURCHASED A MAZDA RX8 NEW IN 2009. I HAVE NOTICED THE PASSENGER DASH CRACKING. AT FIRST IT WAS SMALL LINES, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE NORMAL LOOK OF IT, BUT OVER TIME THE CRACKS GOT BIGGER. I WENT TO MY MAZDA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS HAD SAME ISSUES AND THEY ARE STILL WAITING FOR A MAZDA RECALL. I HAVE EVEN SEEN OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE. THE CRACKS LOOK HORRIBLE.

NHTSA complaint #11196476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Mazda RX-8 Miami, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY

FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COVER CRACKED AND EXPOSED.

NHTSA complaint #11000333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Mazda RX-8 at 35,000 miles Melrose, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY

TAKATA RECALL. MY 2006 MAZDA RX8 HAS HAD TWO RECALLS DONE ON IT. THE 2ND OWNER HAD IT DONE AND AFTERWARDS A SMALL CRACK STARTED FROM ONE POINT WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. WE HAD IT DONE IN GAINESVILLE AGAIN AND BROUGHT IT TO THEIR ATTENTION. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING EXCEPT TO BUY A NEW DASH. THE CRACKS HAVE CONTINUED TO SPREAD AND I'M CONCERNED THAT IF THE AIR BAG INFLATES PERSONAL INJURY COULD BE DONE TO THE PASSENGER FROM PARTS OF THE DASH EXPLODING. I WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO RIDE IT THE PASSENGERS SEAT BECAUSE OF THIS. THIS CONTINUES TO GET WORSE OVER TIME NOT ON A CERTAIN DAY. WE KEEP A SUNSHADE IN THE WINDOW HOPING THAT WILL SLOW IT DOWN BUT TO NOW AVAIL. THIS IS A PLEASURE CAR AND ONLY AS LESS THAN 36000 MILES ON IT AND IT NOT ABUSED.

NHTSA complaint #10995744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Mazda RX-8 at 80,000 miles Richmond Hill, GA

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V362000 (AIR BAGS). AFTER THE REPAIR, THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO CRACK IN THE LOCATION WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #10957779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mazda RX-8 at 83,000 miles Wesley Chapel, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A STANDING ISSUE; HOWEVER, IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED PER A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V354000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.

NHTSA complaint #10894010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Mazda RX-8 at 63,000 miles Nicholasville, KY

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASH BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V382000 (AIR BAG). THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY DUE TO THE AIR BAG BEING EXPOSED AND THE AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA complaint #10824820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Mazda RX-8 at 95,000 miles Bakersfield, CA Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY TURNED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL WAS CURVED AND FRACTURED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10721692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mazda RX-8 at 78,000 miles Orlando, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY

I WAS DRIVING ON I4, AND WENT TO SHIFT FROM 4TH GEAR TO 5TH GEAR; I HEARD A SNAP AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I THEN HAD ABOUT 2 INCHES OF TRAVEL IN MY CLUTCH PEDAL. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BREAKING IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MAZDA RX8S. NO, I DO NOT HAVE A HEAVY DUTY CLUTCH.

NHTSA complaint #10711781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Mazda RX-8 at 102,000 miles Longwood, FL

STRUCTURE

MY PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD OVER THE AIRBAG IS CRACKED REALLY BAD LIKE YOU CAN SEE THE AIR BAG I AM AFRAID TO HAVE ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT I FEEL LIKE IT IS GOING TO SET THE AIR BAG OFF FOR NO REASON THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME ITS GOING TO COST AROUND 700.00 TO FIX I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10694002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Mazda RX-8 at 80,000 miles Cairo, GA

STRUCTURE

RX-8 CRACKED PASSENGER DASHBOARD. CRACKED IN THE OUTLINE OF THE FAULTY AIRBAG SHAPE. I AM TAKING IN FOR RECALL OF AIRBAG BUT AM REQUESTING DASH COVER REPLACEMENT AS IT IS CLEARLY CAUSED BY AIRBAG LEAKAGE/FAULT.

NHTSA complaint #10683832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Mazda RX-8 Middleburg, FL

STRUCTURE

DASH HAS SEVERAL CRACKS OVER AIRBAG. CRACKING STARTED SOON AFTER WARRANTY WAS NULL. AIRBAG HAS RECALL, BUT MAZDA EXPECTS OWNERS TO PAY $500 FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. WILL REPLACE AIRBAG AND RE-INSTALL SAME CRACKED DASH. VERY DANGEROUS IN CRASH SITUATION AS SMALL FRAGMENTS MAY ENTER PASSENGERS FACE AND UPPER BODY. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH RX8'S ACCORDING TO MAZDA MECHANIC.

NHTSA complaint #10683159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mazda RX-8 Ormond Beach, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD AREA IS ALL CRACKED UP AD SPLIT OPEN. THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT TO BE CRACKED OR SPLIT. THE CRACKING FOLLOWING THE SHAPE OF THE AIRBAG THAT IS UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. IT HAS VERY JAGGED EDGES AND EXPOSES THE AIRBAG TO EXCESS LIGHT AND MOISTURE BY BEING SPLIT OPEN IN SO MANY PLACES. THE DASHBOARD STRUCTURE IS NOW WEAKENED DUE TO ALL OF THE CRACKS. AN EXPLOSION FROM THE AIRLOCK WOULD BE MORE POWERFUL THAN NECESSARY BECAUSE IT NO LONGER NEEDS TO BREAK THROUGH THE PLASTIC. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. DEALERS ONLY STATE IT AS A COSMETIC CONCERN AND DO NOTHING TO CORRECT IT.

NHTSA complaint #10664741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Mazda RX-8 at 130,000 miles Blairsville, GA

STRUCTURE

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 [XXX] , GROUP MANAGER, OF ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS. I PRINTED A COPY OF THAT LETTER AND WILL ALSO CONTACT MAZDA TO SEE WHEN THEY PLAN TO INITIATE AN ACTION. I AM ASKING [XXX] THE SAME QUESTION HERE. IS MY FAMILY AND THE PEOPLE WITH THE CRACKS IN THEIR DASHES IN DANGER? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10654096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Mazda RX-8 at 55,000 miles Winston-Salem, NC

STRUCTURE

DASH BOARD NO PASSENGER SIDE WHERE AIR BAG IS FOR ABOUT THE LAST 2 YEARS DASH STARTED CRACKING IN THE SHAPE OF A H EVERY SUMMER WHEN ITS HOT THE DASH LOOKS LIKE ITS GOT A BOW IN IT LIKE THE AIRBAG IS GOING TO JUST POP OUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE EACH YEAR NOW DEALER SAID NO RECALL BUT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY WITHOUT A CRASH OCCURRING MANY RX-8 OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS CRACKING WHERE AIR BAGS ARE IN PASSENGER SIDE BUT MAZDA WANT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE ISSUE UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED FROM THESE DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS ON THE RX8.

NHTSA complaint #10650463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mazda RX-8 Deltona, FL

STRUCTURE

ON MY 2007 RX8 RIGHT DASHBOARD PASSENGER AIRBAG HAS CRACKED AND HAD MADE THE SHAPE OF THE AIRBAG. LOOKS LIKE THE AIRBAG CAN DEPLOY AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THE DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURE WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IN FIXING OR CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE SINCE I PURCHASED IT SO SUN IS NOT THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HOW CAN I GET THE MANUFACTURE TO REPAIR AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10637860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mazda RX-8 at 30,000 miles Miami, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY

I PURCHASED A 2007 MAZDA RX-8 NEW FROM A MAZDA DEALER. I STARTED NOTICING THAT THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE STARTING CRACKING AROUND THE AREA WHERE THE AIR BAG IS LOCATED. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO OCEAN MAZDA AND TO MAZDA USA. NO ONE TOOK THE TIME TO CALL ME BACK. I AM VERY UPSET AND CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING SINCE THE DASH IS CRACKED OR WORST CASE SCENARIO THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY WHEN IN A COLLISION. THIS VERY IS IN GREAT CONDITION WITH VERY LOW MILES AND SHOULD NOT HAVE A DASHBOARD THAT ONLY CRACKS AROUND THE PERFORATION LINES OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG.

NHTSA complaint #10587811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mazda RX-8 Miami, FL

STRUCTURE

I PURCHASED A 2007 MAZDA RX-8. I STARTED NOTICING THAT THE DASHBOARD OF THE PASSENGER SIDE STARTING CRACKING AROUND THE AREA WHERE THE AIR BAG IS LOCATED. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO OCEAN MAZDA AND TO MAZDA USA. NO ONE GOT BACK TO ME. I AM VERY CONCERN THAT THE AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY OR WORST CASE SCENARIO THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE CAR IS WELL MAINTAIN AND THERE IS NO REASON WHY THE DASHBOARD ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AROUND THE AIRBAG IS ALL CRACKED.

NHTSA complaint #10578582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mazda RX-8 problems