2008 Mazda RX-8 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2008 Mazda RX-8 has a complaint index of 33, ranking 5th worst of 7 model years, with 17 complaints and 5 recalls, 3 of them Do Not Drive. Its verdict is Caution, capped from a lower complaint-based risk because of the airbag recalls.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 33/100
- #5 of 7 RX-8 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 17
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- 3 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 18.5
- 16 city / 22.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2008 Mazda RX-8 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags8 (47%)
- Steering4 (24%)
- Engine3 (18%)
- Other3 (18%)
- Fuel System2 (12%)
- Brakes1 (6%)
- Structure & Body1 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (6%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Power steering intermittently fails or seizes during turns at highway and low speeds, sometimes with the power steering warning light staying off.
- Oil cooler lines corrode from road salt and rust through, spraying oil onto the engine bay, tires, and brakes.
- The plastic dashboard casing covering the airbag cracks and pushes through the dash surface.
- Owners waiting on the 14V344000 airbag recall reported parts were unavailable for extended periods.
- A clogged catalytic converter led to loss of acceleration and smoke, with one report of fire, at 55,000 miles.
2008 Mazda RX-8 recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 18V402000Jun 15, 2018Airbags308,591 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2004-2011 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-354 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018. Mailing to the affected RX-8 owners began July 6, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 16V354.
- NHTSA 18V404000Jun 15, 2018Airbags4,184 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Mazda MPV vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2005-2009 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 17V-011 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018 for MPV vehicles. The recall began July 9, 2019 for RX-8 vehicles. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 17V-011.
- NHTSA 17V474000Jul 26, 2017Airbags308,992 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2008 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1417G. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-382.
2008 Mazda RX-8 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 22.5 MPG
- Combined
- 18.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,325
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other RX-8 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Mazda RX-8 reliable compared to other RX-8 years?
- It ranks 5th worst out of 7 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 33, which is lower than the 2005, 2006, and 2007 model years.
- Does the 2008 Mazda RX-8 have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2008 RX-8, and 3 of them are Do Not Drive recalls covering airbag components.
- What is the top problem area for the 2008 Mazda RX-8?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 8 of 17 complaints, or 47 percent, with a median failure mileage of 67,500 miles.
- Why is the 2008 RX-8 rated Caution instead of a lower verdict based on complaints?
- Its verdict is capped to Caution because it carries a Do Not Drive or Park Outside recall, even though its complaint index of 33 is lower than several other years.
- How does fuel economy look for the 2008 RX-8?
- EPA rates it at 18.5 mpg combined (16 city, 22.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,325.