2011 Mazda RX-8 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
No verdict The 2011 Mazda RX-8 has a complaint index of 0, the lowest among the 7 model years with data, but it carries 3 recalls, including 2 do-not-drive airbag recalls and a fuel system recall tied to fire reports. Despite low complaint volume, the fuel system issue is serious.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 0/100
- #7 of 7 RX-8 years
- Verdict
- No verdict
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 4
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- 2 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Fuel System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 18.5
- 16 city / 22.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2011 Mazda RX-8 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System2 (50%)
- Other1 (25%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (25%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (25%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Rear shock absorber leaks fluid and can fail completely near 17,000 miles.
- After the fuel pump mounting ring recall repair, some vehicles emitted a smoke odor while driving around 35 mph and later caught fire, around 55,000 miles.
- Owners report vehicles catching fire at the dealership after fuel system recall repairs were performed, with concerns the repair was not done correctly.
- The driver-side visor's mounting ring can crack under normal use and fall, blocking the driver's view, around 48,500 miles.
2011 Mazda RX-8 recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V744000Sep 24, 2021Fuel System13,891 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2011 RX-8 and 2006-2007 MazdaSpeed6 vehicles. Fuel may leak from the fuel pump mounting rings.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will install new fuel pump mounting rings. Dealers will also add a thermal insulation pad to the fuel tank on RX-8 vehicles. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 17, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5121I.
- NHTSA 19V488000Jun 24, 2019Airbags211 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Mazda RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under recall 18V-716 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 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 repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F.
- 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.
2011 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.
2011 compared with other RX-8 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Mazda RX-8 reliable?
- NHTSA lists only 4 complaints for the 2011 RX-8, giving it a complaint index of 0, the lowest of all 7 RX-8 model years. However, it has 3 recalls, including 2 do-not-drive airbag campaigns, so recall exposure is a bigger concern than owner complaint volume.
- Does the 2011 Mazda RX-8 have a fuel system recall?
- Yes. Recall 21V744000 covers 2009-2011 RX-8 vehicles for fuel pump mounting rings that can leak fuel. NHTSA complaints describe fires occurring even after this repair was performed.
- Does the 2011 Mazda RX-8 have an airbag recall?
- Yes, two do-not-drive airbag recalls apply: 19V488000 and 18V402000. Mazda advised owners not to drive affected vehicles until the airbag repair was completed.
- What year Mazda RX-8 should I avoid?
- Among RX-8 years with data, 2005 has the highest complaint index at 100 and is rated Avoid, followed by 2006 at 83, also rated Avoid. The 2011 model has the lowest complaint index at 0, but still has 3 recalls.