RoadVitals

2004 Mazda RX-8 Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
20
Latest Oct 21, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 489 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Mazda RX-8 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureBrakesEngine
Filed Oct 21, 2019

SEAT BUILTS NEED TIGHTING

NHTSA ID
11269947
Incident
Oct 20, 2019
Body & structure
Filed Jul 19, 2019

SEVERE OUTSIDE PAINT DEGREDATION WITH 54,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
11233495
Incident
Nov 30, 2017
Mileage
54,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Jul 19, 2019

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 ID
11233289
Incident
May 29, 2019
Mileage
107,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Jun 21, 2017

FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COVER CRACKED AND EXPOSED.

NHTSA ID
11000333
Incident
Jun 5, 2014
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Mar 1, 2017

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 ID
10957779
Incident
Nov 9, 2016
Mileage
80,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureSteering
Filed May 27, 2015
Crash reported

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 ID
10721692
Incident
May 1, 2015
Mileage
95,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Mar 12, 2015

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10694002
Incident
Jun 9, 2014
Mileage
102,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Feb 17, 2015

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10683832
Incident
Feb 10, 2014
Mileage
80,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Oct 27, 2014

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10650463
Incident
May 10, 2013
Mileage
55,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Mar 31, 2013

THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH PANEL THAT IS ABOVE THE AIR BAG CRACKS; WHICH CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG AND CAUSE INJURY TO INDIVIDUAL (POSSIBLY PREVENT DEPLOYMENT OR CREATE DASH PIECES THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY). THIS IS HAPPENING TO MULTIPLE RX-8'S (GO TO RX-8 CLUB)! SINCE THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH MOST IF NOT ALL RX8'S IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY MAZDA. *TR

NHTSA ID
10505125
Incident
Jan 1, 2013
Mileage
87,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 28, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX-8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH DOORS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

NHTSA ID
10427718
Incident
Sep 26, 2011
Mileage
82,000 mi
Body & structureTransmission
Filed Apr 29, 2010

FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS, THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY CAR HAS SQUEAKED AND GROANED WHEN DEPRESSED. THIS WOULD NOT BE CONSISTENT, AND VERY HARD TO DIAGNOSE. TODAY, WHILE DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE TOWARDS WORK (I LIVE AND WORK ON A MILITARY BASE), A METALLIC "POP" CAME FROM MY CLUTCH PEDAL WHILE BEING DEPRESSED AND NO LONGER DISENGAGED THE CLUTCH. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS IT WAS "RUSH HOUR." I QUICKLY NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THAT MY CLUTCH PEDAL WAS ALMOST TOUCHING MY BRAKE AS I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN! ALSO, IF I HAD STOPPED MOVING AT ANY POINT, I AND MY CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED AS I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET MY CAR BACK INTO GEAR. UPON INSPECTION AT HOME, IT APPEARS A WELD ON THE RIGHT SIDE THAT HOLDS THE CLUTCH PEDAL MOUNT TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR HAS COME COMPLETELY LOOSE MAKING THE PEDAL LEAN LEFT. THERE ALSO APPEARS TO POSSIBLY BE ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL SPRING AS IT NO LONGER RETURNS THE PEDAL TO THE FULLY DEPRESSED POSITION, AND INSTEAD DEFAULTS TO 3 INCHES DEPRESSED OR FULL UPRIGHT DEPRESSED. THIS FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10328133
Incident
Apr 29, 2010
Mileage
52,425 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 25, 2010

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY MAZDA RX-8 2004 MODEL IS MAKING A STRANGE NOISE EVERYTIME I STEP ON IT. THE CLUTCH DOESN'T FEEL LIKE ITS WORKING RIGHT, AND MYT BREAK SNAP ANYTIME SOON JUST LIKE WHAT ALREADY HAPPEND TO LOTS OF RX-8'S.

NHTSA ID
10322203
Incident
Mar 20, 2010
Mileage
58,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 22, 2009

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 RX-8 6SPEED MY CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE. THE ACTUAL WELDING BROKE ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE CAR UNDERNEATH THE DASH. IT IS NOT THE CLUTCH ITSELF, BUT THE ACTUAL PEDAL ASSEMBLY. IT WAS WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE GOOGLED THIS ISSUE A BIT AND FOUND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM THANKS *TR

NHTSA ID
10281404
Incident
Aug 21, 2004
Mileage
75,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 17, 2009

MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE FROM MY 2004 MAZDA RX-8 AT 62K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10280773
Incident
Aug 15, 2004
Mileage
62,500 mi
Body & structureSuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Jun 23, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA RX8. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE ALL SEASON TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES AND NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. MAZDA SUGGESTED THAT HE TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE DEALER ONLY PLACED AIR IN THE TIRES. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING ALMOST 60 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A VERY ROUGH VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. HE ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE BLOW OUT. THE DOT NUMBER AND TIRE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD FILL WITH WATER. THERE WAS A STRANGE CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE A STRUT PROBLEM. UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10274780
Incident
Jun 10, 2008
Mileage
14,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Feb 7, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS AND NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE ENGINE VIBRATES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DISCOVERED TWO MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. THE REPAIR PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

NHTSA ID
10149641
Incident
Jan 6, 2006
Mileage
21,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jan 3, 2006

2004 MAZDA RX 8 HAS MANY DESIGN DEFECTS, BATTERY WAS REPLACED, SPARK PLUGS AND OIL FILTER WAS REPLACED 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. *TS THE STARTED WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING IN TRAFFIC AND WAS TAKING MULTIPLE TIMES TO TRY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES OF THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED, THE DEALERSHIP DECIDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS STILL NOT STARTING SMOOTHLY. THE DASH LIGHTS WERE BLINKING ON AND OFF AND THE HEAT WAS NOT WORKING. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, 02 SENSOR, AND A/C AMPLIFIER. THE HEATER CONTROL SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE SUN VISOR WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10147563
Incident
Jan 23, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Dec 4, 2005

PERFORATION - 2004 RX-8. THE CAR IS SHOWING BUBBLING RUST UNDERNEATH PAINT, ABOVE PASSENGER DOOR. THE DEALER SAYS THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNTIL RUST GOES THROUGH THE PAINT TO THE OUTSIDE. GREAT POLICY FOR ALMOST NEW CAR! *NM

NHTSA ID
10144404
Incident
Nov 17, 2005
Body & structure
Filed Oct 16, 2003

DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS HAVE POOR SEALING AGAINST ROAD NOISE & WIND. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WIND NOISE BECOMES HIGHLY INTRUSIVE ON MY VEHICLE THROUGH THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE SAME APPLIES TO THE PASSENGER'S DOOR. *LA

NHTSA ID
10043029
Incident
Oct 15, 2003
Mileage
2,120 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .