2004 Mazda RX-8 Owner Complaints

No worries — here it is trimmed to under 2,000 characters: I am reporting a recurring safety defect on my 2004 Mazda RX-8 (VIN: [XXX] a repair under NHTSA Recall 1017E (Fuel Pump Ring / Discharge Pipe). Recall 1017E was completed on my vehicle on September 19, 2017. The same fuel leak has since recurred, with fuel vapor now entering the passenger cabin. Only a few thousand miles have been driven since the recall repair. The vehicle is currently at Della Mazda, Queensbury, NY at approximately 72,000 miles. On May 8, 2026, I contacted Mazda Customer Experience Center. Mazda confirmed the dealer submitted a pre-authorization request for recall coverage, which Mazda corporate denied, stating the recall was previously completed and further repairs are my responsibility. I have a chat transcript documenting this. A recall remedy that fails to correct the covered defect should not be considered complete. I am requesting NHTSA review whether Recall 1017E has produced recurring failures, direct Mazda to honor the recall remedy, and advise on available consumer reimbursement. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11736604

Incident

May 8, 2026

For a year I have responded to every notice for a recall repair (7 total) Mazda has not repaired my vehicle or scheduled its repair. My recall ID is 016742248 and my Campaign Number is 100409. My car has a DO NOT DRIVE status and Mazda tells me I MUST drive the car 2 hours to get it repaired each way. And they refuse to transport y vehicle even thought I have told them in phone conversations about my cars do not drive status. The latest attempt for filing for a repay was 7-21-25 at 9:40am central time.

NHTSA ID

11675012

Incident

Jul 21, 2025

The contact owns a 2004 Mazda RX-8. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the engine. The dealer determined that the engine had no compression. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11590479

Incident

May 23, 2024

Mileage

60,000 mi

The electric power steering randomly pulls hard to one side while driving. There are brief spasms of forceful jerks each jerk is 1-2 seconds the series of jerks lasts 10-20 seconds and usually stops with power steering failure all while driving.

NHTSA ID

11571290

Incident

Feb 1, 2024

Engine naturally wears out especially after 200k miles due to friction in the natural design of the Rotary engine, resulting in losing its overall function such as turning off in the middle of a drive due to loss of compression from worn Apex Seals of the Rotary. The rotary engine requires a replacement of the Apex Seals to continue functioning normally to avoid any unpredictable accidents due to engine failure. An event occurred where my RX-8 went into limp mode in the middle of the freeway as i was commuting due a misfire from poor compression, this is more then likely a common event nowadays for RX-8 owners starting at the S1 2004 models with newer models soon to follow the same incident as me. This is completely unsafe especially traveling at 65 MPH

NHTSA ID

11514483

Incident

Mar 9, 2023

The contact owns a 2004 Mazda RX-8. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, he noticed a strong gasoline odor originating from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump was fractured and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V354000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the recall repair failed to fix the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would follow up with him. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

NHTSA ID

11498663

Incident

Dec 9, 2022

Mileage

86,000 mi

Fuel fumes are leaking into passenger compartment and leaking from tank. Previous recall failed to fix

NHTSA ID

11427511

Incident

Aug 2, 2020

FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG CRACKED DASH AND PUSHED OUT GLOVE BOX.

NHTSA ID

11414240

Incident

Dec 21, 2020

Mileage

62,000 mi

I NOW HAVE REPLACEDCLUTCH PEDAL THE FORTH TIME. IM WRITING THIS TO SEE IFI CAN STILL GET ONE FACTORY REPAIR OF THE PART THE PEDAL WILL BREAK IN WELD SPOT REGARDLESS OF MY TRYING NOT PUT TO MUCH PRESSURE.

NHTSA ID

11405160

Incident

Aug 12, 2020

Mileage

78,000 mi

JULY 2017 WHEN I START THE CAR THE STEERING GEAR TURN TOO THE RIGHT ALL THE TIME. FEW MILE THE STEERING GET HARD AND START SHACKING BY IT SELF. NOW THE STEERING IS HARD WITH ABS AND CONTROL TRACTION LIGHT ON. I SEND IT TOO A MECANIC TOO CHECK THE WIRING AND RACK AND PINON AND THE MECANIC INDICATE THAT IS THE TORQUE SENSOR AND I HAVE TOO CHANGE THE RACK AND PINON.

NHTSA ID

11397667

Incident

Jul 1, 2017

RECENTLY PURCHASED THE CAR FROM SOMEONE ELSE AND NOTICED THAT THE CABIN SMELLS LIKE FUEL. I THOUGHT MAYBE HE SPILLED SOME INSIDE IT BUT IT'S BEEN A WEEK AND THE SMELL IS STILL THERE. I DON'T KNOW WHY AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE CAR CATCHING FIRE OR ME GETTING CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

NHTSA ID

11397284

Incident

Jan 10, 2021

CLUTCH PEDAL BROKE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD

NHTSA ID

11308311

Incident

Jan 20, 2020

Mileage

140,000 mi

STEERING TURN ALONE

NHTSA ID

11282643

Incident

Nov 1, 2019

Mileage

15 mi

PASSENGER DASH COVER HAS LOST INTEGRITY/CRACKED ALONG THE LINES WHERE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS AND AM CONCERNED THAT THE FORCE OF POTENTIAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD BE AFFECTED AND NOT WORK AS DESIGNED OR DEPLOY WITH TOO MUCH FORCE TO CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE OCCUPANT IF THE AIRBAG COVER SHOULD FLY OFF UPON DEPLOYMENT. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE DASH OF MANY MAZDA VEHICLES AND SHOULD AT A MINIMUM BE REVIEWED. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS AND THE AIRBAGS RECALL HAS RECENTLY BEEN PERFORMED BY A MAZDA DEALER.

NHTSA ID

11278260

Incident

Nov 5, 2019

Mileage

76,811 mi

ON 10/19/19 THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHEN SWERVING TO AVOID A DEER ON THE ROAD. TWO TREES WERE HIT AND THE VEHICLE WAS FLIPPED ON ITS SIDE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING THIS ACCIDENT AS I WAS EXPECTED. PICTURES SHOW THE FRONT DAMAGE AND INTERIOR.

NHTSA ID

11269971

Incident

Oct 19, 2019

Mileage

90,000 mi

SEAT BUILTS NEED TIGHTING

NHTSA ID

11269947

Incident

Oct 20, 2019

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004, MAZDA RX8 THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MODULE FAILED, AND JERKED THE CAR AGGRESSIVELY TO THE LEFT INTO THE ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE FORCE WAS SO STRONG THAT IT CAUSED MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. FORTUNATELY, THERE WASN'T ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT THAT MOMENT ON THAT PARTICULAR STRETCH OF ROAD. WHEN REVIEWING THE MAZDA FORUM THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS THAT EXPERIENCED THE SAME LOSS OF CONTROL OR FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, MAZDA HAD POWER STEERING ASSIST RECALLS FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS, REF. MAZDA3/MAZDA5 POWER STEERING RECALL NOTIFICATION 6010H.

NHTSA ID

11267777

Incident

Aug 19, 2019

Mileage

83,000 mi

MY POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT FROM TIME TO TIME. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS DESIGN AND THE VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

11258660

Incident

Sep 27, 2019

Mileage

127,000 mi

SEVERE OUTSIDE PAINT DEGREDATION WITH 54,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11233495

Incident

Nov 30, 2017

Mileage

54,000 mi

MULTIPLE TROUBLE CODES ALL AT ONCE AFTER NOT HAVING ANY TROUBLE CODES AFTER A LONG PERIOD. AS OF NOW 56,000 ORIGINAL MILES. TRACTION CONTROL IMPROPERLY FUNCTIONING CAUSING VEHICLE,S MAXIMUM SPEED TO 3 MPH. MULTIPLE MISFIRE,S WITH NEW SPARK PLUG, NEW SPARK PLUG COIL PACKS AND NEW SPARK PLUG WIRES. GASOLINE LEAK NOT YET NARROWED DOWN TO SPECIFIC LOCATION. NO ENGINE POWER AFTER SHIFTING TO 2ND GEAR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON HOWEVER WILL GO OUT FOR NO MORE THAN 2 DAYS. VERY STRONG GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AFTER STARTUP. LOSS OF ENGINE COMPRESSION. GOODNESS KNOWS WHAT IS NEXT!!!

NHTSA ID

11233493

Incident

Feb 15, 2017

Mileage

56,000 mi

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

THE MOTOR LOOSE COMPRESSION TO EASY, AFTER THAT ,THE CAR ITS JUNK.

NHTSA ID

11229304

Incident

Jun 4, 2019

Mileage

130 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY,THE POWER STEERING OF THE VEHICLE FAILED SND 2 MADE IT EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER. I'VE HEARD OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT MAZDA HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT

NHTSA ID

11209211

Incident

May 21, 2019

Mileage

152,500 mi

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS AFFECTING THE DASH CAUSING IT TO CRACK. IF THE AIR BAG IS TO DEPLOY THE DASH COULD SPLINTER FROM THE CRACKS AND CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY ENJURY.

NHTSA ID

11207143

Incident

Apr 15, 2019

Mileage

92,000 mi

RUSTED OIL COOLER - LINES CAUSING MAJOR LEAKS THAT ARE SOAKING THE BRAKES AND TIRES WITH OIL.THIS COULD ALSO CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11195287

Incident

Mar 21, 2019

Mileage

74,004 mi